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[intense music]
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- Here in the Forge, we have
seen hundreds of smiths
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create some of the most feared
edged weapons in history.
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Now, in honor of History's
mini-series event "Colosseum,"
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we have decided
to transform our Forge
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into a Roman
gladiators arena.
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♪ ♪
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We are doing
a competition series
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unlike anything
you've ever seen.
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This is
Gladiators of the Forge.
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♪ ♪
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Currently,
we've seen six battles
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and our current
gladiator take down
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four formidable opponents.
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Jesse, that makes you
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a four-time Gladiator
of the Forge,
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and you have
$20,000 in your pocket.
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- I've won four battles
in a row now.
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I've come to prove something,
and I want to keep winning.
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- Tonight Jesse will face
his toughest competition yet.
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Will he have what it takes
to earn number five
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and that $10,000 bonus?
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The Gladiators of the Forge
competition continues now.
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[epic music]
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♪ ♪
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- My name is Jesse Hu,
I'm 19 years old,
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and I come from
the University of Michigan.
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I'm the four-time reigning
Gladiator of the Forge
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and I'm here to hopefully
get my fifth title.
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If I win my fifth title,
it comes with an extra $10,000
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on top of the $5,000,
which means it'll be
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worth three
of my previous battles.
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I've done it before.
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There's nothing stopping me
from doing it again.
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- I'm John Lachie,
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I'm 47 years old,
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and I'm from Laurel, Montana.
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I've been forging
for 20 plus years.
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I don't know
if I'm more nervous
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going against somebody
that has won four in a row,
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but it is
a bit of a shock for sure.
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To someone who has done
this, he's a proven winner.
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And now, to be the best,
you have to beat the best.
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My gladiator name
would be Caledonian.
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My family's Scottish,
and so that was
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the one part of the world
that the Romans didn't conquer.
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They built a wall
to stay away.
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[epic music]
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♪ ♪
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- Bladesmiths,
welcome to the Forge.
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This is the seventh battle
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in our Gladiators
of the Forge competition.
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Now, it will consist
of eight straight hours of
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head-to-head competition
that is sudden death.
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Now, gentlemen,
in those eight hours,
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you will be asked to build
a weapon from our wall
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of gladiator weapons here,
all of which have been
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featured in History's
mini-series event,
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"Colosseum."
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Now, guys, at the end of
that eight hours
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I will ask
that you stop your work
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and present your blades
to our panel of expert judges
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who will put your blade
through a series of tests.
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Today, it will ultimately
end with one of you
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earning the title of
Gladiator of the Forge
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and getting a check for $5,000.
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Now, Jesse, right now you
have four wins under your belt.
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You've got $20,000
in your pocket.
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you're fighting
for the 5 grand,
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but being that this is your
fifth competition,
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if you win, you will also
receive that bonus of $10,000.
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John, you are the challenger.
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If you win today,
you will get your first
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Gladiator of the Forge title,
$5,000,
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and an opportunity
to move forward
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into the future rounds
of this competition.
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Are you guys
ready to get into it?
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- Let's go.
- Yep.
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- All right, gentlemen,
in order to find out
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what blade you will
be building and the technique
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you'll both use
to build that blade,
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we're gonna flip this
authentic Roman coin here.
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♪ ♪
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John, as the challenger,
I'll give you the option,
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heads or tails?
- Tails never fails.
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- Tails never fails.
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[suspenseful music]
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Today it did, landed on heads.
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Jesse, you get first pick.
Do you want to pick the weapon
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or do you wanna pick
the forge welding technique?
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- I want the weapon.
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- All right,
what are you thinking?
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- For all
of my previous competitions,
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one of the winning factors
was me picking
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a rather complicated-looking
blade
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and having my opponent get
scared by it a little.
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So I want to pick a blade that
looks scary to the both of us.
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I'm thinking
the pair of pugio daggers.
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- Holy cow...
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- Yes!
- What a bold choice.
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The pugio
was a popular sidearm
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in second
and third century Rome.
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Gladiators were known
to battle with two pugio,
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one in each hand.
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These close-quarter
combat weapons featured
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a wide leaf-shaped blade
to inflict deep,
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lethal wounds upon an enemy,
both on the battlefield
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and inside the walls
of the Colosseum.
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However,
the pugio is most well known
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as the weapon used
to murder Julius Caesar.
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All right, gentlemen,
you need to build
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a pair of matching
pugio daggers.
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Now, gentlemen,
when you turn your blades in,
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make sure they meet
these following parameters.
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Each of your daggers
needs to have a blade length
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that measures between 7 1/2
and 9 1/2 inches.
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You need to have two discs
in each of your handles.
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And as you can see here,
gentlemen,
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these are leaf-shaped blades
with double edge.
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John, you've got a choice
to make--
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what forge welding technique
do you want to use
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to build your daggers?
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- It is a competition,
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so I went back
to what I know.
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If Jesse's not prepared
for using scrap techniques,
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it could be a detriment to him.
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I'm not trying
to set him up for failure,
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but in a competition,
you try to do the best you can
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and come out ahead.
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Let's go with canister,
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and we're gonna have to use
some bicycle chain in it.
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- Bicycle chain
in canister Damascus.
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All right, very, very
tall order on the plate today.
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Now, gentlemen, keep in mind
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that 5 1/2 hours
into this competition,
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your forges will be turned off.
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So make sure that you
have them quenched
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and hardened before that time.
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Guys, this is going to be
one for the books.
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You have eight hours
to complete your pugio daggers,
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so good luck, stay sharp.
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Your time starts now.
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♪ ♪
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Guys, this has got to be
the most difficult
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blade selection
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and a very difficult
forge welding technique.
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- You got bolster style guards,
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you got two discs--
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It's a lot going on there.
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- And there's two of them.
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These guys have a long day
ahead of them.
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- Because
this is my fifth battle,
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I'm definitely
a little bit tired.
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I've hit that bottom plateau
in terms of energy
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and the only
way I can go is up.
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- At 19 years old,
he's got a little bit
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of extra stamina,
a little bit more in the tank.
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- There's nothing
different about this battle
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compared to my earlier ones.
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It's the same
order of operations.
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I don't plan on changing it.
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It worked for me in the past
so it has to work for me now.
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I want to win this one a lot.
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I used to forge out
chef knives at home
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in batches of two or three,
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so this is a pretty comfortable
zone for me.
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- It would be hard enough
to build one of these
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in eight hours,
so now we have to build two,
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and that is
going to be a challenge.
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So what I'm doing
is taking the canoe,
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laying down some
of the powdered steel,
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then filling in
with roller chain.
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- If you have a canoe canister,
you can see
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that you're filling
those voids.
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When you're in the tallboy
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and you're filling it
from the top,
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you can't necessarily see
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what's going on
down in bottom of that.
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- I didn't know
before I got here
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that I'm facing
the Ken Jennings
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of "Forged in Fire."
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It's like, wow,
this kid's pretty sharp,
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this is gonna be a dandy.
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- I think my canister
is up to temperature now.
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I think it's the perfect
time to bring them over
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to the squaring dies
and start setting those welds.
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- Jesse is bringing out
screaming hot cans.
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- That's good,
that's what you want.
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- I'm not going too
aggressively on the press.
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I know that
if I press too hard,
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I can rip the canister and
just destroy my entire billet.
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- Jesse's doing good.
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he's taking small bites,
he flipped it.
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- I thought I would have to
deal with at least some issues.
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However, it looks
pretty much perfect to me.
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- I'm looking
for the right color,
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and once I have the billet
up to temperature,
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I go over to the press,
run through the squaring dies.
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Of course the biggest concern
is always going to be
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the weld quality,
make sure the welds are good.
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I think the welds are all set
and they should be fine.
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So the idea that I've got
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is that I'm going
to forge the two knives
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out of one billet
and I'm gonna
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stretch out the tang
in the middle.
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And I'll cut those in two.
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- John's actually impressing
me quite a bit already.
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- He's working like somebody
who's been here before.
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- I'm feeling pretty
good right now where we're at.
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It is kind of an adventure,
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and it's amazing
how fast the clock ticks.
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- Bladesmiths, you guys
are a quarter of the way
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through this battle.
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You have six hours left!
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00:07:54,583 --> 00:07:56,625
- Two--you had to pick two.
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You couldn't just pick one.
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00:07:58,292 --> 00:07:59,583
No, no, pick two.
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- The more the merrier.
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00:08:01,208 --> 00:08:03,042
[John laughs]
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00:08:03,208 --> 00:08:05,875
- The pugio daggers are very,
very leaf-shaped.
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I made the Xiphos,
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00:08:07,667 --> 00:08:09,833
and the Xiphos is just
a really long pugio dagger.
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So I definitely have experience
making a leaf-shaped blade.
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00:08:13,083 --> 00:08:15,208
- So how important is
the symmetry of these blades
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as you go into the testing?
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- It's quite important because
it affects your accuracy
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and affects
how he will be moving
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and cutting with the blade.
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- Right now I have them
all forged to shape,
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fit to dimension,
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just wanna get them ready
for heat treat now.
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- Guys, would you say
that one of the smiths
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is ahead of the other?
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00:08:32,208 --> 00:08:33,333
- Not really.
- No.
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00:08:33,417 --> 00:08:34,708
- I think they're pretty
much neck and neck.
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- Yeah, I'd say they're
right on top of one another.
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- My thought process is
to make these pugio daggers
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as exact to each other
as I possibly can.
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So I'm clamping the tangs
together
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and then I grind them
at the same time.
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- John's making a point
of stacking his blades up
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to make sure he's got the same
dimensions on both of them.
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- Smart move.
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00:08:54,583 --> 00:08:55,958
- There we go.
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Got 'em ground to shape
that I think I like,
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and I'm just gonna thermal
cycle them a couple times
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before I heat treat.
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00:09:01,208 --> 00:09:03,667
- Bladesmiths, we are
officially halfway through.
249
00:09:03,750 --> 00:09:05,833
You have four hours remaining!
250
00:09:05,917 --> 00:09:08,833
- It's time for le quench.
