FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does it involve?
A: You will forge your own blade using professional knife making techniques and equipment, and you will assemble a handle using native timber and brass bolsters. Then you will grind, sand and smoothly finish and polish your knife to the highest standard. All of this with expert guidance and supervision every step of the way.
Q: Do I need any previous experience or skills?
A: Absolutely not! Everyone is an amateur when they arrive (although people find they remember a lot from their school days!), and you will be helped every step of the way.
Q: How long will it take?
A: It is a fun filled activity which takes all day. There are lunch and tea breaks throughout and plenty of time to chat and make friends with the other knife makers around you. There is time to relax and have a drink at the end of the day too.
Q: What if it’s raining?
A: We operate every day (except Mondays) – rain or shine. You will be working outdoors and under cover so rain is no problem!
Q: Is lunch provided?
A: Yes it is – you will be presented with a mouthwatering selection of toasted sandwich ingredients to choose from, including cheese, onion, tomato, salami and chili sauces. Yum!
Q: What should I wear/bring?
A: Don’t wear anything new or freshly cleaned! It’s best to wear something “scruffy” if you have it, and covered shoes. Over shirts are available to protect your clothes.
Bring a camera too – you will definitely want pictures of your progress!
Q: Can I take my knife through customs?
A: Yes you can. Just make sure it is packed away in your main luggage, and not your hand (cabin) luggage, for obvious reasons. We will provide packaging to keep your knife securely wrapped when traveling.
Q: Do I need to declare it?
A: No – if it is in your main luggage it will be fine.
Q: Will I be able to post my knife home?
A: Yes you can. It’s simple to do – you just need to declare it on the packaging. The post office will give you a label for this.
Q: How do I pay?
A: We accept cash and credit cards (Visa and MasterCard).
Q: Will I enjoy my day?
A: Absolutely! 100% of people who come to make a knife with us talk about how fantastic their day was. They have an extraordinary sense of achievement at the end of the day, having made something they never thought they would. Apart from making a knife, they enjoy relaxing in the home.
How often should I sharpen my knife? And how?
This depends on how much you use it. I recommend using a hone (steel) to keep the edge up on it. This should keep the edge sharp for awhile, then sharpen it when the burr knocks over and the edge starts to dull… depending on its use this could be in 1 month, 6 months or a year. You can sharpen the knife yourself, or send it to a sharpener, or to me. If you pay for shipping both ways, I’m happy to sharpen the knife I’ve made you for free!
Are there any retail stores where I can purchase your knives in person?
At this point no. If that changes, I will post the retail stores here on the website.
Other Information:
During the day, you will find numerous things to amuse yourself with during breaks. These include axe throwing, target practice, and a huge swing.
