1 00:00:05,917 --> 00:00:08,167 [dramatic music] 2 00:00:08,167 --> 00:00:10,000 - Over the years, we've seen hundreds of smiths 3 00:00:10,042 --> 00:00:11,500 walk through our doors to compete 4 00:00:11,542 --> 00:00:14,500 for a chance of becoming a Forged in Fire champion. 5 00:00:14,500 --> 00:00:15,917 - Oh, yeah! 6 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,583 - But now, for the first time, 7 00:00:18,667 --> 00:00:19,625 we're going to them. 8 00:00:19,708 --> 00:00:23,917 ♪ 9 00:00:24,042 --> 00:00:25,500 - We're scouring the bladesmithing hotbeds 10 00:00:25,583 --> 00:00:28,167 of America looking for the country's best shops 11 00:00:28,208 --> 00:00:29,708 and their top smiths. 12 00:00:29,792 --> 00:00:31,500 Just like how barbecue is different in St. Louis 13 00:00:31,583 --> 00:00:34,042 than it is in Texas, blacksmiths have 14 00:00:34,125 --> 00:00:35,917 unique styles and techniques that originate 15 00:00:35,917 --> 00:00:38,625 from the shop they call home. 16 00:00:38,708 --> 00:00:41,167 Each week, one of our judges 17 00:00:41,167 --> 00:00:43,083 will travel to one of the nation's top forges 18 00:00:43,167 --> 00:00:45,042 to put their local style to the test 19 00:00:45,125 --> 00:00:47,208 and handpick their top bladesmith 20 00:00:47,208 --> 00:00:49,500 to come back to our home forge, 21 00:00:49,542 --> 00:00:51,500 where each forge's champion will battle 22 00:00:51,583 --> 00:00:54,625 for $20,000 for themselves and $10,000 23 00:00:54,708 --> 00:00:57,167 of forging equipment for their shop. 24 00:00:57,208 --> 00:00:59,125 - It's anyone's game. 25 00:00:59,208 --> 00:01:02,458 - This is "Forged in Fire: On the Road." 26 00:01:02,542 --> 00:01:05,125 ♪ 27 00:01:05,208 --> 00:01:07,417 [upbeat rock music] 28 00:01:07,542 --> 00:01:09,625 Today, we've traveled over 800 miles south 29 00:01:09,708 --> 00:01:11,458 to one of the country's most prolific 30 00:01:11,458 --> 00:01:15,000 knife-making regions with Ben Abbott. 31 00:01:15,083 --> 00:01:16,708 - America is home to some of the finest 32 00:01:16,708 --> 00:01:18,458 blacksmith shops in the world. 33 00:01:18,458 --> 00:01:20,333 But the forge I chose combines two 34 00:01:20,375 --> 00:01:24,458 of the things I love the most, functionality and beauty. 35 00:01:24,542 --> 00:01:27,667 Today, we're heading to the Clay Spencer Blacksmith Shop 36 00:01:27,750 --> 00:01:30,292 in Brasstown, North Carolina. 37 00:01:30,375 --> 00:01:32,500 Located in the Appalachians, knives and tools 38 00:01:32,583 --> 00:01:35,042 have been relied on for centuries in this region 39 00:01:35,125 --> 00:01:36,500 for everything from hunting game 40 00:01:36,583 --> 00:01:38,375 to harvesting their thousands of acres of crops 41 00:01:38,375 --> 00:01:40,667 like cotton and tobacco. 42 00:01:40,667 --> 00:01:43,042 And today, some of the country's top metalworkers 43 00:01:43,167 --> 00:01:44,625 call it home. 44 00:01:44,750 --> 00:01:48,042 Now three of their top smiths will compete to represent both 45 00:01:48,042 --> 00:01:50,750 this shop and me for a chance at becoming 46 00:01:50,833 --> 00:01:52,542 a Forged in Fire champion. 47 00:01:52,625 --> 00:01:56,042 ♪ 48 00:01:56,167 --> 00:01:57,500 - My name is Jesse Bolding. 49 00:01:57,625 --> 00:01:58,667 I'm 26 years old. 50 00:01:58,750 --> 00:02:00,458 And I'm honored to be here. 51 00:02:00,458 --> 00:02:02,917 My connection to this place is I get to assist teaching here, 52 00:02:03,042 --> 00:02:05,375 and I get to do armor classes 53 00:02:05,375 --> 00:02:07,167 and basic blacksmithing and stuff. 54 00:02:07,208 --> 00:02:09,000 I just get to absorb as much as I can here. 55 00:02:09,042 --> 00:02:10,625 I want to compete in "Forged in Fire" 56 00:02:10,625 --> 00:02:11,542 and represent the shop, 57 00:02:11,625 --> 00:02:13,708 and I just will give my best effort. 58 00:02:13,792 --> 00:02:16,667 ♪ 59 00:02:16,792 --> 00:02:17,792 - I'm Cole Recchia. 60 00:02:17,792 --> 00:02:19,125 I'm 28 years old. 61 00:02:19,125 --> 00:02:20,833 Blacksmithing is my full-time career. 62 00:02:20,917 --> 00:02:23,583 I love my job, and I wouldn't have it any other way. 63 00:02:23,583 --> 00:02:25,792 About two years ago, the Clay Spencer Blacksmith Shop 64 00:02:25,875 --> 00:02:27,333 had a fellowship position open. 65 00:02:27,458 --> 00:02:29,042 And I feel like my time here has definitely 66 00:02:29,042 --> 00:02:30,542 made me a better blacksmith. 67 00:02:30,625 --> 00:02:32,667 And I'm excited to see what that means here. 68 00:02:32,750 --> 00:02:36,750 ♪ 69 00:02:36,750 --> 00:02:37,833 - My name is Jason Bevans. 70 00:02:37,917 --> 00:02:39,250 I am 51 years old. 71 00:02:39,333 --> 00:02:41,708 I've been bladesmithing since I was 12, 72 00:02:41,833 --> 00:02:44,167 so I've been doing it for 30-- 73 00:02:44,167 --> 00:02:48,583 35--I'm 51, so 19-- no, no, 30-- 74 00:02:48,708 --> 00:02:50,792 39? 39? 75 00:02:50,792 --> 00:02:52,000 I can't even do math. 76 00:02:52,083 --> 00:02:53,375 [laughs] 77 00:02:53,500 --> 00:02:55,167 It's a great honor to be here 78 00:02:55,167 --> 00:02:56,958 at the Clay Spencer Blacksmith Shop. 79 00:02:57,042 --> 00:02:59,500 I've known Clay for years through 80 00:02:59,583 --> 00:03:01,500 the Appalachian Area Chapter of Blacksmiths. 81 00:03:01,583 --> 00:03:03,083 There's a long history of bladesmithing 82 00:03:03,167 --> 00:03:04,833 and blacksmithing in the Appalachian area. 83 00:03:04,917 --> 00:03:07,042 Yeah, we're definitely people that take pride 84 00:03:07,042 --> 00:03:10,458 in making good products. 85 00:03:10,542 --> 00:03:13,792 - Well, bladesmiths, blacksmiths, we are extremely 86 00:03:13,875 --> 00:03:15,500 excited to be joining you here. 87 00:03:15,625 --> 00:03:17,333 You three have been handpicked as some of the best smiths 88 00:03:17,375 --> 00:03:18,625 the region has to offer. 89 00:03:18,750 --> 00:03:20,542 Today, we're being hosted by someone who needs 90 00:03:20,542 --> 00:03:23,042 no introduction to you, an award-winning metal artist 91 00:03:23,167 --> 00:03:24,625 and the coordinator here at the metal shop, 92 00:03:24,708 --> 00:03:26,708 Elizabeth Belz. 93 00:03:26,792 --> 00:03:28,542 And judging this competition is the person 94 00:03:28,542 --> 00:03:30,375 you'll be representing in the finals, 95 00:03:30,375 --> 00:03:31,708 our extremely talented blacksmith 96 00:03:31,792 --> 00:03:34,375 and bladesmith Ben Abbott. 97 00:03:34,458 --> 00:03:36,750 Now, Ben chose this forge because it's known 98 00:03:36,875 --> 00:03:37,958 for its ornate blacksmithing, 99 00:03:38,042 --> 00:03:39,750 so make 'em proud. 100 00:03:39,875 --> 00:03:41,042 ♪ 101 00:03:41,042 --> 00:03:42,583 The three of you are here to compete in 102 00:03:42,583 --> 00:03:44,917 two rounds of forging competition. 103 00:03:44,917 --> 00:03:46,375 Now, there will be an elimination at the end 104 00:03:46,375 --> 00:03:47,750 of each one of those rounds, 105 00:03:47,875 --> 00:03:49,667 including after the final round 106 00:03:49,750 --> 00:03:51,750 of testing back at our home forge. 107 00:03:51,833 --> 00:03:54,083 But whichever one of you comes out on top, 108 00:03:54,208 --> 00:03:56,292 you will join us back at our home forge 109 00:03:56,375 --> 00:03:58,500 for the final leg of this tournament. 110 00:03:58,583 --> 00:04:00,125 Now, in that final round, you will go up 111 00:04:00,208 --> 00:04:02,875 against three other smiths that we pick up 112 00:04:02,875 --> 00:04:05,833 across America on our travels. 113 00:04:05,875 --> 00:04:07,792 There are high stakes here. 114 00:04:07,875 --> 00:04:10,292 If one of you three wins out in this tournament, 115 00:04:10,375 --> 00:04:13,625 you will take home a personal check for $20,000. 116 00:04:13,625 --> 00:04:15,458 To make the deal a little bit sweeter, 117 00:04:15,542 --> 00:04:18,667 this forge will also get up to $10,000 worth 118 00:04:18,792 --> 00:04:20,708 of forging equipment and supplies. 119 00:04:20,708 --> 00:04:23,875 - I want to give what this place has given me back to it. 120 00:04:23,875 --> 00:04:26,083 And with $10,000, it would help them a lot. 121 00:04:26,083 --> 00:04:27,625 Like, a hydraulic press. 122 00:04:27,708 --> 00:04:30,667 Tons of things that could just be really helpful here. 123 00:04:31,708 --> 00:04:35,000 - Now we're gonna start off with a five-hour forging round 124 00:04:35,083 --> 00:04:37,000 where you're gonna build a blade from start to finish. 125 00:04:37,125 --> 00:04:39,500 Now, as you know, this shop is all about passing down 126 00:04:39,500 --> 00:04:41,458 historic blacksmithing knowledge to keep 127 00:04:41,458 --> 00:04:42,792 that ancient art alive, 128 00:04:42,875 --> 00:04:44,833 and because of that, 129 00:04:44,875 --> 00:04:46,667 we want you to build this. 130 00:04:46,750 --> 00:04:49,167 ♪ 131 00:04:49,208 --> 00:04:51,458 A traditional blacksmith's knife, 132 00:04:51,542 --> 00:04:54,500 a weapon that combines both ornamental metalwork 133 00:04:54,542 --> 00:04:56,833 and a functional blade. 134 00:04:56,833 --> 00:04:59,625 - I have made lots of blacksmith's knives, 135 00:04:59,708 --> 00:05:01,583 but I'm kind of intimidated making a blade 136 00:05:01,708 --> 00:05:03,250 for these people because they know 137 00:05:03,250 --> 00:05:05,125 what to look for, they know what's good. 138 00:05:05,125 --> 00:05:07,167 So hopefully, I don't let them down. 139 00:05:07,250 --> 00:05:09,292 - Now, what makes this a blacksmiths knife is 140 00:05:09,292 --> 00:05:10,625 its integral construction, meaning that 141 00:05:10,708 --> 00:05:12,875 both the blade and the handle 142 00:05:12,958 --> 00:05:16,542 are all forged from a single piece of metal. 