251
00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,917
Canister Damascus is a much
more non-uniform material.
252
00:09:12,042 --> 00:09:13,250
I definitely think
253
00:09:13,375 --> 00:09:15,375
it's more liable to cracking
during the quench,
254
00:09:15,500 --> 00:09:17,917
so I decided
to do one at a time.
255
00:09:18,042 --> 00:09:19,750
- Oh, we got a quench.
256
00:09:19,875 --> 00:09:22,125
- The temperature of my
first blade looked perfect.
257
00:09:22,250 --> 00:09:24,542
Now it's time to put
blade two in the fire.
258
00:09:26,042 --> 00:09:28,500
- All right, Jesse's
got two blades quenched.
259
00:09:28,583 --> 00:09:29,667
- It went perfectly.
260
00:09:29,792 --> 00:09:31,917
There was no warps
in either blade.
261
00:09:33,292 --> 00:09:35,333
It's time to grind these
blades to final dimension.
262
00:09:35,417 --> 00:09:39,458
I slap on a fresh 36 grit
and just start going ham.
263
00:09:39,542 --> 00:09:42,250
♪ ♪
264
00:09:42,375 --> 00:09:45,167
- So after I've got 'em ground,
now it's time to heat treat.
265
00:09:45,333 --> 00:09:49,875
♪ ♪
266
00:09:50,042 --> 00:09:51,792
- All right, guys, we've
got four quenched blades now.
267
00:09:51,875 --> 00:09:53,667
John just got in the oil.
268
00:09:53,833 --> 00:09:55,542
- Out of the oil,
it looks good.
269
00:09:55,708 --> 00:09:57,250
I think I've got what I want.
270
00:09:57,375 --> 00:09:58,667
That's gonna work.
271
00:09:58,792 --> 00:10:00,708
And then I go to the grinder.
272
00:10:01,875 --> 00:10:02,792
[bleep].
273
00:10:04,583 --> 00:10:07,958
The second blade,
I noticed a delam on the edge.
274
00:10:08,083 --> 00:10:10,500
I am concerned that another
could show up while I grind,
275
00:10:10,625 --> 00:10:12,500
but I think I've still
got enough width.
276
00:10:12,625 --> 00:10:15,333
And so now I'm just
going to work that out.
277
00:10:15,458 --> 00:10:16,833
I'm hoping
I don't snatch defeat
278
00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:18,458
from the jaws of victory
right now.
279
00:10:18,583 --> 00:10:20,167
So I just
want to make sure I'm doing
280
00:10:20,292 --> 00:10:21,583
the best I possibly can.
281
00:10:21,708 --> 00:10:23,542
- Bladesmiths,
you have two hours left
282
00:10:23,708 --> 00:10:25,500
to finish your blades.
283
00:10:25,667 --> 00:10:27,750
So these guys managed
to forge their blades out,
284
00:10:27,875 --> 00:10:29,333
get 'em quenched,
but it's still
285
00:10:29,458 --> 00:10:30,583
a very long road ahead of them.
286
00:10:30,708 --> 00:10:32,167
These are some of the more
difficult handles
287
00:10:32,292 --> 00:10:33,417
I've seen built in the Forge,
288
00:10:33,542 --> 00:10:34,750
and there's two of them.
289
00:10:34,875 --> 00:10:37,000
- I'm deciding to put
the discs in first
290
00:10:37,083 --> 00:10:39,417
because wood
is a lot easier to shape.
291
00:10:39,542 --> 00:10:41,625
This is
a fairly tedious process.
292
00:10:41,750 --> 00:10:43,042
I don't want to
create garbage.
293
00:10:43,167 --> 00:10:44,708
I want to make sure
what I create
294
00:10:44,833 --> 00:10:46,708
is as good as it can be.
295
00:10:46,875 --> 00:10:48,667
I know that
during battle three,
296
00:10:48,792 --> 00:10:50,625
when Kurt
had a gap in his guard,
297
00:10:50,750 --> 00:10:51,917
the judges were complaining
298
00:10:52,042 --> 00:10:53,208
that it was scratching
their hands,
299
00:10:53,375 --> 00:10:55,333
and that's pretty much
how he got eliminated.
300
00:10:55,500 --> 00:10:56,667
- Well, Kurt, your handle
301
00:10:56,792 --> 00:10:57,917
with sharp corners
on the inside
302
00:10:58,042 --> 00:10:59,500
was less refined
than your opponent,
303
00:10:59,625 --> 00:11:01,958
and that's what we based
our decision on.
304
00:11:02,042 --> 00:11:03,958
- I want to learn
from my past experiences.
305
00:11:04,083 --> 00:11:05,667
However, I'm facing a clock.
306
00:11:05,750 --> 00:11:07,542
I don't have time to make
sure that these fits
307
00:11:07,667 --> 00:11:09,083
are perfect,
but I'm going to do my best
308
00:11:09,208 --> 00:11:11,792
to make them look
pretty much identical.
309
00:11:11,875 --> 00:11:14,833
- I now have to assemble
these two handles.
310
00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:18,000
It is going to be a big
challenge all the way around.
311
00:11:18,083 --> 00:11:21,042
I want to use my Micarta
for the bulk of the handle.
312
00:11:21,208 --> 00:11:23,167
It's tougher material.
313
00:11:23,250 --> 00:11:26,000
♪ ♪
314
00:11:26,083 --> 00:11:27,875
Agh, it split it.
315
00:11:28,042 --> 00:11:30,500
- Ooh, looks like John just
broke some handle material.
316
00:11:30,667 --> 00:11:32,958
- Just cracked wide open.
317
00:11:33,083 --> 00:11:35,208
- I don't feel that
I wasted too much time,
318
00:11:35,375 --> 00:11:37,250
so time to adjust again.
319
00:11:37,375 --> 00:11:42,083
I find an epoxied block
with some wood in it...
320
00:11:42,208 --> 00:11:43,167
- Oh man!
321
00:11:43,250 --> 00:11:44,875
- And it breaks.
322
00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,125
I go back into the pantry
and find a block of maple.
323
00:11:48,250 --> 00:11:50,625
[bleep].
- Ohhh!
324
00:11:50,750 --> 00:11:53,167
- Ugh.
- Oh, boy.
325
00:11:53,250 --> 00:11:54,667
The third block cracks.
326
00:11:54,792 --> 00:11:56,250
- Come on, man.
327
00:11:56,375 --> 00:11:57,958
- And I start second-guessing
328
00:11:58,083 --> 00:12:00,125
about everything
that I have done.
329
00:12:00,250 --> 00:12:02,167
- This is where
some of our smiths
330
00:12:02,250 --> 00:12:03,667
tend to get frustrated.
331
00:12:03,792 --> 00:12:06,167
- It really is a race
against the clock and myself.
332
00:12:06,250 --> 00:12:08,167
If I let it spiral me
out of control,
333
00:12:08,292 --> 00:12:10,292
I could lose
the competition easily.
334
00:12:14,167 --> 00:12:15,583
- We're down to
the final hour
335
00:12:15,708 --> 00:12:16,667
of our seventh Gladiator
of the Forge battle,
336
00:12:16,833 --> 00:12:17,958
and John has now broken
337
00:12:18,042 --> 00:12:19,667
three different pieces
of handle material.
338
00:12:19,750 --> 00:12:21,333
He's in trouble--he needs
to get this handle on
339
00:12:21,458 --> 00:12:22,792
really fast.
340
00:12:22,917 --> 00:12:24,375
- I know I have
to find a handle,
341
00:12:24,500 --> 00:12:26,167
because the clock marches on.
342
00:12:26,292 --> 00:12:29,000
I've got to find
a chunkier piece.
343
00:12:29,125 --> 00:12:31,292
So I'm going with
another maple.
344
00:12:31,417 --> 00:12:33,292
- There we go.
- Whoo!
345
00:12:33,375 --> 00:12:34,958
- This is gonna give me
a heart attack.
346
00:12:35,083 --> 00:12:36,125
- Yep.
347
00:12:36,208 --> 00:12:37,833
- Everything seems to be
just right,
348
00:12:37,958 --> 00:12:39,625
but I glance, and I'm seeing
349
00:12:39,750 --> 00:12:41,917
I've used up
better than an hour,
350
00:12:42,042 --> 00:12:45,000
so I know
I've got to keep moving on.
351
00:12:45,167 --> 00:12:46,417
[rock music]
352
00:12:46,542 --> 00:12:48,875
- Everything is glued pretty
much together as best as I can,
353
00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:50,167
but there's still a few things
354
00:12:50,333 --> 00:12:51,667
that I need to do
in this round
355
00:12:51,750 --> 00:12:53,208
including finish
shaping the handle
356
00:12:53,375 --> 00:12:54,333
and then sharpening it.
357
00:12:54,458 --> 00:12:55,833
- God, this is the fifth
competition where we've
358
00:12:55,917 --> 00:12:57,667
gotten to watch Jesse
work in the Forge.
359
00:12:57,792 --> 00:12:59,333
Each one
had their own difficulties
360
00:12:59,417 --> 00:13:00,500
assigned with them.
361
00:13:00,625 --> 00:13:01,750
- And Jesse's risen
to the occasion
362
00:13:01,875 --> 00:13:02,917
every single time.
363
00:13:03,042 --> 00:13:04,833
- If Jesse
doesn't win these tests,
364
00:13:04,917 --> 00:13:06,667
that's $15,000
out of his pocket.
365
00:13:06,833 --> 00:13:08,125
- Ouch.
366
00:13:08,208 --> 00:13:11,167
- I have to sharpen
two double-edged daggers.
367
00:13:11,250 --> 00:13:13,083
I leave myself a lot of time
to sharpen these blades
368
00:13:13,208 --> 00:13:15,583
because I don't want to
run out of time
369
00:13:15,708 --> 00:13:17,583
and have one edge unsharpened.
370
00:13:17,708 --> 00:13:19,833
After forging for 40 hours,
371
00:13:19,958 --> 00:13:21,958
I'm definitely feeling it
a little bit.
