301 – Forge Welding, Forging and Completion of a Kurouchi Series Knife

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SKU: BSC301 Category:

Description

In this three-day advanced course, students will apply skills learned in the 100 and 200 level courses, furthering their experience and understanding through the process of forge welding. Student will complete their own traditional Japanese Kurouchi kitchen knife, with less reliance on the instructor.

Hands-on techniques will include:

  • Selection of steel specific to Kurouchi style knives
  • Lamination techniques
  • Forge maintenance
  • Forge welding
  • Forging to final thickness
  • Traditional annealing techniques
  • Scale removal
  • Cold forging
  • Straightening
  • Quenching
  • Tempering
  • Grinding
  • Polishing
  • Acid etching
  • Low temperature silver soldering
  • Attaching handles
  • Sharpening
  • Hand sanding to completion

Lecture topics will include:

  • Overview of different types of traditional Japanese cutlery
  • Philosophy of Japanese metallurgy
  • The five criteria for superior cutlery
  • Expose on laminates vs. homogeneous steel blades
  • Practical parameters of cutlery design
  • Advanced blade sharpening and maintenance
  • Regional variation of traditional Japanese bladesmithing
  • Relative strengths and shortcomings of man-made sharpening stones vs. natural stones
  • Japanese blade-related terminology
  • Slide show of bladesmithing in Japan

Prerequisite courses — Any one of the following: 101, 102, 201, or 202 course.

Classes taught one-on-one unless otherwise negotiated. Travel and lodging are at the student’s expense.

Additional information

Weight 1 lbs