Learn to Forge in Nepal — Hands-On Blacksmithing Classes with Master Smiths
At Everest Forge, we don't just sell hand-forged blades — we teach you how to forge them. Our "Learn to Forge" program gives travelers, hobbyists, knife makers, and serious bladesmiths the rare opportunity to spend a day, a weekend, or several days working alongside Nepalese master blacksmiths in a real working forge in Kathmandu. You'll learn the same primitive techniques our family has used for generations — traditional forging, heat treatment, hand sharpening — and take home the blade you forged with your own hands.
Unlike most blacksmithing workshops in Nepal that only teach kukri-making, Everest Forge lets you choose what to forge. Kukri, knife, sword, machete, dagger, spear, or axe — we teach them all. Whether you've never held a hammer or you're a working bladesmith deepening your craft, our master smiths will guide you from raw steel to finished blade.
Everest Forge — Real Forge, Real Steel, Real Skills
Forge Any Blade. Take It Home. Learn from Generational Nepalese Master Smiths.
Choose your blade — kukri, knife, sword, machete, dagger, spear, or axe — choose your class length, and we'll teach you to forge it from raw steel using primitive Nepalese techniques. Three class tiers from $75. Booking required at least 10 days in advance.
Book Your Class → See How We Forge →Why Learn to Forge with Everest Forge
Most blacksmithing workshops in Nepal teach only the kukri at fixed levels. Our program is different in three important ways.
1. Forge any blade you want. Kukri, knife, hunting sword, machete, dagger, spear, axe — you choose. Most students arrive wanting to forge a kukri (it is what Nepal is famous for) but our forge teaches all of them. Bladesmiths and knife makers visit specifically to learn sword forging or hidden-tang knife construction.
2. Three class tiers to suit your time and skill. A 3-hour taster, a full day, or a 3-day immersive course — pick what fits your trip and your goals.
3. Learn from working blacksmiths, not instructors. Our master smiths forge for a living — the same blades we ship to customers worldwide. When you work beside them you are watching real production, not a tourist demonstration. Many have been forging since they were teenagers, taught by their fathers and grandfathers. You can meet our team on the Meet the Maker page and see the full forge process on The Making page.
Our Three Class Tiers
FUN CLASS
$75 per person
3–4 hours · 9am–12/1pm · max 3 people
A taster session for travelers and curious enthusiasts. Get hands-on with the hammer, anvil, and forge across 5 key stages of the blade-making process.
Includes: Free water and tea. Free company & gallery tour. English translator available.
Best for: First-timers, travelers passing through Kathmandu, anyone who wants the experience without committing to a full day.
APPRENTICE CLASS
$105 per person
7–8 hours · 9am–5pm · max 2 people
A full day of forging that ends with a finished blade you take home. You'll start with a prepared steel work-piece (Fala) and turn it into a complete 6–7" bladed kukri or comparable knife with the help of our master craftsman.
Includes: Free water, tea, and lunch. Your finished blade. Free company & gallery tour. English translator available.
Note: Sheath not included — can be purchased separately. With 2 students booked, ONE blade is forged together as a team project.
Best for: Hobbyists, makers wanting a real take-home blade, couples or friends wanting a shared experience.
MASTER CLASS
$200 per person
3 days · 9am–5pm daily · max 2 people
For serious bladesmiths and knife makers. Three days of in-depth instruction covering every stage of the forging process — from raw steel scrap to a finished 10–11" bladed kukri (or your chosen blade) made entirely by you.
Includes: Free water, tea, and lunch all 3 days. Your finished blade. Forging from scrap (discarded steel) up. Detailed instruction in technique and stages. Free company & gallery tour. English translator available.
Note: Sheath not included — can be purchased separately.
Best for: Working bladesmiths, knife makers, serious enthusiasts who want the complete craft, not just the experience.
Live Forge add-on: Want a one-of-one custom blade forged in front of you while you assist? Available as a 40% premium on the equivalent online product price. Contact us to discuss.
What You Will Forge — Choose Your Blade
Most blacksmithing workshops in Nepal only teach kukri-making. We teach all of them. Choose what you want to forge when you book.
