When is the next class?

Each class runs six weeks. Depending on time of year, the following class will be scheduled after a short one- or two-week break. We do not schedule classes across the fall/winter holidays, meaning there is usually no class between Thanksgiving and New Year's. The announcement for each class goes out to emails having expressed interest directly, to our facebook page, and at business meetings 2-3 weeks before the next class starts.

What's the cost?

The Beginner's class is $300, Intermediate class is $350. Guild membership, which is required to take the structured classes, is $40/year and may be included for students who are not already members. Private lessons are available to non-members, and are $50/hour, per student.

What do I need to bring?

All forging tools and equipment are provided. Safety gear is available (aprons, eye protection, ear protection) but students may bring their own if they prefer. Gloves are optional, but thin leather that protects the hand without obstructing fine motor skills is suggested. Intermediate students have a short list of required equipment.

Is there a restroom?

Gulf Branch Nature Center has a restroom, but they close at 5 pm on the days they're open. There is currently no provision for a restroom for our evening classes. Students are encouraged to stay hydrated, but smartly manage their needs to avoid emergencies.

I want to make a knife, will you teach me?

Your instructor is a 2-time contestant of "Forged In Fire" and is happy to talk about bladesmithing, but Private Lessons offer the best opportunity to learn how to make a knife.

I'm not sure this is for me, how do I find out without committing time and money?

The Blacksmith's Guild of the Potomac holds regular business meetings at the forge every 1st and 3rd Friday at 7 pm. These meetings are open to the public at no cost. After a short business session, announcements, show-and-tell, and a demonstration, there is open-forge time where newcomers can try their hand and get many opinions on how blacksmithing can be done.

Who is my instructor?

Christopher Price first started blacksmithing in 1997, following an interest in medieval armor, having grown up in Germany in the 1980's. Starting with basic blacksmithing, Christopher moved into knife-making and "Neo-tribal" metalsmithing. He developed his love for historical reproduction, learning how to make steel from ore according to several historic traditions (Northern Europe, Mediterranean, Japan, South Asia, Colonial America) and forge tools, jewelry, and weapons consistent with archaeological finds. Christopher moved to Washington DC in 1999 and returned to traditional blacksmithing, teaching and demonstrating at BGOP since 2017.

In 2008, Christopher helped organize the first Hammer-In at Baltimore Knife and Sword, a peer gathering with a wide variety of skills, demonstrations, and information sharing. He was integrally involved in demonstration the smelting of iron ore into bloomery steel.

In 2014, Christopher co-founded Resilience Forge with Nate Bocker, working with wounded soldiers in Ft. Belvoir's Warrior Transition Battalion. Working with physical therapists and medical professionals, they were able to design accessible solutions for smiths with a variety of different abilities and physical restrictions, and those lessons translate into effective techniques for younger, developing, and smiths with low upper body strength.

From 2015-2018, Christopher was a regular demonstrator at Claude Moore Colonial Farm's Market Fair events, smelting iron from ore and forging tools from iron and steel. Up to 2,000 people a day would pass by his pavilion, where he explained the industry of the mid-18th century, laws, and material culture of iron in the American colonies.

Christopher also competed on History Channel's "Forged In Fire" twice, once in 2017 (Season 4, episode 20, the "Tabar-Shishpar") and again in 2019 (Season 6, episodes 1 & 2, "Road to Redemption"). Working in a studio shop with lights, cameras, and the tough competition of the clock, he combined his public demonstration, teaching, and project design skills to beat out six other competitors over four weeks of filming.