Knifepoint Ridge

Bandit camp and mine northwest of Falkreath, home of the Knifepoint Gang and a key stop in Boethiah’s Calling, with a forge, an alchemy lab and plenty of iron.

Knifepoint Ridge is a fortified bandit camp built around a mine northwest of Falkreath. It serves as the headquarters of the Knifepoint Gang, and the bandits have kitted it out better than most inns: smelter, forge, alchemy lab, the works. Come for a bounty, a skill book or a rather bloody Daedric errand – and leave with a bag full of iron.

What you’ll find

  • An outdoor camp of bandits on several levels, with the mine, Knifepoint Mine, cut into the mountain behind it.
  • Crafting gear: alchemy lab, forge, grindstone, tanning rack and workbench.
  • One iron ore vein just east of the forge, five more inside the mine, and three loose iron ores in the cart by the entrance.
  • A master-locked chest tucked under the ramp behind the smelter – it is tied to Boethiah’s previous champion.
  • Before Boethiah’s quest, the rear mine shaft is caved in and full of crushed skeletons. Once that quest opens it, 19 corundum veins become reachable – a serious haul for steel and corundum ingots.

Quests

  • Boethiah’s Calling – Boethiah wants everyone here killed, quietly. Doing so leads to the Ebony Mail.
  • New Moon – one of the possible spots for the Moon Amulet that Kharjo lost.
  • Becoming Thane – Jarl Siddgeir may ask you to remove the camp’s leader.
  • Treasure Hunt – a Treasure Hunter’s Note can point here.
  • Lost Relic and Rescue (Dawnguard) – Florentius Baenius may send you here for an artifact or a captive.

Notable items

  • Vernaccus and Bourlor (Archery skill book) – on the table near the forge on the lower level.
  • Master-locked chest under the ramp behind the smelter.

Tips

Look up before you charge in. High above the mine entrance is a flat rock shelf you can climb to, with a skeleton, a bloody knapsack and a bow lying around – a not-so-subtle hint that this is the sniper’s seat. It overlooks the whole camp, which suits Boethiah’s stealth-only demand perfectly.

Note that the camp can only show as Cleared if you have not started Boethiah’s Calling, since that quest changes the mine. If you’re doing a bounty here right after Boethiah’s quest, the leader may not have respawned yet, so give it time.

Good to know

Head south over the mountain from the mine toward the Twilight Sepulcher, drifting slightly east, and you’ll find a ring of white caps hiding a Staff of Fury and Father of the Niben. East of that, a stone ledge holds a Shrine of Akatosh, a potion, Dragon’s Tongue, Olaf and the Dragon and A Tragedy in Black. And the dead bandits in Halldir’s Cairn? Exiled Knifepoint members, according to a journal.

Nearby

Closest places covered on TamrielSaga: Bannermist Tower, Twilight Sepulcher, Glenmoril Coven, Falkreath Imperial Camp, Hunter’s Rest.

Location data (hold, map position, editor ID) read from the Skyrim game files; details checked against community wiki articles and summarised in our own words.

Characters found here

Quests that lead here

Dawnguard Quest
Sorine Jurard sends you to recover lost Dwemer schematics that unlock new crossbows and exploding bolts for the Dawnguard. Repeats six times.
Side Quest
Old hunter Froki Whetted-Blade sends you across Skyrim to slay seven ghostly guardian beasts in honour of Kyne, ending with the guardian troll.
Dawnguard Quest
Gunmar sends you to a dungeon to destroy a Master Vampire before it can turn its allies into more vampires. A radiant Dawnguard quest.
Dawnguard Quest
A repeatable Volkihar quest: Fura Bloodmouth or Garan Marethi send you to kill a Master Vampire before it builds a rival coven.
Dawnguard Quest
Florentius Baenius learns that a Master Vampire has kidnapped one of your friends or your spouse. Save them and kill the vampire. Repeatable.

Creatures you will meet

Weapons found here

Armor found here

Items found here

Corundum Ingot in Skyrim: smelt corundum ore from Knifepoint Mine, buy from blacksmiths. Crafts Steel Plate, Scaled and Banded Iron armor and locks.
Corundum Ore in Skyrim: mine it at Knifepoint Ridge or Darkwater Crossing, buy it from smiths, and smelt it into Steel Ingots and Corundum Ingots.
Steel Ingot in Skyrim: smelt iron and corundum ore, buy from blacksmiths or loot bandits. Crafts Steel, Imperial, Dwarven and Skyforge Nord Hero gear.

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Sources checked: Skyrim game files (map markers, location records, read 2026-10-11); Elder Scrolls Fandom location articles (export 2026-10-11)