372
00:13:22,083 --> 00:13:24,500
I'll be energized
for the next competition,
373
00:13:24,667 --> 00:13:26,917
but it'll just be adrenaline.
374
00:13:27,042 --> 00:13:28,458
I'm feeling good
about the blades.
375
00:13:28,542 --> 00:13:31,375
I wanna prove that even with
only three years of experience,
376
00:13:31,500 --> 00:13:34,500
I can defeat someone with
20 years of experience.
377
00:13:34,583 --> 00:13:36,042
Nice.
378
00:13:36,167 --> 00:13:37,500
- Bladesmiths,
you are down to the last
379
00:13:37,667 --> 00:13:39,792
30 minutes of this contest!
380
00:13:39,875 --> 00:13:41,292
- It's a very complex handle.
381
00:13:41,417 --> 00:13:43,042
I know they have a lot of
moving parts in this.
382
00:13:43,167 --> 00:13:44,375
I know I'm going to have to
383
00:13:44,500 --> 00:13:47,042
to make sure everything
fits properly with it.
384
00:13:49,125 --> 00:13:51,000
- John's got something
completely different going on,
385
00:13:51,125 --> 00:13:52,208
trying to inlay the disc
386
00:13:52,333 --> 00:13:54,000
into a through tang
handle construction.
387
00:13:54,083 --> 00:13:56,583
- What John's doing is
a great idea,
388
00:13:56,708 --> 00:13:59,042
but it's very,
very time-consuming.
389
00:13:59,208 --> 00:14:02,667
- It's not an easy process,
but I do get 'em inset some.
390
00:14:02,792 --> 00:14:05,250
After I get
the pommel wood on,
391
00:14:05,375 --> 00:14:07,667
then it's to the grinder.
392
00:14:07,792 --> 00:14:09,333
It looks like
a potato on a stick.
393
00:14:09,417 --> 00:14:12,458
It doesn't look great,
and I need to get this
394
00:14:12,542 --> 00:14:14,625
shaped into something
that is functional.
395
00:14:14,708 --> 00:14:16,167
- What John's got going on
on his handle,
396
00:14:16,333 --> 00:14:18,583
it kinda almost looks
like a dog chew bone.
397
00:14:18,708 --> 00:14:20,667
- I still need
to sharpen the blade.
398
00:14:20,833 --> 00:14:22,000
I have to get it etched.
399
00:14:22,167 --> 00:14:23,458
I'm racing the clock
right now,
400
00:14:23,542 --> 00:14:27,250
and I don't have time
to make mistakes today.
401
00:14:27,375 --> 00:14:29,250
- Five, four,
402
00:14:29,375 --> 00:14:32,167
three, two, one!
403
00:14:32,250 --> 00:14:34,375
Bladesmiths, turn off your
machines, put down your tools.
404
00:14:34,500 --> 00:14:36,083
This battle is over!
405
00:14:38,375 --> 00:14:40,375
- I am happy
with what I've done.
406
00:14:40,500 --> 00:14:41,917
It's a finished set.
407
00:14:42,042 --> 00:14:43,333
The handle meets the criteria.
408
00:14:43,500 --> 00:14:47,500
I do look over at Jesse's
anvil and see a very nice set,
409
00:14:47,625 --> 00:14:51,292
but I think the blades will
hold up and test pretty well.
410
00:14:51,417 --> 00:14:55,083
[dramatic music]
411
00:14:55,208 --> 00:14:56,833
- Bladesmiths,
welcome our strength test,
412
00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,458
the armor stab and slash.
413
00:14:59,542 --> 00:15:02,250
♪ ♪
414
00:15:02,375 --> 00:15:04,208
Jesse, you're up first.
You ready to go?
415
00:15:04,333 --> 00:15:06,833
- I'm ready to go.
- I know you love going first.
416
00:15:06,958 --> 00:15:08,542
- Yep.
- Let's do it, bud.
417
00:15:08,667 --> 00:15:11,083
♪ ♪
418
00:15:11,208 --> 00:15:12,875
- This strength test
is probably the hardest one
419
00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:14,042
that I've experienced so far,
420
00:15:14,208 --> 00:15:16,792
and there's some
extra money on the line.
421
00:15:16,875 --> 00:15:18,250
It's steel on steel.
422
00:15:18,375 --> 00:15:20,542
You'd have to be a magician
to make a blade
423
00:15:20,667 --> 00:15:23,458
that can go through this
and keep the same edge.
424
00:15:23,583 --> 00:15:25,792
[tense music]
425
00:15:25,875 --> 00:15:30,625
♪ ♪
426
00:15:30,750 --> 00:15:33,250
[clanking]
427
00:15:39,708 --> 00:15:42,167
- [grunting]
428
00:15:54,292 --> 00:15:56,542
- All right, Jesse,
you survived, good job.
429
00:15:56,667 --> 00:16:00,958
Your blades look great.
I like the symmetry on these.
430
00:16:01,083 --> 00:16:03,083
They look like a matched pair.
431
00:16:03,208 --> 00:16:04,917
Everything's tight,
everything's smooth.
432
00:16:05,042 --> 00:16:07,542
Your edges are still good.
433
00:16:07,708 --> 00:16:10,083
You do have a few flat spots,
434
00:16:10,208 --> 00:16:13,250
but there's not enough there
where I can catch a nail on it.
435
00:16:13,375 --> 00:16:17,000
The biggest issue
I have is the handles.
436
00:16:17,083 --> 00:16:18,875
They have no grip to them
whatsoever,
437
00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:20,292
enough so,
that with one of the chops,
438
00:16:20,417 --> 00:16:23,708
I actually caught a knuckle,
the knuckle slipped up.
439
00:16:23,833 --> 00:16:25,250
Some contouring
would have made it
440
00:16:25,375 --> 00:16:26,792
a lot easier to hold on to 'em.
441
00:16:26,875 --> 00:16:28,625
But otherwise, great job.
442
00:16:28,708 --> 00:16:30,333
- Thank you.
443
00:16:30,458 --> 00:16:31,792
- It's always fun being
the second guy, right John?
444
00:16:31,917 --> 00:16:33,417
- Sure, why not?
445
00:16:33,542 --> 00:16:35,792
- You ready to go?
- Absolutely.
446
00:16:35,875 --> 00:16:37,167
- All right, let's do it.
447
00:16:37,292 --> 00:16:39,125
♪ ♪
448
00:16:39,208 --> 00:16:40,792
- If there's ever anybody
that's going to
449
00:16:40,875 --> 00:16:43,333
break a new toy,
it's J. Nielson.
450
00:16:43,500 --> 00:16:45,458
There's always a possibility
of something failing.
451
00:16:45,542 --> 00:16:47,833
I think it's all glued
together properly,
452
00:16:47,958 --> 00:16:49,792
but we're about to find out.
453
00:16:49,917 --> 00:16:52,708
[tense music]
454
00:16:52,833 --> 00:16:53,958
♪ ♪
455
00:16:57,625 --> 00:16:59,000
- If there's ever
anybody that's going to
456
00:16:59,125 --> 00:17:01,833
break a new toy,
it's J. Nielsen.
457
00:17:01,958 --> 00:17:03,833
I think it's all glued
together properly,
458
00:17:03,917 --> 00:17:07,000
but we're about to find out.
459
00:17:07,083 --> 00:17:09,958
[tense music]
460
00:17:10,042 --> 00:17:13,625
♪ ♪
461
00:17:13,750 --> 00:17:16,708
[clanking]
462
00:17:23,833 --> 00:17:27,083
- [grunting]
463
00:17:34,708 --> 00:17:36,667
All right, John,
you survived.
464
00:17:36,792 --> 00:17:38,000
Gotta be happy about that.
465
00:17:38,125 --> 00:17:39,375
You got some glinting
on the edges,
466
00:17:39,500 --> 00:17:41,833
nothing I'm really catching on.
467
00:17:41,958 --> 00:17:43,167
The biggest problem I have--
468
00:17:43,292 --> 00:17:45,458
the contouring
you have on there
469
00:17:45,542 --> 00:17:47,875
is basically
the exact opposite
470
00:17:48,042 --> 00:17:49,333
of what I said about Jesse's.
471
00:17:49,417 --> 00:17:51,000
They're not sliding anywhere,
472
00:17:51,125 --> 00:17:53,125
but they're
not comfortable at all.
473
00:17:53,208 --> 00:17:56,083
But, overall,
they held together
474
00:17:56,208 --> 00:17:59,375
and nothing came loose,
edges survived--good job.
475
00:17:59,500 --> 00:18:00,500
- Thank you.
476
00:18:00,625 --> 00:18:03,208
♪ ♪
477
00:18:03,375 --> 00:18:05,667
- Gladiators of the Forge,
478
00:18:05,792 --> 00:18:08,667
this is the sharpness test,
the banner slice.
479
00:18:08,792 --> 00:18:11,625
♪ ♪
480
00:18:11,708 --> 00:18:13,000
Jesse, you're up first.
You ready for this?
481
00:18:13,125 --> 00:18:15,333
- I'm ready.
- All right.
482
00:18:15,500 --> 00:18:18,625
[epic music]
483
00:18:18,708 --> 00:18:25,333
♪ ♪
484
00:18:35,542 --> 00:18:36,833
All right, Jesse,
let's talk about
485
00:18:36,917 --> 00:18:38,833
your matching pugio daggers
here.
486
00:18:38,917 --> 00:18:41,667
That's a beautiful matched set,
they're quite identical,
487
00:18:41,750 --> 00:18:42,917
very close to that.
488
00:18:43,042 --> 00:18:45,000
Now, your edge--your
edges cut nicely,
489
00:18:45,125 --> 00:18:48,333
and overall your weapon...
will cut.
490
00:18:49,542 --> 00:18:51,000
John, your turn, sir.
You ready?
491
00:18:51,125 --> 00:18:52,833
- Yes, sir, let's do this.
492
00:18:52,958 --> 00:18:55,958
[tense music]
493
00:18:56,042 --> 00:19:02,458
♪ ♪
494
00:19:14,750 --> 00:19:16,833
- All right, John, let's talk
about your pugio daggers here.
