Entry No. 50 — the New York City file — filed under: hands-on
Craftsman Ave — Knife Forging
Tucked inside Industry City, this beginner-friendly forge hands you a propane forge and a hammer and has you heat steel until it glows red, then draw it out into a blade. The signature class transforms a length of rebar or a railroad spike into a knife of your own shape, with options framed as a survival or hunting knife. You keep what you make.
The story
Deep inside Industry City’s sprawling industrial complex, standard retail stalls give way to something far louder. Since 2015, Craftsman Ave has operated out of Building 6 as a working maker studio where you skip the sanitized DIY craft kit and grab a hammer instead. Tucked into Suite B124, their blacksmithing setup puts raw stock and propane forges directly into the hands of total novices.
The core premise is brutal and satisfying: you take a length of industrial rebar or a salvaged railroad spike, shove it into a roaring furnace until it glows incandescent orange, and beat it over an anvil until it becomes a blade. Instructors coach you through the physical mechanics of drawing out metal, grinding the profile, and quenching the hot steel. You aren't watching a demo—you leave with a finished knife you shaped yourself.
What it's like
Wander into Building 6 on 34th Street and listen for the rhythmic clang of iron on anvil to find Suite B124. Expect real studio heat, soot, and open flame; skip synthetic fleece or nylon and wear natural fibers like cotton or denim alongside sturdy, closed-toe shoes. Workshops run anywhere from three to six hours, so clear your afternoon and prepare for your arm to feel the hammer work by the final quench.
The move: Forge a pair of knives together from glowing-hot steel, hammering out your own blades over an afternoon at the anvil.
📍 Before you go Classes run roughly 3-6 hours; wear closed-toe shoes and natural-fiber clothing for the forge.
- 📍 Sunset Park, Brooklyn
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 68 34th St, Building 6, 1st Floor, Ste B124, Brooklyn, NY 11232 (Industry City)
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Morbid Anatomy — Located right in Industry City, making it easy to swap heavy hammer work for natural history specimens and oddities.
- Gotham Taxidermy — Keep your hands busy in Sunset Park by pairing heavy metal forging with private taxidermy instruction nearby.
- Green-Wood Cemetery Catacombs (After Hours Tour) — Head a mile east after your studio shift to stretch out your arms among 478 acres of Victorian tombs.
- Brooklyn Glass — One Day Neon Workshop — If you want another industrial workshop focused on high heat and raw materials, head just north into Gowanus.
Good to know
Do I need any prior metalworking or blacksmithing experience?
No experience is required. The forge classes are built for complete beginners, with makers walking you step-by-step through heating, hammering, shaping, and quenching.
What should I wear to a knife forging class?
You must wear closed-toe shoes and natural-fiber clothing, such as cotton or heavy denim. Synthetic fabrics can melt or singe around open propane forge heat.
How long do the workshops run?
Classes generally last between 3 and 6 hours depending on the blade type you choose, from quick-form railroad spike knives to more involved chef and hunting blades.
Do you get to keep the blade you forge?
Yes, you leave the studio at the end of the workshop with the physical knife you hammered, ground, and heat-treated.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · classbento.com
last checked: 2026-06-23