Welcome to Tharwa Valley Forge
Tharwa Valley Forge runs courses every weekend and most days of the week. We provide everyone from novices to experts with the opportunity to experience traditional crafts and to learn new skills.
Bladesmith Karim Haddad established Tharwa Valley Forge in 2003. Karim trained in the early 1990's under Australia's first Master Bladesmith, Thomas Gerner, and has gone on to use his experience as a professional educator to share his knifemaking expertise with many others. Since establishing Tharwa Valley Forge, Karim and his staff have shared the skills necessary to create high quality knives and tools with hundreds of students.
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Grinding a forged blade
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Featured Courses

Kydex Foundations

Sat 15-10-2022 8:00 am -5:00 pm

Forming a Kydex sheathThis course is ideal for anyone who wants to make Kydex sheaths and holsters at home, wether for their own equipment or to sell to others. Bring two of your favorite knives and walk away with two sheaths, another small project of your own choosing, and the knowledge of how make a wide variety of other Kydex projects as well as how to make your own Kydex manufacturing equipment.

Custom Leather Aprons

Sun 16-10-2022 8:00 am -4:00 pm

Imagine your own custom leather apron made from heavy duty, premium leather. It fits you perfectly and has the right pockets, for the right tools, in the right places. That’s what this course is all about.

Learn how to make leather aprons by making your very own custom apron on this one day course.

These leather workshop aprons are tough. They are ideal for blacksmiths, bladesmiths, woodworkers, or anyone who spends time in a workshop, studio or garage.

Suitable for adults and children age 12+

Custom Leather Aprons

Sun 06-11-2022 8:00 am -4:00 pm

Imagine your own custom leather apron made from heavy duty, premium leather. It fits you perfectly and has the right pockets, for the right tools, in the right places. That’s what this course is all about.

Learn how to make leather aprons by making your very own custom apron on this one day course.

These leather workshop aprons are tough. They are ideal for blacksmiths, bladesmiths, woodworkers, or anyone who spends time in a workshop, studio or garage.

Suitable for adults and children age 12+

Leather Bags

Fri 18-11-2022 7:00 pm - Sun 20-11-2022 5:00 pm

Learn the basics of traditional leatherwork through the process of making a leather bag. Choose from our catalogue of basic bags such as leather totes, handbags, tools bags, satchels, map cases, wallets and more. You’ll go home with a handcrafted leather bag along with the skills to make other leather products.

Suitable for adults and children age 16+

Custom Courses
Course dates don't suit? Is the course you want booked out? Get a group of friends together and book a course when it suits you. Not only can do any of the courses we offer, you can customise them to learn things that you don't see on our website. Custom courses usually cost the same as our scheduled courses and can be run with as little as two participants. Dates fill fast, so it's better to talk to us now rather than miss out.
Book a Custom Course »
Production Cutlery
As one of the largest production knife makers in Australia, we've worked with a huge range of clients and made a diverse range of wonderful cutlery. Oyster shuckers, machetes, steak knives, combat knives, cleavers, cheese knives, carving swords for roast meat, champagne openers, kitchen knives... you get the idea. We provide our clients with the expertise to develop and manufacture a product that meets both their requirements and their budget.
Create a Product »
Gift Certificates
One of the many cool things about running a Forge is the diverse range of interesting people we meet on our courses. At least a quarter of our bookings are made using Gift Certificates bought as birthday presents, anniversary gifts, rewards for employees, or as memorable surprises. We've seen some really cool and unique ways people have used our Gift Certificates. Check out some of our stories, or get your own Gift Certificate.
Give a Gift Certificate »
Shop Online
Our award winning bladesmiths are some of the best in Australia and hand-forge knives and cutlery every day of the work week, all year round. Some of their creations are available from our online shop with new releases every Friday at 11AM Canberra time. These pieces deliver the highest level of performance and will literally last a lifetime. If you're in Canberra, you are most welcome to drop by and make your purchase in person.
Buy Handmade Knives »

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