FERRUM Daniel Gentile's Forging courses
1 day knife forging course
In this course you will forge your own simple chef's knife/outdoor knife from good carbon steel or optionally from Damascus steel prepared by me with a simple wooden handle.
Compared to the 2-day Damascus steel course, 1 day is not enough to produce Damascus steel from scratch and then make a complete knife from it. That is why I offer my Damascus steel as an option for the 1-day course. (depending on availability: 80-160 layers, folded steel in tool steel quality)
The course includes the so-called "carbon steel" as standard - a high-quality, simple but functional knife steel.
In addition to the simpler wood, I also offer a variety of handle materials from stock.
The aim of the course is to create complete, but also simple knives with a blade length of up to approx. 20 cm.
The course can be booked from Tuesday to Sunday.
There is also the option of adding a personal laser engraving to your own blade.
max. 5 participants
Costs per person: Carbon steel CHF 400.- / Damascus steel CHF 650.-
2 days Damascus steel Forging Course
Forge your own chef's knife/outdoor knife from your own Damascus steelin this course.
It is also possible to produce more complex handles in this course. You are free to choose whether your knife is made with a flat handle & handle scales, plug-in handle, 2-part wooden handle or, if necessary, with a hand guard/handle end.
This course includes the complete production of your own Damascus steel - the aim is to forge a package of approx. 80 layers in a "wild pattern" and then use it to make your own knife.
In this course, slightly larger chef's knives and stronger outdoor knives can already be made.
I also offer a selection of high-quality handle materials from stock as an option.
There is also the option of adding a personal laser engraving to your own blade.
max. 5 participants
Cost per person: CHF 980.
3 days Forging Course - Elaborate knives & Damascus steel
Forge your own elaborate chef's knife/outdoor knife from complex Damascus steel in this course
This course is aimed at participants who either want to learn more complex techniques of Damascus steel production (torsion, composite, simple mosaic structures, spring damascus...) or "simply" want to make a more complex / larger knife.
In this course you can, for example, make traditional Japanese chef's knives in 3-layer construction with a single edge (Hocho deba, yanagiba...), large hunting/outdoor knives with elaborate handles and hand protection. Or how about a Nepalese Khukri? a Tanto? or simply your own special design? The three-day course offers the right platform for this!
In this course it is also possible to make more complex handles. You are free to choose whether your knife is made with a flat handle & handle scales, plug-in handle, 2-part wooden handle or even with a hand guard/handle end.
The course is suitable for all participants - beginners and advanced. Previous knowledge is NOT necessary. However, this is the ideal course for people who already have experience in handcrafting/forging or for hobby knife makers to learn advanced knife making techniques.
It is also possible to have your own blade personalized with a laser engraving.
max. 4 participants
Cost per person: CHF 1600.
1 day axe Forging Course
Axe made from carbon or Damascus steel
Forge a simple axe with a head weight of approx. 600 grams from carbon steel - or optionally from Damascus steel prefabricated by me.
Due to time constraints, it is not possible to produce Damascus steel from scratch in the 1-day course (the 2-day course would be intended for this).
A prepared standard axe shaft is also used.
If you want a bearded axe ("Viking axe") or a larger axe in general, and possibly a custom-made shaft, I recommend the 2-day axeForging Course!
max. 4 participants
Costs per person: Carbon steel CHF 500.- / Damascus steel CHF 850.-
2 days Damascus steel axeForging Course
Forge your own axe from Damascus steel in this 2-day course!
Axes with a head weight of up to around 1.2 kg are feasible within the scope of the course. Viking-style bearded axes are also possible.
The Damascus steel is made from scratch during the course.
You have the option of making the shaft yourself or using a standard shaft for later replacement.
max. 4 participants
Costs per person: 1200.- CHF
Swordsmithing courses 4-12 days
Important: Appointments for all swordsmithing courses must be arranged individually! Please contact me contact me to plan your swordsmithing course.
Swordsmithing courses can be held with a maximum of 2 participants.
4-day swordsmithing course
In the four-day course you will make simple swords - this can be a simple katana or various European swords .
The 4-day course offers an insight into the extremely complex subject of swordsmithing - with the aim of making your own simple sword.
With 4 days, however, the focus is not on historical accuracy and the work is kept very simple, especially with the mounting (handle, hand guard, canoe, etc.), so that you can also make a sword in the time frame.
Iaito sword hilts are used for the katana handle and the rest of the armour is prepared in the same way.
The armour of European swords is also kept very simple.
Optionally, there is the possibility to work with Damascus steel (100-250 layers) that I have forged in advance . (The course time is not sufficient to forge Damascus steel yourself....)
Cost per person: Carbon steel CHF 2900.- | Damascus steel: CHF 3400.-
6 days Damascus steel sword forging course
Forge your own Damascus steel sword in six days!
In the six-day course you will produce more elaborate swords from Damascus steel (100-1,000 layers) that you have forged yourself.
This can be a katana (simple hardening, the 10+ day individual course is intended for traditional differential hardening in a clay coat) or various European swords up to 1-1/2 hand size . In the six-day course the plain mounting is made completely by yourself.
In contrast to the four-day course, in this course you will not only forge Damascus steel from scratch, but will also be able to make larger/more complex swords as well as handmade, simple mounts.
Especially with Japanese swords, if more elaborate, traditional work is desired, such as a blade with real differential hardening (hardening of the blade in the clay coat, real "Hamon" as a result), with high-quality polishing and more detailed mountings and high demands on the blade, I recommend the 10+ day individual course...
Cost per person CHF 4900.
Individual swordsmithing course from 10 days
Elaborate, more traditional work with great attention to detail - Individual offer
These are swords with a very high level of attention to detail - all the mounting parts are made by hand.
Japanese blades are traditionally hardened in a clay coating.
Elaborate Damascus steels are made or worked with Tamahagane.
Or even multi-lane "worm-colored" Damascus Viking swords.
In terms of blade size, classic 1-1/2-hand swords, katana, etc. are possible. But also other historical edged weapons - almost anything is possible... The duration is from 10 days and the number of participants is limited to 2 persons.
Costs per person: AB CHF 7900.- excl. materials
The exact price for these courses depends not only on the duration, but also to a large extent on the desired materials, complexity and details.
Please contact me with your requirements so that I can provide you with a suitable, non-binding quote!
Request for swordsmithing courses
If you would like to book a swordsmithing course or receive a quote for a 10+day individual swordsmithing course, please complete the following form
If you have any questions, please contact contact information