Forge a Traditional Nepalese Kukri
The most popular choice. Forge an authentic Gurkha-style kukri from raw steel using the primitive techniques our family has used for generations. You'll learn the forward-curved geometry, the cho notch, the chiruwa or rat-tail tang, the traditional water-tempering and hand finishing — the complete authentic Nepalese kukri.
Forge a Hand-Forged Knife
Bushcraft, hunting, EDC, or kitchen — forge a working knife from 5160 high carbon spring steel. Learn full tang construction, hidden tang assembly, scale-fitting, and edge geometry. Particularly popular with knife makers building their own brand who want to learn from Nepalese hand-forging tradition.
Forge a Hand-Forged Sword
For the dedicated student. Forge a small historical-pattern sword — gladius, leaf-blade, sabre, or short medieval pattern. Sword forging is offered in our Apprentice and Master classes only, due to the time and skill required. The longest swords are reserved for the 3-day Master Class.
Forge a Working Machete
Heavy-duty, large-blade work. Forge a hand-forged machete for jungle, bushcraft, or working use. Big steel, big hammer, full-tang construction.
Forge a Hand-Forged Dagger
Single or double-edge. Forge a historical or tactical dagger — Scottish dirk, Roman pugio, rondel, or tactical fighting design. Excellent introduction to symmetric blade work and pommel construction.
Forge a Hunting Spear
Forge a leaf, boar, or hunting spear head with a socket sized to a wooden shaft of your choice. Learn socket forging — a different technique from full-tang blade work.
Forge a Hand-Forged Axe
Forge a hand axe, hatchet, or tomahawk head with a drifted eye sized to your shaft. Eye-drifting is a satisfying skill that complements blade work and is popular with students who already know basic forging.
What You Will Learn
The skills you walk away with depend on the class tier and blade you choose, but every student covers the foundations of traditional Nepalese hand-forging.
Steel selection — Why we use 5160 high carbon spring steel. How leaf spring from a real truck becomes a kukri or sword. The forging properties of high carbon steel compared to mild steel and stainless.
Forging — Heating steel to forging temperature in a coal forge. Reading the colour of the steel. Drawing out, tapering, and shaping with the hammer. Working at the anvil with traditional Nepalese tools.
Heat treatment & tempering — The traditional water-temper that gives kukris their legendary edge retention. Hardening, tempering, and the difference between a brittle blade and a tough one.
Sharpening with traditional tools — The 'saan' — a traditional foot-powered Nepalese sharpening wheel. Putting a working edge on a blade by hand.
Finishing & handle work — Tang preparation, handle fitting, and final polish (depending on class length).
For the full picture of how we forge every blade, see The Making page.
Who This Is For
Travelers visiting Nepal — The Fun Class fits perfectly into a Kathmandu day trip. Walk away with a primitive-forging story most travelers never have.
Bushcraft & outdoor enthusiasts — Forge your own working blade from real spring steel. Take it home, use it, sharpen it, pass it down.
Knife makers & bladesmiths — Learn primitive Nepalese forging directly from working master smiths. Particularly valuable if you've only worked from modern bar stock or with power hammers.
HEMA practitioners & martial artists — Understand your sword from the inside out. Forge a small training piece and gain real respect for what your blade is.
Gift recipients — A "Learn to Forge" class makes an unforgettable gift. Contact us to arrange a gift booking.
Couples & small groups — Apprentice and Master classes accept up to 2 students. Friends, couples, or family pairs commonly book together.
What's Included & What to Bring
Included with every class:
- Hands-on forging time with a master smith in our working forge
- All steel, fuel, tools, and materials
- The blade you forge (Apprentice and Master classes only) — yours to take home
- Free water and tea throughout
- Free lunch on Apprentice and Master classes
- Free tour of our forge, gallery, and finished-blade collection
- English translator available throughout
What you should bring:
- Your government ID or passport
- A face mask (forging produces some smoke)
- Closed-toe shoes (sandals are not safe near the forge)
- Clothes you don't mind getting marked
- A camera if you want photos — you are welcome to film and photograph throughout
Not included: Sheath/scabbard for your blade (can be purchased separately at the workshop). Travel to Kathmandu. Accommodation. Tips for your master smith if you wish to leave one.
How to Book
01
Choose Your Class
Decide which tier suits your time: Fun (3–4 hours), Apprentice (full day), or Master (3 days).