143 00:05:16,667 --> 00:05:19,792 Your blade length will need to be between 9 and 11 inches 144 00:05:19,792 --> 00:05:22,375 from tip to where the cutting edge ends in a straight line. 145 00:05:22,458 --> 00:05:24,083 Now, blacksmiths, because Belz is so well-known 146 00:05:24,083 --> 00:05:25,458 for ornate metal work, 147 00:05:25,458 --> 00:05:26,917 we want you to incorporate artistry 148 00:05:27,042 --> 00:05:28,667 into your blade handles. 149 00:05:30,500 --> 00:05:33,375 To make this blade, you've got one bar of W1 round stock, 150 00:05:33,375 --> 00:05:34,792 so use it wisely. 151 00:05:34,917 --> 00:05:36,708 Now, when the five hours is up, we're gonna start off 152 00:05:36,833 --> 00:05:38,500 by checking for strength and durability 153 00:05:38,500 --> 00:05:41,875 in a blacksmith's tong chop, then check your edge retention 154 00:05:41,958 --> 00:05:44,208 in a pumpkin slice. 155 00:05:44,333 --> 00:05:47,042 You have five hours on the clock. 156 00:05:47,042 --> 00:05:48,292 So good luck, and stay sharp. 157 00:05:48,375 --> 00:05:50,042 Your time starts now. 158 00:05:50,042 --> 00:05:53,875 [rock music] 159 00:05:53,875 --> 00:05:55,167 - Whoo! 160 00:05:55,250 --> 00:05:57,000 - Belz, explain to me this setup 161 00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:58,583 you have here in the shop. 162 00:05:58,583 --> 00:05:59,750 - Yeah. 163 00:05:59,833 --> 00:06:02,375 So we have 12 separate coal forges around the shop. 164 00:06:02,500 --> 00:06:03,750 - I didn't think about the fact that these guys 165 00:06:03,875 --> 00:06:06,625 have to actually start the coal forges. 166 00:06:06,625 --> 00:06:08,750 - Some of my favorite parts about this competition 167 00:06:08,833 --> 00:06:12,042 are that the coal forge is not gonna be 168 00:06:12,042 --> 00:06:13,167 the detriment it often is. 169 00:06:13,250 --> 00:06:14,708 We do a lot of these competitions. 170 00:06:14,833 --> 00:06:16,792 You reveal the coal forge, and all the contestants are like... 171 00:06:16,792 --> 00:06:17,750 [groaning] 172 00:06:17,750 --> 00:06:19,333 Come on. 173 00:06:19,333 --> 00:06:21,417 Another thing I love about these forges 174 00:06:21,500 --> 00:06:25,542 is they don't have those little hand-crank blowers, 175 00:06:25,625 --> 00:06:28,583 that they sit there like an organ grinder. 176 00:06:28,583 --> 00:06:30,042 - Little turbo engines. 177 00:06:30,042 --> 00:06:32,125 - These all have one blower outside that 178 00:06:32,208 --> 00:06:34,958 feeds a lot of these forges all at the same time. 179 00:06:34,958 --> 00:06:36,250 - Nowhere near enough paper. 180 00:06:36,250 --> 00:06:37,958 - Here, he gave me an extra. 181 00:06:38,042 --> 00:06:39,750 - Thank you, sir. 182 00:06:39,750 --> 00:06:41,333 - You've got people coming in 183 00:06:41,417 --> 00:06:42,958 from all over the world, right? 184 00:06:43,042 --> 00:06:44,167 - Yeah, even blacksmiths 185 00:06:44,250 --> 00:06:45,667 who have been smithing for years 186 00:06:45,708 --> 00:06:47,333 come up here to take classes, which is really great. 187 00:06:47,375 --> 00:06:48,792 - It probably gets pretty crazy in here 188 00:06:48,958 --> 00:06:52,667 when you have a full team of 12 smiths and you're working. 189 00:06:52,667 --> 00:06:54,250 - Yeah, and my office is right above them. 190 00:06:54,333 --> 00:06:55,375 - Oh. - Oh, boy. 191 00:06:55,375 --> 00:06:56,833 - Oh, no. 192 00:06:56,958 --> 00:06:58,417 - I'm very confident burning coal. 193 00:06:58,500 --> 00:07:00,417 I've been using it for years and years. 194 00:07:00,417 --> 00:07:03,167 And I'm excited to use it today. 195 00:07:03,250 --> 00:07:04,542 - When we bring smiths into our shop, 196 00:07:04,625 --> 00:07:07,250 you always see them running around confused 197 00:07:07,333 --> 00:07:09,042 like their pants are on fire. 198 00:07:09,042 --> 00:07:12,250 - I'm just running around like one of my cartoon characters, 199 00:07:12,375 --> 00:07:13,625 like a chicken without a head. 200 00:07:13,708 --> 00:07:15,250 - I'm digging around in everything. 201 00:07:15,333 --> 00:07:17,542 I just can't seem to find the all thread. 202 00:07:17,542 --> 00:07:19,667 Is it right in front of my face? 203 00:07:19,792 --> 00:07:22,625 I feel so dumb right now. 204 00:07:22,708 --> 00:07:24,542 - But now we've got three smiths in front of us 205 00:07:24,625 --> 00:07:27,333 who are very comfortable in this space. 206 00:07:27,417 --> 00:07:28,833 And it's really fun to see them work. 207 00:07:28,917 --> 00:07:30,875 - But to be fair, sometimes their pants are on fire. 208 00:07:30,875 --> 00:07:32,750 - Yeah. 209 00:07:32,750 --> 00:07:33,833 - [laughs] 210 00:07:33,917 --> 00:07:35,042 - Tool's on fire. 211 00:07:35,042 --> 00:07:36,000 - Oh, my God. 212 00:07:36,083 --> 00:07:37,833 ♪ 213 00:07:37,917 --> 00:07:41,375 - Seems that Cole's coal forge is the hottest right now. 214 00:07:41,458 --> 00:07:42,750 - Cole's rolling. 215 00:07:42,875 --> 00:07:44,583 - I'd be a lot more nervous at the judge's forge 216 00:07:44,667 --> 00:07:46,583 than I am here in the Clay Spencer Shop. 217 00:07:46,667 --> 00:07:48,875 And I think some of my experience 218 00:07:48,875 --> 00:07:51,000 in the shop here in the past will help me 219 00:07:51,083 --> 00:07:53,833 as we go into the challenge. 220 00:07:53,917 --> 00:07:55,667 - So, Ben, why did you choose this shop? 221 00:07:55,750 --> 00:07:57,625 - I chose this forge because of my own work. 222 00:07:57,708 --> 00:08:00,875 I also take pride in making things ornate and beautiful, 223 00:08:00,958 --> 00:08:02,958 and this shop exemplifies that. 224 00:08:03,042 --> 00:08:07,500 I think whoever wins here today will represent me well. 225 00:08:07,625 --> 00:08:09,792 - It's surreal to see Grady, to see Ben, 226 00:08:09,875 --> 00:08:11,583 walking around my old stomping grounds. 227 00:08:11,667 --> 00:08:12,708 I've got butterflies in my stomach. 228 00:08:12,833 --> 00:08:14,542 I'm freaking out. I'm sweating. 229 00:08:14,625 --> 00:08:15,583 I just want to represent 230 00:08:15,708 --> 00:08:17,708 Clay Spencer Blacksmith Shop well. 231 00:08:17,708 --> 00:08:21,083 Oh, struggling getting this fire started. 232 00:08:21,208 --> 00:08:23,917 - With only five hours to make a blacksmith blade, 233 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,208 not able to get past that first hurdle 234 00:08:26,208 --> 00:08:27,958 of getting your forge lit-- 235 00:08:28,042 --> 00:08:29,667 got to be frustrating. 236 00:08:29,750 --> 00:08:31,083 - My students are mad at me. 237 00:08:31,167 --> 00:08:32,500 I can hear them right now because I yell at them 238 00:08:32,667 --> 00:08:34,583 to get their forges started right, 239 00:08:34,708 --> 00:08:36,375 and I can't even get mine started right, right now. 240 00:08:36,458 --> 00:08:40,167 So stressing in my head a little bit. 241 00:08:40,250 --> 00:08:42,083 You got skills, Mr. Cole. 242 00:08:42,208 --> 00:08:43,250 You're showing me up. 243 00:08:43,375 --> 00:08:44,250 I see it. 244 00:08:44,250 --> 00:08:45,833 - I gave him my extra paper. 245 00:08:45,917 --> 00:08:46,917 - Lots of paper. 246 00:08:47,000 --> 00:08:47,917 - I know. 247 00:08:47,917 --> 00:08:48,875 I know. 248 00:08:48,958 --> 00:08:50,542 - I want Jesse and Cole to do well 249 00:08:50,542 --> 00:08:51,625 because they're great guys. 250 00:08:51,708 --> 00:08:53,417 But I want to do better. 251 00:08:53,417 --> 00:08:55,000 [laughs] 252 00:08:55,125 --> 00:08:57,250 - Why do blacksmiths prefer sometimes the coal forge? 253 00:08:57,250 --> 00:09:00,500 - I mean, if you think about it, anything in history 254 00:09:00,542 --> 00:09:03,500 that you saw made out of iron or steel-- 255 00:09:03,625 --> 00:09:05,792 huge gates at Versailles or whatever-- 256 00:09:05,875 --> 00:09:08,083 was done in a forge like this. 257 00:09:08,083 --> 00:09:09,708 - I'm starting to sweat and get hot. 258 00:09:09,792 --> 00:09:11,000 That's why I got a do-rag. 259 00:09:11,083 --> 00:09:13,250 I'm bald-headed, so I got to have something 260 00:09:13,250 --> 00:09:14,958 keeps sweat out of my eyes. 261 00:09:15,042 --> 00:09:18,042 ♪ 262 00:09:18,125 --> 00:09:19,750 - [bleep]. 263 00:09:19,875 --> 00:09:20,750 - Oh, no. 264 00:09:20,750 --> 00:09:21,958 Did Jason's go out? 265 00:09:22,042 --> 00:09:23,500 - Yep. 266 00:09:23,583 --> 00:09:24,500 - Ugh. 267 00:09:24,583 --> 00:09:25,417 Oh, crap. 268 00:09:25,542 --> 00:09:26,500 Can't get my fire started. 269 00:09:26,583 --> 00:09:27,875 [laughs] 270 00:09:28,042 --> 00:09:29,917 I told my friends and family I would do my best 271 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,750 to not embarrass myself or them. 272 00:09:31,833 --> 00:09:33,875 I normally don't have trouble starting a fire. 273 00:09:33,875 --> 00:09:36,167 It's kind of embarrassing. 274 00:09:36,250 --> 00:09:37,542 Lots more. 275 00:09:37,542 --> 00:09:39,125 Lots more. 276 00:09:39,208 --> 00:09:40,583 So here I go, panicking. 277 00:09:40,667 --> 00:09:43,792 I hope the coals start burning. 278 00:09:43,875 --> 00:09:45,375 Burn. 279 00:09:45,500 --> 00:09:47,250 There we go. 280 00:09:47,333 --> 00:09:48,875 So I finally got my fire going. 281 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,958 Hopefully this is the only embarrassment I will have. 282 00:09:52,958 --> 00:09:55,042 If that's it, then I'm okay. 283 00:09:55,125 --> 00:09:59,958 ♪ 284 00:10:00,042 --> 00:10:01,583 - We're in the Appalachian Mountains right now. 285 00:10:01,667 --> 00:10:02,833 Do you think there's anything about that 286 00:10:02,875 --> 00:10:04,792 that affects the style of the work 287 00:10:04,875 --> 00:10:06,875 that comes out of the shop? - Oh, yeah. 288 00:10:06,875 --> 00:10:09,583 They made farming equipment, like plow blades. 