1 00:00:05,542 --> 00:00:08,958 [rock music] 2 00:00:09,042 --> 00:00:11,542 ♪ ♪ 3 00:00:11,667 --> 00:00:13,875 [adventurous music] 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:16,958 [whip cracks] [hooves pounding] 5 00:00:17,042 --> 00:00:18,625 ♪ ♪ 6 00:00:18,708 --> 00:00:20,667 [horse neighs] 7 00:00:20,792 --> 00:00:23,542 ♪ ♪ 8 00:00:23,667 --> 00:00:24,708 [cartoony gunshots fire] 9 00:00:24,875 --> 00:00:26,500 - My name is Gregory McClure. 10 00:00:26,667 --> 00:00:28,167 I am 50 years old. 11 00:00:28,292 --> 00:00:30,708 I'm from Dacoma, Oklahoma. 12 00:00:30,833 --> 00:00:34,125 Knife making has always been a deep-seated passion. 13 00:00:34,208 --> 00:00:37,208 My grandfather pulled me in when I was 10 years old. 14 00:00:37,333 --> 00:00:39,583 We found a piece of metal alongside the road, 15 00:00:39,708 --> 00:00:42,792 and ever since then, I started making custom knives. 16 00:00:42,875 --> 00:00:44,875 ♪ ♪ 17 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:46,833 - My name's Eric Finch. I'm 20 years old. 18 00:00:46,917 --> 00:00:48,792 I'm from Harmony, Pennsylvania, and I've been bladesmithing 19 00:00:48,875 --> 00:00:50,292 for almost three years. 20 00:00:50,375 --> 00:00:51,083 When I first got into bladesmithing, 21 00:00:51,208 --> 00:00:52,125 I didn't have a lot of money, 22 00:00:52,208 --> 00:00:53,625 and my uncle Chuck, 23 00:00:53,708 --> 00:00:55,000 he was super supportive. 24 00:00:55,167 --> 00:00:56,792 He got me my first anvil. 25 00:00:56,917 --> 00:00:58,500 He really had a lot of faith in me getting into this, 26 00:00:58,667 --> 00:01:01,958 and so being here, it feels like its finally rewarding him 27 00:01:02,042 --> 00:01:03,208 for what he's done for me. 28 00:01:03,333 --> 00:01:04,083 - How are we doing today? 29 00:01:04,208 --> 00:01:05,708 - Doin' good. Ready to do this. 30 00:01:05,833 --> 00:01:06,750 - [chuckling] All right. 31 00:01:06,875 --> 00:01:08,875 [rock music] 32 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,625 - My name is LJ Jarrett, 49 years old, 33 00:01:11,750 --> 00:01:14,167 from the little town of Campbell, Missouri. 34 00:01:14,292 --> 00:01:15,958 I was always a bigger guy. 35 00:01:16,083 --> 00:01:18,500 Buddies call me "Knuckle-Dragger," 36 00:01:18,583 --> 00:01:20,417 "Mongo," "Kong." 37 00:01:20,542 --> 00:01:22,500 It's kind of where the Silverback Blades came from, 38 00:01:22,625 --> 00:01:24,125 my little business-- 39 00:01:24,208 --> 00:01:26,000 'cause I've always heard the gorilla jokes. 40 00:01:26,167 --> 00:01:27,917 [adventurous music] 41 00:01:28,042 --> 00:01:29,083 - My name is Nathan Payne. 42 00:01:29,208 --> 00:01:31,833 I've been bladesmithing for about four years now, 43 00:01:31,917 --> 00:01:33,708 and I'm from Sparta, Tennessee. 44 00:01:33,875 --> 00:01:35,833 So I'm a full-time employee with the Department 45 00:01:35,958 --> 00:01:37,167 of Mental Health and Substance Abuse. 46 00:01:37,333 --> 00:01:38,625 Well, I'm in recovery, myself, 47 00:01:38,708 --> 00:01:40,375 from active substance use 48 00:01:40,542 --> 00:01:42,208 for a little over nine years now, 49 00:01:42,375 --> 00:01:44,042 and when I found bladesmithing, 50 00:01:44,208 --> 00:01:45,667 it just did something for me. 51 00:01:45,833 --> 00:01:48,667 It was unlike any other coping mechanism that I found. 52 00:01:48,792 --> 00:01:50,958 [whip cracks] 53 00:01:51,083 --> 00:01:53,833 - Bladesmiths, welcome to The Forge. 54 00:01:53,917 --> 00:01:56,292 Now, gentlemen, the four of you are here to test your resolve 55 00:01:56,417 --> 00:01:58,000 and your skills in a bladesmithing competition 56 00:01:58,167 --> 00:02:00,583 that consists of three rounds, 57 00:02:00,708 --> 00:02:03,250 each of which will end in a critique and an elimination 58 00:02:03,375 --> 00:02:04,833 by the judges sitting behind me. 59 00:02:04,917 --> 00:02:06,833 They'll be making the critical decisions here today 60 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,000 as to who's leaving The Forge carrying a check for $10,000 61 00:02:10,167 --> 00:02:12,833 and earning the title of "Forged in Fire Champion." 62 00:02:12,958 --> 00:02:14,250 Now, gentlemen, as you can see, 63 00:02:14,375 --> 00:02:16,458 we got a bit of a Western theme here in the competition today. 64 00:02:16,542 --> 00:02:19,542 It's all about speed and accuracy. 65 00:02:19,667 --> 00:02:22,167 This is a competition we are calling "The Fastest Blade 66 00:02:22,292 --> 00:02:23,708 in the West." [cartoony gunshot fires] 67 00:02:23,875 --> 00:02:25,250 Now, in order to complete this challenge, 68 00:02:25,375 --> 00:02:26,500 you're gonna need this. 69 00:02:26,625 --> 00:02:28,833 ♪ ♪ 70 00:02:28,958 --> 00:02:29,792 You might be wondering to yourselves, 71 00:02:29,875 --> 00:02:30,917 "Well, what in tarnations 72 00:02:31,042 --> 00:02:33,875 could I be needing an empty sheath for?" 73 00:02:34,042 --> 00:02:35,417 Hold your horses. We're gonna get there. 74 00:02:35,542 --> 00:02:37,125 First, I want to show you the blade 75 00:02:37,208 --> 00:02:38,667 that fits inside of that sheath. 76 00:02:38,792 --> 00:02:40,042 ♪ ♪ 77 00:02:40,208 --> 00:02:41,208 [gunshot] 78 00:02:41,375 --> 00:02:43,125 The Mexican Bowie Knife. 79 00:02:45,625 --> 00:02:47,958 - The Mexican Bowie Knife was the staple sidearm 80 00:02:48,042 --> 00:02:50,583 of the vaqueros--the original cowboys of the Wild West. 81 00:02:50,708 --> 00:02:52,833 Getting its shape from the Spanish navaja, 82 00:02:52,917 --> 00:02:55,167 it traces its origins back to the 19th century. 83 00:02:55,292 --> 00:02:57,167 This uniquely coated blade with a clip point 84 00:02:57,292 --> 00:02:59,000 that is small enough to carry on the belt, 85 00:02:59,167 --> 00:03:00,333 but also sharp enough to cut 86 00:03:00,458 --> 00:03:02,042 through anything on the frontier, 87 00:03:02,167 --> 00:03:05,208 from ropes to baling twine to the head of a rattlesnake. 88 00:03:05,375 --> 00:03:07,167 Almost everything, from the clothes they made 89 00:03:07,292 --> 00:03:08,833 that the cowboys wore and the knives they carried, 90 00:03:08,958 --> 00:03:11,542 were influenced by the vaqueros. 91 00:03:11,708 --> 00:03:14,250 - Now your test today is to recreate this blade 92 00:03:14,375 --> 00:03:17,417 as closely as possible, but as quickly as possible. 93 00:03:17,542 --> 00:03:20,375 Now, as far as steel goes, the saloon's pantry is open, 94 00:03:20,500 --> 00:03:22,542 and you can use that steel in any technique you want 95 00:03:22,708 --> 00:03:23,833 to make your blades. 96 00:03:23,958 --> 00:03:26,167 Our clock will be moving forward, 97 00:03:26,292 --> 00:03:28,000 and it's a race to the finish. 98 00:03:28,125 --> 00:03:29,625 And today, gentlemen, your finish line 99 00:03:29,750 --> 00:03:32,833 is to get your blade to fit inside this sheath. 100 00:03:32,917 --> 00:03:35,250 The first smith who is able to recreate this blade 101 00:03:35,375 --> 00:03:37,667 and sheath it: you will be rewarded with an extra 102 00:03:37,792 --> 00:03:40,125 30 minutes in the second round of competition. 103 00:03:40,208 --> 00:03:42,833 Now, the runner-up will get an extra 15 minutes, 104 00:03:42,958 --> 00:03:45,958 and the last smith will have 15 minutes deducted 105 00:03:46,083 --> 00:03:48,083 from their second round time. 106 00:03:48,208 --> 00:03:51,042 - The first guy that gets his knife in the case 107 00:03:51,167 --> 00:03:53,750 gets an extra 30 minutes for the handle. 108 00:03:53,875 --> 00:03:55,333 I wanna be that first guy. 109 00:03:55,500 --> 00:03:56,583 - Now, for those of you who do join us 110 00:03:56,708 --> 00:03:57,833 in round two of the competition, 111 00:03:57,958 --> 00:04:00,083 you will finish your blades by adding handles to them, 112 00:04:00,208 --> 00:04:02,292 turning them into fully functioning weapons, 113 00:04:02,375 --> 00:04:04,292 at which point, our judges will take over and test them 114 00:04:04,417 --> 00:04:08,333 for strength and durability in a gunpowder barrel chop 115 00:04:08,417 --> 00:04:11,417 and check your edge retention in a mailbag slice. 116 00:04:11,542 --> 00:04:13,333 Gentlemen, you have three hours on the clock. 117 00:04:13,500 --> 00:04:15,333 So good luck. Stay sharp. 118 00:04:15,500 --> 00:04:18,458 Your time starts now. [gunshot] 119 00:04:18,583 --> 00:04:20,208 And they're off to the races. 120 00:04:20,333 --> 00:04:22,500 The smiths have the choice of any steel they want, 121 00:04:22,625 --> 00:04:25,625 but they have to recreate the Bowie knife we have on display. 122 00:04:25,708 --> 00:04:27,042 - What's great about this challenge is it's not just 123 00:04:27,208 --> 00:04:28,583 about making a knife. 124 00:04:28,708 --> 00:04:31,167 It's finding the material to make the quickest 125 00:04:31,292 --> 00:04:32,792 and the best knife you can turn in. 126 00:04:32,875 --> 00:04:34,500 So it's a lot about speed. 127 00:04:34,625 --> 00:04:36,583 - So Eric's picked up steel. 128 00:04:36,708 --> 00:04:39,292 He's got 1095, 15N20, so he's gonna make 129 00:04:39,375 --> 00:04:41,000 some Damascus. 