Bladesmith Johnathan Sibley beats down on a long piece of burning hot high carbon steel with a hammer, shaping it into what will be a knife, as attendees looked on during a live forging demonstration Saturday in front of The Blade Bar in downtown Ben Wheeler. (Cara Campbell/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Bladesmith Johnathan Sibley hammered away on a long piece of burning hot high-carbon steel, shaping it into what would be a knife, as attendees looked on during a forging demonstration Saturday in front of The Blade Bar in downtown Ben Wheeler.

Sibley, with over 30 years of bladesmithing experience, said, “I host live demonstrations because I think it’s good for people to see people making the things that they offer for sale.”

Sibley and his wife, Rihannon, opened The Blade Bar in April and, along with selling Sibley’s handmade knives, plan to host live forging demonstrations every fourth Saturday of the month and offer workshops where participants can make and walk away with custom knives.

Rihannon Sibley said “doing the events drives more business into the community and is a way to gather together, get out and do something different.”

For more information, visit The Blade Bar on Facebook.