Bladesmithing courses start Feb. 14

WASHINGTON – The University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana James Black School of Bladesmithing and Historic Trades is offering the following courses beginning on Friday, February 14.

• Introduction to Bladesmithing
• Intermediate Bladesmithing

These introductory classes provide 80 hours of instruction over four weekends. The classes are instructed by Master Bladesmith and Arkansas Living Treasure, J.R. Cook.

Class Dates/Times:

Fridays:  February 14, February 28, and March 6 (4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)

Saturdays:  February 15, February 29, and March 7 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Sundays:  February 16, March 1, and March 8 (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

The classes cover beginning bladesmithing using both hand forging and modern techniques. Students will learn the skills necessary to make a blade through metal selection, proper forging of metal, blade design, hand forging to shape, normalizing, and grinding. Students will also be trained to heat treat, temper, properly edge, test, prepare a guard, and properly hand finish a knife. Students completing the courses should forge two finished blades.

For more information or to enroll, call 870-722-8109 or visit uaht.edu/bladesmithing.