List of Blacksmithing Classes in California

While perhaps most well-known for its film and tech industries, California is also home to a thriving traditional crafts scene. Artists of all mediums, including blacksmiths, work and live around the state, with Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sacramento being a few hubs for creative businesses. 

Blacksmithing has been a part of California history for generations. As a Wild West state, pioneers traveling to and settling in California would have relied on blacksmiths for everyday essentials. 

You can explore blacksmithing as an art form and historical craft by attending classes offered around the state. Below are shops currently offering classes suitable for smiths of all skill levels.

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1) Adam’s Forge

• Type: Blacksmithing 
• Classes: Private/Small group, half day 
• Price: $105-$375
• Website: http://www.adamsforge.org/
• Telephone: 323-303-4522
• Location:  2640 N. San Fernando Rd. Los Angeles, CA 90065

Adam’s Forge is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing blacksmithing with its community. It offers lessons for smiths of all skill levels, with classes focused on specific finished projects.

Example classes include making knives, candle holders, plant hangers, bottle openers, and more. These classes would be great for someone interested in forging a specific type of item and practicing skills related to that item.

Adam’s Forge offers beginner blacksmithing classes to make new hobbyists comfortable with the basic techniques and safety practices.

2) The Crucible

• Type: Blacksmithing, Welding, Glassblowing
• Classes: small group, 1-6 students, all day 
• Price: $195-$470
• Website: https://www.thecrucible.org/departments/blacksmithing/
• Telephone:  (510) 444-0919
• Location: 1260 7th St. Oakland, CA 94607 

Founded in 1999, The Crucible is America’s largest nonprofit industrial arts organization and offers invaluable education opportunities for local blacksmithing enthusiasts.

The Crucible offers both adult and youth classes, so this is a great location for parents and children to learn a new skill together. Blacksmithing classes are offered for beginners and more advanced students and come in a few different formats so you can find one that suits your needs.

Some classes are a total time commitment of 15 hours, and some are ‘3 hour tasters’ so you can learn the essentials in less time. No matter your specific needs and interests, The Crucible likely has a course that will work for you!

3) Vista Forge @ Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum

• Type: Blacksmithing 
• Classes: Small group, all day, weekends, weekdays, morning, afternoon, evening
• Price: $120 + required museum membership 
• Website: https://www.agsem.com/blacksmithing-classes
• Telephone: (760) 941-1791
• Location: 2040 North Santa Fe Ave. Vista, California 92083

Vista Forge offers blacksmithing classes for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students at the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum. The courses take place on Saturdays and Sundays, so this is a great option for people who work full time and have busy schedules.

Classes cover all the basics of the craft, and successful completion of Vista Forge’s beginner blacksmithing course prepares you for the California Blacksmith Association’s level 1 blacksmithing course!

Classes are organized into Levels 1, 2, and 3, so students can advance through the classes at their own pace. Skills learned include heating, bending, twisting, and other beginner and intermediate level techniques. Students complete 3 projects throughout the course. 

If you are serious about continuing your education in the trade, Vista Forge is a great place to complete prerequisites and become familiar with the structure of the blacksmithing industry within California.

It is worth noting that a museum membership is required to participate in blacksmithing classes. Memberships are available to purchase on the Antique Gas & Steam Engine website and pricing varies. 

4) NhaVi Forgeworks 

• Type: Blacksmithing, Bladesmithing, Coppersmithing 
• Classes: Private, small group 
• Price: $95-$200 
• Website: https://nhaviforgeworks.com/
• Telephone: N/A
• Location: Los Angeles, CA

If you are looking for unique metalworking classes in the Los Angeles area, look no further than NhaVi Forgeworks! This shop offers a range of classes you won’t find anywhere else, like Medieval Cutlery Making and Primitive Blacksmithing.

Hone your skills and challenge yourself with these classes, which emphasize the history and heritage of the craft and expose you to new ways of working, such as over a pit forge.

NhaVi’s classes are also very affordable compared to other shops, so they are a great option if you are on a budget or do not want to invest too much money into education.

5) McLellan Blacksmithing 

• Type: Blacksmithing, Bladesmithing, Welding
• Classes: Small group, 1-2 days 
• Price: $50-$100 
• Website: https://mclellanblacksmithing.com/
• Telephone: (916) 652-5790
• Location: 6961 Horseshoe Bar Road Loomis, CA 95650 (25 miles north of Sacramento)

McLellan Blacksmithing is owned and operated by John McLellan, a smith who started when he was only eight years old! As a member of the California Blacksmith Association since 1978, McLellan has industry experience and connections that make his teaching stand out.

Classes are organized according to finished product, and include Damascus knife making, tong making and other tool making, and beginner classes that introduce the main techniques.

