Richard Wright of Troy, New Hampshire, grinds a piece of steel Monday afternoon to forge into a Damascus knife at New England School of Metalwork in Auburn. The six-day class has students completing a 4- to 5-inch hunting knife. Wright has been taking classes at the school since 2004. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Ben Breda of Hope forges a piece of steel into a Damascus knife on Monday afternoon at New England School of Metalwork in Auburn. He is teaching a six-day class on making 4- to 5-inch hunting knives. A local journeyman bladesmith, Breda got his start making knives at the school in 2012. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Richard Wright of Troy, New Hampshire, grinds a piece of steel to forge into a Damascus knife on Monday afternoon at New England School of Metalwork in Auburn. He has been taking classes at the school since 2004. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal

Richard Wright, right, of Troy, New Hampshire, grinds a piece of steel to forge into a Damascus knife on Monday afternoon at New England School of Metalwork in Auburn. Wright been taking classes at the school since 2004. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal