MARTIN L'ARTIGIANO Sagl

A day in the forge

Immerse yourself in the art of forging! Experience the magic of fire with all your senses, feel the intensity of the red-hot metal and discover the extraordinary properties of the materials and tools you will use to give shape to your creativity.

We offer forging courses in small groups of 1-3 people, whether you already have experience or want to try your hand at the ancient craft of forging for the first time.

Courses take place in our workshop in Gravesano/Ticino, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a 1-hour break at noon.

WE ARE FLEXIBLE: If none of the following course suggestions fit your schedule, contact us to find a date that suits you!

 

BASIC or ADVANCED forging course

For those who have no experience with the forge and forging, the BASIC course will allow you to experience this activity with your senses, learn the first signs of the "language of steel," and feel the weight and characteristics of the materials and tools to be used, followed by the ADVANCED course to put into practice what you learned during the BASIC course. The BASIC course is open to everyone.

1 day - Saturday, November 15, 2025 / November 29, 2025 / January 16, 2026 (Friday) / January 17, 2026 / February 14, 2026

 

TOOLS forging course (HAMMER / CLASSIC AXE)

For those who want to create their own tools to use in the next forging course or at home. Basic knowledge is recommended for the CLASSIC AXE course.

HAMMER: 1 day - Saturday, January 31, 2026

CLASSIC AXE: 2 days - Friday, January 16, 2026 & Saturday, January 17, 2026 / Friday, March 27, 2026 & Saturday, March 28, 2026

KNIFE BLADE forging course

Creating your own knife is a dream for many people. You will learn the techniques from A to Z to take home a knife ready for everyday use. The KNIFE BLADE course lasts 2 days. Basic knowledge is recommended for the KNIFE BLADE course. Note: this course does NOT include the production of the knife handle.

2 days - Friday, December 12, 2025, and Saturday, December 13, 2025 / Friday, March 13, 2026, and Saturday, March 14, 2026 / Friday, April 3, 2026, and Saturday, April 4, 2026

 

Cost of 1-day course: CHF 250 (materials included)

Cost of 2-day course: CHF 450 (materials included)

3-day course cost: CHF 680 (materials included)

 

Forging... a bit of history

Forging (or smithing) is an ancient and prestigious craft, which was once often linked to magic and mysticism and whose origins date back to the Neolithic period (around 6000 BC) with the working of bronze. Nowadays, it has become very rare, as are the forges that still follow the ancient tradition of fire forging.

In the forge, the fire is created from coal or coke, fed with air by a fan. The craftsman heats the iron or steel until it reaches a temperature of 800-1,100°C. At this point, the object is removed from the fire and is now ready to be forged with a hammer on an anvil. Depending on the size of the object, a sledgehammer may also be used. Once the desired shape has been achieved, the object is filed and finally finished, for example by attaching a wooden handle.