130 00:04:41,125 --> 00:04:42,500 - That Western-style Bowie is a very wide knife, 131 00:04:42,667 --> 00:04:43,833 so I know if I stack up enough steel, 132 00:04:43,958 --> 00:04:46,500 I'll have plenty of steel to get the width of my blade. 133 00:04:46,583 --> 00:04:48,042 ♪ ♪ 134 00:04:48,167 --> 00:04:48,667 I feel good. I took way more steel 135 00:04:48,833 --> 00:04:50,667 than what I needed. 136 00:04:50,792 --> 00:04:51,833 I don't know if I'm gonna be the one to get to 30 minutes. 137 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:54,583 As long as I complete it, that's all I'm worried about. 138 00:04:54,708 --> 00:04:56,792 - Nathan looks like he just grabbed a bar of W1. 139 00:04:56,875 --> 00:05:00,125 - Yeah, those bars are about 5 inches, by one by one. 140 00:05:00,250 --> 00:05:01,417 - Right. - It's enough steel. 141 00:05:01,542 --> 00:05:04,292 - The parameters are probably what's gonna hang me up. 142 00:05:04,417 --> 00:05:07,500 Let's not get flashy. Just keep it simple. 143 00:05:07,583 --> 00:05:09,500 I'm not gonna go in worrying about gettin' it 144 00:05:09,625 --> 00:05:12,167 sheathed first or anything. I'm in it to win it. 145 00:05:12,250 --> 00:05:14,500 But I'm in it to, like, just get it done. 146 00:05:14,667 --> 00:05:16,667 Yeehaw! 147 00:05:16,750 --> 00:05:18,958 - I go to the pantry to pick out steel, 148 00:05:19,042 --> 00:05:20,500 and I'm scared to death. 149 00:05:20,583 --> 00:05:21,708 [laughs] 150 00:05:21,875 --> 00:05:23,542 I think I'm gonna do a canister. 151 00:05:23,667 --> 00:05:24,708 - If he is going for a canister, 152 00:05:24,875 --> 00:05:27,000 he's gonna be taking some extra steps. 153 00:05:27,083 --> 00:05:30,167 - I think there is no way in hell 154 00:05:30,333 --> 00:05:32,333 I'm gonna be able to finish a canister Damascus 155 00:05:32,458 --> 00:05:35,083 front to back in three hours. 156 00:05:35,208 --> 00:05:36,417 - All right, he put the powder back 157 00:05:36,542 --> 00:05:38,667 and got a piece of that W1. 158 00:05:38,833 --> 00:05:43,500 - Anytime you go with a mono steel versus a Damascus, 159 00:05:43,667 --> 00:05:46,750 you're always gonna sacrifice a little bit of beauty. 160 00:05:46,875 --> 00:05:50,458 But speed is still a part of this challenge. 161 00:05:50,583 --> 00:05:52,667 - Yeehaw! [cartoony gunshot fires] 162 00:05:52,750 --> 00:05:56,542 - I go for layered Damascus, 15N20 and 1095. 163 00:05:56,708 --> 00:05:58,500 I really feel like the Damascus 164 00:05:58,583 --> 00:06:00,625 is gonna set me apart. 165 00:06:00,708 --> 00:06:03,167 - Give it to the smiths for doing layered Damascus. 166 00:06:03,333 --> 00:06:05,250 Steppin' up the game, that's great. 167 00:06:05,375 --> 00:06:06,708 - Come on, baby. 168 00:06:06,833 --> 00:06:08,000 The hardest part about the challenge, 169 00:06:08,167 --> 00:06:09,375 I think, is the clock. 170 00:06:09,542 --> 00:06:11,833 This is quick. This is intense. 171 00:06:11,958 --> 00:06:14,000 - All right, guys, 30 minutes have elapsed 172 00:06:14,125 --> 00:06:15,208 in this competition! 173 00:06:15,333 --> 00:06:19,708 ♪ ♪ 174 00:06:19,875 --> 00:06:21,208 - I like what Eric's doing, though. 175 00:06:21,375 --> 00:06:23,083 He's taking small bites, but fast bites. 176 00:06:23,208 --> 00:06:24,667 - Yep. 177 00:06:24,833 --> 00:06:27,083 - I take a few heats, and my billet is solid. 178 00:06:27,208 --> 00:06:29,000 - He's goin' fast, and he's flipping it 179 00:06:29,125 --> 00:06:30,000 and hitting it for both sides. 180 00:06:30,083 --> 00:06:31,667 ♪ ♪ 181 00:06:31,750 --> 00:06:32,917 - I don't wanna think I'm gonna win the round 182 00:06:33,042 --> 00:06:34,333 right out the gates like this. 183 00:06:34,500 --> 00:06:35,458 Just 'cause you're being the fastest, 184 00:06:35,542 --> 00:06:38,125 doesn't mean it's the best. 185 00:06:38,250 --> 00:06:39,333 - So I got my steel up to heat, 186 00:06:39,500 --> 00:06:40,625 and I'm just gonna get started 187 00:06:40,708 --> 00:06:42,542 gettin' it drawn out a little bit. 188 00:06:42,708 --> 00:06:43,958 - Looks like a good color. 189 00:06:44,083 --> 00:06:45,917 But if Nathan doesn't start fullering that 190 00:06:46,042 --> 00:06:48,292 in his next heat, he might be in trouble. 191 00:06:48,417 --> 00:06:49,833 ♪ ♪ 192 00:06:49,917 --> 00:06:52,250 He-- [laughs] 193 00:06:52,375 --> 00:06:54,667 Was Nathan wearing a cowboy hat before? 194 00:06:54,833 --> 00:06:56,667 - No, I think he just stole it off the wall. 195 00:06:56,833 --> 00:06:58,833 - [laughs] 196 00:06:58,958 --> 00:07:00,333 - I'm in a daze. 197 00:07:00,458 --> 00:07:02,500 I'm just like, "I just need to move steel," 198 00:07:02,667 --> 00:07:04,667 and after my second pass, 199 00:07:04,833 --> 00:07:07,375 I just started to notice that it's gettin' longer, 200 00:07:07,500 --> 00:07:10,333 but it's not getting wider. 201 00:07:10,458 --> 00:07:12,333 I'm trying to kind of spread it a little bit. 202 00:07:12,458 --> 00:07:14,792 It's getting more thin than I'm comfortable with. 203 00:07:14,917 --> 00:07:17,083 So I'm lookin' at the clock, and I'm just like, 204 00:07:17,208 --> 00:07:19,000 "Oh crap, man." It's now or never 205 00:07:19,125 --> 00:07:21,250 if you're gonna start over. 206 00:07:21,375 --> 00:07:22,458 - Nathan's come back to the metal supply. 207 00:07:22,542 --> 00:07:24,208 He's grabbed a new bar W1. 208 00:07:24,333 --> 00:07:25,917 Total restart. 209 00:07:26,042 --> 00:07:28,375 - Hopefully he learned from the first piece of steel, 210 00:07:28,500 --> 00:07:31,375 "Wait, I need to do this instead." 211 00:07:31,500 --> 00:07:32,667 - How you doin', LJ? 212 00:07:32,792 --> 00:07:34,667 - Oh...gettin' a little... 213 00:07:34,750 --> 00:07:36,375 - [laughs] - A little anxious. 214 00:07:36,542 --> 00:07:37,833 - Just make your knife. - Yes, sir. 215 00:07:37,958 --> 00:07:39,458 Just makin' a knife. 216 00:07:39,542 --> 00:07:43,625 The round stock that I've got, I need to press it flat, 217 00:07:43,708 --> 00:07:47,000 get it as wide into the parameters as I can. 218 00:07:47,167 --> 00:07:50,333 So you gotta just beat the lights out of it. 219 00:07:50,458 --> 00:07:53,000 [groans] I'm close, but no cigar. 220 00:07:53,125 --> 00:07:55,833 It's a real test to get this thing where I need it to be. 221 00:07:55,958 --> 00:07:58,958 This is a workout. 222 00:07:59,042 --> 00:08:02,167 - I grabbed my Damascus, and I'm ready to go. 223 00:08:02,292 --> 00:08:04,333 ♪ ♪ 224 00:08:04,458 --> 00:08:07,042 It starts moving like putty, 225 00:08:07,167 --> 00:08:09,250 and then... 226 00:08:09,375 --> 00:08:10,750 [bleep] 227 00:08:10,875 --> 00:08:13,375 The problem I'm seeing on my forge welds-- 228 00:08:13,542 --> 00:08:16,458 they're not sticking like I wanted them to. 229 00:08:16,583 --> 00:08:18,167 - To me, it kind of looked like the back opened up. 230 00:08:18,250 --> 00:08:19,917 ♪ ♪ 231 00:08:21,708 --> 00:08:25,417 I've seen too many people beat a dead horse, 232 00:08:25,542 --> 00:08:28,458 and so I decide it's time to start over, 233 00:08:28,583 --> 00:08:30,667 and I go back to the pantry. 234 00:08:30,792 --> 00:08:32,125 - Greg looks like he's completely startin' over 235 00:08:32,208 --> 00:08:33,417 as well. - Right. 236 00:08:33,542 --> 00:08:36,167 - They do realize they only have three hours, right? 237 00:08:36,250 --> 00:08:38,208 - I grabbed a bar of 1095, 238 00:08:38,375 --> 00:08:41,000 and I know that I can make the parameters with this steel. 239 00:08:41,125 --> 00:08:46,667 ♪ ♪ 240 00:08:46,833 --> 00:08:49,333 - Eric is coming up to the example to check it. 241 00:08:49,417 --> 00:08:51,583 I think he's pretty damn close as it is. 242 00:08:51,708 --> 00:08:53,500 - I got my blade forged to a good profile-- 243 00:08:53,625 --> 00:08:54,750 gotta move over to the grinder. 244 00:08:54,875 --> 00:08:55,833 I look around and realize that 245 00:08:55,958 --> 00:08:57,750 I'm the only smith profiling my knife. 246 00:08:57,875 --> 00:08:59,208 I may be ahead right now, 247 00:08:59,333 --> 00:09:00,792 but that's no reason to slow down. 248 00:09:00,875 --> 00:09:03,125 - Bladesmiths, we are halfway through the competition! 249 00:09:03,208 --> 00:09:04,500 [whip cracks] 250 00:09:04,625 --> 00:09:06,375 - So I'm lookin' at the example blade, 251 00:09:06,542 --> 00:09:08,333 and I'm like, "That's a San Mai." 252 00:09:08,417 --> 00:09:09,667 - I've never done San Mai. 253 00:09:09,833 --> 00:09:11,500 Like, why not do it for the first time? 254 00:09:11,625 --> 00:09:12,667 What could go wrong? 255 00:09:12,792 --> 00:09:14,167 [laughs] 256 00:09:14,333 --> 00:09:15,458 - But even if he does San Mai, 257 00:09:15,583 --> 00:09:18,542 he's still learning to draw it longer and not wider. 258 00:09:18,708 --> 00:09:19,667 It's the same thing. 259 00:09:19,750 --> 00:09:20,792 - Gotta add more steel. 260 00:09:20,917 --> 00:09:22,417 It gives him a better chance 261 00:09:22,542 --> 00:09:25,000 to stretch that out and fuller it. 262 00:09:25,125 --> 00:09:26,500 - I get the W1. 263 00:09:26,583 --> 00:09:28,292 I'm sandwiching it between the two pieces 264 00:09:28,375 --> 00:09:30,917 of angle that I've cut, 265 00:09:31,042 --> 00:09:33,917 and I take it over to the press. 