495
00:19:16,917 --> 00:19:19,125
Your edges are sharp,
it's just that it's got
496
00:19:19,250 --> 00:19:21,208
a grind here
that's not razor sharp.
497
00:19:21,333 --> 00:19:23,583
So when cutting with this,
there are some areas to this
498
00:19:23,708 --> 00:19:25,708
where it just got snagged
with the blade,
499
00:19:25,833 --> 00:19:27,708
and it does rip a little bit.
500
00:19:27,833 --> 00:19:31,000
But overall, sir, your
pugio daggers...will cut.
501
00:19:31,125 --> 00:19:32,125
- Thank you.
502
00:19:32,208 --> 00:19:36,542
♪ ♪
503
00:19:36,708 --> 00:19:39,167
- All right, gentlemen, after
eight hours of furious battle
504
00:19:39,292 --> 00:19:41,125
where you guys
built your pugio daggers
505
00:19:41,208 --> 00:19:42,500
out of bicycle chain
canister Damascus,
506
00:19:42,667 --> 00:19:44,667
it is coming down
to a final decision.
507
00:19:44,792 --> 00:19:46,500
Only one of you
can come out of here on top
508
00:19:46,583 --> 00:19:48,167
for the title
of Gladiator of the Forge.
509
00:19:48,333 --> 00:19:51,208
Jesse, if you win,
that will be your fifth win,
510
00:19:51,375 --> 00:19:54,375
and you will have
$35,000 in your pocket.
511
00:19:54,500 --> 00:19:57,458
Now, John, if you win,
you'll stop his winning streak,
512
00:19:57,542 --> 00:19:59,000
get your first
Gladiator of the Forge title,
513
00:19:59,083 --> 00:20:00,792
a check for $5,000,
514
00:20:00,875 --> 00:20:03,417
and the opportunity to go
forward into the next battle.
515
00:20:03,542 --> 00:20:05,375
The Judges have discussed
your blades,
516
00:20:05,500 --> 00:20:07,542
and they made a final decision.
517
00:20:07,667 --> 00:20:09,708
Today's Gladiator
of the Forge is...
518
00:20:09,833 --> 00:20:12,375
[suspenseful music]
519
00:20:12,500 --> 00:20:14,208
♪ ♪
520
00:20:14,375 --> 00:20:16,833
Jesse, you have
done it again.
521
00:20:16,958 --> 00:20:18,125
That is five total wins.
522
00:20:18,250 --> 00:20:20,500
John, you brought us
a good pair of blades,
523
00:20:20,583 --> 00:20:22,125
but unfortunately
they didn't come out on top,
524
00:20:22,208 --> 00:20:24,333
and Jay
is gonna tell you why.
525
00:20:24,500 --> 00:20:26,250
- John, you did
a great job out there.
526
00:20:26,375 --> 00:20:27,833
You should definitely be
proud of yourself.
527
00:20:27,917 --> 00:20:29,792
We sure as heck enjoyed
watching you work.
528
00:20:29,917 --> 00:20:31,333
But at the end of the day,
529
00:20:31,458 --> 00:20:33,958
the inner grinds
on your pugio daggers
530
00:20:34,083 --> 00:20:35,458
weren't as sharp
as your competitor's,
531
00:20:35,542 --> 00:20:37,083
as we saw
during the sharpness test.
532
00:20:37,208 --> 00:20:40,083
And you had a great idea
for the handle,
533
00:20:40,208 --> 00:20:41,708
but it kind of went south,
534
00:20:41,833 --> 00:20:44,125
so that's why
we're sending you home.
535
00:20:44,250 --> 00:20:45,583
- John, there's no question,
you're talented.
536
00:20:45,708 --> 00:20:47,792
I know you had your competitor
here worried for a little bit.
537
00:20:47,917 --> 00:20:50,083
Unfortunately, you didn't
come out on top today.
538
00:20:50,208 --> 00:20:51,375
At this point,
I'm gonna have to ask you
539
00:20:51,542 --> 00:20:52,667
to please
step off the Forge floor.
540
00:20:52,792 --> 00:20:54,542
- I understand.
It's been a great challenge.
541
00:20:54,708 --> 00:20:55,833
Thank you, guys.
- Thank you, John.
542
00:20:56,000 --> 00:20:57,833
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
543
00:20:58,500 --> 00:20:59,833
- There's
no sour grapes at all.
544
00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:02,375
Jesse's a great smith,
and he's a sharp young man.
545
00:21:02,500 --> 00:21:04,625
This is just one more
learning experience.
546
00:21:04,708 --> 00:21:06,375
Take your education
and move to the next thing.
547
00:21:06,500 --> 00:21:08,167
There are so many
things that were used
548
00:21:08,333 --> 00:21:09,667
in the gladiator ring.
549
00:21:09,750 --> 00:21:11,083
You're going to be
a jack of all trades,
550
00:21:11,208 --> 00:21:12,625
really, to get any
of them done.
551
00:21:12,708 --> 00:21:13,958
It's going
to be a tough challenge
552
00:21:14,083 --> 00:21:16,333
for anybody coming up.
553
00:21:16,458 --> 00:21:19,208
- Jesse,
you are a five-time champion.
554
00:21:19,333 --> 00:21:20,958
You got another check
for 5 grand
555
00:21:21,083 --> 00:21:22,833
and a bonus of $10,000.
556
00:21:22,958 --> 00:21:24,667
Congratulations.
- Thank you.
557
00:21:24,750 --> 00:21:27,333
- So right now, I gotta
ask again,
558
00:21:27,458 --> 00:21:30,083
do you have enough energy
to go back in the Forge
559
00:21:30,208 --> 00:21:31,333
and fight out another battle?
560
00:21:31,417 --> 00:21:34,250
- Put me in, Coach.
- I love it.
561
00:21:34,375 --> 00:21:36,208
All right, man,
congratulations again
562
00:21:36,333 --> 00:21:38,333
on your
fifth win and the $15,000.
563
00:21:38,417 --> 00:21:40,125
We will see you on the Forge
floor for the next battle.
564
00:21:40,250 --> 00:21:42,042
Well done.
- Thank you.
565
00:21:42,208 --> 00:21:44,917
I've faced people
pretty much every round
566
00:21:45,042 --> 00:21:46,333
who've had more experience
than me.
567
00:21:46,458 --> 00:21:48,500
Having won five in a row,
568
00:21:48,583 --> 00:21:50,917
I've proven to myself
that I can overcome
569
00:21:51,042 --> 00:21:54,042
pretty much any level
of adversity in the Forge.
570
00:21:54,167 --> 00:21:55,333
I have five titles.
571
00:21:55,458 --> 00:21:57,875
I'm not ready to give up
this seat anytime soon.
572
00:21:58,042 --> 00:22:01,667
[tense music]
573
00:22:01,792 --> 00:22:09,208
♪ ♪
574
00:22:09,333 --> 00:22:11,208
- My name is Matt Brando,
575
00:22:11,375 --> 00:22:13,000
I'm from Jacksonville,
North Carolina.
576
00:22:13,125 --> 00:22:14,625
I'm 36 years old.
577
00:22:14,750 --> 00:22:17,000
I've been blade smithing
for three years.
578
00:22:17,125 --> 00:22:20,167
What got me into smithing
was my eight-year-old son.
579
00:22:20,292 --> 00:22:22,125
He had watched an episode
of "Forged in Fire"
580
00:22:22,250 --> 00:22:23,500
and got excited.
581
00:22:23,667 --> 00:22:25,167
And everything
that we do in the shop,
582
00:22:25,292 --> 00:22:26,750
we do together.
583
00:22:26,875 --> 00:22:29,625
I would compare this as
a battle to the death because
584
00:22:29,708 --> 00:22:32,750
if I stop Jesse, there it is,
I killed his winning streak.
585
00:22:32,875 --> 00:22:35,417
Jesse's already
got a high sum of money
586
00:22:35,542 --> 00:22:37,958
from winning.
I'm ready to take the rest.
587
00:22:38,083 --> 00:22:39,417
- We are about to kick off
588
00:22:39,542 --> 00:22:42,208
our eighth Gladiator
of the Forge competition
589
00:22:42,375 --> 00:22:44,875
with our five-time winner
Jesse
590
00:22:45,042 --> 00:22:46,458
and our competitor Matt,
591
00:22:46,583 --> 00:22:49,542
trying to stop
that reign of terror.
592
00:22:49,667 --> 00:22:51,458
Now, Jesse,
you're already at 35 grand.
593
00:22:51,542 --> 00:22:53,625
If you win through
the next three battles,
594
00:22:53,750 --> 00:22:55,583
you will have a total of
$50,000
595
00:22:55,708 --> 00:22:56,875
earned in this competition.
596
00:22:57,042 --> 00:23:00,167
Matt, if you win, you'll get
your first $5,000,
597
00:23:00,292 --> 00:23:01,875
and we'll ask you if you
want to move forward
598
00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:03,583
into the next battle.
599
00:23:03,708 --> 00:23:05,583
Gentlemen, without further ado,
let's get into it.
600
00:23:05,708 --> 00:23:07,333
In order to find out what blade
601
00:23:07,500 --> 00:23:09,125
from our wall of
gladiator weapons here
602
00:23:09,208 --> 00:23:10,333
you're going to be building
603
00:23:10,458 --> 00:23:12,167
as well as
the forge welding technique,
604
00:23:12,292 --> 00:23:13,375
we're gonna flip a coin.
605
00:23:13,542 --> 00:23:15,250
Matt, as the challenger,
you get
606
00:23:15,375 --> 00:23:17,000
the option
as to heads or tails.
607
00:23:17,083 --> 00:23:18,333
What do you want to pick?
- Heads.
608
00:23:18,500 --> 00:23:20,042
- Heads it is.
609
00:23:20,167 --> 00:23:24,333
♪ ♪
610
00:23:24,458 --> 00:23:26,292
Unfortunately,
it landed on tails.