289 00:10:09,708 --> 00:10:11,417 They made things they needed to work in the fields. 290 00:10:11,417 --> 00:10:14,625 It was all utilitarian stuff. 291 00:10:14,625 --> 00:10:16,500 - A lot quieter in this forge. - Shh. 292 00:10:16,625 --> 00:10:18,125 - Typically, you've got screaming. 293 00:10:18,208 --> 00:10:19,542 - [laughs] 294 00:10:19,667 --> 00:10:21,000 [machine pounding] 295 00:10:21,167 --> 00:10:22,000 - Oh, [bleep]. 296 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:23,833 That's scared the [bleep] of me. 297 00:10:23,958 --> 00:10:27,792 How the heck is Cole already heated and on the hammer? 298 00:10:27,875 --> 00:10:31,000 - Cole has probably the most experience in coal. 299 00:10:31,083 --> 00:10:33,167 - My first move is to forge my round bar 300 00:10:33,250 --> 00:10:34,500 into a rectangular billet 301 00:10:34,583 --> 00:10:36,292 so I can more easily hold on to it. 302 00:10:36,292 --> 00:10:39,042 And then from there, I want to forge my knife end first. 303 00:10:39,042 --> 00:10:40,542 - What's with the googly-eyed guy? 304 00:10:40,625 --> 00:10:42,000 - [laughs] 305 00:10:42,083 --> 00:10:43,500 - I mean, googly eyes just make everything better. 306 00:10:43,583 --> 00:10:45,167 - Tend to agree with that. 307 00:10:45,167 --> 00:10:46,958 - Everything is going pretty well so far, 308 00:10:46,958 --> 00:10:48,542 but I'm definitely feeling the pressure of the clock. 309 00:10:48,542 --> 00:10:50,833 So I hope I can get it done in time. 310 00:10:50,833 --> 00:10:53,333 - Bladesmiths, you've got four hours remaining 311 00:10:53,375 --> 00:10:54,625 to finish your blades. 312 00:10:54,625 --> 00:10:56,000 - [laughs] 313 00:10:56,000 --> 00:10:58,125 - We call that the bladesmith's finger. 314 00:10:58,208 --> 00:10:59,833 - Yeah. 315 00:10:59,917 --> 00:11:02,125 - Jesse's still struggling to get the coal lit. 316 00:11:02,208 --> 00:11:04,208 - Ugh. 317 00:11:04,333 --> 00:11:05,542 Going insane. 318 00:11:05,542 --> 00:11:07,333 It's been a whole hour of me 319 00:11:07,458 --> 00:11:09,500 just wasting time at this fire. 320 00:11:09,583 --> 00:11:11,000 And I can see that Cole is already 321 00:11:11,042 --> 00:11:12,333 going to the power hammer. 322 00:11:12,417 --> 00:11:14,167 He's got plenty good heat. 323 00:11:14,292 --> 00:11:16,583 And I look over and Jason has got plenty of good stuff. 324 00:11:16,708 --> 00:11:19,208 I'm stressing I'm gonna be out of this competition, 325 00:11:19,292 --> 00:11:21,000 and I haven't even put my foot in the door. 326 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:22,792 I got to get it started. 327 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:28,042 - For the first time ever, "Forged in Fire" 328 00:11:28,042 --> 00:11:29,083 is hitting the road to find the best 329 00:11:29,083 --> 00:11:30,750 bladesmiths across America. 330 00:11:30,833 --> 00:11:32,750 And today, we're in Brasstown, North Carolina, 331 00:11:32,833 --> 00:11:35,875 with Ben Abbott, and the competition is fierce. 332 00:11:35,958 --> 00:11:37,833 Jesse is still fighting the coal. 333 00:11:37,917 --> 00:11:40,125 The other two smiths are back and forth 334 00:11:40,208 --> 00:11:42,875 on the power hammer getting to work. 335 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:44,833 - I really got to get a move on. 336 00:11:44,917 --> 00:11:47,375 I really got to get started. 337 00:11:47,375 --> 00:11:49,667 I'm hoping and praying for this to get started. 338 00:11:49,750 --> 00:11:50,792 I'm stressing 339 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:52,792 I'm gonna be out of this competition, 340 00:11:52,875 --> 00:11:54,208 and I haven't even put my foot in the door. 341 00:11:54,292 --> 00:11:55,833 I gotta get it started. 342 00:11:55,875 --> 00:11:57,792 - What's that lever up on the top of it, 343 00:11:57,875 --> 00:11:59,833 like the on/off switch? 344 00:11:59,875 --> 00:12:01,042 - That controls the amount of air 345 00:12:01,042 --> 00:12:02,458 they're getting from the blower. 346 00:12:02,458 --> 00:12:04,167 It's the twear. 347 00:12:04,250 --> 00:12:05,833 - Looks like he's using that now, and it's working. 348 00:12:05,958 --> 00:12:07,333 He's got a good flame going. 349 00:12:07,458 --> 00:12:09,000 - Got a little bit, but I just hope it doesn't go out. 350 00:12:09,083 --> 00:12:12,042 - You just gotta believe. 351 00:12:12,167 --> 00:12:13,167 - I got fire! 352 00:12:13,250 --> 00:12:14,875 Hooray! 353 00:12:14,875 --> 00:12:16,625 The fire gods blessed me. 354 00:12:16,625 --> 00:12:17,667 I'm so happy. 355 00:12:17,792 --> 00:12:19,292 - All right. 356 00:12:19,292 --> 00:12:21,167 Jesse's fire's up and running, finally. 357 00:12:21,208 --> 00:12:23,250 - I'm just so glad that it got started. 358 00:12:23,250 --> 00:12:25,292 I hopefully am gonna keep this fire too. 359 00:12:25,375 --> 00:12:26,833 - I'm in the races now. 360 00:12:26,958 --> 00:12:28,333 I don't feel like I'm out of the game, 361 00:12:28,458 --> 00:12:31,208 but I definitely have a lot of catching up to do. 362 00:12:33,083 --> 00:12:34,667 - Something I really love about this shop is 363 00:12:34,667 --> 00:12:36,583 that everywhere you look, 364 00:12:36,708 --> 00:12:38,167 you've got things like the entryway. 365 00:12:38,208 --> 00:12:39,875 You've got the ends of these beams up here. 366 00:12:39,875 --> 00:12:42,000 Everything is not only blacksmith themed, 367 00:12:42,042 --> 00:12:44,167 but it seems like a lot of it was made by the blacksmiths 368 00:12:44,250 --> 00:12:45,583 in the shop itself. 369 00:12:45,708 --> 00:12:46,917 - Yeah. 370 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:48,958 All of our signage is forged in the shop, 371 00:12:48,958 --> 00:12:51,917 the toilet paper holders, the towel holders in the room. 372 00:12:51,917 --> 00:12:53,833 - Toilet paper holders? - Yeah. 373 00:12:53,833 --> 00:12:54,833 - That'd be my luck. 374 00:12:54,875 --> 00:12:55,750 Hey, I'm here to help. 375 00:12:55,750 --> 00:12:57,042 Make a toilet paper holder. 376 00:12:57,042 --> 00:12:58,500 - You're the plunger guy. 377 00:12:58,583 --> 00:13:00,500 - But how? 378 00:13:00,583 --> 00:13:02,000 - Power hammers are awesome. 379 00:13:02,083 --> 00:13:03,667 Who wouldn't love to take a piece of steel 380 00:13:03,708 --> 00:13:05,667 and just smash the crap out of it? 381 00:13:05,750 --> 00:13:06,917 [laughs] 382 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,708 - Jason is starting with the blade, 383 00:13:09,708 --> 00:13:11,417 drawing back the length. 384 00:13:11,500 --> 00:13:14,375 - The more mass you have after finishing the blade, the more 385 00:13:14,375 --> 00:13:15,875 options you have to make... - I got it. 386 00:13:15,958 --> 00:13:17,208 - The handle of your dreams. 387 00:13:17,292 --> 00:13:18,958 - You don't want to work yourself into a corner 388 00:13:19,042 --> 00:13:22,000 where you have to do a specific handle style. 389 00:13:22,083 --> 00:13:25,917 - The tests are we're going to chop some tongs 390 00:13:26,000 --> 00:13:27,833 and slice some pumpkins. 391 00:13:27,917 --> 00:13:30,917 Chopping into tongs is absolutely scary 392 00:13:30,917 --> 00:13:33,250 because it is metal on metal, 393 00:13:33,250 --> 00:13:36,042 so it is going to do some damage. 394 00:13:36,167 --> 00:13:39,333 - The tong chop-- that's so mean, Ben. 395 00:13:39,417 --> 00:13:41,792 They put this beautiful blacksmith's knife together, 396 00:13:41,792 --> 00:13:43,875 and I'm gonnna swing it as hard as I can 397 00:13:43,875 --> 00:13:46,667 into a pair of tongs. 398 00:13:46,667 --> 00:13:48,375 - Better than a hammer, I guess. 399 00:13:48,458 --> 00:13:50,125 Or torpedo. 400 00:13:54,292 --> 00:13:56,958 - Oh, [bleep]. 401 00:13:56,958 --> 00:13:59,000 - This here is what you call a KSO-- 402 00:13:59,083 --> 00:14:00,333 Knife-Shaped Object. 403 00:14:00,417 --> 00:14:02,833 [laughs] 404 00:14:02,875 --> 00:14:04,833 - I'm a little behind schedule, I think. 405 00:14:04,875 --> 00:14:07,542 I'm trying to draw out my knife. 406 00:14:07,625 --> 00:14:10,042 And I'm gonna draw out that tang. 407 00:14:10,042 --> 00:14:13,000 - These guys don't just have to stand out above the other two 408 00:14:13,083 --> 00:14:15,042 competitors in this forge. 409 00:14:15,125 --> 00:14:17,792 Whichever one of them comes out on top of these two rounds 410 00:14:17,875 --> 00:14:19,917 is gonna have to come back to our forge 411 00:14:20,042 --> 00:14:21,708 and battle three other smiths 412 00:14:21,708 --> 00:14:22,708 that we picked up around America. 413 00:14:22,708 --> 00:14:23,625 - Yeah. 414 00:14:23,750 --> 00:14:25,792 - There's a ton on the line here. 415 00:14:25,875 --> 00:14:27,333 - I'm doing a lot of hand hammering because 416 00:14:27,375 --> 00:14:28,875 I don't like to use the power hammers. 417 00:14:28,875 --> 00:14:29,875 So I'm in my lane. 418 00:14:29,875 --> 00:14:32,000 I'm trying to flourish. 419 00:14:32,125 --> 00:14:33,375 - This doesn't strike me as a blade 420 00:14:33,458 --> 00:14:35,958 that you can get away with just drawing out a blank 421 00:14:36,042 --> 00:14:37,500 and grinding a finish. 422 00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:39,042 There is gonna be a ton of hammer work. 423 00:14:39,125 --> 00:14:40,083 - Yeah. 424 00:14:40,167 --> 00:14:42,042 As a matter of fact, when I did mine, 425 00:14:42,125 --> 00:14:43,750 it was about 10 minutes on the grinder. 426 00:14:43,875 --> 00:14:45,333 - Really? 