With fair pricing and individualized teaching, McLellan Blacksmithing is a great option for beginner blacksmiths who know the basics but want to hone specific skills.

6) The Pilgrim Soul Forge 

• Type: Blacksmithing, Bladesmithing, Welding 
• Classes: 2 students, 3-5 days 
• Price: $300 
• Website: http://www.grantsforge.com/classes.html
• Telephone: (510) 865-5328
• Location: Grant R. Marcoux – Artist Blacksmith 450 West Atlantic Avenue Alameda, CA  94501 (14 miles east of San Francisco)

Grant R. Marcoux is the artist behind The Pilgrim Soul Forge. With years of experience, education, and apprenticeships, Marcoux now passionately teaches others the basics of blacksmithing, bladesmithing, and welding.

His small class sizes and 3-5 day long instruction mean you will be getting individualized, intensive education in basic or intermediate metalworking.

Since Marcoux offers classes for both beginner and intermediate students, you can advance through his program and learn all the fundamentals from him. Or, you can start learning with Marcoux and learn other teachers when you feel confident. Classes cover all the basics of blacksmithing and bladesmithing, however, so you should have a well-rounded understanding of either craft after learning at The Pilgrim Soul Forge. 

Something to note when considering classes at this location is that pricing does not include materials, for which Marcoux charges an extra $50.

7) Forged Axes by James Austin

• Type: Blacksmithing, Bladesmithing 
• Classes: Private
• Price: $110 
• Website: http://forgedaxes.com/
• Telephone: N/A
• Location: Oakland, CA (10 miles east of San Francisco)
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James Austin completed his apprenticeship in Germany in 1985 and has since opened his own workshop where he teaches classes and creates tools. Austin has learned blacksmithing in Germany, Italy, England, and the United States and has worked with top smiths in the industry. 

His classes focus on axe making, knifemaking, and Viking themed items. Learn the history of the Viking-age metalworking and create authentic tools and weapons from this culture.

Specific upcoming classes include Basic Bladesmithing, Blacksmithing Basics, and Norwegian Style Forge Welding. 

Austin’s classes would make a great gift for the Viking-enthusiast in your life!

8) California Blacksmith Association

• Type: Blacksmithing, Bladesmithing 
• Classes: workshops, tutorials, coaching, demonstrations, meetings 
• Price: $10-$95 for membership 
• Website: https://calsmith.org/
• Telephone: (530) 575-0619
• Location: Multiple locations across California 

The California Blacksmith Association is a non profit blacksmithing organization founded in 1977. It has hundreds of members and welcomes new and experienced blacksmiths. 

Membership with the CBA opens many doors for blacksmiths of all skill levels. The Association offers a library of resources, online learning, tutorials, demonstrations, and workshops led by guest blacksmiths. Coaching opportunities are also available and are perfect for beginner smiths. 

Beginner, intermediate, and advanced forging workshops take place in locations across California. These workshops cover specific techniques and projects and are great ways to continue your blacksmithing education. 

Another unique opportunity at the California Blacksmith Association is their Education Program. Students move through 3 educational levels: novice, apprentice, and journeyman. Upon completion of each education level, participants receive a certificate.

Instructor certificates are also available and can be obtained at any level. If you are interested in becoming a blacksmithing instructor with an organization or want to teach at your home workshop, this is a great opportunity to learn how to teach others blacksmithing. 

The California Blacksmith Association is the perfect organization for any blacksmith living and working in California. With a very affordable membership fee and dozens of ways to get involved and learn something new, it is hard to beat the CBA. 

9) Escondido History Center Bandy Blacksmith Guild

• Type: Blacksmithing, Bladesmithing 
• Classes: small group, multiple sessions, full day, mornings, afternoons
• Price: Call for pricing information 
• Website: https://www.escondidohistory.org/bandy-blacksmith-guild
• Telephone: (760) 743-8207
• Location: 321 N. Broadway, Escondido, CA 92033

The Escondido History Center was founded in 1956 and is the second largest history museum in San Diego County. The museum consists of several historic buildings and features live demonstrations, educational programming, and artifacts relating to the Escondido area. 

As part of its educational programming, the Escondido History Center has a working blacksmith shop that offers classes through its Bandy Blacksmith Guild. Each winter, spring, and fall, five students are chosen to work and learn in the Center’s blacksmithing shop with an experienced smith.

Classes are currently taught by John Kowalski, a student of Escondido’s former blacksmith. Classes are offered for beginner and intermediate students, and run for 10 weeks. 

Students learn the basics of coal fires and blacksmithing tools and then learn to make their own punches and chisels. Once the foundational skills are established, students move onto tempering, forge welding, and making their own tongs and hammers. 

In addition to creating their own tools, students will also make projects of their own design as a way to test the skills they learned at the beginning of the course.