1 Day Bladesmithing Experience

Booking Policy – Please Read Before Reserving Your Spot

Kindly ensure you are fully available for your selected class date before completing your booking as all bookings are final – cancellations or rescheduling are not permitted, and the full class fee will be forfeited if you cancel.

In the rare event that we need to cancel a class, you will receive a full refund of your class fee. Please note that we cannot cover any additional travel or accommodation costs.

1 Day Bladesmithing Experience

There is nothing quite like hand-forging your own knife. This introductory one-day class, led by Neels van den Berg, Shawn Softley, Erin Peacock and Owen Louw, will teach you how to hand-forge a basic knife using traditional methods, with step-by-step instruction. The class is open to students of all skill levels, including those with no prior experience in bladesmithing.

The class focuses on the fundamentals of forging, grinding, and heat-treating a blade. The knife will be forged from SAE5160, a medium carbon spring steel perfect for the intended application. During the class, students will be guided through the process of forging the knife blade to shape, basic flat grinding, heat treating - hardening and tempering, and blade finishing and sharpening.

The class covers the safety precautions that must be taken when working with high-carbon steel and the tools and equipment used in bladesmithing. Students will learn about the history of bladesmithing and the different types of blades and knives that are made by bladesmiths, as well as the basic principles of blade design, such as blade geometry, edge angles, and balance.

By the end of the class, students will have the opportunity to take home a single hand-forged knife, which is the outcome of the class (No handle scales and no sheath). Class notes are provided in the form of the instructor's Bladesmithing 101 tutorial uploaded to his YouTube channel, which is free to access.

This class is a great opportunity for anyone interested in learning about the art and science of bladesmithing. It's a hands-on class that provides a great introduction to the field, and will give you a taste of the process and the skills required to be a bladesmith. You will have the opportunity to learn from a master of the craft, and gain a solid foundation in the basics of bladesmithing.

Start Time:

• Class starts 7:45am and finishes before 6pm.
• Please allow for 15min extra travel time as the last 7.5km is a dirt road in a Nature Reserve with a speed limit of 40km/h.
  

Lunch:

Lunch is provided at around 11 am and includes:

• Beef Boerewors
• Pap (traditional South African maize meal)
• Tomato and Onion sauce
• Coffee, tea, and Oros (a South African fruit drink)

Please note that we only provide beef boerewors as a lunch option. If you have specific dietary requirements or preferences, you are welcome to bring your own food and refreshments. We will ensure you have access to the necessary facilities to enjoy your meal.

BLADESMITHING EXPERIENCE POLICIES AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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 300).
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.