611
00:23:26,417 --> 00:23:28,167
That means, Jesse,
you get the first choice
612
00:23:28,333 --> 00:23:30,500
whether you want the weapon
or the forge welding technique.
613
00:23:30,625 --> 00:23:31,833
What are you picking today?
614
00:23:31,917 --> 00:23:33,375
- I want to pick the forge
welding technique.
615
00:23:33,500 --> 00:23:34,833
- Interesting. All right,
what are you thinking?
616
00:23:34,917 --> 00:23:38,458
- My plan is basically
ultimate chicken.
617
00:23:38,583 --> 00:23:40,542
I'm gonna make it super,
super hard for my opponent.
618
00:23:40,667 --> 00:23:42,292
Having gone through
five battles
619
00:23:42,417 --> 00:23:44,667
with five different
forging techniques,
620
00:23:44,792 --> 00:23:47,125
I'm not really scared
of any of them anymore.
621
00:23:47,250 --> 00:23:48,583
I'm thinking...
622
00:23:48,708 --> 00:23:50,708
[suspenseful music]
623
00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:56,708
- I'm gonna make it super,
super hard for my opponent.
624
00:23:56,833 --> 00:23:58,167
Having gone through
five battles with five
625
00:23:58,250 --> 00:23:59,833
different forging techniques,
626
00:23:59,958 --> 00:24:01,750
I'm not really scared
of any of them anymore.
627
00:24:01,875 --> 00:24:03,167
I'm thinking...
628
00:24:03,250 --> 00:24:04,833
♪ ♪
629
00:24:04,958 --> 00:24:08,208
Ball bearing canister
with a peeled canister.
630
00:24:08,375 --> 00:24:10,667
- Oh!
631
00:24:10,750 --> 00:24:12,167
- Very risky move, all right.
632
00:24:12,250 --> 00:24:14,833
Now, Matt, you lost the coin
toss, you get second choice.
633
00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,125
You have a choice
of a few weapons here
634
00:24:17,208 --> 00:24:18,625
on the wall
of gladiator blades.
635
00:24:18,708 --> 00:24:20,000
What are you thinking?
636
00:24:20,083 --> 00:24:21,750
- I've done fish hook
canister Damascus,
637
00:24:21,875 --> 00:24:24,583
I've done
chain canister Damascus.
638
00:24:24,708 --> 00:24:27,375
I've never had anything
to do with ball bearings.
639
00:24:27,542 --> 00:24:28,708
Honestly,
I don't even know what type
640
00:24:28,833 --> 00:24:31,083
of metal that it is
without doing research.
641
00:24:31,208 --> 00:24:34,167
So I look at the wall,
and I think we'll keep it
642
00:24:34,333 --> 00:24:35,417
within my wheelhouse.
643
00:24:35,542 --> 00:24:36,583
gladius.
644
00:24:39,917 --> 00:24:41,417
- The Roman gladius
is one of the most
645
00:24:41,542 --> 00:24:43,458
well-known weapons
of the Roman Empire.
646
00:24:43,583 --> 00:24:46,500
Tracing its origin back
to the second century BC,
647
00:24:46,625 --> 00:24:48,208
this weapon features
a lightweight,
648
00:24:48,333 --> 00:24:49,708
double-edged blade
649
00:24:49,833 --> 00:24:51,292
designed for easier,
more deadly strikes
650
00:24:51,375 --> 00:24:53,000
than other
heavier blades of the era,
651
00:24:53,083 --> 00:24:54,833
which made it the sword
of choice
652
00:24:54,917 --> 00:24:57,833
for both Roman soldiers
and gladiators.
653
00:24:57,958 --> 00:24:59,667
This iconic weapon
was featured
654
00:24:59,750 --> 00:25:01,542
on the very first season
of "Forged in Fire"
655
00:25:01,708 --> 00:25:03,125
where both smiths went above
and beyond
656
00:25:03,208 --> 00:25:05,750
with their Damascus blades
but struggled to perfect
657
00:25:05,875 --> 00:25:07,875
the intricate
handle construction.
658
00:25:08,042 --> 00:25:09,833
Now, gentlemen,
when you turn your blades in,
659
00:25:09,917 --> 00:25:11,958
make sure they fall within
these following parameters.
660
00:25:12,042 --> 00:25:13,542
Your blade length,
measured from tip
661
00:25:13,708 --> 00:25:15,208
to where the cutting edge ends
in a straight line,
662
00:25:15,333 --> 00:25:18,042
needs to be between
17 and 19 inches.
663
00:25:18,167 --> 00:25:20,875
You need to include
two edges and a medial ridge
664
00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:22,625
on that blade,
and you need to feature
665
00:25:22,750 --> 00:25:26,458
a wooden guard with a metal
plate and a globe pommel.
666
00:25:26,583 --> 00:25:29,375
This is going to be
a hell of a competition, guys.
667
00:25:29,542 --> 00:25:31,792
You have eight hours
to build a gladius
668
00:25:31,917 --> 00:25:33,542
with ball bearing
canister Damascus
669
00:25:33,708 --> 00:25:35,875
with a requirement
of a peeled can.
670
00:25:36,042 --> 00:25:38,167
But keep in mind that
at 5 1/2 hours
671
00:25:38,292 --> 00:25:40,500
into this competition,
we will shut off your forges.
672
00:25:40,625 --> 00:25:43,250
So make sure you have
those blades quenched
673
00:25:43,375 --> 00:25:45,042
and hardened by that time.
674
00:25:45,167 --> 00:25:48,375
Good luck, stay sharp.
Your time starts now.
675
00:25:48,500 --> 00:25:51,000
♪ ♪
676
00:25:51,125 --> 00:25:52,042
- Yee haw!
677
00:25:52,167 --> 00:25:53,458
- This is gonna be
an interesting one.
678
00:25:53,583 --> 00:25:54,708
- It's a ballsy call
from Jesse right here,
679
00:25:54,875 --> 00:25:57,542
asking for a peeled Damascus.
680
00:25:57,667 --> 00:25:58,667
- That's the great thing,
681
00:25:58,792 --> 00:26:00,125
Jesse's always trying
something new.
682
00:26:00,250 --> 00:26:03,500
But does he know that
the ball bearings need to be
683
00:26:03,625 --> 00:26:05,167
at a higher temperature
and soak longer?
684
00:26:05,292 --> 00:26:08,625
Otherwise, they're not
going to fuse up in that can.
685
00:26:08,750 --> 00:26:11,000
- I mean,
I've done canister Damascus.
686
00:26:11,125 --> 00:26:12,667
Every time I'd done it,
I peeled the can off.
687
00:26:12,750 --> 00:26:15,167
Didn't seem
to have trouble with it.
688
00:26:15,292 --> 00:26:17,167
I go for the White Out
and I know I've got to get
689
00:26:17,333 --> 00:26:19,333
that White Out to dry prior
to doing anything
690
00:26:19,458 --> 00:26:21,208
from that point on.
691
00:26:21,333 --> 00:26:22,708
- Matt put the White Out in.
692
00:26:22,875 --> 00:26:25,208
Now he put it aside
and is drawing out his plan.
693
00:26:25,333 --> 00:26:26,792
That's a good idea.
694
00:26:26,917 --> 00:26:30,042
- The last thing that I want is
my steel not welding together.
695
00:26:30,208 --> 00:26:32,667
So I get all that powdered
steel settled in between
696
00:26:32,833 --> 00:26:34,500
all the ball bearings,
697
00:26:34,625 --> 00:26:37,625
almost like making
a ball bearing lasagna.
698
00:26:37,750 --> 00:26:40,958
Pack it down the best
that I can and weld the top.
699
00:26:41,042 --> 00:26:44,667
I'm ready to stop Jesse's
winning streak, and I'm ready
700
00:26:44,792 --> 00:26:46,417
to go onto the next,
and then the next.
701
00:26:46,542 --> 00:26:48,375
Plenty of time, plenty of time.
702
00:26:48,500 --> 00:26:50,917
♪ ♪
703
00:26:51,042 --> 00:26:53,583
- After forging for 48 hours,
704
00:26:53,708 --> 00:26:56,000
I'm definitely
feeling it a little bit.
705
00:26:56,125 --> 00:26:58,125
I know from watching
J. Nielson's videos that
706
00:26:58,208 --> 00:27:00,542
I'm supposed to let this
White Out dry somewhat,
707
00:27:00,667 --> 00:27:03,000
but I don't have time for that.
708
00:27:03,125 --> 00:27:05,375
I try to go over
to the forge and heat it up
709
00:27:05,542 --> 00:27:07,542
and have it cool
a little bit faster but...
710
00:27:07,708 --> 00:27:09,167
- Oh, boy, here we go.
711
00:27:09,250 --> 00:27:10,833
- It just lights on fire.
712
00:27:10,958 --> 00:27:13,708
- Jesse just went and did
a little burnout on his can.
713
00:27:13,833 --> 00:27:15,708
Once you burn that White Out,
714
00:27:15,833 --> 00:27:18,167
it kind of changes
the chemicals in there
715
00:27:18,292 --> 00:27:21,833
and it doesn't really work
as a resist anymore.
716
00:27:21,917 --> 00:27:23,625
- I decided to risk it
and just go back and pack it
717
00:27:23,708 --> 00:27:26,750
while the White Out's
still pretty liquid.
718
00:27:26,875 --> 00:27:27,833
- Ooh!
719
00:27:27,958 --> 00:27:30,042
- It looks like my forge
just got possessed.
720
00:27:30,167 --> 00:27:33,250
- This could just be him having
some gapping in the weld.
721
00:27:33,375 --> 00:27:34,667
Jesse should pull that out
722
00:27:34,833 --> 00:27:36,875
and reweld around
that gap again quickly.
723
00:27:37,042 --> 00:27:40,042
- That's all material burning
out of the inside of the can.
724
00:27:40,167 --> 00:27:42,167
That creates a void.
725
00:27:42,250 --> 00:27:45,292
- Sparking goes on for a while,
but then it just stops 100%.
726
00:27:45,375 --> 00:27:47,875
So now that my billet's
cooking up, I take this time
727
00:27:48,042 --> 00:27:49,333
to go to the pantry and begin
728
00:27:49,500 --> 00:27:51,000
picking out materials
for my handle.
