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TRYON–Billy Salyers, the winner of the popular History Channel TV show ‘Forged in Fire’ and owner of Yellow Rose Forge, will be teaching a knife-making workshop at the Tryon Arts and Crafts School on Saturday, June 17.

During the workshop, students will learn to make a knife from start to finish, including forging, grinding, handling, finishing and sharpening. Salyers will guide the students through the process and help them with any issues they may have.

Salyers, who started smithing six years ago with his children at the TACS forge, taking classes from Gerry Drew, has since taken over teaching the class. He and his son are also the only father-and-son winners of Forged in Fire. 

“It’s an art form we’ll be learning for the rest of our lives,” Salyers says. “There is always room to grow. And I credit Gerry’s teaching for preparing me for Forged in Fire.”

Salyers adds that learning at the forge at TACS is an efficient introduction to knife-making.

“This workshop condenses down what took me a year and a half to learn into 8 hours,” he says. “At the end of the day, everyone leaves the forge with a knife they made. They will do 90-95% of the work, and I’ll instruct and fix any problems.”

Learning the craft of making knives is a great way to connect with others while learning an ancient art.

“I love getting to meet people and learning from them, and a knife doesn’t mean much without someone holding it,” he adds. “Sharing that love of knife-making and blacksmithing is priceless.”

To learn more or sign up for the workshop, visit tryonartsandcrafts.org.