10 knife makers

10 unique blades

created over a weekend of forging,

hammering & collaborating

in West Cork, Ireland

The Makers

Tobias Hangler

Metallurgist - Teacher - Master bladesmith

One of the creators of “Apexultra” steel.

Mareko Maumasi

Maumasi Firearts

A true specialist in Damascus making and teaching. Well known for his Podcasts and exquisite culinary knives.

Sam Gleeson

This is what I do

Sam is about to open a knife School and educational centre in Clare. He’s a people person, and a knack for forging.

Fingal Ferguson

One of the Hammer-in organisers. A creative knifemaker who alongside is family also makes Gubbeen cheese and charcuterie. No stranger to a knife and keen to push boundaries in the creation of them.

Sam Dunn

Dunn Bladeworks

Hard working and diligent, loves to hunt and fish, a good friend and fantastic maker.

Hugo Byrne

Hugo makes stunning, functional knives, and also happens to be some of the best craic. His wit is as sharp as his knives.

Erik Gullikson

“Two Words” has become a thing- if Erik is going to make a knife for you, there is a process, and it will fascinate you. Coming from a musical background, he is obsessed with details and has bags of creativity.

Blenheim Forge

James and Rich

Londons Geezas - Bladesmith legends with a toe in history and urge to do it right, they have it down and deserve there well earned international status.

Lew Griffin

The master of the hollow grind , a talented bladesmith with a the skill to forge and hone a stunning knife.

jason Borst

A man of many skills- but his knowledge of Lapidary and space give his knives a unique edge. Unique pieces often adorned by fossil or meteroite.

The Steel

Thanks to the generosity of two distinguised steel manufacturers Damasteel and ApexUltra we had a wonderful selection of Billets and Bars to make knives with!

what is a hammer-in

In many ways it’s a group of makers and friends with a blacksmithing connection coming together to take on a project or a challenge with the intention to teach or learn. A symbiotic exchange between maker’s of different backgrounds.

With the kind donations of steel from Damasteel and Apexultra we had some of the worlds best steel and damascus. With a combination of those top quality steels and the dirty dozen of knifemakers we based the weekend around a convivial sharing of knowledge and the chance to take on projects that pushed us out of our comfort zones or entered us into collaboration.

Some of the bladesmiths had travelled from far away, so it was our honour to show West Cork hospitality and rustle up a little adventuring through the weekend. Extra curricular activities of course included creamy pints of stouts on the end of the mizen peninsula and eating some of the fantastic local fare.

The result was magic, a strengthening of friendships and plenty of adventure. We wanted the West Cork hammer-in to to be memorable.

Special thanks to Mark Keeling who opened up his worshop and gave so generously to make the event possible!