02
Choose Your Blade
Tell us what you want to forge: kukri, knife, sword, machete, dagger, spear, or axe.
03
Contact Us to Book
Email or message us at least 10 days in advance with your dates, class tier, and blade choice.
04
Pay & Confirm
Payment is made upfront before class begins. Once confirmed, your slot is reserved.
Where We Are
Everest Forge's working forge is located in Kathmandu, Nepal — the historic centre of Nepalese kukri-making and the heart of the country's blacksmithing tradition. Most students combine their forging class with a trip to the Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur, or trekking in the Himalayan foothills. The forge is easily reached from any Kathmandu hotel by taxi. We will send you exact directions when you confirm your booking.
Class Booking Terms
- Payment is made upfront before the class begins
- Booking must be made at least 10 days in advance
- Everest Forge reserves the right to accept or decline bookings according to availability
- Trainees forge at their own risk — the forge is hot and the work is physical. The company cannot be held liable for injury sustained during the class
- Damage to forge property during the class is the responsibility of the trainee
- Allocated time must be respected so that the session can be completed on schedule. Overtime charges may apply
- A waiver of liability must be signed before the class begins
- Trainees should bring government ID and a face mask
Full Terms & Conditions for class bookings are available on our Terms & Conditions page.
Everest Forge — Forging Classes in Kathmandu, Nepal
Ready to Forge Your Own Blade?
Three class tiers from $75. Forge any blade you want — kukri, knife, sword, machete, dagger, spear, or axe. Take it home as a piece you made with your own hands. Booking 10 days ahead. Email us with your dates and what you want to forge.
Book Your Class → How We Forge → Meet the Maker → Our Process →Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any prior experience to take a forging class?
No. Our Fun and Apprentice classes are designed for complete beginners. The Master Class welcomes beginners but is most rewarding for students with some prior knife-making or metalworking experience.
What can I forge in the class?
Kukri, knife, sword, machete, dagger, spear, or axe. Most students choose a kukri or a knife. Swords are offered in the Apprentice and Master classes only due to the time required. Tell us what you want to forge when you book.
How much do the classes cost?
Fun Class is $75 per person (3–4 hours). Apprentice Class is $105 per person (full day). Master Class is $200 per person (3 days). Live Forge add-on is 40% on top of the equivalent online product price.
Can I take the blade I forge home with me?
Yes — Apprentice and Master Class students take home the blade they forge. The Fun Class is a hands-on taster experience and does not include a take-home blade, though you are welcome to forge alongside our smiths and try every stage.
How far in advance should I book?
Bookings must be made at least 10 days in advance. We recommend booking 2–4 weeks ahead during peak travel seasons (March–May and September–November).
Is there an age limit?
Forging classes are open to adults 18 and over. Younger students aged 14–17 may join with a parent or guardian present and a signed waiver from the guardian. Children under 14 cannot participate due to safety considerations.
Is the forge safe?
The forge is a working industrial space. We provide guidance, supervision, and safety briefing throughout. Trainees forge at their own risk — the forge is hot, the work is physical, and a liability waiver must be signed before class begins. Closed-toe shoes and a face mask are required.
What language do the classes run in?
Our master smiths primarily speak Nepali. An English translator is available throughout the class to translate instructions, technique, and questions both ways.
Can I bring a friend who just wants to watch?
Yes — observers are welcome in the gallery and adjacent areas. They cannot enter the active forge area for safety reasons. There is no charge for non-participating observers.
Where is the forge located?
Our working forge is in Kathmandu, Nepal. Easy taxi access from any Kathmandu hotel. We send exact directions when you confirm your booking.
Can I include a forging class as a gift?
Yes. Contact us to arrange a gift booking — we can issue a voucher with the recipient's name for them to redeem when they arrive in Nepal.
What is the cancellation policy?
There is no cancellation charge. We do require payment upfront and at least 10 days advance booking. If you need to reschedule, contact us as early as possible and we will work with you.
Do you offer larger group classes for clubs or teams?
Our standard classes accept 2–3 students maximum. For larger groups (knife clubs, bladesmithing schools, corporate team experiences) we can arrange custom class days. Contact us with your group size and dates.