Entry No. 54 — the Wichita file — filed under: hands-on
J.G. Ears Knives (Forge-Your-Own-Knife Experience)
Custom knifemaker Ross Jagears runs a one-on-one forge experience out of his working shop, Jagears Knives and Smithy, near Wichita. You fire up the forge and do most of the hammering yourself while he coaches each step, from drawing out hot steel to shaping the blade. It is a genuine bladesmithing session rather than a watch-the-pro demo. Booked directly with the maker by appointment.
The story
Most modern 'maker workshops' hand you a pre-trimmed blank, let you polish the handle for twenty minutes, and send you home with a souvenir. Custom knifemaker Ross Jagears takes the exact opposite approach. Out at Jagears Knives and Smithy, his working shop in the Wichita area, you aren't sitting back while a professional puts on a performance. You fire up a coal forge, pick up the hammer, and do the heavy labor yourself.
This is a dedicated one-on-one session with the maker himself. Jagears stands right beside you to coach every movement—showing you how heat transforms heavy steel, how to draw out the metal across the anvil, and how to hammer the edge into shape. It's a genuine, soot-and-sparks bladesmithing lesson that trades polished tourist fluff for heat, muscle, and real metalwork.
What it's like
Don't look for a retail storefront or a polished classroom banner—you get the shop's exact address only after booking your appointment directly with Ross. Once you step inside, expect a working shop environment defined by heat, iron, and coal dust. You'll be taking turns at the anvil, coaxing glowing metal into shape under Jagears' close instruction. Skip the synthetic clothes, pull on heavy boots, and prepare to leave smelling like forge smoke.
The move: Fire up a coal forge and take turns hammering glowing steel into a real knife blade under the smith's guidance.
📍 Before you go Booked by appointment; contact via the site or (316) 491-1592 to arrange a session and confirm location.
- 📍 Wichita area
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Wichita, KS (by appointment; address provided on booking)
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Dockum — After spending hours bent over a coal forge, wash off the soot and retreat underground for a stiff craft cocktail in a 1920s bank vault.
- CityArts Glassblowing Workshops — Double down on extreme pyrotechnic crafts by trading the anvil for the furnace at Old Town's municipal glass hot shop.
- The Arcade — Trade physical heavy-metal labor for flat-rate 80s arcade cabinet pounding just a short drive away in Old Town.
Good to know
How do I reserve a forge session?
Sessions are strictly by appointment. You can schedule directly with Ross through his website (jagearsknives.com) or by phone at (316) 491-1592, after which you'll receive the shop location.
Do I actually forge the knife myself or just watch a demo?
You do the hammering yourself. Ross coaches you through drawing out and shaping the hot blade rather than doing the work for you.
Does the experience use a coal forge?
Yes, you'll be firing up a coal forge and working with glowing-hot steel directly on the anvil.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · Facebook
last checked: 2026-06-23