Entry No. 25 — the Portland file — filed under: knife-making
Vonhelmick Knife Company
On a family property about 65 miles southwest of Portland, Gordon Hanson runs full-day forging sessions that end with a finished knife — and for the truly committed, a "Forge & Stay" package pairing two days of hammering steel with two nights in the guest house.
The story
Drive roughly 65 miles southwest of Portland into Polk County until the highways taper off into tiny Falls City, and you'll locate bladesmith Gordon Hanson running a hearth at 259 Sixth Street. You aren't coming out here to pick up a pre-polished blade off a velvet tray. You come here to stand next to an open furnace, breathe in charcoal smoke, and shape raw high-carbon steel with your own arms.
Hanson operates on a family property, turning what could be a sterile craft class into an intense, full-day hammer session. You work through the steps until you're holding a finished kitchen blade or custom EDC knife forged by your own hands. For those who want the full immersion—or just don't feel like driving home with aching shoulders—the "Forge & Stay" retreat pairs two days of working the anvil with two nights in the on-site guest house.
What it's like
Pull up to the property on Sixth Street and follow the ring of hammer striking anvil. The setup is raw and unpretentious: expect intense radiant heat, physical fatigue after hours of hammering steel, and black soot on your hands. Non-forging spectators are welcome to pull up a seat and watch the work. If you bring kids, note that participants must be at least 10 years old, and anyone under 18 needs an adult chaperone on site while the forge is hot.
The move: Drive out for the full-day Master Bladesmith session and each forge your own kitchen or EDC knife from raw high-carbon steel, or go all-in on the overnight Forge & Stay package for a real weekend outing.
- 📍 Falls City, Polk County, Oregon
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 259 Sixth St, Falls City, OR 97344
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Enchanted Forest — Break up the drive back toward Portland with a stop at this hand-built, eccentric fairytale park nestled off I-5 near Turner.
- Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals — Connect your high-carbon steel blade work to its raw geological roots by touring this sprawling rockhound collection housed in a historic 1950s ranch.
- Past Lives Makerspace — "Forge a Date!" — If you want a lighter, urban taste of metalworking before committing to a full day of hammer work in Polk County, check out this Central Eastside warehouse spot.
Good to know
How far is Vonhelmick Knife Company from Portland?
It's located in Falls City in Polk County, roughly 65 miles southwest of Portland—usually a drive of just under two hours.
What do you make during the full-day class?
You take a bar of raw high-carbon steel through heating, hammering, shaping, and finishing to take home a complete kitchen knife or everyday carry blade.
Are kids allowed to participate or spectate?
Forging participants should be at least 10 years old, and minors require a chaperone on site. Spectators are allowed to watch without taking a class seat.
What does the 'Forge & Stay' package include?
It extends the standard workshop into two full days of anvil work paired with a two-night stay in the property's guest house.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · traveloregon.com · fallscityschools.org · Instagram
last checked: 2026-07-20