Traditional Arts and Arms Making at Conner Prairie

Conner Prairie’s hands-on classes provide a rare opportunity to work closely with some of the nation’s best craftsmen. Small class sizes in well-equipped facilities allow you to develop skills from a basic level to advanced. Register today as classes fill quickly. All materials are included in the class price. Tools are provided, unless otherwise noted.

   

Hand-Forged Pipe Tomahawk

Join blacksmiths Nathan Allen and Dwight Gallian in making a traditional hand-forged pipe tomahawk. Starting with an iron blank, you’ll use a coal forge and traditional blacksmithing techniques to forge the head of the tomahawk the first day of class. The next two days will be spent at the bench filing the head, handling the tomahawk and applying finishing touches, like pewter inlay.

$350/$340 members (tools/materials required)

Friday – Sunday, October 5 – 7  |  8 am – 5 pm

Hearth Cooking

Learn to prepare a traditional meal over an open fire. Enjoy the smell of wood smoke as hearth cooking expert Sarah Withrow shares her knowledge. Learn to blend traditional techniques with historic and contemporary recipes that are perfect for home entertaining, historic re-enacting or camping.

$85/$80 members

Saturday, October 6  |  8 am – 3 pm

Pennsylvania German Design

Create instant family heirlooms with Ken Scott while exploring the 18^th-century folk art of Pennsylvania. Ken will introduce traditional styles and design as students learn the art of calligraphy and drawing used in early fraktur, such as marriage and birth certificates.

$125/$120 members

Saturday, October 6  |  8 am – 5 pm

Basic Blacksmithing 

Join Nathan Allen as you learn the basics of blacksmithing including drawing, punching, hardening, tempering steel and forge welding. You’ll make projects such as chain links, s-hooks, a fireplace poker, pliers and a fork.

$260/$250 members

Saturday – Sunday, October 6 – 7  |  8 am – 5 pm

Folding Knife

A hand made folding knife is a joy to use and something you can carry with pride. Bladesmith Brian Barker teaches how to create a historically appropriate knife. Starting with quality steel, brass and horn, students will spend time at the bench learning how to file, fit, harden and temper a practical knife that will serve well in daily use.

$260/$250 members (tools required)

Saturday – Sunday, October 6 – 7  |  8 am – 5 pm

Advanced Hornworking: Virginian Style Horn

Work alongside master hornsmith Art DeCamp to make a Virginia Style screw tip horn. Utilizing reference materials, students will be able to select a horn that suits their personal taste and experience level.  Basic hornworking techniques such as heating, pressing, lathe work, finishing and coloring of horn will be covered. Returning students are encouraged to bring unfinished horn projects to class for assistance in finishing.  
$585/$565 members (tools required)

Saturday – Tuesday, October 6 – 9  |  8 am – 5 pm
Wednesday, October 10  |  8 am – 12 pm

Engraving

Master engraver and author of Engraving Historic Firearms, John Schippers, teaches you the art of metal engraving. Using practice pieces, you’ll learn basic design, tool selection and sharpening techniques. Also, you’ll have the opportunity at the bench to practice and receive critique on the techniques learned in class.

$525/$515 members (tools required)

Saturday – Tuesday, October 6 – 9  |  8 am – 5 pm

Wednesday, October 10  |  8 am – 12 pm

Custom Knife Sheaths

Folk artist and leatherworker Ken Scott will show you the many tips and techniques used in making knife sheaths for all styles of working knives. Please bring the knives you want to sheath to class.

$125/$120 members (tools/materials required)

Sunday, October 7 |  8 am – 5 pm

Inkle Weaving

Weave straps and sashes appropriate for hunting pouches and powder horns using inkle looms. Learn about material selection, loom design, warping the loom and weaving to create beautiful works of art from master weaver Sue Payne. This class is suitable for beginners as well as weavers with more advanced skills.

$115/$110 members

Saturday, October 7  |  8 am – 5 pm

Coopering: Wooden Canteen

Fitting wood together tightly enough to be water tight is a skill that will challenge most woodworkers. Learn the art of coopering with Chuck Andrews. The class will be shown the basic processes of “wet” coopering through the construction of a canteen based upon historic examples.

$240/$230 members

Monday – Tuesday, October 8 – 9  |  8 am – 5 pm

Wednesday, October 10  |  8 am – 12 pm

Forging Damascus Steel

Let the sparks fly as you learn to make Damascus steel. Blacksmith Nathan Allen will teach the fundamentals of making pattern welded steel from proper steel selection to basic pattern development. Traditional coal forges, anvil, and both hand- and power-hammer forging techniques will be used to make a billet of Damascus steel. The goal of the class is to get the billet forged and make at least one forged knife blank. If you are interested in completing a knife, you’ll also want to sign up for the knifesmithing class.

$280/$270 members (tools required)

Monday – Tuesday, October 8 – 9  |  8 am – 5 pm

Wednesday, October 10  |  8 am – 12 pm

Leatherworking

Join Ken Scott as he teaches you his unique style of making hunting bags and pouches. Through pattern development, cutting, stitching, finishing, and basic leatherworking techniques, you’ll create a one of a kind hunting pouch. You’ll also learn Ken’s unique antiquing methods.

$315/$305 members (tools required)

Monday – Tuesday, October 8 – 9  |  8 am – 5 pm

Wednesday, October 10  |  8 am – 12 pm

Axe Forging

Explore traditional forging techniques with blacksmith Nathan Allen. Examine stylistic differences and construction techniques used on historic axes, and then forge and finish a traditional tomahawk and “Fort Meigs” style hatchet.

$280/$270 members (tools required)

Wednesday, October 10 |  1 – 5 pm

Thursday – Friday, October 11 – 12 |  8 am – 5 pm

Basic Hornworking: Engraving and Scrimshaw Techniques

Knowing how to properly scrimshaw opens up a new dimension to working with horn, antler, bone and other materials. Master Hornsmith Art DeCamp will show you the tricks to design, layout and execute beautiful scrimshaw work. Students will have the opportunity to solely explore scrimshaw techniques, working on practice pieces provided or on their own finished and ready to scrimshaw horn. Or, students may opt to construct their own basic powder horn during the class and work on scrimshawing that horn. Each student will be provided a special engraving knife and related materials as part of the class.

$295/$285 members (tools required)

Wednesday, October 10 |  1 – 5 pm

Thursday – Friday, October 11 – 12 |  8 am – 5 pm

Knifesmithing

Under the guidance of Dwight Gallian, you’ll learn about the history and creation of a traditional hand-forged knife. Topics include proper steel selection, use of a coal forge and anvil, filing, and finishing a handle. You can expect to complete at least one knife during class.

$280/$270 members (tools required)

Wednesday, October 10 |  1 – 5 pm

Thursday – Friday, October 11 – 12 |  8 am – 5 pm

Stock Carving & Silver Wire Inlay

Master gunsmith John Schippers will help you learn the basics of two fundamental techniques of decorating longrifles, tomahawks and knives: relief carving and silver wire inlay. Utilizing practice pieces, you will learn how to design and execute decorative motifs, and make your own tools and keep them sharp. You’ll also pick up other tips and techniques from John that he has mastered over his 50 year career as a gunsmith.  

$265/$255 members (tools/materials required)

Wednesday, October 10 |  1 – 5 pm

Thursday – Friday, October 11 – 12 |  8 am – 5 pm