Courses

 

We offer a range of courses led by award-winning bladesmith and knife maker Jean Wilke. These courses focus on providing a broad base of information about the subject at hand, be it knife-making, sheath-making or the like. This includes,

 

  • Theory (providing the “pigeon holes” for further study,
  • Demonstrations on every step.
  • Most of all doing it yourself under Jean’s expert eye.

 

All courses have 4 goals:

  • Be Safe
  • Learn a heck of a lot
  • Have fun
  • Leave with a great item/s

 

We are firm believers in “progression in training”. Start with one course, gain experience in what you learned, then do another that compliments or adds to the first. This way you learn at your own pace, yet avoid those week and weeks of frustration…

Jean Wilke's 2-day Forge Knife Making Course

Level 1 course – No prior experience required.

 

In this Jean Wilke-led course you will forge a
“Harry Wolhuter lion killer” replica knife from 5160 carbon steel and attach a handle to it.
Ending with a well-made, working knife that will last a life-time.

This course is designed for all knife enthusiasts who wants to learn more about knife-making.
Including someone that wants to give the first steps into knife-making as a new hobby or career.

The course has 4 goals:

- Be safe
- Have fun
- Learn a lot about knife-making

- Leave with a great forged knife

 

Links:

 

 

1-day “Make a sheath for your course knife” Option.


This is an optional 3rd day to the “2-day Forge knife-making course”.
…So you made a Great knife, now make a great sheath to carry it!
-    Focussed exclusively on leather work.
-    ***Limited to making a sheath for the “Lion killer knife” you made on course
-    Make a leather “Fold-over” sheath
-    Add a Belt-loop
-    Decorate with basic stamping
-    Strengthen and complete with nice even stitching.
You are welcome, even if you did your 2-day course years ago 😊
***The 2-day Leather Sheath-making course allows you to make a sheath other knife designs (there is a length limit though)

 

 

Jean Wilke's 2-day Sheath Making Course

Level 1 course – No prior experience required.

 

In this Jean Wilke-led course you will learn to make various types of leather sheaths. Ending in 2 ½ sheaths for your own knife/s.

The purpose of a SHEATH is firstly to protect you from the knife! And secondly to use as a comfortable way to carry certain knives.

 

This course is designed for all knife enthusiasts or makers that feels his/her sheaths are sub-standard compared to the knives and wants to get the two on par. No prior skills are required.

The course has 5 goals:

- Be safe
- Have fun
- Learn a lot about sheath-making

- Leave with 2 ½ great sheaths

- Hate sheath-making a little less

 

 

Links:

Jean Wilke's 2-day CLEAVER Making Course

Level 2 course – Must have completed “Jean Wilke’s 2-day Forge Knife Making Course”

 

Jean Wilke will lead into the often misunderstood world of kitchen cleavers.

You will make you kitchen clever from carbon steel, flat griding it from spine to “infinity edge”.

Harden and heat treat it under very controlled conditions.

Then attach a handle and finally sharpen it.

You will leave with a wonderful working cleaver – and the looks you ask – well that will be up to you

 

A cleaver is not to be confused with a butcher’s axe. It is a broad-bladed, slightly heavier kitchen knife. Though it can be used in chopping, its main purpose is fine cutting and slicing. The broad blade providing stability and balance for accurate cutting.

 

The clever will be made via the “Stock removal” method and “is all about the grind!” The skills you learn here will allow you to also make other kitchen or chef knives (with a little more practice of course).