Japanese Cleaver
"Nakiri"
with
Isaiah Washington
Class runs: December 10-13
Tuition: $600
Material Fee: $60
Skill level: Seasoned beginner and up, basic forging skills are very helpful.
In this four day workshop students will complete a forged, hidden tang Japanese Style Vegetable clever known as a Nakiri. Students will learn the forging process of making a clever style blade, as well as heat treatment of 1084 material, grinding, and handle carving. The handles will be carved in the Asian Wa, or octagonal style. Safety, material selection, tooling, and knife design theory will also be discussed. The blades will be 1084 high carbon steel with an optional metal bolster and choice of exotic or figured hardwood handle. Students should expect to complete one 5-7” clever knife. Beginner bladesmithing skills are strongly recommended but not necessary.
Students should be familiar with basic forging processes to be successful in this class. A minimum of a beginners blacksmithing is super helpful.
Isaiah started forging steel after he was inspired by a popular online show about forging knives and swords. In 2015 at the age of 18 Isaiah bought his first forge from the New England School of Metalwork, a small buffalo forge run on coal and charcoal. Isaiah began selling his work online and started his business Zay Knives. Shortly after graduating high school Isaiah began pursuing the craft full time, specializing in handmade kitchen knives, folding knives, and utility knives. Isaiah became the intern apprentice at the school and was asked to participate in the 2016 Battle of the Bladesmiths where four contestants would make a knife in under 2 hours, Isaiah came in second place.