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New England Bladesmith Guild

Ashokan Knife Seminar

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45th Annual • October 16–18, 2026

2026 Seminar Schedule

Ashokan Center, Olivebridge, NY — All sessions, forging demonstrations, and meals.

Friday, October 16

7 sessions
▼
3:00 PM

Gates and registration opens

Dining Hall Lobby
4:00–5:00 PM

Set-up forges at pavilion/tent (Please volunteer!)

Presenter: Volunteers

Pavilion / Tent
5:00–6:00 PM

BYOB Happy Hour

Dining Hall Lobby
6:00–7:00 PM

Dinner

Dining Hall
7:00–7:10 PM

Introduction

Presenter: Tim Zowada

Performance Hall
7:10–8:20 PM

Complex Handle Construction

Presenter: Rob Wayman

Performance Hall
8:30 PM–12:00 AM

Open Forge

Presenter: Herb Kettell

Pavilion

Saturday, October 17

14 sessions
▼
8:00–9:00 AM

Breakfast

Dining Hall
9:00–9:50 AM

The Sword from Everywhere

Presenter: Emiliano Carrillo

Performance Hall
10:00–11:20 AM

Tomahawk Forging

Presenter: Butch Sheely

Tent
11:30 AM–12:30 PM

Things I Wish I Knew When I Started

Presenter: Matt Gregory

Performance Hall
12:30–1:30 PM

Lunch and Merch Sales

Dining Hall
1:30–2:20 PM

Leatherwork

Presenter: Burt Foster

Performance Hall
2:30–3:20 PM

Forge Welded Inlay

Presenter: Emiliano Carrillo

Tent
3:30–4:20 PM

How I Grind

Presenter: Matt Gregory

Tent
4:30–5:20 PM

Bowie Design

Presenter: Butch Sheely

Performance Hall
5:30–6:30 PM

Dinner

Dining Hall
6:30–7:50 PM

Blade Forging

Presenter: Herb Kettell

Tent
6:30–7:50 PM

Metal Allergy Mayhem

Presenter: Tim Zowada

Performance Hall
8:00–8:50 PM

Heat Treatment

Presenter: Burt Foster

Pavilion
9:00 PM–12:00 AM

Open Forge / Blade Forging Lessons

Presenter: Herb Kettell

Pavilion

Sunday, October 18

6 sessions
▼
8:00–9:00 AM

Breakfast and Remove Personal Gear from Bunkhouse

Dining Hall
9:30–10:30 AM

Making and Fitting Bolsters and Pommels

Presenter: Rob Wayman

Performance Hall
10:30 AM–12:00 PM

Sword/Knife Display and Show

Dining Hall
12:00–1:00 PM

Lunch

Dining Hall
1:00–2:00 PM

Pack-up Forges and Clean-up Demo Area

Demo Area
2:00 PM

Departure