Heavin Forge offers a variety of knifemaking and related courses. We will outline a few here that we offer on a regular basis i.e Introduction to Bladesmithing, Full House, Damascus Steel Making, and Look and Learn. Contact us if you require information on our other courses that we offer on request to past students, i.e. Advanced Bladesmithing, Advanced Damascus and Advanced Fixed Blade and Advanced Blade Grinding. For Folding Knives and Jewellery Technique Courses we can refer you to the relevant people. Knifemaking is a hobby that can be enjoyed by young and old. We do however feel that students younger than 18 be accompanied by a parent or guardian with 16 years old being the youngest age suitable.

Courses are generally three to five days long and the price includes refreshments, materials required on course and course notes.  We do not provide any meals but can provide VERY BASIC, self catering, shared accommodation for two people in our bunkhouse on the property for an extra R120 per person per night for students only, not for family. Please do not bring your wife or family here while on course as we cannot have anyone else in the workshop while you are working.  Our two apprentices also live in the bunkhouse, but have their own bedrooms. If you would prefer more luxurious accommodation, we recommend that you contact one of the guest houses in the area through www.belfastsouthafrica.com or by phoning our Tourist Info office on 013 253 0408. The guest house that is with in walking distance of Heavin Forge is the Owl and Trout, 013 253 1528 who offer our students a 10% discount on accommodation. They offer self catering accommodation but can organize breakfast and a takeaway lunch for you, they also provide a DVD player for you to view our knifemaking DVD’s in the evening.  Should you wish to bring your family with you and would like a larger place, consider Van Staden Country Gueshouse 072 145 8142 (3 kms out of town), Anford Country House 071 080 7180 or Elgin Farm 013 253 0896 where they also offer great fly fishing for trout and bass. Woodys offers self catering accommodation in town 013 253 0952 and Lakenvlei 013 253 0550, 10 kms outside Belfast is very luxurious also with excellent fishing.

Our self-catering bunkhouse has everything you need in it for your stay. Kitchen utensils, pots and pans, cutlery. Micro-wave, gas stove, fridge with small freezer compartment, beds with bedding and electric blankets. Towels are supplied. T.V and DVD player.  We do have braai facilities. All you need to bring with you are clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty, preferably cotton clothes for forging and closed comfortable shoes. Bring warm clothes as it can get very chilly, even in summer! Please bring your own food as there will be very little time for you to do shopping. If you are a vegan or have any special dietary needs, please bring your own supplies as our town has only very basic shops. If you are flying in to Jhb and coming up by bus, we will help you with your shopping needs.

Belfast has a few restaurants in town, Moulin Rouge Cafe, sit down or take away. Steers at the Shell garage in town as well as a Wimpy on the N4. Our Spar closes at 6pm during the week and 1pm on weekends. 

If you would like to catch a bus from the O.R Tambo airport or Pretoria, please phone City Bug on 013 753 3392. They stop at the Wimpy on the N4. and we can collect you from there.

Normally courses run from 8 am Wednesday for our 5-day courses, or 8am Friday for our 3-day courses, to Sunday lunchtime.  We have a well-stocked knifemaking video library and you are welcome to spend the evenings watching them.  We have a generator in case ESKOM lets us down, we can at least carry on working! Each day is very long with us working 10 to 12 hours a day, so be prepared!

Information on where to obtain knifemaking supplies and equipment is provided. Please do not think that our help ends at the completion of your course. We are always available to answer any knifemaking questions and help you in any way we can. Certificates are provided to students completing the course.

INTRODUCTION TO BLADESMITHING COURSE

Bladesmithing is the historical and traditional way of knifemaking by bladesmiths using high carbons steels. Utilizing hammer, fire and anvil a knife will be made proceeding from design, forging, heat-treatment, grinding, polishing, handle, leather sheath making and sharpening. You will come away with your own hand-forged knife and sheath as well as the knowledge to make more. (The bug will have bitten!). You do not have to be big and brawny to do this course! You will make a knife that is worth more than R1 500 on this course.

Pupils per course - 3

Cost: R3 000 per person, from January 2011

Duration: 3 Days

INTRODUCTION TO DAMASCUS STEEL MAKING COURSE

You have to have completed the Intro to Bladesmithing course with us as the fundamentals of forging and heat -treating high carbon steels are covered in it, and this experience is required for making a damascus knife. This course includes material selection, preparation, lamination (forge-welding), patterning, forging to knife shape, grinding, heat-treatment, polishing and etching. The knife is completed to a stage where the maker can fit a handle at a later stage or an integral knife is made. Handle and sheath making were covered in the previous Intro to Bladesmithing course. Work is done using a high temperature gas forge and the “Iron Maiden” power hammer. You come away from this course (hot and sweaty!) with the knowledge of making basic traditional folded damascus steel and how to turn it into a stunning blade. You will make a damascus steel blade on this course that is worth more than R2 000.

If you would like to do this course, please contact us, as it is not a scheduled course and can be organized on dates to suit people who have completed the Introduction to Bladesmthing course.

Pupils per course - 2

Cost: R3 750 per person, from January 2011

Duration: 3 Days

WHAT IS DAMASCUS STEEL?

Over 2000 years ago man needed to create a strong steel. This he did by forge-welding and folding high and low carbon steels at high temperatures to create a steel that was flexible but hard enough to hold an edge. The pattern in the steel can be manipulated and is brought out by etching the steel in acid. Damascus steel was perfected by the Japanese and Vikings and it was believed to have magical properties. There are very few bladesmiths who make their own damascus steel these days and it is a rare and collectible material usually used for knife blades.

