Instructor Feature: Nick Rossi

Forging Confidence: Nick Rossi Breaks Down the Bladesmithing Barrier

Forging a chef knife from raw steel might sound intimidating—but for Master Bladesmith Nick Rossi, that’s part of the appeal.

“It’s a lot of physical effort, sort of like climbing a mountain,” he said, describing the forging process. “But when you get to the top, it’s a huge sense of accomplishment. It makes me remember my first knife.”

Rossi, who runs Nick Rossi Knives in Vassalboro, Maine, is offering a five-day workshop at Touchstone Center for Crafts from June 23–27. In Eastern Chef Knife, participants will shape a Japanese-influenced knife from start to finish using traditional forging techniques, learning everything from basic metallurgy to handle design.

It’s a challenging workshop, but one Rossi believes anyone can take on—even those who don’t see themselves as naturally mechanically inclined. “I came to this craft with no natural mechanical abilities,” he said. “I feel like, since learning this was such a struggle, I have a unique ability to fix almost every mistake. Mistakes are greatly encouraged!”

For Rossi, teaching is second nature. After spending nearly a decade at the New England School of Metalwork—where he assisted visiting instructors and taught extensively—he developed a knack for adapting lessons to different learning styles. “Practice does make perfect,” he said.

That experience shows in his approach to teaching. “I hope participants won’t just understand the how but the why,” he said. “Knowing how to do part of a process is super, but a greater context makes for a richer experience.”

Touchstone’s atmosphere plays a big role in why he wanted to bring this workshop to Pennsylvania. “Touchstone has all the nuts and bolts that make a great workshop,” Rossi said. “Excellent facilities, excellent tools, and always great studio assistants. The special thing about it is the environment. It’s a beautiful campus, and it attracts a wonderfully diverse student base. The staff is friendly and super to deal with.”

His passion for culinary tools is rooted in his love for cooking. “I love cooking and eating as much as I like metalwork,” he said. “I also love it when people use my work every day.”

And that’s exactly what participants will leave with: a high-performance kitchen tool forged by their own hands. “Forging can seem intimidating. It’s hot, challenging work,” he said. “Starting with raw materials and ending with a high-performance tool that you can use every day to feed yourself or your family, well, it’s pretty much the best! I promise it will change how you look at the world.”