266 00:09:34,042 --> 00:09:36,958 I am just ecstatic that it doesn't just, like, 267 00:09:37,083 --> 00:09:38,667 flop out on me. 268 00:09:38,833 --> 00:09:41,333 I was like, "Holy [bleep]. It worked." 269 00:09:41,500 --> 00:09:43,083 Now I know my welds are set. 270 00:09:43,208 --> 00:09:44,708 Then I just start working on making something 271 00:09:44,833 --> 00:09:47,750 that looks like a blade. 272 00:09:47,875 --> 00:09:50,708 - With four forges going, I heard the saying 273 00:09:50,875 --> 00:09:54,542 that no matter how hot you think it is, it's even hotter. 274 00:09:54,667 --> 00:09:58,250 It is ridiculously hot in the shop. 275 00:09:58,375 --> 00:10:00,125 - LJ's not looking good. 276 00:10:00,250 --> 00:10:02,000 - He's looking very fatigued. 277 00:10:02,125 --> 00:10:03,958 - Sorry to be the guy. 278 00:10:04,083 --> 00:10:05,500 - What's going on? - I'm cramping up. 279 00:10:05,583 --> 00:10:08,417 My body forces me to stop. 280 00:10:08,542 --> 00:10:11,667 - Okay, why don't we take a step outside for a few minutes? 281 00:10:11,792 --> 00:10:13,667 - Guys, LJ's stepping off The Forge floor with the medic. 282 00:10:13,833 --> 00:10:16,792 - Never had anything like this before. 283 00:10:16,875 --> 00:10:19,125 I absolutely do not wanna walk away from this. 284 00:10:19,250 --> 00:10:20,042 I don't wanna stop. 285 00:10:20,208 --> 00:10:23,042 But sometimes, you don't have a choice. 286 00:10:26,708 --> 00:10:27,667 - What's going on? - I'm cramping up. 287 00:10:27,750 --> 00:10:28,833 - Guys, LJ's not looking so hot. 288 00:10:28,958 --> 00:10:29,792 He's got massive hand cramps. 289 00:10:29,917 --> 00:10:31,250 He's stepping off The Forge floor 290 00:10:31,375 --> 00:10:32,500 with the medic. 291 00:10:32,625 --> 00:10:34,333 - It's the craziest thing. 292 00:10:34,458 --> 00:10:36,167 I'm not going home till the judges send me home. 293 00:10:36,250 --> 00:10:38,667 I'm gonna finish this one way or the other. 294 00:10:38,792 --> 00:10:40,792 - LJ's back. - Always a good sign. 295 00:10:40,875 --> 00:10:42,708 - That's a smith with zero quit. 296 00:10:42,833 --> 00:10:45,167 - I just feel that I'm behind. 297 00:10:45,250 --> 00:10:47,833 But I just refuse to quit. 298 00:10:47,958 --> 00:10:50,000 ♪ ♪ 299 00:10:50,125 --> 00:10:52,417 - Talk about Greg, he actually did really fast work 300 00:10:52,542 --> 00:10:54,167 after that restart. 301 00:10:54,292 --> 00:10:57,667 - Now I'm just worried about being first. 302 00:10:57,833 --> 00:11:00,833 Heavenly Father, Lord, let this quench go good. 303 00:11:00,958 --> 00:11:03,500 ♪ ♪ 304 00:11:03,625 --> 00:11:04,708 - Greg just quenched. - Holy smoke! 305 00:11:04,833 --> 00:11:06,333 Greg is the first one to quench. 306 00:11:06,458 --> 00:11:08,833 - It's just a shy bit over. 307 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:11,000 So we're gonna take a little bit off. 308 00:11:11,167 --> 00:11:14,167 - Bladesmiths, there's one hour left in this round! 309 00:11:14,292 --> 00:11:16,000 - So I look over, and I see Greg quench. 310 00:11:16,125 --> 00:11:17,833 But I'm not concerned of being the first one 311 00:11:17,958 --> 00:11:19,000 in the sheath-- I just wanna make sure 312 00:11:19,083 --> 00:11:20,792 I'm not the last. 313 00:11:20,917 --> 00:11:22,542 I'm confident going into this quench. 314 00:11:22,667 --> 00:11:25,542 But you never know what's gonna happen. 315 00:11:25,667 --> 00:11:27,000 - There goes Eric. 316 00:11:27,125 --> 00:11:28,333 - All right, here we go. Eric's into the oil. 317 00:11:28,417 --> 00:11:31,583 He's got a blade that is very close to the example. 318 00:11:31,708 --> 00:11:33,125 At this point, I'm feeling pretty confident. 319 00:11:33,250 --> 00:11:34,708 All I have to do is get it cleaned up and etched. 320 00:11:36,125 --> 00:11:37,417 ♪ ♪ 321 00:11:37,542 --> 00:11:39,458 - Never quenched a San Mai billet. 322 00:11:39,542 --> 00:11:42,375 I hope it doesn't blow apart on me. 323 00:11:42,500 --> 00:11:44,583 - Holy--Nathan just quenched. 324 00:11:44,708 --> 00:11:46,167 - I pull it out of the straightening jig, 325 00:11:46,250 --> 00:11:48,583 and it's, like, straight. 326 00:11:48,708 --> 00:11:50,750 I wanna shed, like, a tear. [laughs] 327 00:11:50,875 --> 00:11:53,333 Holy crap. I did it. 328 00:11:53,458 --> 00:11:54,875 - I feel that I'm behind. 329 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:56,875 But I actually want to forge 330 00:11:57,042 --> 00:11:58,958 as much of this blade as I can. 331 00:11:59,042 --> 00:12:00,667 Trying to make sure all the parameters 332 00:12:00,792 --> 00:12:02,167 are as close as I can get it. 333 00:12:02,250 --> 00:12:05,208 - LJ has his way longer than the example 334 00:12:05,333 --> 00:12:06,708 and not nearly wide enough. 335 00:12:06,875 --> 00:12:09,500 - I think I'm right there on the money. 336 00:12:09,625 --> 00:12:11,458 - Boom! LJ quenched. 337 00:12:11,583 --> 00:12:13,125 We got four quenched blades. 338 00:12:13,208 --> 00:12:15,583 - No cracks. I heard no tinks in the oil. 339 00:12:15,708 --> 00:12:19,333 So I'm just as tickled as I can be. 340 00:12:19,500 --> 00:12:21,833 - It seems like we might have a sheath race going on. 341 00:12:21,958 --> 00:12:23,833 Greg and Eric both have done a lot of work on their blades. 342 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:25,833 One of them is gonna be the first in the sheath 343 00:12:25,917 --> 00:12:27,583 getting their 30 minutes in the second round. 344 00:12:27,708 --> 00:12:29,250 [adventurous music] 345 00:12:29,375 --> 00:12:31,500 It's rough. It's got some forge marks. 346 00:12:31,625 --> 00:12:32,958 It's got some forge scale. 347 00:12:33,042 --> 00:12:35,417 But I'm ready to give it a try. 348 00:12:35,542 --> 00:12:38,292 - Here we go, and kablam! 349 00:12:38,417 --> 00:12:39,250 First one. [applause] 350 00:12:39,375 --> 00:12:40,375 - All right, Greg. You're the first one 351 00:12:40,500 --> 00:12:41,500 in the sheath. 352 00:12:41,625 --> 00:12:44,583 - I am the fastest blade in the west. 353 00:12:44,708 --> 00:12:46,250 ♪ ♪ 354 00:12:46,375 --> 00:12:47,583 - I wanna make sure I get my blade etched 355 00:12:47,708 --> 00:12:49,750 'cause I put all the work to make it out of Damascus. 356 00:12:49,875 --> 00:12:51,875 ♪ ♪ 357 00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:53,708 I think my blade's ready for the sheath. 358 00:12:53,875 --> 00:12:55,167 But I make sure to check my measurements. 359 00:12:55,250 --> 00:12:57,542 - Eric's coming back to do another final check. 360 00:12:57,667 --> 00:12:58,792 - Looking pretty good. 361 00:12:58,875 --> 00:13:01,583 - Whoa...bam! 362 00:13:01,708 --> 00:13:02,750 All right. There's two. 363 00:13:02,875 --> 00:13:04,833 [rock music] 364 00:13:04,958 --> 00:13:06,667 - Nathan's pulling up from behind. 365 00:13:06,750 --> 00:13:07,875 You know I'm thinking, so, 366 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:11,417 "I've got to get to that sheath before he does." 367 00:13:11,542 --> 00:13:13,417 - Being in sheath doesn't mean you're automatically going 368 00:13:13,542 --> 00:13:15,042 in the next round. 369 00:13:15,208 --> 00:13:18,292 LJ is on his way up to the sheath right now, guys. 370 00:13:18,417 --> 00:13:20,375 Oh, this will be amazing. 371 00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:22,542 LJ, you powered through. You got it done, man! 372 00:13:22,708 --> 00:13:24,708 Well done! [applause] 373 00:13:24,875 --> 00:13:26,500 - I'm ecstatic. 374 00:13:26,667 --> 00:13:29,792 - Now Nathan can take his time to get it dialed in perfectly. 375 00:13:29,917 --> 00:13:31,792 10 minutes left! 376 00:13:31,875 --> 00:13:34,000 - I know I'm not the fastest blade in the West. 377 00:13:34,125 --> 00:13:35,667 I'm not even the fastest blade 378 00:13:35,750 --> 00:13:37,208 in the Hammered Billet Saloon. [laughs] 379 00:13:37,375 --> 00:13:39,833 So I'm just gonna try to make it as good as I can 380 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:40,958 in the time I got left. 381 00:13:41,042 --> 00:13:44,042 [adventurous music] 382 00:13:44,167 --> 00:13:47,292 ♪ ♪ 383 00:13:47,375 --> 00:13:49,500 - We've got four blades completed and sheathed! 384 00:13:49,625 --> 00:13:50,542 Well done! 385 00:13:52,542 --> 00:13:54,833 - I'm looking at the blade, and I'm thinking, like, 386 00:13:54,917 --> 00:13:57,083 "Man, it doesn't matter if I lose 15 minutes. 387 00:13:57,208 --> 00:13:59,333 Like, I could lose the whole next round. 388 00:13:59,458 --> 00:14:02,250 ♪ ♪ 389 00:14:02,375 --> 00:14:03,333 - Bladesmiths, congratulations. 390 00:14:03,458 --> 00:14:05,292 You managed to take steels of your choice 391 00:14:05,375 --> 00:14:07,000 and turn them into Mexican Bowies. 392 00:14:07,125 --> 00:14:08,792 Greg, you were the first in the sheath. 393 00:14:08,875 --> 00:14:10,208 Please present your work. 394 00:14:10,333 --> 00:14:13,000 ♪ ♪ 395 00:14:13,125 --> 00:14:14,750 - Good job on this, Greg. 396 00:14:14,875 --> 00:14:18,000 Congratulations getting your blade in the sheath first. 397 00:14:18,125 --> 00:14:19,625 The steel looks fine. 398 00:14:19,750 --> 00:14:22,667 It's a very extreme taper 399 00:14:22,750 --> 00:14:24,125 coming up through here. 400 00:14:24,250 --> 00:14:26,375 But it's definitely something fixable. 