5-Day Advanced Knife Making in Pattern-Welded Steel
Patrick Joseph Damascus Mastery
Some blades are made. These are born in fire, layer by layer.
This is the pinnacle of craft at the Patrick Joseph Knife Making School — an intensive, precision-led course in the creation of pattern-welded Damascus steel. Taught by master bladesmith Patrick Joseph in his private forge in Thomastown, Kilkenny, this experience is reserved for those who already understand the fundamentals — and now seek to step into the most revered tradition in knifemaking.
$3,109.05
Availability: 4 in stock
Product Description
Every detail matters here. From billet preparation to forge welding, pattern control, and the final etch — you will be immersed in the secrets of layered steel and the fine balance of fire, pressure, and timing that reveals true beauty and performance in a blade.
What You will Learn
Your journey begins with raw materials: contrasting high-carbon steels prepared for perfect union. You will be trained in billet stacking, fluxing, and forge welding using both hammer and 50-ton press. Over the course of five focused days, you will develop and manipulate patterns — from ladder and twist to more expressive variants — with full control over their visual and structural outcomes. You will grind, heat treat, and finish your blade with care and precision, and complete it with a sculpted handle of your own design — resulting in a custom, high-performance Damascus knife you forged entirely yourself.
Course Highlights:
- Precision billet stacking, welding, and forging
- Forge press operation and safe thermal cycling.
- Manipulation of classic and complex patterns
- Grinding techniques for bold pattern exposure
- Heat treating Damascus for strength and contrast.
- Etching, polishing, and finishing for depth and brilliance.
- Handle crafting and final assembly.
Who This Course Is For:
- This course is designed for:
- Knife makers ready for professional advancement.
- Craftsmen and artists expanding their skill into forged patterned steel.
- Collectors, competitors, and future ABS candidates seeking refined training.
- Students who have completed the 1-Week Masterclass or equivalent level
Admission is selective. A minimum foundation in heat treatment, grinding, and safe shop practice is required.
“Forging Damascus is a conversation with time, heat, and vision. This course gave me the skills, but more importantly, the feel.”
Past Participant
Enrolment Details
- €2,700per student
- 5-Day intensive course
- Maximum of two participants per session
- All steel, flux, handle materials and etchants provided.
- Held 2–3 times per year only.
- Private instruction at Patrick Joseph Forge, Kilkenny
