What you’ll do
1
When you arrive
On arrival, you’ll be signed in and introduced to the smith who will talk through the course step-by-step and help you select which design you would like to make. We’ll discuss what you want to achieve for the day before providing you with protective equipment and a safety briefing.
2
Firing up the forge
The forge will have been lit and heating up before you arrive, so it’s ready to go! You will get an introduction on how to control and maintain the fire of the forge to a forging heat.
3
Forging the Blade
First, you will be forging the blade, you will begin by forging the tang with processes such as set downs, squaring and tapering. Then to the business end of the sword, you will forge the taper onto the blade. You can then choose to forge a sword fuller, a fuller is designed to provide stiffness for a blade. You’ll then bevel the blade, and it’s onto the pommel and cross guard.
4
Forging the Pommel and Crossguard
The pommel is the counterweight to balance the sword. In forging the pommel, you will be shaping steel using formers and hammers to decorate the pommel. For the crossguard, you will punch a hole in the crossguard, then use a process called drifting to fit the crossguard to the tang. You’ll then begin to shape and decorate your crossguard through a number of processes such as tapering, rounding, splating and scrolling to give your sword extra flair.
5
Finishing
You’ll begin the finishing process in the grinding bay, using angle grinders. You will then fit the handle to the sword through a process known as a burn through, where the tang is heated and the wooden handle is then pushed onto the tang to burn away a hole that fits the tang, once the handle is fitted it is time for final assembly, and one of our smiths will fit all the components together.
6
Photo Time
It’s great fun working alongside one another and crafting something unique! Once the forging is complete, it’s time to pose for those all-important photos at our wooden stage!
GUIDELINES FOR TAKING PART
Our experience day packages are physically demanding and have the potential for minor injury. Therefore, please seek advice from your doctor or our booking team if you’re unsure.
Be sure to dress accordingly, remembering that in the colder months it can get pretty chilly inside the workshop, despite the fires! Please wear long trousers and suitable footwear.
Make sure you follow the guidance on our website and what’s sent to you ahead of the event. And always listen to the instructions of our expert team on the day.
AVAILABILITY
The Forge is open all year round, seven days a week. Our online booking system will show you the availability in real time. Please be aware that weekends should be booked well in advance!
HOW BOOKING WORKS
Our online booking system is easy to use and allows you to choose a time and date that suits you. Once confirmed, you will receive an email with all the details you need, as well as an important form to complete.
HOW PRICING WORKS
The price of this booking covers one person making one decorative sword over three full-day sessions.
This experience is also available for two to share over a two-day experience.
For large bookings we recommend our Decorative Sword Making experience over one day.
If you’re buying a voucher, the voucher will entitle the recipient to two full-day sessions making one decorative session with another person.
Reviews
Incredible day out
We spent a day at the forge creating a sword. The instructors were all friendly, helpful, and hands-on. Overall experience was fantastic, can’t fault anything and we came away with something completely unique.
Superb experience. Made brilliant by the passionate people who work there.
5-star experience (I didn’t stop grinning all the time I was there), made brilliant by the passionate people who work there. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly. The biggest thing that makes this a great experience is the interaction, advice, and support you get from people who clearly love what they do. A big shout out to Joe and Helen who were our main trainers/guides/mentors, but also huge thanks to Luke, Aaron, Sam, Theo, and the team.
Fantastic experience, time well spent
What a fantastic experience! We booked a sword-making two-hour course for my son’s 18th birthday and spent two wonderful days learning new skills, working together, and generally enjoying heating up and bashing steel. The staff was all incredibly friendly and helpful and a particular shout out to Ben who guided us through deciding what type of sword to make, and through to how to finish it. Can’t wait to have another go!
Sword making Review
Just spent two days making a sword with my son. Very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable staff especially Luke, Ben, and Josh. Great time and ended up with a good sword at the end. Looking to go and make an axe!!
Explore Our Other Experiences
Will has worked as a Blacksmith for many years and enjoys both teaching our workshops as well as forging beautiful pieces for our showroom. Will has worked as a Blacksmith for many years and enjoys both teaching our workshops as well as forging beautiful pieces for our showroom.
Eve is relatively new to blacksmithing, but fell in love with it on the first hammer swing! She originally trained as an artistic welder and caster in Florida and loved […] Eve is relatively new to blacksmithing, but fell in love with it on the first hammer swing! She originally trained as an artistic welder and caster in Florida and loved making art that she can’t break with her own clumsiness.
Ianto has been blacksmithing for 4 years. He first got the idea of being a blacksmith after watching Lord of the Rings. He wished he could learn to shape metal […] Ianto has been blacksmithing for 4 years. He first got the idea of being a blacksmith after watching Lord of the Rings. He wished he could learn to shape metal into different forms and stunning works of art that can be seen throughout the movies. When he finished high school he knew he wanted to go into a profession that could lead him to make movie props. Ianto went to Holme Lacy College and studied traditional blacksmithing, from there he left and found his way to Oldfield Forge. During his time at Oldfield, he has picked up the nickname Ianto Tanto, for the fact he enjoys teaching the Tanto’s and using the traditional Japanese smithing techniques.
Joe is our Forge Manager. He has seen the business grow from a small workshop to what you see today! He has a degree in product design, but his passion […] Joe is our Forge Manager. He has seen the business grow from a small workshop to what you see today! He has a degree in product design, but his passion has always been history. Joe wanted to take the love of making things and his passion for history and smack them together… literally!