729
00:27:51,083 --> 00:27:52,917
Let's go!
730
00:27:53,042 --> 00:27:55,667
- Canister comes out,
I think it's ready to go
731
00:27:55,750 --> 00:27:57,667
and we start squaring it off.
732
00:27:57,792 --> 00:28:00,667
- Matt's taking his time,
he's being careful with this.
733
00:28:00,750 --> 00:28:03,875
He's not distorting
the canister much at all.
734
00:28:04,042 --> 00:28:06,833
- I get to the point
where it looks as if I've got
735
00:28:06,958 --> 00:28:09,667
one solid piece of steel.
736
00:28:09,792 --> 00:28:11,792
I'm ready
to take the canister off.
737
00:28:14,208 --> 00:28:17,208
As I am peeling off the can,
I look down at the steel
738
00:28:17,333 --> 00:28:21,792
and there's little ball
bearings on my inside.
739
00:28:21,875 --> 00:28:25,042
It kind of freaks me out.
It doesn't look right.
740
00:28:25,167 --> 00:28:27,000
- Uh-oh, guys,
Matt just put his billet
741
00:28:27,083 --> 00:28:28,833
down on the ground
back by his vice.
742
00:28:28,917 --> 00:28:30,625
- I just make
the quick decision.
743
00:28:30,708 --> 00:28:33,833
I'm starting over.
- Oh, we got a restart!
744
00:28:33,917 --> 00:28:36,500
- My question is
why did he restart?
745
00:28:36,583 --> 00:28:38,000
- He only opened
a tiny little seam.
746
00:28:38,083 --> 00:28:39,625
- That's what I saying,
he didn't open it enough
747
00:28:39,708 --> 00:28:41,542
to see what's going
on in there.
748
00:28:41,667 --> 00:28:43,625
- I don't even want
to try to salvage it
749
00:28:43,750 --> 00:28:47,375
and bury myself three,
four hours into this blade.
750
00:28:47,500 --> 00:28:50,125
If my second billet comes out
looking the same as my first,
751
00:28:50,250 --> 00:28:52,292
then I guess I was right
the first time,
752
00:28:52,375 --> 00:28:54,333
but I can't stop.
753
00:28:54,417 --> 00:28:57,792
♪ ♪
754
00:28:57,917 --> 00:29:01,667
- The first two welding heats
go very, very well,
755
00:29:01,792 --> 00:29:04,333
but I don't have x-ray vision.
756
00:29:04,417 --> 00:29:06,375
The only way that I can
tell what's inside this can
757
00:29:06,500 --> 00:29:08,292
is to start peeling it open.
758
00:29:09,875 --> 00:29:11,583
It feels solid enough
759
00:29:11,708 --> 00:29:14,958
so I attempt to chisel away
this can.
760
00:29:18,292 --> 00:29:20,333
I expected there to be
a little bit of a barrier
761
00:29:20,458 --> 00:29:22,833
between the can
and what's inside the can,
762
00:29:22,958 --> 00:29:25,917
but it just looked like
one homogenous piece of steel.
763
00:29:26,042 --> 00:29:28,667
- What Jesse's doing
is extremely exhausting.
764
00:29:28,792 --> 00:29:31,208
- And that's on top
of 40 hours of forging
765
00:29:31,333 --> 00:29:33,583
he's done in the past
five competitions.
766
00:29:33,708 --> 00:29:38,000
[Jesse grunts]
767
00:29:38,125 --> 00:29:40,292
- I did have a lot
of energy going into
768
00:29:40,375 --> 00:29:42,750
this competition,
but it's all being sapped away
769
00:29:42,875 --> 00:29:45,500
by the most draining process
I've experienced yet.
770
00:29:45,583 --> 00:29:47,417
[bleep]!
I wish I chose a different
771
00:29:47,542 --> 00:29:48,750
foraging technique.
772
00:29:48,875 --> 00:29:50,583
This sucks.
773
00:29:50,708 --> 00:29:53,000
- Bladesmiths,
you have six hours left.
774
00:29:53,167 --> 00:29:55,042
- All right.
775
00:29:55,208 --> 00:29:58,667
Second can gets up to heat
and it's heat, beat,
776
00:29:58,792 --> 00:30:01,042
and repeat, same thing
I did with the first can.
777
00:30:01,167 --> 00:30:02,667
- So there's something
about the re-starting.
778
00:30:02,750 --> 00:30:05,958
What are you going to change
to not get the same result?
779
00:30:06,042 --> 00:30:08,208
- It's kind of taking a gamble
'cause with so many steps
780
00:30:08,375 --> 00:30:11,167
in the process, how do you
identify which one went wrong?
781
00:30:12,792 --> 00:30:15,417
- Oh, baby!
782
00:30:15,542 --> 00:30:17,167
- It comes off, easy.
783
00:30:17,292 --> 00:30:20,167
It looks to be one
solid piece of steel.
784
00:30:20,292 --> 00:30:22,167
- Matt's got that
can off his billet,
785
00:30:22,333 --> 00:30:24,667
now he's on the press, gonna
start drawing it out to length.
786
00:30:24,750 --> 00:30:26,125
- He's drawing it
quite aggressively.
787
00:30:26,208 --> 00:30:28,708
This is where you start putting
the cracks in the sides.
788
00:30:28,833 --> 00:30:31,667
- And as I'm hammering...
789
00:30:31,750 --> 00:30:33,667
[hammer clanking]
790
00:30:33,833 --> 00:30:36,167
A ball bearing
actually falls off.
791
00:30:36,250 --> 00:30:38,917
- Oh, no.
792
00:30:39,042 --> 00:30:40,708
- I know I've got
to calm myself down.
793
00:30:40,875 --> 00:30:43,125
I'm doing something wrong.
794
00:30:43,250 --> 00:30:45,542
- Oh, boy, he's thinking
about re-starting.
795
00:30:45,708 --> 00:30:48,292
- This is where Matt needs to
straighten that billet out,
796
00:30:48,375 --> 00:30:49,583
cut it, and restack it.
797
00:30:49,708 --> 00:30:51,542
- It's worth a shot.
798
00:30:51,667 --> 00:30:54,583
- I cannot believe I'm thinking
I've got to do it a third time.
799
00:30:54,708 --> 00:30:56,333
- Oh, wow.
800
00:30:56,458 --> 00:30:57,875
- Are you kidding me, guys?
801
00:30:58,042 --> 00:31:00,792
- So that's two hours
gone out of the challenge.
802
00:31:00,875 --> 00:31:03,583
- Push, push, push,
don't stop moving.
803
00:31:03,708 --> 00:31:05,042
That's all I'm thinking.
804
00:31:08,958 --> 00:31:10,333
- We're over two hours
into the eighth Gladiator
805
00:31:10,458 --> 00:31:11,833
of the Forge battle,
and Matt is struggling
806
00:31:12,000 --> 00:31:14,167
with Jesse's pick
of canister Damascus.
807
00:31:14,250 --> 00:31:15,667
He's already restarted
once and he might have
808
00:31:15,792 --> 00:31:17,167
to start over again.
809
00:31:17,292 --> 00:31:19,458
- I've got my second
billet drawn out,
810
00:31:19,542 --> 00:31:21,875
and as I'm hammering...
811
00:31:22,000 --> 00:31:26,167
a ball bearing
actually falls off.
812
00:31:26,292 --> 00:31:28,958
- Oh, no.
813
00:31:29,042 --> 00:31:31,500
- I cannot believe I've
got to do it a third time.
814
00:31:31,625 --> 00:31:32,833
- Oh, wow.
815
00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:34,667
- Are you kidding me, guys.
816
00:31:34,792 --> 00:31:35,958
- Too aggressive
on that first pass.
817
00:31:36,083 --> 00:31:37,667
- I think you're right.
818
00:31:37,750 --> 00:31:40,500
- Giving up is not
going through my mind,
819
00:31:40,583 --> 00:31:42,000
it's "how do I succeed?"
820
00:31:42,125 --> 00:31:43,792
I've gotta hurry.
821
00:31:43,917 --> 00:31:48,958
♪ ♪
822
00:31:49,042 --> 00:31:51,667
- Finally, holy [bleep].
823
00:31:51,792 --> 00:31:54,042
After 45 minutes
of chiseling away,
824
00:31:54,208 --> 00:31:56,333
the last side
of the can comes off.
825
00:31:56,417 --> 00:32:00,958
I am ridiculously happy,
but I just barely got started,
826
00:32:01,083 --> 00:32:02,833
and I need to make
a full-blown sword.
827
00:32:02,917 --> 00:32:04,458
- Usually, at this point,
Jesse's
828
00:32:04,542 --> 00:32:07,333
already got a billet drawn out.
- Right?
829
00:32:07,417 --> 00:32:09,917
- There's not a single inch
on this billet
830
00:32:10,042 --> 00:32:12,417
where there's no cracks.
831
00:32:12,542 --> 00:32:14,125
I could end
my win streak here.
832
00:32:14,208 --> 00:32:15,750
I could turn in
a cracked blade,
833
00:32:15,875 --> 00:32:17,500
and the judges
won't even test it.
834
00:32:17,625 --> 00:32:20,000
I can try to fix these cracks
in my billet,
835
00:32:20,167 --> 00:32:21,583
or I can restart.
836
00:32:21,708 --> 00:32:23,750
But there's no way I'm
peeling off that can again.
837
00:32:23,875 --> 00:32:27,833
So I employ all of
my fluxing powers
838
00:32:27,958 --> 00:32:30,375
and try to fix these
forge welds.
839
00:32:30,542 --> 00:32:32,167
- This was the issue
we were worried about
840
00:32:32,333 --> 00:32:34,458
because that White Out
wasn't dry,
841
00:32:34,542 --> 00:32:37,083
so it could have gotten
mixed in there,
842
00:32:37,208 --> 00:32:40,667
and that's in the middle
of all that consolidation.