427 00:14:45,375 --> 00:14:47,000 So hammer skills are pretty important in getting 428 00:14:47,083 --> 00:14:49,042 ahead of the game on this? 429 00:14:49,042 --> 00:14:50,375 - My knife feels good. 430 00:14:50,375 --> 00:14:52,125 I am not as worried now. 431 00:14:52,208 --> 00:14:53,917 I feel like I have a chance. 432 00:14:53,917 --> 00:14:56,833 [humming] 433 00:14:56,917 --> 00:14:58,667 [rock music] 434 00:14:58,750 --> 00:15:01,000 - My favorite part about this competition is the handle. 435 00:15:01,125 --> 00:15:02,250 The handle is a blank slate. 436 00:15:02,250 --> 00:15:03,958 You can do anything you want. 437 00:15:03,958 --> 00:15:04,833 And I want to see something fun. 438 00:15:04,917 --> 00:15:06,000 - Yeah. 439 00:15:06,083 --> 00:15:07,250 - What would you do? 440 00:15:07,333 --> 00:15:09,542 - Oh, I'd put a bug on the end of it. 441 00:15:09,542 --> 00:15:11,417 I know a scorpion isn't technically a bug, 442 00:15:11,542 --> 00:15:13,917 but a scorpion tail would be a pretty sweet handle. 443 00:15:13,917 --> 00:15:15,333 - It's an arachnid. 444 00:15:15,375 --> 00:15:16,458 - Go home, Ben. 445 00:15:16,458 --> 00:15:18,042 - [laughs] 446 00:15:18,125 --> 00:15:20,125 - So generally, on a blacksmith's knife's handle, 447 00:15:20,208 --> 00:15:22,875 you would form a taper and wrap it around. 448 00:15:22,958 --> 00:15:24,167 But for my handle, 449 00:15:24,250 --> 00:15:25,208 I want to do something a little different, 450 00:15:25,208 --> 00:15:26,667 and I want to slot punch a hole 451 00:15:26,667 --> 00:15:28,417 down the length of the handle 452 00:15:28,417 --> 00:15:32,375 and then drift that out to form a more ergonomic handle. 453 00:15:32,458 --> 00:15:34,792 - One thing that I don't like about what Cole is doing 454 00:15:34,875 --> 00:15:36,667 is when you split that handle in the middle, 455 00:15:36,750 --> 00:15:39,833 it puts part of that handle above the spine of the blade 456 00:15:39,875 --> 00:15:42,083 and you end up with that blade that's offset 457 00:15:42,083 --> 00:15:44,167 to where the handle usually is. 458 00:15:44,167 --> 00:15:46,000 - I think this is looking kind of cool. 459 00:15:46,042 --> 00:15:48,333 - Cole's knife looks like a half a pair of scissors. 460 00:15:48,375 --> 00:15:50,208 - Yeah. Yeah. - It really does. 461 00:15:50,208 --> 00:15:52,500 That's exactly what it is. 462 00:15:52,542 --> 00:15:55,000 - I'm wondering if the handle is decorated or not. 463 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:56,333 And maybe I'll change my mind later 464 00:15:56,417 --> 00:15:58,042 and twist it after it's been heat treated. 465 00:15:58,125 --> 00:16:00,542 But as of now, I'm gonna leave this as it is. 466 00:16:00,542 --> 00:16:01,875 Which might be a bad idea. 467 00:16:01,958 --> 00:16:02,917 Who knows? 468 00:16:03,042 --> 00:16:04,208 Time will tell. 469 00:16:04,375 --> 00:16:06,292 - Bladesmiths, you have half the time remaining. 470 00:16:06,375 --> 00:16:09,583 Two and a half hours till we're finished. 471 00:16:09,708 --> 00:16:11,542 ♪ 472 00:16:11,667 --> 00:16:14,208 It looks like he left a little glob at the end. 473 00:16:14,208 --> 00:16:15,500 - Yeah. 474 00:16:15,583 --> 00:16:18,083 - Now that I've got the blade drawn out, 475 00:16:18,167 --> 00:16:19,375 I'm feeling pretty good. 476 00:16:19,458 --> 00:16:21,333 For the artistic touch, I'm going to try 477 00:16:21,417 --> 00:16:25,083 to do a leaf on the end and curl that around 478 00:16:25,083 --> 00:16:27,375 and have the leaf come up as a guard. 479 00:16:27,458 --> 00:16:29,708 It's important to me for it to be ornate. 480 00:16:29,708 --> 00:16:32,833 For one, it hopefully shows off some of my craftsmanship. 481 00:16:32,917 --> 00:16:37,167 And I hope that it will set me apart from the competition. 482 00:16:37,250 --> 00:16:38,625 - So we got the answer to the glob 483 00:16:38,625 --> 00:16:40,458 at the end of Jason's handle. 484 00:16:40,542 --> 00:16:42,458 It looks like he's turning it into a leaf shape. 485 00:16:42,542 --> 00:16:44,042 - Okay. 486 00:16:44,125 --> 00:16:45,542 - So that's a very traditional blacksmith thing to do. 487 00:16:45,542 --> 00:16:47,083 - Yeah. 488 00:16:47,167 --> 00:16:48,875 - Isn't it just lovely? 489 00:16:48,958 --> 00:16:50,000 So I got my leaf made. 490 00:16:50,042 --> 00:16:51,250 It looks great. 491 00:16:51,250 --> 00:16:54,750 And then I start folding it around. 492 00:16:54,833 --> 00:16:57,333 Yeah, I got too much. 493 00:16:57,333 --> 00:16:59,083 So now I'm starting to sweat it. 494 00:16:59,167 --> 00:17:00,583 It's like, man, I put all this time and effort 495 00:17:00,667 --> 00:17:01,583 into making this leaf. 496 00:17:01,667 --> 00:17:03,333 I've lost that time. 497 00:17:03,500 --> 00:17:07,125 But if I leave this leaf, it's gonna be way too long. 498 00:17:07,125 --> 00:17:09,125 - Jason is cutting that leaf 499 00:17:09,208 --> 00:17:10,833 off the tail of his knife right now. 500 00:17:10,958 --> 00:17:12,667 - That's not good. 501 00:17:12,667 --> 00:17:15,792 - The artistic add-on has to be in the final product. 502 00:17:15,875 --> 00:17:18,375 - Yeah. 503 00:17:18,375 --> 00:17:20,375 - I put all this time and effort into making this leaf, 504 00:17:20,458 --> 00:17:21,958 and now I'm not gonna use it. 505 00:17:22,042 --> 00:17:24,292 So I have to think of something else 506 00:17:24,375 --> 00:17:26,167 to have that decorative element. 507 00:17:26,208 --> 00:17:28,333 - Can you put that leaf back on? 508 00:17:28,417 --> 00:17:30,000 - I think he needs to "leaf" it right there. 509 00:17:30,083 --> 00:17:31,083 - Oh, come on. 510 00:17:31,083 --> 00:17:32,292 - [laughs] 511 00:17:32,375 --> 00:17:33,250 - I didn't know Doug was on this episode. 512 00:17:33,333 --> 00:17:35,000 - Yeah. [laughter] 513 00:17:35,083 --> 00:17:37,833 - So we got a farrier, a jeweler, and a welder 514 00:17:37,917 --> 00:17:39,125 walk into a bar. 515 00:17:39,208 --> 00:17:41,958 - Was it a metal bar? 516 00:17:41,958 --> 00:17:43,667 - Oh, wow. 517 00:17:43,750 --> 00:17:45,417 Oh. 518 00:17:45,542 --> 00:17:47,667 Check, please. 519 00:17:47,750 --> 00:17:50,167 - Jesse's transitioning from that blade section 520 00:17:50,292 --> 00:17:52,292 to the handle, and he's drawing it out. 521 00:17:52,375 --> 00:17:54,292 - I'm going to make a single twist 522 00:17:54,292 --> 00:17:55,583 on the back of the spine, 523 00:17:55,583 --> 00:17:57,667 and then I'm going to wrap it around 524 00:17:57,708 --> 00:18:00,875 decoratively to where it'll curl up to kind of create 525 00:18:01,042 --> 00:18:02,208 as a guard in itself. 526 00:18:02,208 --> 00:18:04,292 Even though it's not super flashy, 527 00:18:04,375 --> 00:18:06,583 it's something that fits parameters 528 00:18:06,583 --> 00:18:08,000 that I know I can do. 529 00:18:08,083 --> 00:18:10,500 - Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. 530 00:18:10,583 --> 00:18:12,250 I really like the twist in Jesse's handle. 531 00:18:12,375 --> 00:18:14,500 It gives that artistic flair we're looking for, 532 00:18:14,583 --> 00:18:18,708 and he was able to execute it relatively quickly. 533 00:18:18,833 --> 00:18:21,250 - So it looks like Jason just heated up a piece of metal, 534 00:18:21,375 --> 00:18:22,500 and now he's heating up the oil. 535 00:18:22,583 --> 00:18:24,000 - It gets thinner when you heat it, 536 00:18:24,042 --> 00:18:26,167 and it cools things more rapidly. 537 00:18:26,208 --> 00:18:27,250 - Interesting. 538 00:18:27,375 --> 00:18:29,167 So this is a smart move? - Yeah. 539 00:18:29,208 --> 00:18:31,500 - It starts to smell like French fries in here now. 540 00:18:31,542 --> 00:18:32,417 Somebody could have bought some. 541 00:18:32,500 --> 00:18:34,167 We could have us a French fry. 542 00:18:34,167 --> 00:18:36,292 - Jason's making lunch for everybody. 543 00:18:36,375 --> 00:18:37,375 What are we eating today, Jason? 544 00:18:37,375 --> 00:18:39,917 - Oh, I got some eyeball stew here. 545 00:18:39,917 --> 00:18:41,083 - Great. 546 00:18:41,167 --> 00:18:42,458 - Jason's famous chili. 547 00:18:42,458 --> 00:18:44,167 - I'm full. 548 00:18:44,167 --> 00:18:45,375 - It's quench time. 549 00:18:45,458 --> 00:18:47,083 I'm getting ready to harden my piece. 550 00:18:47,167 --> 00:18:49,500 - A good quench and heat treat is vital for this. 551 00:18:49,500 --> 00:18:51,542 We chop tongs with these things, you know? 552 00:18:51,625 --> 00:18:54,000 You can't get away with mediocre heat treat. 553 00:18:54,083 --> 00:18:55,500 - Basically, anything can go wrong. 554 00:18:55,500 --> 00:18:58,333 And we've just got to hope for the best. 555 00:18:58,417 --> 00:19:00,083 - Here we go. All right. Cole's in the oil. 556 00:19:00,083 --> 00:19:01,083 - Yeah. 557 00:19:01,208 --> 00:19:04,083 ♪ 558 00:19:04,167 --> 00:19:06,167 - I think that's good. 559 00:19:06,250 --> 00:19:08,292 After the quench, I need to sharpen the blade. 560 00:19:08,375 --> 00:19:10,167 It's a long process, but it's got to be done, 561 00:19:10,333 --> 00:19:11,875 and it's the most important. 562 00:19:11,875 --> 00:19:13,167 - You know, Grady, I really wish 563 00:19:13,250 --> 00:19:14,458 Cole would focus more on the artistry aspect 564 00:19:14,542 --> 00:19:16,500 of this challenge-- it's pretty plain. 565 00:19:16,583 --> 00:19:18,833 - At this point, just making a blacksmith's knife 566 00:19:18,917 --> 00:19:19,958 isn't enough. 567 00:19:20,042 --> 00:19:20,917 All right, bladesmiths. 568 00:19:21,042 --> 00:19:23,167 30 minutes remaining. 569 00:19:23,208 --> 00:19:25,333 - So you have that decorative element. 570 00:19:25,417 --> 00:19:28,333 Plan B is forge out a finial. 