Entry No. 47 — the Boise file — filed under: hands-on
Boise Blacksmith / Forge 56
A one-man forge run by Boise smith and custom knife maker Harry Black, who has appeared on Forged in Fire and teaches in tiny groups capped at two students for genuine one-on-one attention. The introductory course walks you through the stock-removal method of knife making: design, band-saw cutting, grinding, heat-treating, fitting a guard and pommel, shaping a handle, and final polish, finishing with a usable knife you built from scratch. It is gritty, sparks-and-belt-grinder work rather than a polished studio experience.
The story
Harry Black doesn't run a polished craft boutique or a watered-down tourist studio. Boise Blacksmith / Forge 56 is a true one-man operational forge run by a local smith who made a name for himself crafting custom blades and competing on History Channel's Forged in Fire. You won't find a sterile showroom or a gift shop here; you get direct, hands-on metalwork alongside a veteran maker who limits his classes to just two students at a time.
Instead of spending hours swinging heavy hammers over coal to learn basic blacksmithing, Harry’s core introductory workshop focuses on the stock-removal method of custom knifemaking. You start with a flat bar of high-grade raw steel and carve away everything that isn't a knife. The step-by-step process takes you from initial blade design and band-saw roughing to belt grinding, heat-treating, fitting the guard and pommel, shaping the handle scales, and finishing with a high-grit polish.
Because it's a solo shop, you won't find regular walk-in hours or online booking calendars. You have to contact Harry directly to reserve time, but what you gain is an unvarnished, private steel-shaping session where you leave with a sharp, fully functional custom knife you built with your own hands.
What it's like
Expect an industrial, smoke-tinted workspace filled with the whine of belt grinders, the scent of hot metal and burnt handles, and shower of flying sparks. Harry stays right over your shoulder guiding your angles on the grinder and supervising the heat-treat process, so you can't fail. Leave the synthetic clothing at home—wear natural fibers like heavy denim or cotton that won't melt if hot grit strikes them, wear closed-toe work boots, and bring eye and ear protection.
The move: Arrange a private two-person knife-making session and forge a blade together from raw steel to finished handle in one long, smoky afternoon.
📍 Before you go Strictly by-appointment, max two students, and currently focused on stock-removal knife classes; contact Harry directly (208-954-1078) to confirm availability.
- 📍 Boise
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Boise, ID
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Born Weird Tattoo & Free Museum — After hours spent grinding raw steel, head over to this converted diner to wander through strange curiosities under neon lights.
- Idaho Pinball Museum — Swap the manual grinding work for a $10 flat-rate session flipping vintage and modern pinball machines set to free play.
- Chits & Chats — Wash off the shop dust and wind down over a board game and a drink at this cozy Bench spot.
Good to know
How do I schedule a session at Forge 56?
The shop operates strictly by appointment. You must call Harry Black directly at 208-954-1078 to check his current schedule and set up a private class.
Do I need prior metalworking experience to make a knife?
No prior experience is necessary. The introductory course walks complete beginners through every step of the stock-removal method from raw steel blank to finished edge.
How many people can join a class?
Classes are strictly capped at a maximum of two students to ensure full one-on-one instruction and dedicated grinder time.
What will I actually leave the class with?
You walk out with a completely finished, hardened, polished, and usable custom knife that you designed and built from scratch.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: workingtheflame.com · Facebook · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-06-24