Rutherford Forge
Established in 2004. Based in Johannesburg North, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
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Hylton Rutherford
I am a full time Bladesmith and Blacksmith. My interests lie in uncovering and learning the skills of the metal workers of old and applying this knowledge to my metal creations whether they be edged tools or metal art. I take commissions and create my own products which are shown below.
I enjoy passing on these skills through the knife forging classes I offer. My two day blade-smithing classes are very intimate and hands on with a max of 4 students per course. I offer these any two days of the week and every second and last weekend of the month at a cost of R4000 per person.
I also offer Blacksmithing classes where you can learn to manipulate metal and make functional items / jewellery during your two day experience.
R4500 per person
Knife Courses
I offer a two day Blade-smithing course where students forge their own blade from scratch and finish off their masterpiece with an African hard wood handle and custom leather sheath. I also offer a two day axe course where students forge their own axe from a ball-pean hammer
Hand Forged Knives
I make my own forged knives, swords and axes and also take commissions to make that custom piece you have always dreamed of owning.
Blacksmith Art
Forming metal into functional and artistic shapes has always been a passion of mine. I make stock as the inspiration hits me and also take commissions for that functional/artistic piece you need.
Available Knives
Out Of Africa 2
My signature bush knife/hunter. Forged from high carbon steel with African hard wood handle.
R1600
Deluxe Hunter
Forged 5160 steel blade with brass bolster and stacked giraffe bone , red ivory and African black wood handle.
R2800
Tanto
Tactical tanto. Paracord wrap handle. comes with an ABS sheath
R1400
Tanto dagger.
Tactical dagger. Paracord wrap handle. Comes with an ABS sheath.
R1400
Persian Dagger
Tactical Dagger. Paracord wrap handle. Comes with an ABS sheath
R1400
Iklwa
Traditional Zulu stabbing spear. The name is a phonetic derived from the sound the spear makes when withdrawing from a body. Forge carbon steel blade with African hard wood handle
R3500
Brut de Forge Bowie
Bowie knife forged from a file with Antler crown handle
R2800
Utility.
Forged 5160 steel with Pine cone/resin handle.
R1400
My Work
Knife Making Courses
Introduction to Bladesmithing
A two day course. We cover bladesmith metallurgy and knife steel selection. Thermal cycling and the forging process. Knife function and terminology. Bladesmith tooling and methods.
Forge your own blade from scratch. Starting with a rectangular billet, I will guide you through the process where you will forge and finish your own high performance custom hunter/utility or kitchen knife complete with African hard wood handle and sheath.
Cost is R4000
GIFT VOUCHERS
The perfect gift! Vouchers available for courses as a perfect perfect gift. Vouchers are valid for 12 months.
I do not have set dates for the courses and accommodate students any weekdays and every second and last weekend of the month, but do make exceptions as your availability dictates.
Damascus
Make your own laminated steel billet from contrasting high carbon steels. We cover the theory of Damascus/wootz/laminated steels and then move on to the practical art of forge welding and folding steel. Learn how random pattern Damascus can be manipulated to form different patterns in your billet.
One day course is R3000
Add on the two day Introduction to Bladesmithing course and transform your billet into a functional knife with sheath.
Combo 3 day course R6000
Axe Course
We cover the same modules as The Introduction to Bladesmithing Course but transfoirm a 900g ball pean hammer into a fully functional cam axe with leather cover.
Cost R4000
Blacksmithing Course
Learn the acient craft of manipulating red hot steel to make beautiful and functional jewellery, ornaments and tools. In two days we cover all the blacksmith techniques including drawing out, tapering, scrolling, piercing, drifting and riveting.
Cost R4500
Let's do something together
Feel free to contact me via form below.