571 00:19:28,333 --> 00:19:29,375 - This is a smart move. 572 00:19:29,375 --> 00:19:30,292 - Yeah. 573 00:19:30,292 --> 00:19:32,167 Very purposeful hammer work. 574 00:19:32,208 --> 00:19:34,083 - I can talk to you for days about finials, 575 00:19:34,167 --> 00:19:35,625 because I've made a bunch of them. 576 00:19:35,750 --> 00:19:37,167 I don't have time to talk about that, 577 00:19:37,292 --> 00:19:39,667 because I've got to get mine quenched. 578 00:19:39,750 --> 00:19:41,750 I just basically want to use these hot coals. 579 00:19:41,750 --> 00:19:44,750 And I'm just gonna ride it back and forth in the coals. 580 00:19:44,833 --> 00:19:46,625 Then it'll be go time. 581 00:19:46,708 --> 00:19:48,250 I'm scared to death it's gonna crack 582 00:19:48,250 --> 00:19:49,958 or I'm gonna hear a tink or something. 583 00:19:50,042 --> 00:19:52,458 Hopefully, all those molecules in the steel and the grain 584 00:19:52,542 --> 00:19:55,625 in the steel will realign itself and do its magic thing 585 00:19:55,708 --> 00:19:58,208 and, poof, Bob's your uncle, and there's your blade. 586 00:19:58,208 --> 00:19:59,417 [laughs] 587 00:19:59,500 --> 00:20:03,292 - Jason's quenched too, now. 588 00:20:03,375 --> 00:20:05,000 - So far, I'm good. 589 00:20:05,083 --> 00:20:07,583 Great. 590 00:20:07,708 --> 00:20:10,417 - Jesse is the only smith left to quench his blade. 591 00:20:10,417 --> 00:20:13,333 ♪ 592 00:20:13,417 --> 00:20:15,208 - Quenched that blade way too hot. 593 00:20:15,333 --> 00:20:16,875 When it's that hot when you go for the quench, 594 00:20:16,958 --> 00:20:21,542 you run a bigger risk of cracking, warping, 595 00:20:21,542 --> 00:20:22,750 - Whoo! 596 00:20:22,875 --> 00:20:25,208 Now I got to make sure that all these components 597 00:20:25,208 --> 00:20:26,167 are just right. 598 00:20:26,250 --> 00:20:29,583 ♪ 599 00:20:29,708 --> 00:20:31,500 - I'm really impressed with all these smiths today. 600 00:20:31,542 --> 00:20:32,875 I feel really confident that any one of them 601 00:20:32,875 --> 00:20:35,417 will represent me and this shop really well 602 00:20:35,500 --> 00:20:37,375 and could win the whole thing. 603 00:20:37,458 --> 00:20:40,375 - Trying to use what little time I have to make it better. 604 00:20:40,375 --> 00:20:42,042 And I've got, you know, 605 00:20:42,042 --> 00:20:43,542 pretty good-sized sausages here, 606 00:20:43,542 --> 00:20:46,333 so kind of take a peek over at Ben. 607 00:20:46,375 --> 00:20:48,333 I don't know if my hands are the same size, 608 00:20:48,375 --> 00:20:51,333 but anyway, I think I'm okay as far as how the fit 609 00:20:51,458 --> 00:20:53,375 and finish and feel goes. 610 00:20:53,375 --> 00:20:55,417 That'll do, donkey. 611 00:20:55,417 --> 00:20:58,333 It's a great honor to be able to compete and represent Ben 612 00:20:58,417 --> 00:21:01,500 and the Appalachian region. 613 00:21:01,625 --> 00:21:03,333 ♪ 614 00:21:03,458 --> 00:21:04,333 - I can't unsee the scissors. 615 00:21:04,417 --> 00:21:06,167 - [laughs] - You've ruined it. 616 00:21:06,250 --> 00:21:07,208 - You're welcome. 617 00:21:07,292 --> 00:21:09,667 - It's done. 618 00:21:09,708 --> 00:21:11,333 - Now we're just trying to put some file marks 619 00:21:11,417 --> 00:21:14,000 along this back side of the handle to give it 620 00:21:14,083 --> 00:21:17,708 kind of like an artistic flair. 621 00:21:17,708 --> 00:21:20,000 - What do you guys think of Cole's artistic addition 622 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:21,042 to his blade? 623 00:21:21,042 --> 00:21:22,000 - Minimalist. 624 00:21:22,083 --> 00:21:23,375 - Yeah. 625 00:21:23,583 --> 00:21:25,583 - The art is in the eye of the beholder, technically. 626 00:21:25,583 --> 00:21:27,708 - Well, in this case, it's in the eye of the judges. 627 00:21:27,792 --> 00:21:28,625 - Yeah. 628 00:21:28,625 --> 00:21:30,500 [scraping] 629 00:21:30,542 --> 00:21:32,833 - It is a good way to get ahead of your opponents, 630 00:21:32,875 --> 00:21:34,292 to make that noise over and over again. 631 00:21:34,375 --> 00:21:35,500 - Not me. 632 00:21:35,542 --> 00:21:37,625 - Like a mean cricket. 633 00:21:37,708 --> 00:21:41,458 [rock music] 634 00:21:41,458 --> 00:21:46,167 - 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. 635 00:21:46,208 --> 00:21:47,667 Bladesmiths, turn off your machines. 636 00:21:47,708 --> 00:21:52,042 Put down your tools. This round is over. 637 00:21:52,042 --> 00:21:53,042 - I'm done. 638 00:21:53,042 --> 00:21:54,500 And I'm satisfied. 639 00:21:54,583 --> 00:21:57,500 I am not excited to get to see this thing tested, 640 00:21:57,583 --> 00:22:00,042 because no bladesmith wants to see 641 00:22:00,125 --> 00:22:02,208 their blade put through destructive, 642 00:22:02,333 --> 00:22:04,042 devastating torture. 643 00:22:04,042 --> 00:22:07,542 And all I can do is hope that it withstands Ben's cutting. 644 00:22:07,667 --> 00:22:08,708 [laughs] 645 00:22:08,792 --> 00:22:10,667 [dramatic music] 646 00:22:10,667 --> 00:22:12,583 - Bladesmiths, welcome to the dynamic 647 00:22:12,583 --> 00:22:15,625 strength and sharpness test. 648 00:22:15,708 --> 00:22:17,458 First, to test the strength of your blades, 649 00:22:17,542 --> 00:22:19,500 I'll be bashing them into this pair of tongs. 650 00:22:19,583 --> 00:22:21,417 And then to test the edge retention 651 00:22:21,500 --> 00:22:22,708 and the overall feel, 652 00:22:22,792 --> 00:22:25,458 I'll be cutting into these gourds. 653 00:22:25,542 --> 00:22:26,250 Jesse, you're up first. You ready? 654 00:22:26,375 --> 00:22:27,375 - Yes, sir. 655 00:22:27,458 --> 00:22:28,958 - All right. 656 00:22:29,083 --> 00:22:31,500 ♪ 657 00:22:31,583 --> 00:22:33,292 - I'm horribly nervous. 658 00:22:33,375 --> 00:22:35,125 Knives are absolutely not intended to be 659 00:22:35,208 --> 00:22:36,583 pounded into tongs. 660 00:22:36,708 --> 00:22:38,583 My heart's absolutely beating out of my chest. 661 00:22:38,667 --> 00:22:39,875 Is it gonna perform? 662 00:22:39,875 --> 00:22:40,875 Is it gonna chip? 663 00:22:40,875 --> 00:22:42,500 Is it gonna explode? 664 00:22:42,625 --> 00:22:43,542 I'm just freaking out right now. 665 00:22:43,625 --> 00:22:46,000 ♪ 666 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:51,583 - My heart's absolutely beating out of my chest. 667 00:22:51,667 --> 00:22:53,417 I'm nervous. I'm stressing. 668 00:22:53,417 --> 00:22:55,500 I think the worst-case scenario is, it's gonna explode. 669 00:22:55,542 --> 00:22:56,708 The handle's gonna be uncomfortable. 670 00:22:56,792 --> 00:22:58,292 There's so many issues that I'm just 671 00:22:58,292 --> 00:22:59,583 kind of thinking about over my head. 672 00:23:03,708 --> 00:23:10,875 ♪ 673 00:23:16,583 --> 00:23:22,417 ♪ 674 00:23:22,500 --> 00:23:24,625 - [groans] 675 00:23:26,667 --> 00:23:30,500 ♪ 676 00:23:30,542 --> 00:23:31,750 All right, Jesse. 677 00:23:31,875 --> 00:23:33,542 Starting off, it's got a good look to it. 678 00:23:33,625 --> 00:23:36,375 I mean, it's a classic blacksmith-looking knife. 679 00:23:36,458 --> 00:23:38,667 Main thing for me, though, is that the edge, 680 00:23:38,750 --> 00:23:40,833 in the testing, took a lot of chipping. 681 00:23:40,833 --> 00:23:42,250 It's possible that the steel was 682 00:23:42,250 --> 00:23:43,958 a little too hot during the quench, 683 00:23:44,042 --> 00:23:45,917 which can do some stuff. But it held up. 684 00:23:46,000 --> 00:23:47,792 It's just now a serrated knife. 685 00:23:47,792 --> 00:23:50,833 Moving back to your handle, the soft twists and the curl-- 686 00:23:50,875 --> 00:23:51,917 it's cool. 687 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:53,167 It's really neat. 688 00:23:53,208 --> 00:23:54,458 All in all, it's all in one piece. 689 00:23:54,458 --> 00:23:55,750 Still straight. 690 00:23:55,833 --> 00:23:56,708 Nice job. 691 00:23:56,792 --> 00:23:57,667 - Thank you. 692 00:23:57,750 --> 00:23:59,042 - All right, Cole. You're up next. 693 00:23:59,125 --> 00:24:00,250 You ready? - Yeah. 694 00:24:00,333 --> 00:24:02,375 - All right. 695 00:24:02,500 --> 00:24:03,583 - So I'm seeing Jesse's knife chipped, 696 00:24:03,667 --> 00:24:05,458 and my heart's starting to beat. 697 00:24:05,542 --> 00:24:06,542 I'm getting a little nervous 'cause I know 698 00:24:06,625 --> 00:24:07,708 there's gonna be some destruction 699 00:24:07,708 --> 00:24:09,500 when they chop into those tongs. 700 00:24:09,542 --> 00:24:10,625 The edge could chip. It could crack. 701 00:24:10,625 --> 00:24:11,792 It could fold over. 702 00:24:11,875 --> 00:24:13,792 The handle could break in half. 703 00:24:13,875 --> 00:24:15,708 Really, anything could go wrong. 704 00:24:15,708 --> 00:24:22,542 ♪ 705 00:24:37,708 --> 00:24:40,875 ♪ 706 00:24:40,875 --> 00:24:41,875 - All right, Cole. 707 00:24:41,958 --> 00:24:43,792 Well, first off, looking at this knife, 708 00:24:43,875 --> 00:24:47,833 it's not the most artistic expression that I've seen. 709 00:24:47,917 --> 00:24:51,250 I wish it had a bit more flair, a bit more artistry. 710 00:24:51,375 --> 00:24:54,625 Moving on to your blade, the edge did 711 00:24:54,625 --> 00:24:56,917 end up taking some chipping. 712 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:59,833 And then back here, there's actually rolls that I can 713 00:24:59,917 --> 00:25:01,833 get my fingernail underneath. 714 00:25:01,917 --> 00:25:04,583 It did affect the cutting in the cut test. 715 00:25:04,667 --> 00:25:06,500 As I cut down to the gourds, 716 00:25:06,542 --> 00:25:08,583 I could feel the resistance pretty rapidly. 717 00:25:08,667 --> 00:25:10,500 But at the end of the day, nice job. 718 00:25:10,583 --> 00:25:11,792 - Thanks. 