The Bowie Knife conjures thoughts of legend and history. Each person in this class will create their own version of this iconic American knife. Students will begin by forging the blades to shape from high carbon steel bar stock, followed by grinding and heat treating the blade. Once the blades are finished the class will turn to the handles fabricating a guard, bolster and wood handle for each knife. The main focus will be on several key techniques in knifemaking: fitting a guard, as well as shaping and designing hidden tang wooden handles. Matthew always pays special attention to the “why” as well as the “how” of each step in the process of knife making. Students will learn the importance of how steel goes from forged shapes, to ground blades, how to heat treat for the correct properties of the steel, as well as the construction of handles and the final assembly and sharpening. Matthew will share the many tips and tricks he has learned in his 25-year career of making knives. Each day will include discussions on the process, material selection, and alternatives (lots of them) for choosing the right technique and tool for each step, followed by plenty of hands-on practice. Students will come away with a better understanding of how knives work. Matthew is an enthusiastic craftsman and a great teacher–be prepared to push your limits.