2014 School Year
March 2014
Monday March 24 – Friday, March 28 – Basic Forging Course
Saturday, March 29 – Sunday, March 30 – Kajioshi Course
April 2014
Friday, April 11 – Sunday, April 13: Oregon Knife Collectors Association (OKCA) Knife Show in Eugene, Oregon
Monday, April 21 – Friday, April 25 – Basic Forging Course
Saturday, April 26 – Sunday, April 27 – Habaki Course
May 2014
Monday, May 5 – Friday, May 9 – Kajioshi-Habaki Combo-Course
Monday, May 12 – Friday, May 16 – Koshirae Course
June 2014
Monday, June 16 – Friday, June 20 – Basic Forging Course
Saturday, June 21 – Sunday, June 22 – Kajioshi Course
July 2014
Saturday, July 5 – Sunday, July 6 – Tsuka-maki Course
Monday, July 14 – Friday, July 18 – Basic Forging Course
Saturday, July 19 – Sunday, July 20 – Habaki Course
August 2014
Monday, August 25 – Friday, August 29 – Intermediate Forging Course
Saturday, August 30 – Sunday, August 31 – Kajioshi Course
September 2014
Monday, September 8 – Friday, September 12 – Basic Forging Course
Saturday, September 13 – Sunday, September 14 – Habaki Course
October 2014
Monday, October 6 – Friday, October 10 – Basic Forging Course
Saturday, October 11 – Sunday, October 12 – Kajioshi Course
I was wondering if the school still does the Oroshigane seminar? I don’t see it listed in your course schedule.
We are not planning an oroshigane seminar for this years’ school curriculum. One reason is that we have an abundance of metal from previous sessions and don’t require more for our own use.
While very interesting in itself, and certainly a requirement for forging a sword in the strictly traditional method, it is not the best metal to use when first learning the art of swordsmithing. There are fundamental skills that are to be learned using less expensive steel as well as less repetitive labor. Once one has some success with modern steel, then moving on to the traditional metal makes more sense.
If you decide to take our courses I would be happy to show you the apparatus and general process for making oroshigane. With some blade smithing experience under your belt you can attend an oroshigane seminar at a later date, and perhaps at better profit to you.