Entry No. 49 — the Boulder file — filed under: hands-on
The Slacksmith
A custom-knife maker near Boulder who runs hands-on forging classes where you hammer out your own blade. Offerings range from a one-day railroad-spike knife or hatchet up through multi-day chef's and Damascus kitchen knife courses, so you leave with a finished tool you made at the anvil. The business is active, with a 2026 Bladeshow West appearance on its calendar.
The story
Before Jayden Simisky started teaching people how to turn raw high-carbon steel into kitchen cutlery, he built a working forge out of an old soup can and clay as a kid. By 19, while studying physics and geology at CU Boulder, he took his forging skills onto the History Channel's Forged in Fire competition, walking away with a win and using weekend blade sales to fund his highlining habit—walking narrow webbing suspended thousands of feet above canyon floors. Combining high-altitude slacklining with blacksmithing gave the Louisville shop its name: The Slacksmith.
Tucked into an unpretentious metal shop in Louisville, the operation has evolved far past soup cans. Today, Simisky and instructor Philip Citerone—a former student who joined the shop in 2019—run hands-on forging classes backed by heavy-duty machinery with affectionate nicknames, including 'Smashy' the 32,000-pound hydraulic press and 'Smacky' the tire hammer. Rather than watching a demonstration from a safe distance, you are handed tongs, outfitted with protective gear, and stationed directly in front of an open propane forge.
What makes the workshop notable isn't just the novelty of swinging a heavy hammer; it's the focus on functional toolmaking over gimmicks. Depending on the class length you select, you will heat, hammer, grind, and heat-treat raw metal into a tool you can actually use—ranging from single-day railroad-spike knives, hatchets, and hammers up to multi-day chef's knives and intricate Damascus steel blades. The shop keeps its focus strictly on craft, regularly appearing at events like Bladeshow West while keeping its day-to-day focus locked on turning cold raw steel into razor-sharp cutlery.
What it's like
Stepping into the Louisville shop means entering a loud, heat-heavy workspace filled with glowing propane forges, heavy anvils, and belt grinders. You will spend hours standing over hot metal, learning hammer control, bevel grinding, and heat treatment firsthand, so dress strictly in natural fibers like heavy cotton pants and wear sturdy closed-toe leather boots—synthetic clothing will melt from flying forge sparks. The catch: registration is priced strictly per project ($400 to $1,550) rather than offering a discounted couples rate, so if you plan to attend with a partner, clarify attendance details and obtain exact shop directions when booking. Tip: save your arm strength early, because swinging a hammer continuously over heated steel will exhaust your forearms long before you get to the grinding wheel.
The move: Spend a day at the forge heating, hammering and grinding your own knife from raw steel, then take the finished blade home.
📍 Before you go Classes are scheduled by date and priced per project ($400–$1,550); no listed couples pricing, so check whether both partners can register for the same session and confirm the exact Louisville location when booking.
- 📍 Louisville
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Louisville, CO (between Boulder and Denver)
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Nora's Speakeasy — Cool down after hours of forge heat and hammer work with a dark, quiet cocktail entered through an unmarked back door in downtown Louisville.
- Tilt Pinball — Decompress your forearms after swinging a blacksmithing hammer with a few rounds of pinball on Main Street.
- BGOLD Glass — Double down on extreme high-heat crafts by pairing steel forging with soft-glass blowing down the road in Lafayette.
- Rabbit Hole Recreation Services — Trade raw physical steelwork for mental puzzle-solving at top-rated escape rooms located just down the road in Louisville.
Good to know
What projects can you forge in a class?
Options range from single-day builds like railroad-spike knives, forged chopsticks, hatchets, and hammers, up to multi-day courses where you forge chef's knives or 1,000-layer Damascus kitchen cutlery.
How much do the forging workshops cost?
Classes are priced per project, starting at $400 for one-day builds and scaling up to $1,550 for three-day Damascus kitchen knife workshops.
Do I need prior metalworking experience to sign up?
No, workshops cater to all skill levels, guiding complete beginners through every step of heating, shaping, heat-treating, and grinding steel.
Where is the shop located?
The Slacksmith operates in Louisville, Colorado (between Boulder and Denver); exact workshop street directions are provided upon booking confirmation.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · workingtheflame.com · 9news.com
last checked: 2026-06-23