843
00:32:40,792 --> 00:32:42,708
- I get most of these cracks
ground out of the billet.
844
00:32:42,875 --> 00:32:44,167
Super lucky.
845
00:32:44,292 --> 00:32:47,417
Now it's time to take it
to old Big Blue and completely
846
00:32:47,542 --> 00:32:49,250
draw it out and get
ready for beveling.
847
00:32:49,375 --> 00:32:51,292
♪ ♪
848
00:32:51,417 --> 00:32:55,125
- Bladesmiths, three
hours down, five hours to go!
849
00:32:56,542 --> 00:32:57,708
- Come on!
850
00:32:57,875 --> 00:33:00,458
I've completely lost track
of the clock.
851
00:33:00,542 --> 00:33:05,458
My only and main focus
is on this third cannister.
852
00:33:05,542 --> 00:33:07,833
I've gotta get this to
work for me.
853
00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:10,667
This is my last chance.
- There we go.
854
00:33:10,792 --> 00:33:12,708
He had the heat up nicely,
855
00:33:12,833 --> 00:33:14,250
did one pass,
slipped to 90 degrees,
856
00:33:14,375 --> 00:33:17,167
did another pass,
put it back in the fire.
857
00:33:17,292 --> 00:33:18,958
- I get to the point
where I feel I can take
858
00:33:19,042 --> 00:33:22,000
the can off...
859
00:33:22,125 --> 00:33:26,167
and this thing
fights me tooth and nail.
860
00:33:26,250 --> 00:33:28,917
- Did he spend more time
consolidating the welds
861
00:33:29,042 --> 00:33:30,000
because he's
worried about having
862
00:33:30,125 --> 00:33:31,958
those cracks
and delaminations in it?
863
00:33:32,042 --> 00:33:33,917
- I think so, and I don't
think that was a bad idea,
864
00:33:34,042 --> 00:33:36,125
but what it did was
probably weld that can
865
00:33:36,250 --> 00:33:38,000
onto that billet
in several places.
866
00:33:38,083 --> 00:33:40,500
So now
he's got to deal with that.
867
00:33:40,583 --> 00:33:44,125
- It's just me in that third
can, and I am going to win.
868
00:33:45,083 --> 00:33:46,167
- There you go.
869
00:33:46,333 --> 00:33:48,833
- When the last piece
pops off,
870
00:33:48,917 --> 00:33:51,333
oh, my God, it's time to work.
871
00:33:51,417 --> 00:33:55,500
We gotta work,
and we gotta work fast.
872
00:33:55,625 --> 00:33:57,417
- Jesse seems to be going
right along on his profile,
873
00:33:57,542 --> 00:34:00,750
so I guess whatever issues
he had on the edge are gone.
874
00:34:00,875 --> 00:34:03,333
- After I'm done forging
out my blade, I need to get
875
00:34:03,417 --> 00:34:05,250
some good
normalizing cycles in.
876
00:34:05,375 --> 00:34:07,208
- It's gotta be very
disheartening for Matt
877
00:34:07,375 --> 00:34:09,833
when he's just trying
to forge out a shape
878
00:34:09,958 --> 00:34:11,375
and Jesse's
already thermal cycling.
879
00:34:11,542 --> 00:34:13,333
- I want there to be
as small a chance as possible
880
00:34:13,500 --> 00:34:16,125
of the blade cracking
in the quench.
881
00:34:17,708 --> 00:34:19,000
- Jesse quenched.
882
00:34:19,167 --> 00:34:21,500
- Nice color all throughout.
883
00:34:21,625 --> 00:34:25,000
- The quench goes perfectly,
and I don't see any
884
00:34:25,125 --> 00:34:26,667
cracks on the blade.
885
00:34:26,792 --> 00:34:29,042
It's time to hog off
the most material I ever had
886
00:34:29,208 --> 00:34:31,167
and get this blade
to its final shape.
887
00:34:31,250 --> 00:34:33,708
Ugh, it's hard.
888
00:34:35,083 --> 00:34:37,500
- Big Blue,
that's my time saver.
889
00:34:37,667 --> 00:34:40,583
I shape it just to give
myself a blade profile
890
00:34:40,708 --> 00:34:42,083
that I can work with.
891
00:34:42,208 --> 00:34:44,333
- Matt has really got
to get over to that forge
892
00:34:44,458 --> 00:34:45,458
and get that blade quenched.
893
00:34:45,542 --> 00:34:49,167
- 15 minutes till
the forge is turned off.
894
00:34:49,292 --> 00:34:50,458
- Matt went right
back to the grinder.
895
00:34:50,542 --> 00:34:52,250
I thought
he was gonna go to the forge.
896
00:34:52,375 --> 00:34:54,500
- And then this idea
that you can't grind
897
00:34:54,583 --> 00:34:56,333
after you quench,
I don't know what...
898
00:34:56,417 --> 00:34:59,458
- This is where you'd
wanna shout out, are you sure?
899
00:34:59,583 --> 00:35:01,167
- So I know the forge
is going to cut off
900
00:35:01,333 --> 00:35:02,833
at the 2 1/2 hour mark,
901
00:35:03,000 --> 00:35:05,042
but quenching it
without a thermal cycle,
902
00:35:05,167 --> 00:35:07,917
I've got the chance
of some catastrophic failures.
903
00:35:08,042 --> 00:35:10,583
So I'm going to use
the oxy-acetylene
904
00:35:10,708 --> 00:35:12,125
to do my heat treat.
905
00:35:12,250 --> 00:35:14,667
- This is literally
risking everything.
906
00:35:14,750 --> 00:35:16,458
- Five, four...
907
00:35:16,542 --> 00:35:17,917
- No way...
908
00:35:18,042 --> 00:35:19,375
- What the hell?
909
00:35:19,500 --> 00:35:22,000
- Bladesmiths, you have
two hours and 30 minutes left!
910
00:35:22,083 --> 00:35:24,333
- You gotta be [bleep] me.
911
00:35:26,208 --> 00:35:28,625
- Matt made a very
questionable decision.
912
00:35:28,708 --> 00:35:30,000
- It is not a way to go.
913
00:35:30,167 --> 00:35:32,000
- There's no way
that quenching with the torch
914
00:35:32,125 --> 00:35:33,208
could be faster
than quenching with the...
915
00:35:33,375 --> 00:35:34,667
- No.
- It can be done,
916
00:35:34,792 --> 00:35:36,625
but it's not faster.
- It's also not as accurate.
917
00:35:36,750 --> 00:35:37,792
- Right.
918
00:35:37,917 --> 00:35:42,167
♪ ♪
919
00:35:42,250 --> 00:35:44,667
- This handle construction
is infinitely easier
920
00:35:44,833 --> 00:35:46,583
than the last one I did.
921
00:35:46,708 --> 00:35:49,542
[rock music]
922
00:35:49,667 --> 00:35:52,000
- Jesse has an advantage
right now because
923
00:35:52,167 --> 00:35:53,625
he's built a handle like this.
924
00:35:53,750 --> 00:35:56,500
- But the handles have
always been the thing
925
00:35:56,625 --> 00:35:58,167
that could possibly
send Jesse home,
926
00:35:58,250 --> 00:35:59,958
so is he gonna spend
enough time on this?
927
00:36:00,042 --> 00:36:02,250
- Glad I'm not paying for this.
928
00:36:02,375 --> 00:36:04,625
After all my experiences,
I just want to make sure
929
00:36:04,750 --> 00:36:07,083
that the judges
have no reason to yell at me
930
00:36:07,208 --> 00:36:09,458
for a bumpy handle.
931
00:36:09,542 --> 00:36:10,917
I'm gonna make sure
there's nothing that
932
00:36:11,042 --> 00:36:13,000
they can complain about
in how the handle is built.
933
00:36:13,083 --> 00:36:14,500
I want it to be
the most comfortable thing
934
00:36:14,625 --> 00:36:15,583
they've ever felt.
935
00:36:15,708 --> 00:36:19,542
- You have
90 minutes remaining.
936
00:36:19,667 --> 00:36:22,333
Now, this is a huge deal
because a quenched blade is
937
00:36:22,458 --> 00:36:24,500
a parameter in order
to get your blade tested.
938
00:36:24,667 --> 00:36:28,375
- So I know the forge is cut
off, so last minute decision,
939
00:36:28,542 --> 00:36:31,000
I said let's do an edge quench.
940
00:36:31,125 --> 00:36:33,292
With the oxy-acetylene torch,
941
00:36:33,375 --> 00:36:35,000
the only thing I have
to work with
942
00:36:35,125 --> 00:36:37,583
is a very small flame
that's only going to
943
00:36:37,708 --> 00:36:40,458
get concentrated areas
on that steel
944
00:36:40,583 --> 00:36:42,917
hot enough for a heat treat.
945
00:36:43,042 --> 00:36:44,417
- How long will it
take him to get this
946
00:36:44,542 --> 00:36:46,167
up to temperature
for a proper quench?
947
00:36:46,250 --> 00:36:47,583
- Way too long.
948
00:36:47,708 --> 00:36:50,958
- I've lost 15 minutes,
and my steel
949
00:36:51,083 --> 00:36:52,500
is not up to temperature.
950
00:36:52,667 --> 00:36:56,167
- Matt's torch is just
not as hot as it can be.
951
00:36:56,292 --> 00:36:58,500
It will take way too long
to heat this blade.
952
00:36:58,625 --> 00:37:01,125
He has not got the gas
mixture on that right.
953
00:37:01,208 --> 00:37:04,125
That should be
a screaming hot blue flame
954
00:37:04,250 --> 00:37:06,333
about a quarter inch off
the end that rose bud.
955
00:37:06,417 --> 00:37:08,583
- Maybe underneath
all the soot,
956
00:37:08,708 --> 00:37:10,792
everything that's there,
maybe the blade is a little
957
00:37:10,917 --> 00:37:13,375
bit redder than what I think,
so I quench.
958
00:37:13,500 --> 00:37:14,833
There's not even any
smoke coming out of there.
959
00:37:14,958 --> 00:37:17,750
I don't know what I'm gonna
do, but I'm gonna push.
