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Nick Belfry, our blacksmithing instructor, grew up in the woods and workshops of Southeast Alaska. He was introduced to metal working when he made his first knife by grinding down an old file at the age of 6. He continued his journey as a blacksmith a few years later when his father attended the American Bladesmith Society's school to learn how to make knives. Now equipped with a forge, anvil, and skilled mentor, he spent much of his time over the next few years in the shop, working on basic skills and getting a crick in his neck from standing at the belt grinder too long.
After attending college and meeting his wife, Nick returned to blacksmithing during the Great Recession when jobs for young people were scarce. His knife making business never got off the ground, but once again he had a forge and an anvil and he began to practice on new types of projects.
When he and his wife purchased their first home (a real fixer upper) he suddenly found himself hammering nails instead of hot steel and painting walls instead of polishing blades. For several years, his forge stayed boxed up and he would have given it away if not for his wife's urging him to keep it.
After moving to Sandpoint, Nick connected with the Kaniksu Folk School and had his love for the craft rekindled. Now, when he's not pruning fruit trees with his wife and children, building their cozy home in town, or sharing a beer with a friend, he can be found at his forge where he is always working to improve and expand his skills and create fun and informative classes for the Folk School.
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