Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions that we have received over the last few months.
Where are you located?
Our address is 63 Commerce Street, Glasgow, G5 8AD. It is ten minutes south of Central Station and just round the corner from the Bridge Street subway station.
What classes and lessons do you run?
Please see our classes page for more information and for our full weekly schedule.
How much does it cost?
Please see our prices page for a full description of our drop-in session prices and our multi-session passes.
What should I bring with me?
Loose fitting clothing (our typical uniform is black trousers with a white t-shirt) and sensible footwear, and an eagerness to learn! If you are going to be attending a blacksmithing class, then you should not wear any synthetic clothing.
Are your classes suitable for beginners?
Most of our new students are complete beginners and have never done anything like this before. Come along and give a go!
Is there an age limit for your activities?
Our archery classes are suitable for ages 12+ (although note that anyone under 16 will need a parent or guardian to accompany them).
Our regular sword-fighting classes are for ages 16+.
Our blacksmithing activities are for ages 18+; however, if you are aged 16-17 and are interested, please contact us for more information and we may be able to arrange a special session for you.
For more information, please see our classes page for our full weekly schedule, including the minimum ages we can accept for each activity.
Can I arrange some private tuition?
We do offer private tuition by appointment. Please contact us to describe your requirements and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Is there parking nearby?
There is some on-street parking in front of the venue, but there is never a guarantee of a convenient space. In the nearby area there are always plenty of parking spaces, but you may have to circle the blocks a few times! We would recommend looking at the Parkopedia website for information on local parking spaces.
Is it fencing you offer?
The sword fighting that we teach is not modern, Olympic fencing. Instead, we teach historical European martial arts (HEMA), where we work with textbooks written by medieval and renaissance fencing masters who describe how to fight with different swords and items from the time period in question.
What is HEMA?
HEMA is an acronym for Historical European Martial Arts. In past centuries, fencing masters wrote textbooks in which they described how to fight with the different swords and weapons of the day. We study these old textbooks and practise the systems as a modern martial art, with appropriate modern protective equipment such as fencing masks and padded gloves.
Can I make a career out of blacksmithing?
Of course you can, if you put in the effort to learn the skills, and then open a business. However, this is not something we can help with, as our facilities are rather limited, and we focus on giving people the experience of blacksmithing rather than working towards a career.
Do you offer an apprenticeship in blacksmithing?
Unfortunately, this is not something we are able to offer at this time. We are able to offer introductory courses, to give you the experience of blacksmithing, but we are not able to offer anything more in-depth at this time.
Can I book a blacksmithing session?
Yes! Please contact us and we would be delighted to help.
You can book a two- to three-hour introductory session, where you will forge a small item and develop your knowledge of blacksmithing skills.
Can I forge a sword?
No, this is an experience we are currently unable to offer.