The world’s largest bladesmithing school is based at Tharwa, ACT, and conducts an array of courses for people interesting in learning all aspects of knives and other cutting tools.
Karim Haddad’s Tharwa Valley Forge covers everything from practical knife-making and blacksmithing to knife sharpening and everything else in between.
He learnt his trade more than 30 years ago from Australia’s very first Master Bladesmith, Thomas Gerner, and opened Tharwa Valley Forge in 2003.
The forge has grown immensely, both in terms of the range of skills taught and the popularity of the courses offered, and it attracts people from all around Australia and the world.
Making a knife has obvious appeal but Karim made a conscious decision to extend courses to cover much more than that single achievement, because he knows the importance of maintaining and servicing blades.
“A well-made knife is a long-term investment that only realises dividends if you care for it properly,” Karim says.
His class on sharpening is very much hands-on and covers everything from the science of sharpening to the five different sharpening methods.
Class attendees are asked to bring their knives, scissors, bread knives and garden tools so they can learn how to keep a range of blades in tip-top condition.
He once had some vets come along wanting to know how to sharpen their dog tooth extraction tools!
“There are lots of different ways to sharpen knives and different people find some ways easier than others, so we need to help them find the best sharpening method for them,” Karim says.
If you’re keen to find out more, visit the Tharwa Valley Forge website or making inquiries at Total Knife Care.
0 Comments