No. The experience is designed for complete beginners.

Yes. They participate in forging, grinding, heat treatment, finishing and sharpening under guidance.

Yes. The completed class knife goes home with the participant.

No. The one-day project does not include handle scales or a sheath.

Yes! We provide a traditional South African lunch around 11 AM, including:

- Beef Boerewors
- Pap (maize meal)
- Tomato and onion sauce
- Coffee, tea, and Oros (South African fruit drink) available all day

Please note, we only cater with beef boerewors. If you have specific dietary requirements or preferences, feel free to bring your own meals and refreshments - we’ll make sure you have access to the necessary facilities.

The minimum age is 14. Anyone under 18 must attend with a legal guardian for the full duration of the class.

Book a date when you know their availability. Choose a voucher when their schedule is uncertain.

One year from the date of issue.

Classes run from 7:45 AM to just before 4:30 PM.

Please plan to arrive a little earlier to get settled, especially as the last stretch of the drive is on a dirt road inside a Nature Reserve with a speed limit of 40 km/h. We recommend allowing an extra 15 minutes for travel.

Non-flammable clothing, long trousers and sturdy leather shoes or safety boots.

Hidden in the heart of the Crocodile River Reserve, in Lanseria, 45 minutes from both Johannesburg or Pretoria, Black Dragon Forge is more than a destination - it's a journey.

You’ll drive the final 7.5 km through protected wilderness, down a winding dirt road with a 40km/h limit - a fitting lead-in to the raw, grounded experience that awaits.

This isn’t a city workshop. This is the real deal! The setting is quiet and surrounded by nature - the perfect environment to focus, create, and connect.

Download Printable Map (PDF Format)

Bladesmithing is a physical activity that requires a reasonable level of fitness. You’ll be standing, hammering, and working with tools throughout the day.

If you have any doubts about your physical ability, we recommend you call us in advance at 083 451 3105 to discuss. Please note: discovering on the day that you're unable to complete the class will not be grounds for a refund.

For safety and space reasons, only booked participants and required legal guardians (for minors) are allowed in the forge area.

Don't know where to stay? Click the button below for a list of nearby accommodation options for visitors attending classes and events at Black Dragon Forge.

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1. BOOKING AND PAYMENT
1.1 Full payment is required at the time of booking to reserve your seat.
1.2 All bookings are final. Once a spot has been reserved, we do not move bookings or change dates.
1.3 If you cancel, the full class fee is forfeited.
1.4 Rescheduling is not permitted.

2. ATTENDANCE CHANGES AND MISSED DATES
If you cannot make your booked date, you have the following options:

2.1 Option 1: Send a replacement (available up to the class start time)
2.1.1 You may send someone else in your place on the same class date at no additional cost.
2.1.2 The replacement attendee must meet the age and safety requirements set out below.
2.1.3 The replacement attendee must provide the original booking order number at check-in as proof of the booking.
2.1.4 You must send us the replacement attendee’s full name, email address, and cell number before the class so we can update the attendee list and safety register.
2.1.5 If you do not attend and you do not send a replacement, the booking is forfeited.

2.2 Option 2: Convert your seat to a Bladesmithing Experience gift voucher
This option is only available if requested at least 14 calendar days before the class date.

How this works, per seat:
2.2.1 We cancel your fixed-date seat.
2.2.2 You pay a 15 percent admin and restocking fee calculated on the original seat price.
2.2.3 If your original seat price was lower than the current voucher value, you pay the difference up to the current voucher value (currently R2 400).
2.2.4 We then issue a Bladesmithing Experience gift voucher for R2 300.

Voucher rules:
2.2.5 The voucher is valid for 12 months from date of issue.
2.2.6 The voucher can only be used for Bladesmithing Experience bookings.
2.2.7 The voucher cannot be exchanged for cash.

Important:
2.2.8 If you are already within 14 days of the class date, the voucher conversion option is not available. In that case, only Option 2.1 (replacement attendee) applies.

3. AGE REQUIREMENT AND MINORS
3.1 Classes are currently offered for students aged 14 years and older only.
3.2 Any student under 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian for the full duration of the class.

4. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS, PPE, AND DRESS CODE
4.1 Safety equipment is provided for all classes, including safety glasses, an apron, and leather gloves.
4.2 Safety glasses must be worn at all times.
4.3 You must wear non-flammable clothing.
4.4 You must wear sturdy leather shoes or safety boots.
4.5 No plakkies are allowed.

5. PHYSICAL CAPABILITY AND PARTICIPATION
5.1 You must be in reasonably good physical condition to complete the class successfully.
5.2 Bladesmithing requires physical exertion, standing, and moving for most of the day.
5.3 Mobility issues may make the class difficult or impossible to complete safely.
5.4 If you are unsure whether you can safely participate, contact us before booking to discuss: 083 451 3105.
5.5 Failure to recognise that you are not physically capable is not grounds for a refund.
5.6 We reserve the right to deny participation to anyone we consider not physically capable of completing the class safely.

6. INSTRUCTOR CANCELLATION
6.1 In the unlikely event that the class is cancelled by us, all class fees are fully refundable.
6.2 We are not responsible for any other costs incurred by attendees (for example travel or accommodation).

7. ALCOHOL
7.1 No alcohol is allowed at any time.