401 00:14:26,542 --> 00:14:28,667 Obviously, if you move into the next round, 402 00:14:28,792 --> 00:14:32,000 you need to do something about that mass on this tang. 403 00:14:32,167 --> 00:14:34,792 But your profile looks pretty close to our example. 404 00:14:34,917 --> 00:14:36,292 It's a nice job. - Thank you. 405 00:14:36,375 --> 00:14:37,750 - Eric, please present your work. 406 00:14:37,875 --> 00:14:41,917 ♪ ♪ 407 00:14:42,042 --> 00:14:43,333 - This is beautiful work right here. 408 00:14:43,458 --> 00:14:45,542 You brought your sample right up to it, 409 00:14:45,708 --> 00:14:49,167 and you made all the changes so it's almost exact. 410 00:14:49,292 --> 00:14:51,083 Right now, the way it stands, 411 00:14:51,208 --> 00:14:53,042 it's a good looking blade. - Thank you. 412 00:14:53,208 --> 00:14:54,500 - LJ, please present your work, sir. 413 00:14:54,625 --> 00:14:58,167 ♪ ♪ 414 00:14:58,292 --> 00:15:00,833 - All right, LJ, good, solid job on the blade. 415 00:15:00,917 --> 00:15:02,167 Your profile, though-- 416 00:15:02,292 --> 00:15:03,458 your tip's a bit on the high end. 417 00:15:03,542 --> 00:15:05,792 I know you were having trouble moving that steel around 418 00:15:05,917 --> 00:15:07,167 and getting that width. 419 00:15:07,250 --> 00:15:10,708 If you move to the next round, I'd drop that tip down. 420 00:15:10,833 --> 00:15:13,333 But you pulled through it, so good job. 421 00:15:13,458 --> 00:15:14,875 - Yes, sir. 422 00:15:15,042 --> 00:15:17,042 - Last but not least: Nathan. You ready? 423 00:15:17,167 --> 00:15:19,667 - I'm your Huckleberry. - [laughs] 424 00:15:19,833 --> 00:15:20,625 Please present your work. 425 00:15:22,542 --> 00:15:24,833 ♪ ♪ 426 00:15:24,917 --> 00:15:26,083 - All right, Nathan, first off, 427 00:15:26,208 --> 00:15:28,833 really good choice to start over. 428 00:15:28,958 --> 00:15:32,000 Your San Mai looks solid and welded up. 429 00:15:32,083 --> 00:15:34,000 There's a lot of material here to work with. 430 00:15:34,167 --> 00:15:36,250 Your blade's already dead straight. 431 00:15:36,375 --> 00:15:39,125 If you move forward, compare it to the actual blade. 432 00:15:39,208 --> 00:15:40,292 There's a lot of adjustments to do here. 433 00:15:40,375 --> 00:15:43,625 But all in all, really nice job getting this done. 434 00:15:43,708 --> 00:15:46,500 - Thank you, sir. 435 00:15:46,625 --> 00:15:48,792 - Bladesmiths, as you know, only three of you can join us 436 00:15:48,875 --> 00:15:50,875 in the second round of this competition. 437 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:52,042 The bladesmith leaving The Forge is... 438 00:15:52,208 --> 00:15:54,833 [adventurous music] 439 00:15:54,958 --> 00:15:56,375 ♪ ♪ 440 00:15:56,542 --> 00:15:58,042 LJ. 441 00:15:58,167 --> 00:15:59,042 Unfortunately, your blade didn't make the cut, 442 00:15:59,208 --> 00:16:01,292 and Dave's gonna tell you why. 443 00:16:01,375 --> 00:16:03,250 - LJ, first off, you got no quit in you. 444 00:16:03,375 --> 00:16:05,083 It was great watching you work. 445 00:16:05,208 --> 00:16:07,500 This comes down to that your blade is furthest away 446 00:16:07,625 --> 00:16:09,542 from our finished shape than the other blades, 447 00:16:09,667 --> 00:16:11,667 and that's the reason we're letting you go. 448 00:16:11,792 --> 00:16:14,458 - LJ, you're a talented smith. You've got zero quit in you. 449 00:16:14,583 --> 00:16:15,667 But unfortunately, at this point in time, 450 00:16:15,792 --> 00:16:18,167 I'm gonna have to ask you to please surrender your blade 451 00:16:18,250 --> 00:16:20,542 and step off The Forge floor. 452 00:16:20,667 --> 00:16:22,375 - Thank you for not giving up. Good job. 453 00:16:22,542 --> 00:16:25,208 - It always feels bad when you lose. 454 00:16:25,375 --> 00:16:27,917 But I've had one of the best times of my life. 455 00:16:28,042 --> 00:16:30,750 It's a learning and growing experience. 456 00:16:30,875 --> 00:16:32,750 But I'll go home, I'll lick my wounds, 457 00:16:32,875 --> 00:16:34,667 and I'll be stronger tomorrow. 458 00:16:34,750 --> 00:16:36,167 [whip cracks] 459 00:16:36,292 --> 00:16:37,375 - Bladesmiths, congratulations. 460 00:16:37,542 --> 00:16:39,125 The three of you are joining us in the second round 461 00:16:39,208 --> 00:16:41,375 of this competition, where you're gonna fix any issues 462 00:16:41,500 --> 00:16:43,542 that you have from the first round, as well as add handles 463 00:16:43,667 --> 00:16:45,875 to your blades, turning them into fully functioning 464 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:47,458 Mexican Bowie knives. 465 00:16:47,542 --> 00:16:49,458 Now, we want a recreation of this blade. 466 00:16:49,542 --> 00:16:51,750 So you'll be adding staghorn handles to your blades, 467 00:16:51,875 --> 00:16:53,958 as well as a S-guard. 468 00:16:54,083 --> 00:16:55,833 Now, Greg, you sheathed your blade first, 469 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:57,792 so you got yourself an extra 30 minutes for the second round 470 00:16:57,875 --> 00:16:59,042 of competition. 471 00:16:59,167 --> 00:17:01,208 Now, Eric, you have two hours and fifteen minutes. 472 00:17:01,375 --> 00:17:03,917 Nathan, you only have an hour and 45 minutes to complete 473 00:17:04,042 --> 00:17:05,500 your Mexican Bowie knife. 474 00:17:05,625 --> 00:17:06,583 Now, after this round is complete, gentlemen, 475 00:17:06,708 --> 00:17:08,042 you'll turn your blades over to the judges, 476 00:17:08,167 --> 00:17:10,000 and they'll check for strength and durability 477 00:17:10,125 --> 00:17:12,042 in a gun powder barrel chop, 478 00:17:12,208 --> 00:17:15,958 and then check your edge retention in a mailbag slice. 479 00:17:16,042 --> 00:17:17,583 Now, we're gonna do this in a staggered start. 480 00:17:17,708 --> 00:17:20,875 So good luck. Greg, your time starts now. 481 00:17:21,042 --> 00:17:22,167 [bull roars] 482 00:17:22,333 --> 00:17:24,875 - It is wonderful to have first choice 483 00:17:25,042 --> 00:17:26,292 at the pantry. 484 00:17:27,417 --> 00:17:30,042 I mean, this is weird watching one competitor go at it 485 00:17:30,167 --> 00:17:32,375 and two of them sitting down like we are. 486 00:17:32,500 --> 00:17:34,167 Don't just sit around. That's our job. 487 00:17:34,250 --> 00:17:36,417 Look pretty. [laughter] 488 00:17:36,542 --> 00:17:40,083 - I knew that I was going to need that extra time. 489 00:17:40,208 --> 00:17:44,958 I have got to put the tang on a weight loss program. 490 00:17:45,042 --> 00:17:47,000 - All right, Eric-- coming up on two hours 491 00:17:47,167 --> 00:17:48,167 and fifteen minutes. 492 00:17:48,333 --> 00:17:50,833 Your time starts now. 493 00:17:50,917 --> 00:17:52,625 - Still got it, bro. 494 00:17:52,708 --> 00:17:55,417 I made sure the piece I choose is as close to the original 495 00:17:55,542 --> 00:17:57,000 so I don't have to do as much shaping 496 00:17:57,083 --> 00:17:58,667 and moving of material. 497 00:17:58,792 --> 00:18:00,708 - All right, Eric just grabbed the guard stock. 498 00:18:00,875 --> 00:18:03,333 He grabbed penstock, and he's already to the grinder. 499 00:18:03,458 --> 00:18:04,583 - The first thing I do is take my knife 500 00:18:04,708 --> 00:18:05,833 and start cleaning it up. 501 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:07,250 I know I still have a lot to do, 502 00:18:07,375 --> 00:18:08,417 and I'm not gonna waste any time. 503 00:18:08,542 --> 00:18:09,958 ♪ ♪ 504 00:18:10,042 --> 00:18:13,583 [adventurous music] 505 00:18:13,708 --> 00:18:14,458 [whip cracks] 506 00:18:14,542 --> 00:18:16,292 - All right, Nathan. Time to wake up. 507 00:18:16,375 --> 00:18:18,333 You got an hour and 45 minutes! 508 00:18:18,500 --> 00:18:21,667 Good luck, man. Your time starts now! 509 00:18:21,792 --> 00:18:23,333 - So as soon as the clock starts, I'm like, 510 00:18:23,500 --> 00:18:25,167 "Dude, I gotta go see what's left." 511 00:18:25,292 --> 00:18:27,250 - He's already way behind both the other smiths. 512 00:18:27,375 --> 00:18:28,958 If you guys were Nathan, what would you be doing 513 00:18:29,042 --> 00:18:30,167 right off the bat? - Get your stuff, 514 00:18:30,292 --> 00:18:32,208 and start griding that blade. 515 00:18:32,333 --> 00:18:33,292 - Going into this round, man, 516 00:18:33,375 --> 00:18:35,750 I've got to get my tang kind of centered. 517 00:18:35,875 --> 00:18:39,125 Then I'm gonna try and take some of the meat off of it. 518 00:18:39,250 --> 00:18:40,667 I'm feeling pretty confident coming in. 519 00:18:40,750 --> 00:18:43,458 But every second's gonna count. 520 00:18:43,542 --> 00:18:46,458 - After the tang, it's the guard. 521 00:18:46,542 --> 00:18:48,833 I heat the guard in a post vise, 522 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:52,292 twist it a half turn on both ends so that the bars 523 00:18:52,417 --> 00:18:56,083 will be at a 90-degree angle from the blade. 524 00:18:56,208 --> 00:18:57,625 That's more what I want. 525 00:18:57,708 --> 00:19:00,000 I am pleased with my S shape. 526 00:19:00,083 --> 00:19:02,167 With more time, I can make it 527 00:19:02,250 --> 00:19:04,000 a lot more aesthetically pleasing, 528 00:19:04,083 --> 00:19:06,125 but it fits the parameters. 