Instructor: Han Salm-Pechukas
Monday - Wednesday
September 8 - 10
9am - 12pm
3 sessions
In this introductory blade smithing workshop, students will learn the essential forging and heat-treating techniques required to make a functional oyster knife — a tool rooted deeply in Cape Cod’s maritime culture. Using propane forges and high-carbon steel, participants will forge the blade, shape the tang, refine the geometry, and perform basic heat treatment. We’ll finish by hand-filing, sanding, and preparing the blade for a simple handle.
The class emphasizes controlled forging, metallurgy fundamentals, and safe shop practices. No prior experience is necessary; tools and steel will be provided.
Han Salm is a bladesmith and metalworker based in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, specializing in high-carbon steel knives and functional forged tools. His work blends traditional blacksmithing with modern metallurgical techniques, focusing on heat-treat optimization, composite materials, and practical tool geometry. With a background spanning metal fabrication, woodworking, and experimental forging processes, Han is currently developing a purpose-built forge and workshop in Wellfleet, where he produces small-batch cutlery and functional metalwork under the name Salm Company. His teaching style emphasizes material science fundamentals, efficient process control, and building practical skills that help beginners understand not just how to forge, but why the steel behaves the way it does.