Entry No. 35 — the San Antonio file — filed under: blacksmithing
Surtr Forge (Gruene)
A real working blacksmith shop wedged among Gruene's antique shops where you heat, hammer, and grind your own knife out of raw stock at the anvil — a horseshoe knife ('The Ranger'), a full railroad-spike knife ('The Vaquero'), even a hot-forged copper bracelet — and walk out having actually made the thing yourself, not watched someone else make it. (This shop absorbed the brand's San Antonio location, which has since closed, so Gruene is now the only outpost.)
The story
Historic Gruene is mostly known for tourists drifting between antique emporiums and country dancing, but tucked into Suite F on Hunter Road is a working anvil where you can heat metal white-hot and pound it into a blade. Blacksmithing has run continuously on this plot for over 150 years—operating under the name Caylor Forge before evolving into Surtr Forge. The shop briefly tried running a second spot in downtown San Antonio near the Pearl, but that outpost closed, consolidating everything back into this single Gruene workshop.
You aren't here to stand behind a yellow safety line and watch a craftsman perform for a crowd. You grab the tongs, drag raw stock from the furnace fire, and swing the hammer yourself. Whether you start with a horseshoe to forge 'The Ranger' knife, heat up a thick railroad spike for 'The Vaquero,' or twist a copper bracelet, you do the heating, the shaping, and the grinding under the quiet eye of a resident smith.
What it's like
Step through the door and you'll catch the dry blast of the gas forges and the clink of hammer on iron. The atmosphere is loud, warm, and decidedly un-sanitized: wear natural cotton, closed-toe leather boots, and clothes you don't mind dusting with grit and soot. A instructor talks you through heat control and hammer strikes, but you do the physical labor yourself. You'll leave with sore forearms, dark residue on your thumbs, and a hand-ground knife tucked under your arm.
The move: Walk in (or call ahead) and each forge your own blade at a station — a horseshoe knife (~$55) or, if you're both feeling ambitious, a full railroad-spike knife (~$125) — hammering and grinding side by side until you've each got a knife you made yourselves.
- 📍 Historic Gruene, New Braunfels
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1633 Hunter Road, Suite F, New Braunfels, TX 78130
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Bracken Cave Preserve — Pair an afternoon of heavy hammer swings at the anvil with a short drive west to see millions of bats spiral into the sky at dusk.
- Flame & Form Metal Studio — If rough-forging steel blade stock makes you curious about delicate metalwork, head into Tobin Hill to try silversmithing side-by-side.
- Jazz, TX — Wash off the forge soot and trade the ring of the anvil for a basement speakeasy setting with live swing music.
Good to know
What projects can I make and how much do they cost?
You can forge a horseshoe knife ('The Ranger') or a copper bracelet for around $55, or tackle a heavier railroad-spike knife ('The Vaquero') for roughly $125.
Do I need to book in advance?
Walk-ins are often accommodated if an anvil is open, but booking ahead online guarantees you a forge station, especially on busy weekends in Historic Gruene.
What should I wear to the shop?
Wear natural fibers like cotton jeans and a short-sleeve shirt along with closed-toe shoes. Avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester, which can melt near forge heat.
Is the San Antonio location still open?
No. The San Antonio outpost near the Pearl closed, and all operations are now consolidated at this Gruene location on Hunter Road.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · mapquest.com
last checked: 2026-07-20