1 00:00:05,417 --> 00:00:07,458 [dramatic music] 2 00:00:07,583 --> 00:00:10,250 - Here in The Forge, we are always raising the bar, 3 00:00:10,375 --> 00:00:14,667 but now we are putting it at an all-time high. 4 00:00:14,833 --> 00:00:16,292 Everything in this competition-- 5 00:00:16,417 --> 00:00:19,625 from the steel, the blades, even the tests-- 6 00:00:19,708 --> 00:00:21,667 will be some of the biggest we have ever seen 7 00:00:21,833 --> 00:00:22,875 on The Forge floor. 8 00:00:23,042 --> 00:00:25,000 - I've never built anything this big. 9 00:00:25,125 --> 00:00:26,833 - Who will rise to this massive challenge 10 00:00:26,917 --> 00:00:29,167 and take home $10,000? 11 00:00:29,292 --> 00:00:34,000 This is "Forged in Fire: Supersized." 12 00:00:34,125 --> 00:00:37,542 [intense rock music] 13 00:00:37,667 --> 00:00:39,792 - My name is Robert Lallier. I'm 41 years old. 14 00:00:39,875 --> 00:00:43,167 I'm from Camden, New York, and I'm a full-time bladesmith. 15 00:00:43,292 --> 00:00:45,167 I am a competitive person. 16 00:00:45,292 --> 00:00:47,583 I coach football, and I always tell my boys on the field 17 00:00:47,708 --> 00:00:49,833 it's never fun to lose. 18 00:00:49,958 --> 00:00:53,417 We don't hand out trophies for second place. 19 00:00:53,542 --> 00:00:54,625 ♪ ♪ 20 00:00:54,750 --> 00:00:57,417 - My name is Ian Zimmerman. I'm 19 years old, 21 00:00:57,542 --> 00:01:00,500 and I'm from the small rural town of Bedford, Pennsylvania. 22 00:01:00,625 --> 00:01:02,458 Probably what got me started making blades 23 00:01:02,583 --> 00:01:04,667 was just my dad being a carpenter. 24 00:01:04,792 --> 00:01:05,875 We made a lot of wooden blades. 25 00:01:06,042 --> 00:01:07,542 And I looked at him and I said, 26 00:01:07,667 --> 00:01:09,208 "Wouldn't it be cool if this with metal?" 27 00:01:09,375 --> 00:01:11,792 And he was like, "Let's do it." [chuckles] 28 00:01:13,500 --> 00:01:16,625 - My name is Jason Knox, I'm 43 years old, 29 00:01:16,708 --> 00:01:19,500 and I've been blacksmithing for about five years. 30 00:01:19,625 --> 00:01:23,333 I really dislike going to get my hair cut, 31 00:01:23,417 --> 00:01:26,875 and I find that the back of my neck 32 00:01:27,042 --> 00:01:29,667 is much cooler when I wear pigtails. 33 00:01:29,750 --> 00:01:33,833 So if I'm expecting to be in a hot environment, 34 00:01:33,917 --> 00:01:35,458 it's pigtails. 35 00:01:35,583 --> 00:01:36,708 ♪ ♪ 36 00:01:36,833 --> 00:01:39,250 - My name is Austin Frakes. I'm 37 years old, 37 00:01:39,375 --> 00:01:42,292 from a little town right outside of Houston, Texas. 38 00:01:42,417 --> 00:01:44,833 I'm a Sergeant with the local police department. 39 00:01:44,917 --> 00:01:47,083 Over my professional career, 40 00:01:47,208 --> 00:01:49,667 I've seen a lot of the ugly side of life. 41 00:01:49,750 --> 00:01:52,167 And a few years ago I picked up bladesmithing 42 00:01:52,333 --> 00:01:54,458 after watching "Forged in Fire." 43 00:01:54,542 --> 00:01:57,083 I like to make beautiful knives. 44 00:01:58,958 --> 00:02:00,625 - Bladesmiths, welcome to the fourth 45 00:02:00,708 --> 00:02:02,792 in a series of competitions we are calling 46 00:02:02,917 --> 00:02:06,625 "Forged in Fire: Supersized," 47 00:02:06,708 --> 00:02:09,125 because everything from the tests, the challenges, 48 00:02:09,208 --> 00:02:12,208 and the weapons will be more outrageous 49 00:02:12,333 --> 00:02:13,833 and more difficult than anything we've done 50 00:02:13,958 --> 00:02:15,333 in this Forge before. 