529 00:19:06,208 --> 00:19:08,208 - Bladesmiths, you have an hour and a half 530 00:19:08,333 --> 00:19:10,625 left before testing. 531 00:19:10,750 --> 00:19:12,500 - The guard is the most ornate part of this knife. 532 00:19:12,625 --> 00:19:14,500 So making sure it matches as best that it can 533 00:19:14,625 --> 00:19:16,500 is kind of my main concern. 534 00:19:16,625 --> 00:19:19,250 First thing I need to do is rough cut out my shape. 535 00:19:19,375 --> 00:19:21,375 - So Eric is doing the exact same thing 536 00:19:21,542 --> 00:19:22,542 he did in the first round-- he came up to the example 537 00:19:22,667 --> 00:19:25,375 and measured every single dimension of the guard. 538 00:19:25,500 --> 00:19:26,833 So his is gonna be intricate. 539 00:19:26,958 --> 00:19:29,167 - Oh, that'd be great. 540 00:19:29,250 --> 00:19:31,500 - Next thing I need to do, twist my steel. 541 00:19:31,625 --> 00:19:33,667 Two torches may be overkill, 542 00:19:33,792 --> 00:19:35,708 but it's gonna make the process a lot faster. 543 00:19:35,875 --> 00:19:37,500 [rock music] 544 00:19:37,625 --> 00:19:39,542 It's looking rough, but the profile's there. 545 00:19:39,667 --> 00:19:43,458 Now all I gotta do is refine it. 546 00:19:43,542 --> 00:19:46,458 - So Nathan--although he came into the second round 547 00:19:46,542 --> 00:19:49,250 seemingly way behind, he's catching up pretty quick. 548 00:19:49,375 --> 00:19:50,375 - I've just got this flat piece 549 00:19:50,500 --> 00:19:52,292 that's fitted and slotted. 550 00:19:52,417 --> 00:19:55,625 I know I can bend this mild steel to make an S-shape. 551 00:19:55,750 --> 00:19:58,292 I know it's not gonna be as pretty as my competitors, 552 00:19:58,417 --> 00:19:59,750 but time is of the essence, 553 00:19:59,875 --> 00:20:01,542 and I'm just hoping for the best. 554 00:20:01,667 --> 00:20:03,000 - All right, bladesmiths, you guys are down 555 00:20:03,167 --> 00:20:05,375 to the final hour! 556 00:20:05,500 --> 00:20:08,000 - At this point, the clock is against me. 557 00:20:08,083 --> 00:20:10,583 I have to get this together. 558 00:20:10,708 --> 00:20:13,125 I've to drill the pinhole in the tang 559 00:20:13,208 --> 00:20:14,833 to have a mechanical connection. 560 00:20:18,292 --> 00:20:20,000 [bleep] 561 00:20:20,125 --> 00:20:21,167 And it doesn't take. 562 00:20:21,250 --> 00:20:22,833 [groans] 563 00:20:22,958 --> 00:20:25,042 This is not a good time for this to be happening. 564 00:20:25,208 --> 00:20:27,792 I can ruin 20 drill bits, 565 00:20:27,875 --> 00:20:30,417 and it's not gonna go through that 1/2 inch tang 566 00:20:30,542 --> 00:20:31,542 of hardened steel. 567 00:20:31,667 --> 00:20:38,000 This is not ideal at all. 568 00:20:38,125 --> 00:20:39,958 - Greg's got his blade clamped in the vise over here, 569 00:20:40,042 --> 00:20:41,542 and he was trying to drill through the tang. 570 00:20:41,667 --> 00:20:43,292 It wasn't going through, so now he's got the hot wrench-- 571 00:20:43,375 --> 00:20:45,250 gonna soften that tang up. 572 00:20:45,375 --> 00:20:46,958 - There's no time for new bumps or anything. 573 00:20:47,042 --> 00:20:48,833 It's time to act. 574 00:20:48,958 --> 00:20:52,667 I slap another bit into the drill press. 575 00:20:52,792 --> 00:20:54,208 Whoo-hoo! 576 00:20:54,333 --> 00:20:56,167 It just beached through like butter, 577 00:20:56,250 --> 00:20:58,542 and it's off to the races. 578 00:20:58,667 --> 00:21:01,333 Everything's sliding down. 579 00:21:01,417 --> 00:21:02,625 Works like a charm. 580 00:21:02,708 --> 00:21:05,792 Time to get the thing sanded. 581 00:21:05,917 --> 00:21:08,000 [rock music] 582 00:21:08,083 --> 00:21:09,500 - Looking good. 583 00:21:09,583 --> 00:21:11,833 Finally, I get the guard to fit the tang, 584 00:21:11,917 --> 00:21:14,167 and now it's time to move on to the antler handle. 585 00:21:14,250 --> 00:21:16,667 - So Eric's drilling in the tang hole in his staghorn. 586 00:21:16,750 --> 00:21:20,958 ♪ ♪ 587 00:21:21,083 --> 00:21:22,250 - Whoo! 588 00:21:22,375 --> 00:21:23,375 I get everything glued together. 589 00:21:23,500 --> 00:21:25,250 It all seems to be fitting nice and tight. 590 00:21:25,375 --> 00:21:27,000 I need to get an edge on this knife. 591 00:21:27,167 --> 00:21:29,833 - Nathan using a lot of epoxy. 592 00:21:29,917 --> 00:21:32,167 - Epoxy's just going everywhere. 593 00:21:32,292 --> 00:21:33,250 You wanna know where Nathan went, 594 00:21:33,375 --> 00:21:35,125 just follow the epoxy. 595 00:21:35,208 --> 00:21:37,000 I don't wanna glue up my beard. 596 00:21:37,125 --> 00:21:39,833 - Bladesmiths, you have five minutes left! 597 00:21:39,958 --> 00:21:42,833 - I'm, like, super frustrated, and I'm starting to flip. 598 00:21:42,917 --> 00:21:45,458 [bleep] 599 00:21:45,542 --> 00:21:48,375 All right, just...stay calm. 600 00:21:48,542 --> 00:21:51,708 Obviously, there's a ton of finish and finer details 601 00:21:51,833 --> 00:21:53,500 that could've been done on my blade. 602 00:21:53,625 --> 00:21:57,083 But, you know, I'm just stoked that I didn't give up. 603 00:21:57,208 --> 00:21:58,958 - Five, four, 604 00:21:59,042 --> 00:22:01,833 three, two, one. 605 00:22:01,958 --> 00:22:03,167 Bladesmiths, turn off your machines! 606 00:22:03,292 --> 00:22:04,625 Put down your tools! 607 00:22:04,750 --> 00:22:07,333 The second round of this competition is over! 608 00:22:07,458 --> 00:22:09,833 [adventurous music] 609 00:22:09,958 --> 00:22:11,167 - Don't stare at it too long, guys. 610 00:22:11,292 --> 00:22:12,625 It'll blind you. - [laughs] 611 00:22:12,750 --> 00:22:14,583 - I feel pretty solid about my edge. 612 00:22:14,708 --> 00:22:17,500 But I'm just worried about J. Neilson having my blade. 613 00:22:17,583 --> 00:22:19,375 He has very intimidating grunts 614 00:22:19,500 --> 00:22:22,000 every time he chops something. 615 00:22:22,167 --> 00:22:23,417 I'm scared. 616 00:22:23,542 --> 00:22:25,500 [whip cracks] [wind blows] 617 00:22:25,625 --> 00:22:27,500 - Bladesmiths, welcome to our strength test: 618 00:22:27,625 --> 00:22:30,417 our gunpowder barrel stab and chop. 619 00:22:30,542 --> 00:22:31,875 [gunshot] 620 00:22:32,042 --> 00:22:32,917 Greg, you're up first. You ready to go? 621 00:22:33,042 --> 00:22:34,958 - Oh, absolutely. - All right. Let's do it. 622 00:22:36,792 --> 00:22:39,375 - The test is incredibly difficult. 623 00:22:39,542 --> 00:22:42,750 Hitting a knife into metal and wood-- 624 00:22:42,875 --> 00:22:44,958 anything could happen to that blade. 625 00:22:45,042 --> 00:22:48,583 If that heat treat wasn't perfect, it's gonna fail. 626 00:22:50,417 --> 00:22:51,500 [rock music] 627 00:22:51,625 --> 00:22:54,792 - [grunting] 628 00:22:54,875 --> 00:23:01,750 ♪ ♪ 629 00:23:06,708 --> 00:23:08,125 All right, Greg. Good job here. 630 00:23:08,208 --> 00:23:09,458 Your edge is still fine. 631 00:23:09,583 --> 00:23:11,292 Nothing bent. 632 00:23:11,375 --> 00:23:13,542 But you lost some epoxy right in here 633 00:23:13,708 --> 00:23:14,917 where you're trying to fill that out. 634 00:23:15,042 --> 00:23:17,958 But everything's still tight. Good job. 635 00:23:18,083 --> 00:23:20,375 - Thank you. - How you feeling, Eric? 636 00:23:20,500 --> 00:23:21,917 It's always fun for the second guy. 637 00:23:22,042 --> 00:23:23,875 - I'm ready. - All right, let's do it. 638 00:23:26,292 --> 00:23:28,667 - I'm nervous to see J. beat my knife against a barrel. 639 00:23:28,792 --> 00:23:30,333 I don't expect my knife to break. 640 00:23:30,417 --> 00:23:32,167 But you never know what's gonna happen during testing. 641 00:23:32,292 --> 00:23:36,250 ♪ ♪ 642 00:23:36,375 --> 00:23:39,042 - [grunts] 643 00:23:39,167 --> 00:23:46,042 ♪ ♪ 644 00:23:55,375 --> 00:23:57,000 Nice job, Eric. 645 00:23:57,125 --> 00:23:58,333 The edge is still sharp. 646 00:23:58,417 --> 00:24:00,375 Nothing happened to that or the tip. 647 00:24:00,542 --> 00:24:01,667 You got everything comfortable. 648 00:24:01,750 --> 00:24:04,125 Your dimensions are just right for my hand. 649 00:24:04,208 --> 00:24:07,833 This is probably the closest to a completed replica 650 00:24:07,917 --> 00:24:11,375 of something we presented to date. 651 00:24:11,500 --> 00:24:14,042 Nice job. - Thank you. 652 00:24:14,167 --> 00:24:16,833 - What do you think, Nathan? - I--I'm your Huckleberry? 653 00:24:17,000 --> 00:24:19,625 [laughter] 654 00:24:19,708 --> 00:24:22,667 - You are for now. [laughter] 655 00:24:24,625 --> 00:24:26,167 - If anything was to give on my blade, 656 00:24:26,292 --> 00:24:27,667 it's gonna be the handle. 657 00:24:27,750 --> 00:24:29,958 I know it's not winning a beauty contest. 658 00:24:30,042 --> 00:24:32,625 But I hope that my handle sticks together. 659 00:24:32,708 --> 00:24:34,333 We'll see how it goes. 660 00:24:34,417 --> 00:24:39,833 ♪ ♪ 661 00:24:39,958 --> 00:24:40,750 - If anything was to give on my blade, 662 00:24:40,875 --> 00:24:42,000 it's gonna be the handle. 663 00:24:42,125 --> 00:24:44,167 But I hope that my handle sticks together. 