719 00:25:11,917 --> 00:25:13,792 - All right, Jason. You're up next. You ready? 720 00:25:13,875 --> 00:25:15,625 - I'm about to vomit, but go ahead. 721 00:25:15,708 --> 00:25:17,000 - All right. This'll be fun, then. 722 00:25:17,875 --> 00:25:18,875 ♪ 723 00:25:18,958 --> 00:25:20,958 - After seeing Jesse and Cole's knives 724 00:25:20,958 --> 00:25:22,500 take the damage that they took, 725 00:25:22,583 --> 00:25:24,750 I'm very concerned that mine will too. 726 00:25:24,750 --> 00:25:25,875 My brain, I'm screaming, 727 00:25:25,875 --> 00:25:27,208 "It's gonna break! It's gonna break! 728 00:25:27,208 --> 00:25:28,875 I'm sorry." [laughs] 729 00:25:28,875 --> 00:25:31,083 ♪ 730 00:25:31,083 --> 00:25:32,750 Here we go, fellers. 731 00:25:32,750 --> 00:25:39,625 ♪ 732 00:25:57,083 --> 00:26:00,125 ♪ 733 00:26:00,208 --> 00:26:01,583 - All right, Jason. 734 00:26:01,583 --> 00:26:02,875 That handle is really cool looking. 735 00:26:02,875 --> 00:26:05,125 I like the offset square corners. 736 00:26:05,208 --> 00:26:07,667 I like the way that the curl matches into the front. 737 00:26:07,708 --> 00:26:09,333 And it has the added benefit of being 738 00:26:09,458 --> 00:26:10,958 comfortable and easy to hold. 739 00:26:11,042 --> 00:26:14,792 The edge-- it took some chipping. 740 00:26:14,792 --> 00:26:17,042 None of these have rolled in any way. 741 00:26:17,125 --> 00:26:18,917 It's just chipped out. 742 00:26:19,042 --> 00:26:21,792 You know, you put a real fine edge on it, which is great. 743 00:26:21,875 --> 00:26:25,125 But this is W1 steel going against tong handles. 744 00:26:25,208 --> 00:26:27,500 Maybe a more robust edge would have been 745 00:26:27,542 --> 00:26:28,583 the right choice here. 746 00:26:28,667 --> 00:26:30,583 But it's all here. 747 00:26:30,667 --> 00:26:31,958 It looks great. 748 00:26:32,042 --> 00:26:33,000 Nice job. 749 00:26:33,042 --> 00:26:34,792 - Thank you, sir. 750 00:26:34,875 --> 00:26:35,875 ♪ 751 00:26:35,875 --> 00:26:37,875 I think we all tested equally, 752 00:26:37,958 --> 00:26:40,125 so it's anybody's game at this moment. 753 00:26:40,208 --> 00:26:43,000 But hopefully, overall, my design of my handle 754 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:45,042 will stand out above the rest 755 00:26:45,042 --> 00:26:46,542 and at least keep me going forward. 756 00:26:46,542 --> 00:26:50,292 ♪ 757 00:26:50,375 --> 00:26:51,708 - All right, gentlemen. 758 00:26:51,792 --> 00:26:53,708 I've got to say, it's been an absolute joy 759 00:26:53,708 --> 00:26:55,083 to join you here at the Clay Spencer Blacksmith Shop 760 00:26:55,167 --> 00:26:56,417 and watch you work. 761 00:26:56,500 --> 00:26:58,167 You're all three very talented smiths. 762 00:26:58,208 --> 00:26:59,667 But this is a competition, 763 00:26:59,750 --> 00:27:01,500 which means that we can only take two of you on 764 00:27:01,542 --> 00:27:02,542 to the next leg. 765 00:27:02,667 --> 00:27:04,958 The bladesmith leaving The Forge is... 766 00:27:05,042 --> 00:27:07,875 ♪ 767 00:27:07,875 --> 00:27:09,167 Cole. 768 00:27:09,208 --> 00:27:10,458 Unfortunately, your blade did not make the cut. 769 00:27:10,458 --> 00:27:11,792 And Ben's gonna explain why. 770 00:27:11,875 --> 00:27:13,958 - Well, Cole, watching you work out there, 771 00:27:14,042 --> 00:27:15,958 it's very obvious to me that you're a very talented smith. 772 00:27:16,042 --> 00:27:18,792 But all three of these blades performed about equally 773 00:27:18,875 --> 00:27:21,000 in the testing, so we had to take a closer look 774 00:27:21,083 --> 00:27:23,000 at the craftsmanship and the artistry 775 00:27:23,083 --> 00:27:24,000 that we asked for. 776 00:27:24,083 --> 00:27:25,500 And yours fell just a little short 777 00:27:25,500 --> 00:27:27,042 of that of your opponents. 778 00:27:27,042 --> 00:27:28,917 And that's why we're letting you go. 779 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,042 - Well, Cole, it's been an absolute pleasure. 780 00:27:31,125 --> 00:27:32,792 But unfortunately, your time in this competition has ended. 781 00:27:32,875 --> 00:27:34,125 I'm gonna have to ask you to please step 782 00:27:34,208 --> 00:27:35,833 off the testing floor. 783 00:27:35,917 --> 00:27:37,083 ♪ 784 00:27:37,208 --> 00:27:38,500 - I'm proud of the work I put out. 785 00:27:38,583 --> 00:27:40,333 I think I, you know, tried my best. 786 00:27:40,417 --> 00:27:41,875 I did what I could. 787 00:27:41,958 --> 00:27:43,750 And ultimately, it just wasn't up to the cut. 788 00:27:43,833 --> 00:27:45,500 The other competitors are great blacksmiths. 789 00:27:45,500 --> 00:27:46,917 They're great bladesmiths. 790 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,208 I think that these guys have a good chance 791 00:27:49,292 --> 00:27:50,333 of winning the whole thing. 792 00:27:50,458 --> 00:27:52,208 I hope they do, because it would be awesome 793 00:27:52,292 --> 00:27:53,625 to give back $10,000 794 00:27:53,708 --> 00:27:55,833 to the Clay Spencer Blacksmith Shop. 795 00:27:55,917 --> 00:27:58,875 ♪ 796 00:27:58,875 --> 00:28:00,625 - Jesse, Jason. Gentlemen, congratulations. 797 00:28:00,708 --> 00:28:02,583 You guys are moving forward in the second round 798 00:28:02,708 --> 00:28:04,750 of this competition, which means that one of you 799 00:28:04,750 --> 00:28:06,583 has the potential of going all the way 800 00:28:06,583 --> 00:28:07,917 to the final round of the tournament 801 00:28:08,042 --> 00:28:10,083 and taking home a check for $20,000. 802 00:28:10,167 --> 00:28:12,333 And this shop right here will get up 803 00:28:12,417 --> 00:28:15,792 to $10,000 worth of forging equipment and supplies. 804 00:28:15,958 --> 00:28:17,542 Now, typically, at this point, 805 00:28:17,625 --> 00:28:18,958 I'd be asking you to go home for four days 806 00:28:18,958 --> 00:28:20,500 to build an iconic weapon from history. 807 00:28:20,583 --> 00:28:22,000 But because you're blacksmiths, 808 00:28:22,083 --> 00:28:25,500 I want you to build an iconic tool. 809 00:28:25,500 --> 00:28:27,583 Gentlemen, we want you to build this. 810 00:28:27,583 --> 00:28:31,042 ♪ 811 00:28:31,125 --> 00:28:36,917 - I'm freaking out over here. 812 00:28:36,917 --> 00:28:38,958 - Gentlemen, we want you to build this. 813 00:28:39,083 --> 00:28:42,542 ♪ 814 00:28:42,542 --> 00:28:44,458 A four-tined pitchfork. 815 00:28:44,542 --> 00:28:48,750 ♪ 816 00:28:48,833 --> 00:28:50,917 The four-tined pitchfork was first created 817 00:28:51,042 --> 00:28:52,667 by European farmers during the Middle Ages, 818 00:28:52,750 --> 00:28:55,458 and remains a popular agrarian tool 819 00:28:55,542 --> 00:28:57,042 in the Appalachian region. 820 00:28:57,125 --> 00:29:00,167 Featuring long, pointed tines made for stabbing and pitching 821 00:29:00,208 --> 00:29:02,375 piles of hay, peasants also discovered 822 00:29:02,500 --> 00:29:04,000 they were sharp enough to inflict deadly stabs 823 00:29:04,042 --> 00:29:05,625 and thrusts against the upper classes 824 00:29:05,625 --> 00:29:07,542 during uprisings and riots. 825 00:29:07,542 --> 00:29:11,208 The pitchfork was instrumental in the 1794 Whiskey Rebellion, 826 00:29:11,292 --> 00:29:13,458 where farmers and distillers in Western Pennsylvania 827 00:29:13,542 --> 00:29:16,208 raised arms in protest of a federal whiskey tax. 828 00:29:16,208 --> 00:29:18,000 ♪ 829 00:29:18,042 --> 00:29:22,333 The overall length will need to be between 68 and 70 inches. 830 00:29:22,417 --> 00:29:25,542 The width of your pitchfork needs to be between 5 1/2 831 00:29:25,625 --> 00:29:26,833 and 6 1/2 inches. 832 00:29:26,917 --> 00:29:28,750 And each of those four tines needs to be 833 00:29:28,833 --> 00:29:32,083 between 11 and 13 inches long. 834 00:29:32,083 --> 00:29:33,833 - Like, what in the world? A pitchfork? 835 00:29:33,917 --> 00:29:35,542 I am a bladesmith. 836 00:29:35,542 --> 00:29:37,542 I am not a pitchfork-smith. 837 00:29:37,625 --> 00:29:40,417 But now the gauntlet is thrown down, I have to do it, 838 00:29:40,500 --> 00:29:41,583 and I'll do it. 839 00:29:41,667 --> 00:29:42,667 Here we go. 840 00:29:42,833 --> 00:29:44,167 Let's go home and make a pitchfork. 841 00:29:44,208 --> 00:29:46,167 [laughs] 842 00:29:46,208 --> 00:29:47,625 - Even though you both represent 843 00:29:47,708 --> 00:29:49,000 Clay Spencer Blacksmith Shop, 844 00:29:49,125 --> 00:29:50,583 you will each go back to your own home forges 845 00:29:50,667 --> 00:29:52,000 to make this tool. 846 00:29:52,000 --> 00:29:53,833 Now, guys, you're both extremely talented smiths 847 00:29:53,875 --> 00:29:55,833 and artists, so we expect two pitchforks 848 00:29:55,875 --> 00:29:57,625 that an angry villager would be proud to wield. 849 00:29:57,625 --> 00:29:59,208 Good luck, guys. 850 00:29:59,292 --> 00:30:00,583 We'll see you back at our forge in four days. 851 00:30:00,667 --> 00:30:01,750 - All right, buddy. 852 00:30:04,208 --> 00:30:05,500 ♪ 853 00:30:05,708 --> 00:30:09,125 - I really like working at the John C. Campbell Folk School. 854 00:30:09,208 --> 00:30:11,542 It's kind of like my second home. 855 00:30:11,542 --> 00:30:14,167 But I feel pretty good coming back to my home forge. 