BLADESMITHING - FULL HOUSE COURSE

For those wanting to cover the most comprehensive course in forging knives and damascus in the shortest space of time. This course covers all that you would learn on the Introductions to Bladesmithing course as well as the Introduction to Damascus course at a much reduced price. You will make a carbon steel knife and sheath worth over R1 500 and a damascus steel blade worth over R2 000.

Pupils per course: 2

Cost: R5 500 per person, from January 2011 - you save R1 250 per person by doing the Full House 5-day course as opposed to doing the two courses separately.

Duration: 5 Days

LOOK AND LEARN COURSE

A course very popular with collectors and other people interested in seeing if they might enjoy taking up the hobby. Follow the process of a knife being made using either the stock removal or forging method from start to finish in one day. A full tang knife is made in front of a group not exceeding eight in number. Follow the method used, take notes, ask questions and learn. Refreshments are provided.

If you wish to do this course, please contact us, as it is not a scheduled course and can be done on almost any day that suits everyone.

Pupils per course: 2 to 8

Starting time: 8 am - finishing at approximately 5 pm

Cost: R600 per person, from January 2011

Accommodation in our basic bunkhouse can be provided for at an extra cost of R120 per person per night for up to 6 people.

PAYMENT AND BOOKING

There is a non-refundable deposit of R500 per person to secure your place on a course. The balance is payable in cash or internet transfer on arrival for your course, please no cheques or credit card payments. Please phone to confirm course dates before filling in and faxing your Course Booking Form and proof of deposit payment to us. We will give you our bank account details when you phone to confirm course dates - to avoid double bookings. The course booking form is available to download on our Course Schedule page.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What do I need to bring with me?

If you are staying in our self-catering bunkhouse accommodation, you will need to bring all your own food, we do have a Spar shop in town. We have a fridge, kettle, gas stove and microwave in the kitchen. We supply all cutlery, crockery, bedding and towels. There are electric blankets on all of the beds as it can get cold, even in summer! Please bring closed shoes for forging in and cotton clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Warm clothes are a must at any time of the year. Bring a camera with you if you like, but no video cameras please, there will be no time to film.

What sort of people do the courses?

We have had people from all walks of life do the course, male, female, professionals, school leavers and retired people looking for a hobby. Whether you wish to spend a few days bonding with your family, wish to learn a new hobby, want to make a one-off knife for your hunting trip or learn to be a full-time knifemaker or are a knife collector wanting to learn more about the process of hand made knives, these courses will set you on the right track.  Even if you have never worked with hand tools before, you will be able to make a knife that you will be proud of, under our supervision.

SOME COMMENTS FROM STUDENTS - feel free to phone them, they are a friendly bunch!

“Better than a holiday! The perfect father son bonding experience.” Rudi Viljoen, Tzaneen, Limpopo, 082 802 0880. Full House Course.

“Coolest course I have ever done!” Ruan Viljoen, Tzaneen, Limpopo, 083 706 9560. Full House Course.

“Being a trainer for the last 21 years, I thought the course presented was great. What made it good was that Kevin, you worked with us making your own knife, so we saw how things should be done. You also explained the theoretical part of what we were doing well. Another important thing about training, it must be fun, the training was held in a relaxed, fun yet controlled atmosphere”. Wally Crewe, Krugersdorp, 082 338 4036. Full House Course.

“Jonathan and I did the Look and Learn course a while back now ... You were all amazing! The course content was fascinating and we could see the incredible talent in each of you BUT at no point felt that the basic skills were unattainable. That counted most for me because I really believe that the next course will equip us to be able to make a knife ... the level of art and creativity practiced by you all may even be within reach one day!” Deon and Jonathan Grove, Hoedspruit, 082 685 7272. Look and Learn Course.

“Me and my son attended both the basic and damascus courses at Heavin Forge. We found it extremely practical and enjoyable. We are now able to make a knife by ourselves with confidence. Kevin and Heather are very approachable people and we have regular contact with them. Their help and advice is an invaluable backup. I would highly recommend their courses to anyone with a keen interest in forged knives.” Thys Geldenhuys, Pretoria, 082 449 4076. Intro to Bladesmithing Course and Damascus Course.

“We were three people on the Introduction Course, with varying levels of technical ability. What really amazed me is that everyone, no matter what your technical ability may be, will walk away with a stunning knife after this course and be able to create more of these themselves.  have been a big fan of knives all my life, but after this course for the first time can I really appreciate the art of knife making. Kevin is an extremely good trainer, not to mention the patience he had to have with our group. I would highly recommend this course to anyone who is interested in knives, and please don’t let a lack of technical ability put you off - anyone will make a stunning knife on this course.” Emile van Zyl, 082 335 3830.

“My partner and I flew from Cape town to do the 'full house' course and it was well worth it, he thoroughly enjoyed it and I can truly recommend this course to all females. I have never done anything remotely like this before, and walked away having made two stunning knives. You do not have to be a big burly man to do this and the sense of accomplishment is all that much more if you are not. Heather is a great inspiration, and Kevin's fantastic teaching ability will allow you to feel capable and realize technique gives you way more than strength ever will..and there is always a helping hand if nessesary. Safety equipment will keep softer skins in tact, while allowing the feminine creative to pour out into a dazzling piece of art, which you can use on a daily basis, whether in the kitchen or in the garden. The studio stands in a beautifully romantic setting surrounded with horses, so don't be afraid, and try something new today!” Jemima Goosen, Cape Town