664 00:24:44,292 --> 00:24:45,875 [suspenseful music] 665 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:48,625 - [grunting] 666 00:24:48,708 --> 00:24:51,833 [rock music] 667 00:24:51,917 --> 00:24:58,708 ♪ ♪ 668 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:02,667 Take a breath, Nathan. You survived. 669 00:25:02,750 --> 00:25:05,208 - [laughs] - You got... 670 00:25:05,375 --> 00:25:08,042 one small rolling in my nail on. 671 00:25:08,167 --> 00:25:10,500 Now your handle... - [clears throat] 672 00:25:10,625 --> 00:25:12,375 - Your blade's here, and your handle's 673 00:25:12,500 --> 00:25:14,167 kind of drifting this way. - Mm-hmm. 674 00:25:14,250 --> 00:25:18,833 - But the big problem I see is, now your guard is loose. 675 00:25:18,917 --> 00:25:20,500 But it survived the test. 676 00:25:20,625 --> 00:25:22,750 Great job. - Thanks, man. 677 00:25:25,208 --> 00:25:26,333 - Howdy, bladesmiths. 678 00:25:26,458 --> 00:25:29,000 Now it's time to find out just how sharp your weapons are. 679 00:25:29,167 --> 00:25:32,500 This is the sharpness test: the mailbag stab and slice. 680 00:25:32,625 --> 00:25:34,667 [whip cracks] 681 00:25:34,750 --> 00:25:36,083 Now it's time to go postal. 682 00:25:36,208 --> 00:25:37,500 Greg, you're up first. You ready for this? 683 00:25:37,667 --> 00:25:38,833 - Yes, sir. Absolutely. 684 00:25:38,958 --> 00:25:40,542 - [chuckling] All right, let's do it. 685 00:25:40,667 --> 00:25:43,500 [suspenseful music] 686 00:25:43,583 --> 00:25:50,417 ♪ ♪ 687 00:25:55,583 --> 00:25:57,000 All right, Greg. 688 00:25:57,125 --> 00:25:59,917 You have a very obtuse grind on your blade here, 689 00:26:00,042 --> 00:26:02,833 and stabbing, you can feel the resistance. 690 00:26:02,958 --> 00:26:05,708 But on the slashes, it cuts cleanly. 691 00:26:05,833 --> 00:26:09,708 Overall, it'll cut. - Mm, thank you. 692 00:26:09,833 --> 00:26:10,542 - All right, Eric. Your turn, sir. 693 00:26:10,667 --> 00:26:11,958 You ready? - Absolutely. 694 00:26:12,042 --> 00:26:13,583 - Giddy-up. 695 00:26:13,708 --> 00:26:16,500 [adventurous music] 696 00:26:16,583 --> 00:26:23,667 ♪ ♪ 697 00:26:32,667 --> 00:26:35,750 All right, Eric. Your edge and even the bevels 698 00:26:35,875 --> 00:26:38,583 that you have here for thrusting met no resistance. 699 00:26:38,708 --> 00:26:39,583 It cuts nicely. 700 00:26:39,708 --> 00:26:41,500 It's got a great bounce to this, 701 00:26:41,583 --> 00:26:44,292 and overall, sir... it will cut. 702 00:26:44,375 --> 00:26:45,500 - Thank you. - [chuckles] 703 00:26:45,583 --> 00:26:46,375 All right, Nathan. Your turn, sir. 704 00:26:46,542 --> 00:26:48,375 You ready? - Yeehaw. 705 00:26:48,542 --> 00:26:50,000 - Let's do that. 706 00:26:50,167 --> 00:26:53,000 [rock music] 707 00:26:53,083 --> 00:26:59,958 ♪ ♪ 708 00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:07,833 - Oh, [bleep]. [chuckles] 709 00:27:07,958 --> 00:27:10,333 [suspenseful music] 710 00:27:10,500 --> 00:27:13,167 - All right, Nathan, let's talk about your blade here. 711 00:27:13,292 --> 00:27:17,000 It stabbed and cut easily on this mailbag. 712 00:27:17,125 --> 00:27:19,792 But your handle is still loose. 713 00:27:19,875 --> 00:27:22,667 Overall, sir...it will cut. 714 00:27:22,792 --> 00:27:25,208 - Yeehaw. 715 00:27:25,375 --> 00:27:27,958 - [in Southern drawl] Well... [chuckles] 716 00:27:28,042 --> 00:27:30,208 Bladesmiths, you all came through with blades 717 00:27:30,333 --> 00:27:31,917 that performed very well on our tests. 718 00:27:32,042 --> 00:27:34,042 But as you know, only two of you can move forward, 719 00:27:34,167 --> 00:27:36,000 staying in contention for a check for $10,000 720 00:27:36,083 --> 00:27:37,583 and the title of "Forged in Fire Champion," 721 00:27:37,708 --> 00:27:39,167 moving on into the final round. 722 00:27:39,333 --> 00:27:41,042 The bladesmith leaving The Forge is... 723 00:27:41,167 --> 00:27:43,708 ♪ ♪ 724 00:27:43,833 --> 00:27:45,000 Nathan. 725 00:27:45,083 --> 00:27:46,667 Unfortunately, your blade didn't make the cut, 726 00:27:46,750 --> 00:27:48,667 and J.'s gonna tell you why. 727 00:27:48,792 --> 00:27:50,208 - All right, Nathan. 728 00:27:50,375 --> 00:27:51,708 You did a great job, 729 00:27:51,833 --> 00:27:53,167 especially with the amount of time you had, 730 00:27:53,292 --> 00:27:55,417 and you obviously made something that could cut. 731 00:27:55,542 --> 00:27:58,083 But during the strength test, you picked up a bit of a chip 732 00:27:58,208 --> 00:27:59,792 on the edge, and your guard came loose. 733 00:27:59,917 --> 00:28:01,333 That's why we're letting you go. 734 00:28:01,458 --> 00:28:03,292 - I understand. 735 00:28:03,375 --> 00:28:05,667 - Well, Nathan, you brought a lot of life into The Forge. 736 00:28:05,792 --> 00:28:06,375 We want to say thank you for coming out here 737 00:28:06,542 --> 00:28:07,542 and letting us watch you work. 738 00:28:07,708 --> 00:28:08,833 But unfortunately, at this time, 739 00:28:08,958 --> 00:28:10,167 I'm gonna have to ask you to please step off 740 00:28:10,250 --> 00:28:11,750 The Forge floor. 741 00:28:11,875 --> 00:28:13,542 - I really appreciate it, guys. This is super rad. 742 00:28:13,667 --> 00:28:14,542 - Thank you. - Good work. 743 00:28:14,708 --> 00:28:16,333 - I think I won in a competition 744 00:28:16,458 --> 00:28:18,333 against that voice that tells you not to try, 745 00:28:18,458 --> 00:28:20,958 and it tells you to give up. 746 00:28:21,042 --> 00:28:22,500 I wish that my blade could've been more refined-- 747 00:28:22,667 --> 00:28:24,875 obviously, more pretty. 748 00:28:25,042 --> 00:28:27,833 But I made my first San Mai blade weld stuck, 749 00:28:27,958 --> 00:28:29,917 and it cut like a freaking razor, 750 00:28:30,042 --> 00:28:33,792 and I would do it all again, for sure. 751 00:28:33,875 --> 00:28:36,292 - But Greg, Eric, gentlemen, congratulations. 752 00:28:36,417 --> 00:28:38,208 You're moving forward to the third and final round 753 00:28:38,333 --> 00:28:39,542 of this competition. 754 00:28:39,667 --> 00:28:41,417 You get four days at your home forges 755 00:28:41,542 --> 00:28:44,583 to build another iconic weapon from the Wild West. 756 00:28:44,708 --> 00:28:46,042 Gentlemen, we want you to build this. 757 00:28:46,167 --> 00:28:48,000 ♪ ♪ 758 00:28:48,083 --> 00:28:50,333 This is the vaquero machete. 759 00:28:50,417 --> 00:28:52,917 ♪ ♪ 760 00:28:53,042 --> 00:28:55,458 - The vaquero machete became wildly popular 761 00:28:55,542 --> 00:28:57,542 with the original cowboys of the Southwest 762 00:28:57,708 --> 00:28:59,000 during the 20th century. 763 00:28:59,083 --> 00:29:00,833 Featuring a thin, slightly curved blade, 764 00:29:00,958 --> 00:29:03,292 the weapon was much lighter and easier to carry 765 00:29:03,417 --> 00:29:05,167 than the larger machetes previously used 766 00:29:05,250 --> 00:29:07,333 by the cowboys, making it ideal to deliver 767 00:29:07,417 --> 00:29:09,875 damaging slashes and chops on everything 768 00:29:10,000 --> 00:29:12,958 from brush to enemies on the great frontier. 769 00:29:13,083 --> 00:29:14,125 The rich history and culture of the cowboys 770 00:29:14,208 --> 00:29:16,333 who carried this weapon can be found on display 771 00:29:16,458 --> 00:29:18,833 at the Bullock Museum in Austin, Texas. 772 00:29:18,958 --> 00:29:20,958 - Now, your blades need to be curved 773 00:29:21,042 --> 00:29:23,875 and have a length between 24 and 26 inches. 774 00:29:24,042 --> 00:29:25,625 They need to have a single edge. 775 00:29:25,750 --> 00:29:28,042 Need to have an S guard, a stacked leather handle, 776 00:29:28,208 --> 00:29:31,708 and an eagle head or a horse head pommel. 777 00:29:31,833 --> 00:29:35,167 - I'm glad that it's not some sort of war hammer or axe. 778 00:29:35,250 --> 00:29:38,333 But still, this thing's gonna be complicated to make. 779 00:29:38,458 --> 00:29:40,208 - Gentlemen, we want to see your very best, 780 00:29:40,333 --> 00:29:42,833 most beautiful blades come back, so good luck. 781 00:29:42,958 --> 00:29:44,333 We will see you in four days. 782 00:29:44,417 --> 00:29:48,917 ♪ ♪ 783 00:29:49,042 --> 00:29:51,042 - I'm back here at my home forge 784 00:29:51,167 --> 00:29:53,458 to make the vaquero machete. 785 00:29:53,583 --> 00:29:55,125 [turkey gobbles] 786 00:29:55,208 --> 00:29:58,042 I decided to go with a mono steel blade of 1080. 787 00:29:58,167 --> 00:30:01,458 It's a tough, springy steel that's very forgiving. 788 00:30:01,542 --> 00:30:03,500 ♪ ♪ 789 00:30:03,625 --> 00:30:05,500 All right, she is cooking. 790 00:30:05,625 --> 00:30:08,292 Whoo! Like a June bride. 791 00:30:08,417 --> 00:30:09,667 Okay. 792 00:30:09,750 --> 00:30:13,500 ♪ ♪ 793 00:30:13,625 --> 00:30:15,000 Straight blade. 794 00:30:15,083 --> 00:30:16,958 Everything's coming out nicely. 795 00:30:17,083 --> 00:30:18,958 I'm going to start on the pommel 796 00:30:19,083 --> 00:30:21,500 and the guard in the morning. 797 00:30:21,625 --> 00:30:22,708 Just like it's supposed to. 798 00:30:22,833 --> 00:30:25,583 ♪ ♪ 799 00:30:25,708 --> 00:30:26,917 - Today is day one. 800 00:30:27,042 --> 00:30:27,875 We're here in my home forge 801 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:29,125 in Harmony, Pennsylvania. 