Not many places these days where someone can apprentice for bladesmithing.
If you're up for a trip, try here;
http://www.rennfest.com/mrf/
There's one swordsmith there that makes swords that you can bend into a half-circle and they snap back straight as an arrow.
He also does "Damascus" steel.
[so does hubby's buddy but he's a bit anti-social and would never apprentice anyone]...:))