856 00:30:14,208 --> 00:30:16,667 I really hope I represent Ben Abbott 857 00:30:16,750 --> 00:30:18,667 and the Appalachian area well. 858 00:30:18,750 --> 00:30:20,167 And I hope that my home team 859 00:30:20,167 --> 00:30:22,042 of the John C. Campbell Blacksmith Shop-- 860 00:30:22,125 --> 00:30:24,500 I hope they're really looking forward to see what I do. 861 00:30:24,583 --> 00:30:27,375 ♪ 862 00:30:27,458 --> 00:30:29,833 Right now, I'm forging down in between the tines 863 00:30:29,875 --> 00:30:31,792 and the socket first, because I feel 864 00:30:31,875 --> 00:30:34,250 like if I do that and then cut the tines, 865 00:30:34,250 --> 00:30:37,667 I could spend more time on the tines 866 00:30:37,750 --> 00:30:41,083 and they won't be in my way. 867 00:30:41,208 --> 00:30:43,708 I'm gonna be doing it out of 5160 spring steel 868 00:30:43,708 --> 00:30:45,750 that we recycled from a car. 869 00:30:45,833 --> 00:30:47,625 I don't know how much material I'm gonna need, 870 00:30:47,625 --> 00:30:50,958 so I'm gonna use just kind of all this to start off with. 871 00:30:51,042 --> 00:30:53,042 I definitely don't need this much, 872 00:30:53,125 --> 00:30:56,458 but I want to try to give me a little bit room of error. 873 00:30:56,542 --> 00:31:00,000 I don't know exactly if it's getting to where it's 874 00:31:00,083 --> 00:31:02,458 supposed to be, but I'm definitely feeling good 875 00:31:02,542 --> 00:31:05,500 about where I am in comparison to where I started. 876 00:31:05,625 --> 00:31:09,417 [laughs] 877 00:31:09,542 --> 00:31:11,625 - It would be an absolute honor to represent 878 00:31:11,625 --> 00:31:15,042 the Appalachian area and the Clay Spencer Shop. 879 00:31:15,125 --> 00:31:20,333 So I've got to figure out some way to make a pitchfork. 880 00:31:20,375 --> 00:31:24,625 Today, the main goal is to get the socket made. 881 00:31:24,708 --> 00:31:27,375 I've got to get the seam on the socket right, 882 00:31:27,458 --> 00:31:30,750 'cause if you don't, it can split open, 883 00:31:30,875 --> 00:31:33,708 and it could basically come out of the handle. 884 00:31:33,833 --> 00:31:35,333 It'll look okay. 885 00:31:35,375 --> 00:31:37,167 Whenever it's done, you won't even be able to see it. 886 00:31:37,250 --> 00:31:39,292 All these welds will be ground away. 887 00:31:39,375 --> 00:31:41,708 Now that I've got it welded, next step: 888 00:31:41,792 --> 00:31:43,333 I gotta get these tines cut out. 889 00:31:43,417 --> 00:31:45,792 So it'll be a while. 890 00:31:45,875 --> 00:31:47,625 All right. It's the end of the day. 891 00:31:47,708 --> 00:31:50,458 I got my goal reached, and I'm done, and I'm tired. 892 00:31:50,542 --> 00:31:51,750 That's the end. 893 00:31:51,750 --> 00:31:52,667 Ready for tomorrow, day two. 894 00:31:52,708 --> 00:31:56,750 ♪ 895 00:31:56,833 --> 00:31:58,500 - It's the morning of day two. 896 00:31:58,583 --> 00:32:02,625 My plan for today is I'm going to establish my pitchfork 897 00:32:02,708 --> 00:32:03,750 to what it should be. 898 00:32:03,750 --> 00:32:05,875 I got to make sure this is right. 899 00:32:05,958 --> 00:32:07,708 I really want to focus on getting 900 00:32:07,875 --> 00:32:09,625 the lines equal to each other. 901 00:32:09,708 --> 00:32:11,708 If I have one tine bigger than the other one, 902 00:32:11,833 --> 00:32:13,333 it's gonna make it awkward, 903 00:32:13,417 --> 00:32:15,458 and I'll have to do a lot more forging on it. 904 00:32:15,542 --> 00:32:16,750 I like it. 905 00:32:16,833 --> 00:32:19,542 After I get all of the lines equal, 906 00:32:19,542 --> 00:32:23,625 I want to start chiseling down and fullering, 907 00:32:23,708 --> 00:32:25,250 spreading out those tines. 908 00:32:25,333 --> 00:32:27,083 Starting. 909 00:32:27,083 --> 00:32:29,792 Push those open just a little. 910 00:32:29,792 --> 00:32:30,958 I don't want to stretch them too much. 911 00:32:30,958 --> 00:32:33,167 I don't know how far it'll stretch. 912 00:32:33,167 --> 00:32:37,167 So I want to keep just doing that nice and slow. 913 00:32:37,208 --> 00:32:40,458 I don't want to overheat it or even work it too cold, 914 00:32:40,458 --> 00:32:42,583 because I might put in some stress crack 915 00:32:42,583 --> 00:32:45,500 that I won't be able to see or know about until later. 916 00:32:45,542 --> 00:32:49,667 It's a slow process, but I'm getting there. 917 00:32:49,708 --> 00:32:50,958 Feel pretty good about my progress. 918 00:32:51,042 --> 00:32:52,708 I accomplished a lot, I think. 919 00:32:52,792 --> 00:32:55,833 I feel pretty confident with all of the things I did today. 920 00:32:55,917 --> 00:32:58,208 Slowly but surely, it looks like a pitchfork. 921 00:32:58,208 --> 00:32:59,333 [scoffs] 922 00:32:59,375 --> 00:33:00,833 ♪ 923 00:33:00,875 --> 00:33:02,542 - Day three. 924 00:33:02,667 --> 00:33:05,833 Yesterday, I quenched. 925 00:33:05,917 --> 00:33:08,667 I'm really excited about that. 926 00:33:08,750 --> 00:33:10,500 Yeah. 927 00:33:10,542 --> 00:33:14,792 Today, I want to try to make a snake 928 00:33:14,875 --> 00:33:16,750 out of twisted Damascus. 929 00:33:16,833 --> 00:33:18,542 In the forge we go. 930 00:33:18,542 --> 00:33:20,083 And then I'll have the snake coming up 931 00:33:20,167 --> 00:33:21,625 and wrapped around the handle. 932 00:33:21,708 --> 00:33:23,708 So that'll be a nice little decorative touch. 933 00:33:23,792 --> 00:33:25,542 ♪ 934 00:33:25,625 --> 00:33:27,833 Clay Spencer Blacksmith Shop-- they're mostly known 935 00:33:27,875 --> 00:33:29,958 for ornamental iron works. 936 00:33:30,042 --> 00:33:31,625 Hopefully, I'll make everybody proud. 937 00:33:31,708 --> 00:33:35,958 And I hope that it will set me apart from the competition. 938 00:33:36,042 --> 00:33:38,042 Now, I don't like that. 939 00:33:38,167 --> 00:33:40,833 So now that I've got the shape overall, 940 00:33:40,958 --> 00:33:42,333 it looks like a straight snake. 941 00:33:42,333 --> 00:33:44,958 But I want the snake to be curled up 942 00:33:45,208 --> 00:33:48,417 and wrapped around the handle. 943 00:33:48,542 --> 00:33:51,042 And it split. 944 00:33:51,125 --> 00:33:52,125 It broke. 945 00:33:52,250 --> 00:33:54,542 By this time, I'm getting pretty mad. 946 00:33:59,583 --> 00:33:59,875 ♪ 947 00:34:00,333 --> 00:34:02,958 And it split. It broke. 948 00:34:03,042 --> 00:34:04,333 Yeah, I'm sitting there looking at it, 949 00:34:04,375 --> 00:34:06,000 and it looks like a piece of hot garbage. 950 00:34:06,042 --> 00:34:07,542 Can't do anything with it. 951 00:34:07,625 --> 00:34:10,792 I need something that can put me over the top 952 00:34:10,875 --> 00:34:13,000 against my competition. 953 00:34:13,042 --> 00:34:14,500 So I start looking at it. 954 00:34:14,500 --> 00:34:17,708 And then I put some bluing on the pitchfork. 955 00:34:17,792 --> 00:34:19,917 And it makes it look a little different, 956 00:34:20,000 --> 00:34:21,917 a little better. 957 00:34:22,000 --> 00:34:23,167 That set it off. 958 00:34:23,208 --> 00:34:25,375 I think it looks really cool now. 959 00:34:25,458 --> 00:34:29,792 ♪ 960 00:34:29,875 --> 00:34:31,500 - It's the morning of day four. 961 00:34:31,542 --> 00:34:32,875 On day three, I got the heat treat 962 00:34:33,000 --> 00:34:34,625 and the quench really good. 963 00:34:34,708 --> 00:34:35,750 It's looking okay so far. 964 00:34:35,875 --> 00:34:37,375 Hooray! 965 00:34:37,375 --> 00:34:40,875 I have to get the handle done today. 966 00:34:40,958 --> 00:34:42,333 Pitchfork has to be artistic, 967 00:34:42,375 --> 00:34:45,542 so I want to do a fractal burning 968 00:34:45,542 --> 00:34:47,833 because I hope to represent my home team 969 00:34:47,958 --> 00:34:50,042 of the John C. Campbell Folk School. 970 00:34:50,125 --> 00:34:52,000 Fractal burning--it's a little box 971 00:34:52,083 --> 00:34:53,417 with a neon power supply 972 00:34:53,542 --> 00:34:55,875 with essentially, like, metal nails. 973 00:34:55,875 --> 00:34:58,042 If done right, it looks really cool. 974 00:34:58,125 --> 00:35:00,833 It's a slow process. You just turn on the power. 975 00:35:00,917 --> 00:35:02,458 It does its thing. 976 00:35:02,458 --> 00:35:03,792 Don't touch it. 977 00:35:03,875 --> 00:35:04,833 Turn it off. 978 00:35:04,875 --> 00:35:05,750 Move it. 979 00:35:05,833 --> 00:35:07,750 Turn it back on. 980 00:35:07,833 --> 00:35:09,875 I like the build. 981 00:35:09,958 --> 00:35:11,583 Torch and pitchfork. 982 00:35:11,583 --> 00:35:13,833 Hooray! 983 00:35:13,958 --> 00:35:15,667 I really hope I didn't let my family 984 00:35:15,750 --> 00:35:17,000 at John C. Campbell down. 985 00:35:17,208 --> 00:35:18,458 I know Belz will hit me with a piece of steel. 986 00:35:18,542 --> 00:35:19,208 I know it. 987 00:35:19,292 --> 00:35:20,708 She's vicious, that Belz. 988 00:35:20,708 --> 00:35:23,542 But I love her. 989 00:35:23,542 --> 00:35:25,917 I need a person beside me for the photo. 990 00:35:26,042 --> 00:35:32,000 ♪ 991 00:35:32,042 --> 00:35:33,667 - Day four. 992 00:35:33,708 --> 00:35:36,125 I am just about done. 993 00:35:36,208 --> 00:35:37,958 Everything's looking great. 994 00:35:38,042 --> 00:35:39,667 So time to move on to the handle. 995 00:35:39,792 --> 00:35:42,000 Okay. Here we go. 996 00:35:42,083 --> 00:35:43,833 So this thing has such a good fit, 997 00:35:43,917 --> 00:35:47,000 it's really hard to get in. 998 00:35:47,042 --> 00:35:48,917 Basically forcing and forcing and forcing, 999 00:35:49,042 --> 00:35:50,750 and it ain't going. 1000 00:35:50,750 --> 00:35:52,208 Are you kidding me? 1001 00:35:52,208 --> 00:35:54,208 All I can do is just ram her home. 1002 00:35:54,292 --> 00:35:55,750 Just hope it don't break. 1003 00:35:55,750 --> 00:35:57,958 Because if it breaks, man, I'm going 1004 00:35:58,042 --> 00:35:59,583 to be in a world of trouble. 1005 00:35:59,667 --> 00:36:01,917 And there's no way I can start over at this point. 1006 00:36:01,917 --> 00:36:05,708 ♪ 1007 00:36:05,792 --> 00:36:08,000 It's there. 1008 00:36:08,042 --> 00:36:10,042 I got my handle together. 1009 00:36:10,042 --> 00:36:11,417 I'm basically done. 1010 00:36:11,542 --> 00:36:13,417 So now I gotta test this thing out. 1011 00:36:13,542 --> 00:36:14,917 Enemy watermelon spotted. 