802 00:30:29,208 --> 00:30:30,958 Gonna get the forge heating up. 803 00:30:31,083 --> 00:30:33,000 My game plan is to start with Damascus. 804 00:30:33,125 --> 00:30:35,958 We're using a combination of 1084 and 15N20. 805 00:30:36,042 --> 00:30:38,375 My goal is get the blade forged out on day one. 806 00:30:38,500 --> 00:30:41,292 We're gonna start out with 20 pieces. 807 00:30:41,375 --> 00:30:45,000 Shooting for a 60- to 70-layer in the end. 808 00:30:45,167 --> 00:30:48,583 So I got my billets loaded up and in the forge. 809 00:30:48,708 --> 00:30:52,833 So today, I'll be able to forge a 60-layer Damascus blade. 810 00:30:52,958 --> 00:30:54,208 Feel good about the progress I made. 811 00:30:54,333 --> 00:30:55,667 Got to where I wanted to be. 812 00:30:55,792 --> 00:30:57,583 So far, it's looking good. 813 00:30:57,708 --> 00:31:00,833 - It's the morning of day two. 814 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:02,583 We're gonna start on the S guard 815 00:31:02,708 --> 00:31:04,500 and the horse head pommel. 816 00:31:04,625 --> 00:31:07,292 The gas foundry is what I'm gonna be making 817 00:31:07,417 --> 00:31:09,792 the guard and the pommel out of. 818 00:31:09,875 --> 00:31:11,208 ♪ ♪ 819 00:31:11,333 --> 00:31:14,625 You carve the exact thing you want to cast out of foam. 820 00:31:14,750 --> 00:31:18,333 This is what it will look like when we get done. 821 00:31:18,458 --> 00:31:19,917 Then you pack it in green sand... 822 00:31:20,042 --> 00:31:22,042 Here we go. You ready? 823 00:31:22,208 --> 00:31:23,958 And as you pour the molten metal on it, 824 00:31:24,083 --> 00:31:25,417 it evaporates the foam 825 00:31:25,542 --> 00:31:27,792 and leaves you with the shape that you desired. 826 00:31:27,875 --> 00:31:29,542 Nope. Nope. 827 00:31:29,708 --> 00:31:31,917 100% failure. 828 00:31:32,042 --> 00:31:34,333 Definitely not a successful pour. 829 00:31:34,458 --> 00:31:36,625 There was too much moisture in the mold. 830 00:31:36,708 --> 00:31:38,167 And it didn't cast all the way. 831 00:31:38,292 --> 00:31:40,125 Back to the drawing board. 832 00:31:40,250 --> 00:31:41,500 Oh. 833 00:31:45,500 --> 00:31:47,167 - My biggest thing today is to get 834 00:31:47,333 --> 00:31:48,833 my horse head pommel done. 835 00:31:48,917 --> 00:31:50,833 Nope. 836 00:31:50,917 --> 00:31:54,083 Definitely not a successful pour. 837 00:31:54,208 --> 00:31:56,417 There was too much moisture in the mold. 838 00:31:56,542 --> 00:31:58,000 And it didn't cast all the way. 839 00:31:58,083 --> 00:31:59,667 Let's do this. 840 00:31:59,792 --> 00:32:02,125 I'm gonna add more water to my sand 841 00:32:02,208 --> 00:32:03,958 and give it a second shot. 842 00:32:04,083 --> 00:32:05,833 That was good, guys. 843 00:32:06,000 --> 00:32:07,583 That's exciting. 844 00:32:07,708 --> 00:32:11,750 After a little bit of sanding, it'll look great. 845 00:32:11,875 --> 00:32:14,083 - Today is day three. 846 00:32:14,208 --> 00:32:16,875 So last night, got it quenched and in temper. 847 00:32:17,042 --> 00:32:18,042 For today, thinking about starting work 848 00:32:18,208 --> 00:32:19,792 on the pommel. 849 00:32:19,875 --> 00:32:21,000 And I knew my dad and my brother were out hunting 850 00:32:21,083 --> 00:32:23,000 with the hawks; I had them stop over so that 851 00:32:23,083 --> 00:32:24,667 I could get a nice look at a 3-D bird. 852 00:32:24,792 --> 00:32:27,333 My dad's been a falconer since before I was born, 853 00:32:27,458 --> 00:32:29,500 so I've always had hawks my entire life. 854 00:32:29,583 --> 00:32:32,083 It's very lucky that I'm able to incorporate this 855 00:32:32,208 --> 00:32:35,167 'cause that way I can do a direct comparison. 856 00:32:35,250 --> 00:32:37,500 I've made good progress today on my blade. 857 00:32:37,667 --> 00:32:39,417 But still, you never know what's gonna happen. 858 00:32:39,542 --> 00:32:40,750 [indistinct] 859 00:32:40,875 --> 00:32:41,833 [metal clangs] 860 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:43,667 ♪ ♪ 861 00:32:43,833 --> 00:32:46,458 That was purposeful. It was a test. Strength test. 862 00:32:46,542 --> 00:32:48,292 ♪ ♪ 863 00:32:48,417 --> 00:32:51,167 - It's the last day of the home forge. 864 00:32:51,292 --> 00:32:52,292 Today we're gonna start off 865 00:32:52,375 --> 00:32:54,583 by sculpting a horse head pommel, 866 00:32:54,708 --> 00:32:57,250 and then we're gonna get to the fit and finish of the blade. 867 00:32:57,375 --> 00:32:59,167 Clear out, birds. Come on. Everybody out. 868 00:32:59,333 --> 00:33:00,792 [turkeys gobbling] 869 00:33:00,875 --> 00:33:03,167 My turkeys came in to offer their two cents. 870 00:33:03,250 --> 00:33:05,500 But turkey logic just isn't what it used to be. 871 00:33:05,625 --> 00:33:06,833 ♪ ♪ 872 00:33:06,917 --> 00:33:08,083 Okay. 873 00:33:08,208 --> 00:33:10,000 We have at least one good cast. 874 00:33:10,083 --> 00:33:13,167 I bet we can clean that one up to make it work. 875 00:33:13,250 --> 00:33:15,083 The one thing you need to worry about 876 00:33:15,208 --> 00:33:16,708 with this kind of handle 877 00:33:16,833 --> 00:33:19,542 is not getting your pieces glued well enough. 878 00:33:19,708 --> 00:33:21,583 If you don't have your handles glued well enough, 879 00:33:21,708 --> 00:33:23,917 it's not gonna make a concentric handle. 880 00:33:24,042 --> 00:33:26,375 Oh, this leather's really thick. 881 00:33:26,500 --> 00:33:29,333 I am nervous going back into the forge. 882 00:33:29,417 --> 00:33:31,458 My competition's gonna be good. 883 00:33:31,583 --> 00:33:34,292 But at the end of the day, he's gonna bring his best. 884 00:33:34,417 --> 00:33:36,000 I brought my best. We'll see what happens. 885 00:33:36,125 --> 00:33:41,208 ♪ ♪ 886 00:33:41,333 --> 00:33:42,500 Think that'll work. 887 00:33:42,667 --> 00:33:44,417 ♪ ♪ 888 00:33:44,542 --> 00:33:46,708 - Today's the beginning of day four. 889 00:33:46,833 --> 00:33:49,625 I'm getting ready to go into gluing the handle. 890 00:33:49,750 --> 00:33:52,000 We wanna make sure we get everything glued up 891 00:33:52,083 --> 00:33:53,333 in one swift motion. 892 00:33:53,417 --> 00:33:55,375 That way, we can get a clamp on this. 893 00:33:55,500 --> 00:33:56,500 We can get everything compressed. 894 00:33:56,583 --> 00:34:00,792 ♪ ♪ 895 00:34:00,875 --> 00:34:02,875 Now the epoxy's all cured, 896 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:03,875 I'm gonna start shaping the handle. 897 00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:06,083 ♪ ♪ 898 00:34:06,208 --> 00:34:07,708 And then once I get all the cleanup finished, 899 00:34:07,833 --> 00:34:09,000 pretty much all I have to do is add an edge, 900 00:34:09,167 --> 00:34:10,000 and then we'll be done. 901 00:34:10,125 --> 00:34:12,417 ♪ ♪ 902 00:34:12,542 --> 00:34:14,750 And I'm really proud of how this looks. 903 00:34:14,875 --> 00:34:17,792 [adventurous music] 904 00:34:17,875 --> 00:34:20,458 ♪ ♪ 905 00:34:20,542 --> 00:34:21,958 - Well, gentlemen, welcome back to The Forge. 906 00:34:22,042 --> 00:34:23,042 It's good to see you. 907 00:34:23,167 --> 00:34:24,792 We gave you four days to put together 908 00:34:24,875 --> 00:34:27,000 your very best versions of the vaquero machete. 909 00:34:27,125 --> 00:34:29,000 I gotta say, we are impressed. 910 00:34:29,125 --> 00:34:30,208 But before we put them to the test 911 00:34:30,333 --> 00:34:31,458 to find out which one of you is coming out on top 912 00:34:31,542 --> 00:34:33,542 of this competition, we wanna hear about them. 913 00:34:33,667 --> 00:34:34,875 Now, Greg, how'd it go for you? 914 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:35,958 - Oh, it went wonderful. 915 00:34:36,042 --> 00:34:37,750 ♪ ♪ 916 00:34:37,875 --> 00:34:41,042 The machete's built out of 1080 high-carbon steel. 917 00:34:41,167 --> 00:34:43,833 The pommel and the guard are foam casted 918 00:34:43,958 --> 00:34:46,458 with a leather stacked grip and turquoise accents. 919 00:34:46,542 --> 00:34:48,583 - Outstanding. Eric, how about you? 920 00:34:48,708 --> 00:34:49,833 - Everything went really well for me. 921 00:34:49,917 --> 00:34:52,292 ♪ ♪ 922 00:34:52,417 --> 00:34:55,000 I went with 70 layers of 1084 and 15N20 923 00:34:55,125 --> 00:34:56,375 for the Damascus. 924 00:34:56,542 --> 00:34:57,667 Did brass for the eagle head pommel 925 00:34:57,750 --> 00:34:59,125 and the S guard. 926 00:34:59,250 --> 00:35:00,125 And did some stacked leather for the handle. 927 00:35:00,250 --> 00:35:01,708 - Sweet. 928 00:35:01,875 --> 00:35:03,083 All right, gentlemen, in order to find out 929 00:35:03,208 --> 00:35:05,167 which one of you is coming out on top of this competition, 930 00:35:05,333 --> 00:35:06,708 getting that check 931 00:35:06,875 --> 00:35:07,917 and the title of "Forge in Fire" champion, 932 00:35:08,042 --> 00:35:09,625 we need to put your blades through a series of tests. 933 00:35:09,708 --> 00:35:11,167 And for that, I'm gonna give you to Doug. 934 00:35:11,292 --> 00:35:16,125 ♪ ♪ 935 00:35:16,208 --> 00:35:17,833 [whip cracks] 936 00:35:17,958 --> 00:35:24,333 ♪ ♪ 937 00:35:25,958 --> 00:35:27,708 - Howdy, partners. 938 00:35:27,833 --> 00:35:30,667 Welcome to the KEAL test. 939 00:35:30,792 --> 00:35:34,333 Your vaquero machetes look beautiful. 