Blacksmithing/Bladesmithing School, Apprenticeships

Barrett Hiebert · 17th January 2007, 10:44 PM

Greetings,

I understand that this is not where I should post such a question and that other forums are more suited for such questions, but I have to use every resource available to me...thankyou very much for understanding...

Well, I took this from my other thread and decided to put it into its own thread to elicit a greater response. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Cheers!

Well, for those who are interested I stocked removal my first knife over the last weekend polishing and grinding a "hunter" under Ed Storch, a knifemaker/smith in Manville, Alberta. I don't yet have pictures but I will show you as quickly as possible. It went very well and even though we were using all modern techniques, I loved every minute of it, even the really tedious parts such as going back and forth from 120 to 400 grit grinding then buffing, then going back again...etc., etc. This has increased my love for the art and rosen my confidence and endurance to strive on, and also the love of making something of your own hands! Therefore with that said and done, due to my passion of bladesmithing, I am re-searching and trying to find blacksmithing/knifesmithing/bladesmithing preferable semestered courses or apprenticeship's in Canada, the States, of even Europe I would be willing to travel. I would rather prefer learning traditional techniques, and bladesmithing. I have already found one school but I need my fellow forumites help,; I understand how hard it would be to start from the ground up, but I must say my one inspiration is Jake Powning for his blades are beautiful and a word given to him by credit, Ed Chan "a prodigy", also that he has been the bladesmith that has really started from the ground up, and has made a true name for himself. I know it will be hard but I will, I must do it to sait my flaming desire within me! Cheers, I will post the thread of the school below, could I please have help with critiqueing? Thankyou very much and have a good day! Cheers!

Edit: Oops, forgot to give link of school: http://www.haystack-mtn.org/about.php Also, should I maybe post my school research question in a new thread to elicit greater response? Thanks!

Best regards,

Barrett Michael Hiebert

Emanuel · 18th January 2007, 03:49 AM

Hello Barrett,
The school you posted seems quite good, but the smithing workshops seem reduced to "sticking things together" so welding I guess, and basic sheet cutting. They don't do forging? I'll look for schools around my neck of the country and let you know. I told you, I got bitten by the smithing bug too

easier said than acting upon it though, and as a very good friend pointed out to me, it's hard to do when you have school/work/family to contend with. Would you do this over summer only?
Any Canadian smiths on the SFI smithing forum?

Best of luck,
Emanuel

Barrett Hiebert · 18th January 2007, 05:29 AM

Greetings,

Thanks for your interest, Manolo! It'd be wonderful if you could look for schools around your "bend in the woods" I have to tell you truthfully, I have to look a little closer at that Haystack school and see what it has to offer.

I'm glad you got bit by the smithing bug, hehe

. Actually, I would like to learn toward making this a long-lived profession. And I wouldn't have school, family, just work to pay for school to fund my courses, semester, apprenticeship (if I can ever find one, that is...

) But never give up! Never surrender! I always say!

I know of one Canadian smith, Ed Storch who lives a 2 hour drive away from me (will teach me the basics as long as I have the cash to pay, but is too busy also with his farm to take any apprenticeships, sadly for me, but I am very grateful for him), but Ed Storch isn't on SFI. The only other Canadian smith is, I call him the "prodigy" Jake Powning who lives in a small town of only 37 people in a small village of Markhamville. Here is his website:

http://www.powning.com/jake/home/j_homepg.shtml

If he were to be a choice of an available apprenticeship to pick from, it would be him.

Thanks, also best of luck to you with school, family and friends and also with finding anything related to bladesmithing schools! Thankyou very much and have a good day! Cheers! Look forward to talking to you!

Best regards,

Barrett Michael Hiebert

17th January 2007, 10:44 PM	#1
Barrett Hiebert Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 21	Blacksmithing/Bladesmithing School, Apprenticeships Greetings, I understand that this is not where I should post such a question and that other forums are more suited for such questions, but I have to use every resource available to me...thankyou very much for understanding... Well, I took this from my other thread and decided to put it into its own thread to elicit a greater response. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Cheers! Well, for those who are interested I stocked removal my first knife over the last weekend polishing and grinding a "hunter" under Ed Storch, a knifemaker/smith in Manville, Alberta. I don't yet have pictures but I will show you as quickly as possible. It went very well and even though we were using all modern techniques, I loved every minute of it, even the really tedious parts such as going back and forth from 120 to 400 grit grinding then buffing, then going back again...etc., etc. This has increased my love for the art and rosen my confidence and endurance to strive on, and also the love of making something of your own hands! Therefore with that said and done, due to my passion of bladesmithing, I am re-searching and trying to find blacksmithing/knifesmithing/bladesmithing preferable semestered courses or apprenticeship's in Canada, the States, of even Europe I would be willing to travel. I would rather prefer learning traditional techniques, and bladesmithing. I have already found one school but I need my fellow forumites help,; I understand how hard it would be to start from the ground up, but I must say my one inspiration is Jake Powning for his blades are beautiful and a word given to him by credit, Ed Chan "a prodigy", also that he has been the bladesmith that has really started from the ground up, and has made a true name for himself. I know it will be hard but I will, I must do it to sait my flaming desire within me! Cheers, I will post the thread of the school below, could I please have help with critiqueing? Thankyou very much and have a good day! Cheers! Edit: Oops, forgot to give link of school: http://www.haystack-mtn.org/about.php Also, should I maybe post my school research question in a new thread to elicit greater response? Thanks! Best regards, Barrett Michael Hiebert

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18th January 2007, 03:49 AM	#2
Emanuel Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,242	Hello Barrett, The school you posted seems quite good, but the smithing workshops seem reduced to "sticking things together" so welding I guess, and basic sheet cutting. They don't do forging? I'll look for schools around my neck of the country and let you know. I told you, I got bitten by the smithing bug too easier said than acting upon it though, and as a very good friend pointed out to me, it's hard to do when you have school/work/family to contend with. Would you do this over summer only? Any Canadian smiths on the SFI smithing forum? Best of luck, Emanuel

18th January 2007, 05:29 AM	#3
Barrett Hiebert Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 21	Greetings, Thanks for your interest, Manolo! It'd be wonderful if you could look for schools around your "bend in the woods" I have to tell you truthfully, I have to look a little closer at that Haystack school and see what it has to offer. I'm glad you got bit by the smithing bug, hehe . Actually, I would like to learn toward making this a long-lived profession. And I wouldn't have school, family, just work to pay for school to fund my courses, semester, apprenticeship (if I can ever find one, that is... ) But never give up! Never surrender! I always say! I know of one Canadian smith, Ed Storch who lives a 2 hour drive away from me (will teach me the basics as long as I have the cash to pay, but is too busy also with his farm to take any apprenticeships, sadly for me, but I am very grateful for him), but Ed Storch isn't on SFI. The only other Canadian smith is, I call him the "prodigy" Jake Powning who lives in a small town of only 37 people in a small village of Markhamville. Here is his website: http://www.powning.com/jake/home/j_homepg.shtml If he were to be a choice of an available apprenticeship to pick from, it would be him. Thanks, also best of luck to you with school, family and friends and also with finding anything related to bladesmithing schools! Thankyou very much and have a good day! Cheers! Look forward to talking to you! Best regards, Barrett Michael Hiebert