Entry No. 41 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: hands-on
Forge with Intention (David Norrie Blacksmithing School)
The David Norrie Blacksmithing School sits on a converted 1902 farm (Davita Art Farm) in tiny Berthoud, just off I-25 about 17 miles south of Fort Collins. The two-hour 'Flirt with Fire' intro runs on select Wednesday evenings (6-8pm): you heat steel in the forge and hammer out a small finished item to take home. Weekend classes go deeper, with projects like matching wall hooks, a roasting fork, and even a forged bush knife in the camp-tool session. Real anvils, real fire, taught by resident smiths Otto and Steve; sessions need at least three students to run.
The story
Tucked away on 1st Street on the grounds of Davita Art Farm—a converted 1902 farmstead in Berthoud—the David Norrie Blacksmithing School occupies a 3,700-square-foot shop packed with heavy anvils, power hammers, and open flames. Master blacksmith David Norrie originally built the shop for high-end architectural hand-forged metalwork, but today resident smiths Otto and Steve teach the public how to work cold steel under the banner Forge with Intention.
This isn't a theme-park demonstration where you watch a blacksmith from behind a velvet rope. You get handed real tools, assigned an anvil, and pushed right up to the fire. Metal shaping is unforgiving physics: steel turns glowing red-hot, gives you a narrow window of workability, and rapidly cools back into stubborn iron. Moving it accurately requires calculated weight placement and hammer control rather than raw brute force.
What it's like
Show up at the farm shop in 100% natural fibers—denim, cotton, or leather—because synthetic fabrics will melt instantly if struck by a stray hot scale or spark. During the introductory 'Flirt with Fire' Wednesday evening sessions, you skip lengthy lectures and go straight to heating steel in the forge and hammering out a small finished ironwork piece to take home. Expect a noisy, intensely hot, sweat-inducing workout that leaves your forearms aching the next morning.
The move: Spend a Wednesday evening side by side at the forge, heating steel red-hot and hammering out your own small ironwork piece to keep.
📍 Before you go Classes run on scheduled dates and need a 3-student minimum; the 2-hour intro is $100, weekend classes $275-$450. Wear natural-fiber clothing and closed shoes.
- 📍 Berthoud
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1521 1st Street, Berthoud, CO 80513
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Little Thompson Observatory — Follow up a sweat-soaked evening hammering hot steel with a quiet night of free stargazing just 1.5 miles down the road.
- Kiss My Glass — Trade heavy anvils and red-hot iron for delicate kiln-formed art glass just a short drive north.
- Rosie's Barbershop & Cocktail Bar — Wash off the soot and coal dust in downtown Loveland with a craft cocktail hidden behind a working barbershop.
Good to know
What should I wear to a class?
Closed-toe leather shoes or work boots and natural-fiber clothing like cotton jeans and a plain heavy shirt. Synthetic materials like nylon or polyester melt against skin when exposed to forge sparks.
How much do the workshops cost?
The two-hour 'Flirt with Fire' intro session costs $100. Multi-day weekend classes range from $275 to $450 depending on the project.
Do classes run every week?
Classes are scheduled on select dates and require a minimum of three registered students to run, so check availability and confirm your spot in advance.
What can I actually make in the advanced weekend classes?
Weekend projects go deeper into technical joinery and toolmaking, letting you hammer out pieces like matching wall hook sets, outdoor roasting forks, or camp-style forged bush knives.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · berthoudsurveyor.com
last checked: 2026-06-23