940 00:35:34,500 --> 00:35:36,125 But how lethal are they? 941 00:35:36,250 --> 00:35:37,708 To find that out, I'm gonna take their machetes 942 00:35:37,875 --> 00:35:39,958 and deliver some lethal blows on this pig carcass. 943 00:35:40,042 --> 00:35:41,833 Greg, you feel lucky? 944 00:35:41,917 --> 00:35:44,667 - Oh, very lucky. - All right, let's do this. 945 00:35:44,750 --> 00:35:47,292 - I'm almost giddy with excitement 946 00:35:47,417 --> 00:35:49,500 because there is a big pig. 947 00:35:49,625 --> 00:35:53,167 My machete ought to be a wonderful pork slicer. 948 00:35:53,250 --> 00:36:00,333 ♪ ♪ 949 00:36:17,542 --> 00:36:18,833 - All right, Greg, 950 00:36:18,917 --> 00:36:21,333 the leather wrapping that you have here is nice and smooth. 951 00:36:21,458 --> 00:36:23,625 The handle is ovoid. 952 00:36:23,750 --> 00:36:27,875 The one thing, though, that's just a lot of handle. 953 00:36:28,042 --> 00:36:31,167 And because you have a smooth handle right here, 954 00:36:31,292 --> 00:36:33,125 couple of times, my hand just slid down. 955 00:36:33,250 --> 00:36:36,750 ♪ ♪ 956 00:36:36,875 --> 00:36:39,917 But your edges are sharp. 957 00:36:40,042 --> 00:36:43,000 Those are razor-sharp cuts. 958 00:36:43,167 --> 00:36:45,917 Overall, sir, it will KEAL. 959 00:36:46,042 --> 00:36:47,500 - Ooh, thank you, Doug. 960 00:36:47,625 --> 00:36:49,042 - Eric, your turn. Are you ready? 961 00:36:49,167 --> 00:36:51,250 - Let's do it. - Let's do this. 962 00:36:51,375 --> 00:36:53,125 - I'm stressing out over what my blade's gonna do. 963 00:36:53,208 --> 00:36:55,042 And after seeing what Greg's just did, 964 00:36:55,167 --> 00:36:56,167 I'm even more nervous. 965 00:36:56,292 --> 00:37:03,417 ♪ ♪ 966 00:37:20,167 --> 00:37:22,833 - All right, Eric, let's talk about your vaquero machete here. 967 00:37:23,000 --> 00:37:26,542 What I like about it is that it just my hand perfectly. 968 00:37:26,667 --> 00:37:27,750 So it's locked in there. 969 00:37:27,875 --> 00:37:30,333 Now your edge, that's a chevron right there 970 00:37:30,458 --> 00:37:31,667 all the way up. 971 00:37:31,792 --> 00:37:33,375 Those are very sharp, deep cuts, 972 00:37:33,500 --> 00:37:35,000 even on thrusting. 973 00:37:35,125 --> 00:37:37,333 Overall, sir, it will KEAL. 974 00:37:37,458 --> 00:37:39,667 - Good to hear. 975 00:37:39,792 --> 00:37:42,250 ♪ ♪ 976 00:37:42,375 --> 00:37:44,250 - Hola, vaqueros. Welcome to our strength test. 977 00:37:44,375 --> 00:37:46,083 The fence board and skull chop. 978 00:37:46,208 --> 00:37:47,667 [bull bellows] 979 00:37:47,792 --> 00:37:48,917 - All right, Greg, you're up first, you ready? 980 00:37:49,042 --> 00:37:50,792 - Yes, sir. 981 00:37:50,875 --> 00:37:53,500 I see that buffalo head, and I nearly pee. 982 00:37:53,625 --> 00:37:56,667 Buffalo heads are thick. They are solid. 983 00:37:56,792 --> 00:37:59,583 They use those things to hit each other all the time with. 984 00:37:59,708 --> 00:38:02,833 I don't know about my little blade hitting it that hard. 985 00:38:02,958 --> 00:38:06,375 ♪ ♪ 986 00:38:09,917 --> 00:38:10,833 [dramatic music] 987 00:38:10,958 --> 00:38:12,167 - I see that buffalo head, and I nearly pee. 988 00:38:12,333 --> 00:38:15,167 Buffalo heads are thick. They are solid. 989 00:38:15,250 --> 00:38:18,167 I don't know about my little blade hitting it that hard. 990 00:38:18,333 --> 00:38:25,125 ♪ ♪ 991 00:38:40,625 --> 00:38:43,500 - So Greg, right off, blade held up beautifully. 992 00:38:43,583 --> 00:38:45,750 This thing is just as sharp as when I started. 993 00:38:45,875 --> 00:38:47,833 Feels like a great fighter to me. 994 00:38:47,917 --> 00:38:50,083 Only complaint I have is that long handle. 995 00:38:50,208 --> 00:38:53,625 But other than that, the artistry is really well done. 996 00:38:53,708 --> 00:38:55,083 That's a joy to use. Nicely done. 997 00:38:55,208 --> 00:38:56,500 - Thank you. 998 00:38:56,625 --> 00:38:58,125 - Eric, you ready? - Let's do it. 999 00:38:58,208 --> 00:38:59,167 - All right. 1000 00:38:59,292 --> 00:39:06,208 ♪ ♪ 1001 00:39:22,875 --> 00:39:25,167 - Bleep. 1002 00:39:25,250 --> 00:39:26,375 - All right, so first off, Eric, 1003 00:39:26,542 --> 00:39:28,208 very different grind on this edge 1004 00:39:28,375 --> 00:39:29,958 with that secondary bevel. 1005 00:39:30,083 --> 00:39:32,958 But it's wicked sharp, and it's still sharp. 1006 00:39:33,083 --> 00:39:34,792 Held up fine. Didn't lose any blade at all. 1007 00:39:34,917 --> 00:39:36,833 No rolls, no chips, nothing. 1008 00:39:36,917 --> 00:39:39,667 It's still as straight as when I started. 1009 00:39:39,750 --> 00:39:41,833 Good job. - Awesome, thank you. 1010 00:39:41,958 --> 00:39:43,875 ♪ ♪ 1011 00:39:44,000 --> 00:39:47,042 - Bladesmiths, welcome to the sharpness test. 1012 00:39:47,167 --> 00:39:49,167 The gunslinger slice. 1013 00:39:49,292 --> 00:39:51,000 - Yeehaw. 1014 00:39:51,125 --> 00:39:52,500 - Greg, you're up first. You ready for this? 1015 00:39:52,583 --> 00:39:53,583 - Absolutely. 1016 00:39:53,708 --> 00:39:55,792 - All right, giddy up! 1017 00:39:55,917 --> 00:40:02,750 ♪ ♪ 1018 00:40:20,500 --> 00:40:21,917 All right, Greg. 1019 00:40:22,042 --> 00:40:23,708 Nicely done. 1020 00:40:23,875 --> 00:40:26,708 Those are very sharp, clean cuts 1021 00:40:26,833 --> 00:40:30,125 on, I'd say, at least three layers of clothing. 1022 00:40:30,250 --> 00:40:33,167 Your weapon, it will cut. 1023 00:40:33,333 --> 00:40:35,125 - Thank you. 1024 00:40:35,250 --> 00:40:36,833 - Eric, your turn, sir. Ready? 1025 00:40:36,958 --> 00:40:38,792 - Let's do it. - Let's do this. 1026 00:40:38,875 --> 00:40:45,667 ♪ ♪ 1027 00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:06,042 All right, Eric. 1028 00:41:06,208 --> 00:41:08,833 The edges are sharp enough to cut through all layers 1029 00:41:08,917 --> 00:41:10,500 and expose some of the blood. 1030 00:41:10,625 --> 00:41:13,500 Overall, sir, your weapon will cut. 1031 00:41:13,625 --> 00:41:14,583 - Thank you. 1032 00:41:14,708 --> 00:41:15,750 [whip cracks] 1033 00:41:15,875 --> 00:41:16,917 - All right, gentlemen. 1034 00:41:17,042 --> 00:41:18,167 Well, I gotta say, both of you impressed us 1035 00:41:18,250 --> 00:41:19,542 from the very beginning of this competition. 1036 00:41:19,708 --> 00:41:22,333 The first two rounds, you guys crushed it. 1037 00:41:22,417 --> 00:41:23,583 But this competition, as you know, 1038 00:41:23,708 --> 00:41:26,500 only one of you can leave here as a "Forged in Fire" champion 1039 00:41:26,625 --> 00:41:28,667 and receive that check for $10,000. 1040 00:41:28,792 --> 00:41:30,250 The "Forged in Fire" champion is... 1041 00:41:30,375 --> 00:41:33,958 ♪ ♪ 1042 00:41:34,042 --> 00:41:36,625 Eric. Congratulations, you did it. 1043 00:41:36,750 --> 00:41:38,583 Now, Greg, you have a ton to be proud of. 1044 00:41:38,708 --> 00:41:41,000 That is an unbelievably beautiful piece. 1045 00:41:41,125 --> 00:41:44,125 But you lost by just this much, and Dave's gonna tell you why. 1046 00:41:44,208 --> 00:41:46,708 - Greg, the artistry you brought to that blade 1047 00:41:46,875 --> 00:41:48,833 is fantastic. That pommel is beautiful. 1048 00:41:48,917 --> 00:41:51,875 This really came down to the scale of that handle. 1049 00:41:52,000 --> 00:41:53,208 And that's why we're sending you home. 1050 00:41:53,333 --> 00:41:54,333 - Thank you. 1051 00:41:54,500 --> 00:41:56,625 - Well, Greg, I hope you had as much fun working here 1052 00:41:56,708 --> 00:41:58,083 as we had watching you. 1053 00:41:58,208 --> 00:42:00,458 That is an unbelievably stunning piece. 1054 00:42:00,542 --> 00:42:02,583 But unfortunately, your time in the competition has ended. 1055 00:42:02,708 --> 00:42:03,792 I want to say thank you for coming. 1056 00:42:03,875 --> 00:42:05,083 But at this point in time, I'm gonna have to ask you 1057 00:42:05,208 --> 00:42:06,417 to please step off The Forge floor. 1058 00:42:06,542 --> 00:42:08,333 - Thank you. 1059 00:42:08,417 --> 00:42:09,958 Take care, man. 1060 00:42:10,083 --> 00:42:13,708 I have no shame coming in second to this young man. 1061 00:42:13,875 --> 00:42:15,458 The check would have been nice. 1062 00:42:15,583 --> 00:42:16,625 The title would have been nicer. 1063 00:42:16,750 --> 00:42:21,292 But remember, I'm still the fastest blade in the West. 1064 00:42:21,417 --> 00:42:23,458 [whip cracks] 1065 00:42:23,583 --> 00:42:25,792 - Well, Eric, you are the "Forged in Fire" champion, 1066 00:42:25,875 --> 00:42:27,542 and you're receiving a check for $10,000. 1067 00:42:27,667 --> 00:42:29,042 Congratulations. - Thank you. 1068 00:42:29,167 --> 00:42:30,458 ♪ ♪ 1069 00:42:30,542 --> 00:42:32,250 - How are you feeling? - Crazy. 1070 00:42:32,375 --> 00:42:34,208 Never thought I'd be here at this young. 1071 00:42:34,333 --> 00:42:36,583 I don't even know how to react. It feels surreal. 1072 00:42:36,708 --> 00:42:38,167 From start to finish, 1073 00:42:38,333 --> 00:42:40,167 it's been a crazy, crazy competition. 1074 00:42:40,333 --> 00:42:42,625 And my uncle, he was probably my biggest drive 1075 00:42:42,750 --> 00:42:44,708 to win it. Uncle Chuck, this is for you. 1076 00:42:44,833 --> 00:42:50,125 ♪ ♪