960
00:37:17,875 --> 00:37:19,125
I've got to move on.
961
00:37:19,250 --> 00:37:21,208
The blade
is just gonna have to do.
962
00:37:21,333 --> 00:37:23,667
I've got to get a handle on it.
963
00:37:23,792 --> 00:37:26,833
- Bladesmiths, you have
20 minutes remaining.
964
00:37:26,958 --> 00:37:28,208
- Jesse's handle looks great.
965
00:37:28,375 --> 00:37:30,333
A really nice globe
on the back of it.
966
00:37:30,458 --> 00:37:32,833
- In the past,
the judges have said that
967
00:37:32,958 --> 00:37:34,667
they wish that I etched
my blade a little bit more.
968
00:37:34,833 --> 00:37:37,250
- I wish you'd had time
to etch a little bit more
969
00:37:37,375 --> 00:37:39,167
so I could see the pattern.
970
00:37:39,292 --> 00:37:41,333
- When I pull it out,
it literally looks like
971
00:37:41,500 --> 00:37:43,667
enlarged dragon scale Damascus.
972
00:37:43,792 --> 00:37:46,458
I'm really happy,
and now it's time to put
973
00:37:46,542 --> 00:37:47,750
an edge on this thing.
974
00:37:47,875 --> 00:37:49,417
I need to make sure
that it cuts and slices
975
00:37:49,542 --> 00:37:51,583
through anything that
the judge can throw at it.
976
00:37:51,708 --> 00:37:54,208
- I'm mentally exhausted,
physically exhausted,
977
00:37:54,375 --> 00:37:55,542
but I get my handle on.
978
00:37:55,708 --> 00:37:58,417
- He doesn't even have
a way to affix the handle.
979
00:37:58,542 --> 00:38:00,542
We're looking
at incomplete blade.
980
00:38:00,667 --> 00:38:04,167
- I'm not stopping until
somebody tells me to stop.
981
00:38:04,292 --> 00:38:06,708
- Five, four, three,
982
00:38:06,833 --> 00:38:08,667
two, one!
983
00:38:08,833 --> 00:38:10,292
Gentlemen,
turn off your machines,
984
00:38:10,417 --> 00:38:12,792
put down your tools,
this battle is over!
985
00:38:17,417 --> 00:38:18,833
- I'm just mad at myself.
986
00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:22,625
They were simple mistakes
that I made that cost me.
987
00:38:22,708 --> 00:38:27,250
All I know is I came
and I gave it my all.
988
00:38:27,375 --> 00:38:29,542
♪ ♪
989
00:38:29,667 --> 00:38:33,833
- Gladiators of the Forge,
welcome to the kill test.
990
00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:36,833
Let's see if you're
glad to have a gladius.
991
00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:38,750
Jesse, you're up first,
you ready for this?
992
00:38:38,875 --> 00:38:41,000
- I'm ready.
- All right, let's do this.
993
00:38:41,125 --> 00:38:43,000
♪ ♪
994
00:38:43,125 --> 00:38:45,167
- With this being my
sixth time going into testing,
995
00:38:45,292 --> 00:38:46,625
I wanna win this one the most.
996
00:38:46,708 --> 00:38:48,542
I want the title just
as much for this round
997
00:38:48,667 --> 00:38:50,542
as I did for any other round.
998
00:38:50,667 --> 00:38:52,250
If I wanted it less and less,
999
00:38:52,375 --> 00:38:55,292
what kind
of a gladiator would I be.
1000
00:38:59,042 --> 00:39:00,333
- With this being my
sixth time going into testing,
1001
00:39:00,458 --> 00:39:01,750
I wanna win this one the most.
1002
00:39:01,875 --> 00:39:03,333
I want the title just
as much for this round
1003
00:39:03,458 --> 00:39:05,958
as I did for any other round.
1004
00:39:06,042 --> 00:39:09,583
[rock music]
1005
00:39:09,708 --> 00:39:16,583
♪ ♪
1006
00:39:31,833 --> 00:39:33,792
- All right, Jesse,
let's talk about your gladius.
1007
00:39:33,875 --> 00:39:36,750
Looks like sixth time's
the charm,
1008
00:39:36,875 --> 00:39:39,500
because this is the best handle
you've presented us.
1009
00:39:39,667 --> 00:39:42,417
Everything is nice and tight,
it is smooth,
1010
00:39:42,542 --> 00:39:45,625
and it's a void to where
I can get a really good grip
1011
00:39:45,708 --> 00:39:47,833
on this,
fits nicely in my hand.
1012
00:39:47,958 --> 00:39:50,833
Your tip is pointy enough
to puncture nicely
1013
00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:54,458
and your edge is sharp enough
to cut the big carcass down.
1014
00:39:54,583 --> 00:39:58,000
Overall, sir, your gladius,
it will KEAL.
1015
00:39:58,167 --> 00:39:59,667
- Thank you.
1016
00:39:59,792 --> 00:40:01,458
- Matt, your turn, sir.
Are you ready?
1017
00:40:01,542 --> 00:40:03,833
- Ready.
- Let's do this.
1018
00:40:03,958 --> 00:40:05,667
♪ ♪
1019
00:40:05,792 --> 00:40:07,917
- My blade has so many issues.
1020
00:40:08,042 --> 00:40:11,542
My biggest concern is because
of the heat treat on my blade,
1021
00:40:11,708 --> 00:40:14,000
it's going to hit a bone
that's just gonna shatter.
1022
00:40:14,083 --> 00:40:17,667
[tense music]
1023
00:40:17,792 --> 00:40:24,500
♪ ♪
1024
00:40:28,375 --> 00:40:30,667
- I have my questions
about this handle.
1025
00:40:30,750 --> 00:40:32,500
I don't really see
a mechanical connection.
1026
00:40:32,667 --> 00:40:34,375
I think it's just held by glue.
1027
00:40:34,500 --> 00:40:35,750
What do you guys think?
1028
00:40:35,875 --> 00:40:38,000
- My biggest question is,
is that thing hard?
1029
00:40:38,125 --> 00:40:40,167
It was quenched at
such a low temperature.
1030
00:40:40,250 --> 00:40:42,750
- It can't be. Let's find out.
- The only way to check is...
1031
00:40:45,208 --> 00:40:47,833
[file grating]
1032
00:40:47,958 --> 00:40:50,167
- The file's
grabbing pretty good.
1033
00:40:50,292 --> 00:40:51,667
- It's not skating at all.
1034
00:40:51,792 --> 00:40:55,250
- I mean, you can see
where it's just moving metal.
1035
00:40:55,375 --> 00:40:57,542
This blade's just not hardened.
1036
00:41:04,167 --> 00:41:05,750
- All right, Matt,
unfortunately, after doing
1037
00:41:05,875 --> 00:41:08,292
a file check, we've determined
that your blade is not hard.
1038
00:41:08,375 --> 00:41:09,917
Now, we consider that
a parameter failure
1039
00:41:10,042 --> 00:41:11,958
and cannot continue testing
your blade fairly
1040
00:41:12,042 --> 00:41:13,333
against your competitor's.
1041
00:41:13,500 --> 00:41:14,542
I want to say thank
you so much for coming out,
1042
00:41:14,708 --> 00:41:16,167
fighting so hard,
and never giving up
1043
00:41:16,333 --> 00:41:17,792
in this competition,
but unfortunately,
1044
00:41:17,917 --> 00:41:19,167
I'm gonna have to ask
you to please step off
1045
00:41:19,250 --> 00:41:20,458
the Forge floor.
1046
00:41:20,542 --> 00:41:21,833
- I understand.
- Thank you, Matt.
1047
00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:24,083
- Thank you, Matt.
- Thanks, Matt.
1048
00:41:24,208 --> 00:41:26,875
- I'm just happy that I
was able to finish a blade.
1049
00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:28,500
It's a life lesson.
1050
00:41:28,583 --> 00:41:30,875
Overall, I'm proud,
I fought to the bitter end.
1051
00:41:31,042 --> 00:41:32,792
I never stopped
the whole time.
1052
00:41:32,917 --> 00:41:36,000
Jesse, I wish you
the best of luck.
1053
00:41:38,792 --> 00:41:40,375
- Well, Jesse, man,
I know this is probably
1054
00:41:40,542 --> 00:41:42,375
not the way that you
wanted to win a competition,
1055
00:41:42,500 --> 00:41:44,333
but you have taken
down six competitors.
1056
00:41:44,458 --> 00:41:46,292
You have $40,000
in your pocket
1057
00:41:46,375 --> 00:41:49,833
and six Gladiator of the Forge
titles, man, congratulations.
1058
00:41:50,000 --> 00:41:52,667
- Thank you.
1059
00:41:52,792 --> 00:41:55,042
I didn't expect to win
even half of this much.
1060
00:41:55,167 --> 00:41:56,375
Everything is still a blur,
1061
00:41:56,542 --> 00:41:58,708
everything is still
a surprise.
1062
00:41:58,833 --> 00:42:00,375
- Again, congratulations.
1063
00:42:00,542 --> 00:42:02,583
We gotta ask you,
do you want to go back
1064
00:42:02,708 --> 00:42:04,250
into the Forge
for another eight-hour round
1065
00:42:04,375 --> 00:42:06,208
and battle it out
for another title?
1066
00:42:06,333 --> 00:42:07,583
- Uh...
1067
00:42:07,708 --> 00:42:09,208
Of course.
[laughter]
1068
00:42:09,333 --> 00:42:10,500
- Right on, man.
1069
00:42:10,667 --> 00:42:11,833
All right,
well, congratulations, man.
1070
00:42:11,958 --> 00:42:13,375
We will see you for another one
on the Forge floor.
1071
00:42:13,542 --> 00:42:15,292
Well done.
- Thank you.
1072
00:42:15,375 --> 00:42:19,000
I'm Jesse Hu, I'm the six-time
Gladiator of the Forge,
1073
00:42:19,125 --> 00:42:21,625
and I'm not scared about
the next competition.
1074
00:42:24,167 --> 00:42:26,250
[epic music]