1012 00:36:15,000 --> 00:36:16,125 Here we go. 1013 00:36:16,125 --> 00:36:17,042 Oh! 1014 00:36:17,042 --> 00:36:17,958 That took his head off. 1015 00:36:18,042 --> 00:36:19,917 [giggles] Yah! 1016 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:22,833 I'm really excited to go back to the Forged in Fire forge. 1017 00:36:22,917 --> 00:36:26,792 I feel pretty confident that whatever they test it on, 1018 00:36:26,875 --> 00:36:27,958 it will survive. 1019 00:36:27,958 --> 00:36:30,667 [laughs] 1020 00:36:30,708 --> 00:36:35,833 ♪ 1021 00:36:35,917 --> 00:36:38,833 - Well, Jesse, Jason, Belz, welcome to our forge. 1022 00:36:38,917 --> 00:36:41,875 After four days of you putting together four-tine pitchforks, 1023 00:36:41,958 --> 00:36:44,083 I gotta say, they look fantastic. 1024 00:36:44,208 --> 00:36:45,875 But we've got to find out now which one of you 1025 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:48,333 will be going forward into the final leg of this tournament, 1026 00:36:48,417 --> 00:36:50,750 still in the fight for $20,000 to go into your pocket, 1027 00:36:50,833 --> 00:36:53,333 and an additional $10,000 worth of forging equipment 1028 00:36:53,417 --> 00:36:55,208 to go to Belz and the school. 1029 00:36:55,292 --> 00:36:57,125 But before we test your forks, I want to hear about it. 1030 00:36:57,125 --> 00:36:58,500 So Jesse, tell us about yours. 1031 00:36:58,583 --> 00:36:59,958 ♪ 1032 00:37:00,042 --> 00:37:01,833 - It's made from 5160. 1033 00:37:01,875 --> 00:37:04,500 It's an ash handle with a geometric bottom on it. 1034 00:37:04,542 --> 00:37:06,833 I burned it with doing some fractal burning 1035 00:37:06,833 --> 00:37:07,958 on the bottom as well. 1036 00:37:07,958 --> 00:37:08,917 I hope it does well. 1037 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:10,042 - All right. 1038 00:37:10,042 --> 00:37:11,000 Jason, how about you? 1039 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:12,833 ♪ 1040 00:37:12,875 --> 00:37:17,000 - I forged mine from a piece of leaf spring 5160 steel. 1041 00:37:17,083 --> 00:37:19,167 And I used hickory for a handle. 1042 00:37:19,250 --> 00:37:20,833 I was gonna do some Damascus, 1043 00:37:20,875 --> 00:37:21,917 but that didn't go right. 1044 00:37:22,042 --> 00:37:23,375 So hopefully it'll hold up. 1045 00:37:23,375 --> 00:37:24,583 - The forks look great. 1046 00:37:24,583 --> 00:37:26,833 Belz, you ready to see them tested? 1047 00:37:26,917 --> 00:37:28,083 - I'm ready. - All right. 1048 00:37:28,333 --> 00:37:29,917 Gentlemen, I'm gonna hand you over to Ben Abbott. 1049 00:37:30,042 --> 00:37:34,000 ♪ 1050 00:37:34,083 --> 00:37:35,208 - All right, bladesmiths. 1051 00:37:35,292 --> 00:37:37,000 Welcome to the strength and functionality part 1052 00:37:37,083 --> 00:37:38,583 of this competition. 1053 00:37:38,708 --> 00:37:40,542 I'm gonna start by taking your pitchforks 1054 00:37:40,542 --> 00:37:43,292 and checking the functionality of them by doing what they do, 1055 00:37:43,292 --> 00:37:45,333 putting some hay into a barrow. 1056 00:37:45,417 --> 00:37:48,292 Afterwards, I'm gonna test the angry villager side 1057 00:37:48,292 --> 00:37:50,750 of these things by attacking the sandman. 1058 00:37:50,750 --> 00:37:53,417 And then lastly, I'm gonna test their strength 1059 00:37:53,500 --> 00:37:56,125 by bashing them into the side of this wheelbarrow. 1060 00:37:56,125 --> 00:37:57,083 Jesse, you're up first. 1061 00:37:57,083 --> 00:37:59,167 You ready? - Yes, sir. 1062 00:37:59,417 --> 00:38:01,125 - Being in the Forged in Fire forge 1063 00:38:01,125 --> 00:38:02,292 definitely feels daunting. 1064 00:38:02,375 --> 00:38:04,667 It's a lot. And I'm, of course, nervous. 1065 00:38:04,750 --> 00:38:06,750 I haven't had anything tested like this. 1066 00:38:06,750 --> 00:38:09,000 I don't know how the heat treat will go. 1067 00:38:09,333 --> 00:38:11,500 I don't know if it will explode. 1068 00:38:11,500 --> 00:38:12,875 And you never know. 1069 00:38:12,958 --> 00:38:14,375 ♪ 1070 00:38:18,125 --> 00:38:19,167 - I'm, of course, nervous. 1071 00:38:19,500 --> 00:38:20,583 I don't know how the heat treat will go. 1072 00:38:20,750 --> 00:38:23,083 I don't know if it will explode. 1073 00:38:23,167 --> 00:38:25,333 And you never know. 1074 00:38:25,333 --> 00:38:28,500 [rock music] 1075 00:38:28,542 --> 00:38:35,417 ♪ 1076 00:39:01,167 --> 00:39:03,042 [groans] - Oh, no. 1077 00:39:03,125 --> 00:39:05,000 - [groans] I knew it. 1078 00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:06,792 Oh. 1079 00:39:06,875 --> 00:39:10,958 ♪ 1080 00:39:11,042 --> 00:39:12,625 - All right, Jesse. 1081 00:39:12,708 --> 00:39:16,458 Man, up until that last hit, things were going great. 1082 00:39:16,542 --> 00:39:17,875 The grain looks great. 1083 00:39:17,958 --> 00:39:18,958 It's a nice and tight grain in there, 1084 00:39:18,958 --> 00:39:19,917 so that wasn't any problem. 1085 00:39:20,000 --> 00:39:21,208 But I'm guessing on some 1086 00:39:21,333 --> 00:39:22,625 of the strikes in the wheelbarrow, 1087 00:39:22,625 --> 00:39:23,833 just that one interface 1088 00:39:23,833 --> 00:39:25,750 where the socket goes from being round 1089 00:39:25,875 --> 00:39:27,917 to being flat-- and it has a little bit 1090 00:39:28,042 --> 00:39:29,833 of an elbow underneath there-- 1091 00:39:29,917 --> 00:39:32,292 I think that that was enough of a stress riser 1092 00:39:32,375 --> 00:39:33,958 to cause this fracture. 1093 00:39:33,958 --> 00:39:36,000 - Well, thank you, sir. 1094 00:39:36,042 --> 00:39:38,833 ♪ 1095 00:39:38,875 --> 00:39:41,583 - Jesse, you survived every one of the strikes 1096 00:39:41,667 --> 00:39:43,125 except for the last one. 1097 00:39:43,208 --> 00:39:46,500 But unfortunately, because your pitchfork did break, 1098 00:39:46,583 --> 00:39:48,458 it's considered a catastrophic failure. 1099 00:39:48,542 --> 00:39:50,417 And therefore, we cannot continue testing it. 1100 00:39:50,417 --> 00:39:52,750 But you're not out of this fight yet. 1101 00:39:52,833 --> 00:39:54,792 Jason, in order to move forward 1102 00:39:54,875 --> 00:39:56,042 into the final leg of the tournament, 1103 00:39:56,125 --> 00:39:57,333 you are going to have to survive 1104 00:39:57,375 --> 00:39:59,125 all nine strikes. 1105 00:39:59,125 --> 00:40:00,458 Are you ready? 1106 00:40:00,542 --> 00:40:01,292 - I am now. 1107 00:40:01,542 --> 00:40:03,000 - All right, Ben. Take it away. 1108 00:40:03,042 --> 00:40:04,792 ♪ 1109 00:40:04,792 --> 00:40:07,583 - So watching Ben take that pitchfork, I'm sweating it. 1110 00:40:07,667 --> 00:40:09,833 There was a spot just past the socket. 1111 00:40:09,875 --> 00:40:12,333 I kind of ground it thin right there. 1112 00:40:12,417 --> 00:40:15,417 And that might possibly break right there, 1113 00:40:15,500 --> 00:40:19,125 especially seeing Jesse's break in the same spot. 1114 00:40:19,125 --> 00:40:20,833 So kind of worried. 1115 00:40:20,917 --> 00:40:27,750 ♪ 1116 00:40:57,375 --> 00:40:58,667 - Nice. 1117 00:41:01,917 --> 00:41:04,125 ♪ 1118 00:41:04,125 --> 00:41:06,167 - Well, Jesse, unfortunately for you, that means your time 1119 00:41:06,250 --> 00:41:07,500 in this competition has ended. 1120 00:41:07,583 --> 00:41:09,292 You will not be joining us in the final round. 1121 00:41:09,292 --> 00:41:11,458 We want to say thank you for coming out, fighting so hard. 1122 00:41:11,458 --> 00:41:12,667 But at this point in time, I'm gonna have 1123 00:41:12,750 --> 00:41:14,208 to ask you to please step off the Forge floor. 1124 00:41:14,208 --> 00:41:17,083 - Thank you for letting me be here. 1125 00:41:17,083 --> 00:41:18,417 My pitchfork broke. 1126 00:41:18,500 --> 00:41:20,167 I didn't expect it to break the way it did. 1127 00:41:20,208 --> 00:41:21,292 But stuff happens. 1128 00:41:21,375 --> 00:41:23,083 And I'm happy to be here. 1129 00:41:23,083 --> 00:41:24,333 I have learned a lot. 1130 00:41:24,375 --> 00:41:26,167 But also, it was an extremely fun time. 1131 00:41:26,208 --> 00:41:29,833 And I'm rooting for Mr. Jason in the final round, 1132 00:41:29,917 --> 00:41:32,583 because he has done such amazing work. 1133 00:41:32,667 --> 00:41:35,167 I think he's got a great position. 1134 00:41:35,292 --> 00:41:38,667 ♪ 1135 00:41:38,750 --> 00:41:40,333 - Jason, congratulations. 1136 00:41:40,375 --> 00:41:42,375 That means you are one step closer to a $20,000 check 1137 00:41:42,375 --> 00:41:45,167 to go into your pocket, and $10,000 in gear 1138 00:41:45,208 --> 00:41:46,500 and supplies to go to Belz 1139 00:41:46,542 --> 00:41:47,833 and the John C. Campbell Folk School. 1140 00:41:47,958 --> 00:41:49,708 But you've got a long road ahead of you, 1141 00:41:49,708 --> 00:41:51,167 'cause you've got to get through three other smiths 1142 00:41:51,250 --> 00:41:52,583 that we picked up across America. 1143 00:41:52,708 --> 00:41:54,208 Before we send you out, I want to ask you 1144 00:41:54,292 --> 00:41:55,292 to come up here, shake our hands, 1145 00:41:55,292 --> 00:41:57,250 and wish you good luck. 1146 00:41:57,333 --> 00:41:59,042 - I'm excited. 1147 00:41:59,042 --> 00:42:01,708 And I think I've said before, I'm not a pitchfork-smith, 1148 00:42:01,792 --> 00:42:05,375 but I guess I am now because I've made one, and it passed. 1149 00:42:05,500 --> 00:42:07,708 I'm excited to be the one moving forward to represent 1150 00:42:07,792 --> 00:42:09,833 Ben and John C. Campbell. 1151 00:42:09,917 --> 00:42:12,792 Hopefully, I'll do them well, and hopefully, I'll win, 1152 00:42:12,792 --> 00:42:14,708 and we'll all go home happy. 1153 00:42:14,792 --> 00:42:18,625 ♪