51 00:02:15,458 --> 00:02:17,375 Now, there will be three rounds of this competition. 52 00:02:17,500 --> 00:02:19,042 At the end of each one, you will present your work 53 00:02:19,208 --> 00:02:20,333 to our panel of expert judges 54 00:02:20,458 --> 00:02:22,583 and they will critique, make eliminations, 55 00:02:22,708 --> 00:02:24,375 ultimately ending with one of you leaving here with 56 00:02:24,542 --> 00:02:26,208 the title of "Forged in Fire" champion, 57 00:02:26,333 --> 00:02:28,500 and a check for $10,000. 58 00:02:28,667 --> 00:02:31,000 Now, to kick things off, guys, let's go ahead and talk about 59 00:02:31,167 --> 00:02:32,708 what's on those anvils under that cloth. 60 00:02:32,875 --> 00:02:34,458 Go ahead and remove 'em for me. 61 00:02:34,583 --> 00:02:36,500 [tense music] 62 00:02:36,625 --> 00:02:38,292 Gentlemen, what you're holding there 63 00:02:38,417 --> 00:02:41,042 is a massive amount of W1 steel. 64 00:02:41,167 --> 00:02:44,875 To be exact, it's 12 pounds of W1. 65 00:02:45,042 --> 00:02:47,083 And that's because today, we're not asking you to make 66 00:02:47,208 --> 00:02:49,292 your signature blade in your signature style. 67 00:02:49,375 --> 00:02:52,708 Today, with that W1, guys, we want you to build this. 68 00:02:52,875 --> 00:02:55,667 [dramatic music] 69 00:02:55,792 --> 00:02:57,625 ♪ ♪ 70 00:02:57,708 --> 00:02:59,333 This is the hog splitter, 71 00:02:59,500 --> 00:03:04,125 and it is by far the largest and heaviest first round blade 72 00:03:04,250 --> 00:03:07,792 we have ever asked smiths to make in this Forge. 73 00:03:07,917 --> 00:03:11,625 The blade length needs to be between 22 and 24 inches. 74 00:03:11,750 --> 00:03:13,792 This blade needs to have a width of at least 75 00:03:13,875 --> 00:03:15,333 four inches long. 76 00:03:15,458 --> 00:03:16,708 Now, it's not a parameter, guys, 77 00:03:16,875 --> 00:03:19,292 but we recommend that this is around 8 pounds 78 00:03:19,417 --> 00:03:20,875 when you get finished with it. 79 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:23,208 - OK, a hog splitter. 80 00:03:23,375 --> 00:03:25,375 And it's not just a hog splitter, 81 00:03:25,500 --> 00:03:27,667 it's a giant hog splitter. 82 00:03:27,750 --> 00:03:30,750 These lightweight arms are gonna get a workout 83 00:03:30,875 --> 00:03:33,375 just trying to lift it. 84 00:03:33,542 --> 00:03:35,333 - Now, guys, for the three of you who are fortunate enough 85 00:03:35,500 --> 00:03:37,333 to join us in the second round of competition, 86 00:03:37,417 --> 00:03:39,000 you will add handles to your hog splitters, 87 00:03:39,083 --> 00:03:40,833 turning them into fully functioning blades. 88 00:03:40,958 --> 00:03:42,792 At which point, again, the judges will take over 89 00:03:42,875 --> 00:03:45,583 and test for strength and durability in a bone chop. 90 00:03:45,708 --> 00:03:47,667 And then they'll check your edge retention 91 00:03:47,750 --> 00:03:49,500 in a pork slice. 92 00:03:49,583 --> 00:03:51,583 We have put three hours on the clock 93 00:03:51,708 --> 00:03:53,792 for this first round of the supersized competition, 94 00:03:53,875 --> 00:03:57,958 so good luck and stay sharp. Your time starts now. 95 00:03:58,042 --> 00:04:00,083 Holy smokes, guys! 96 00:04:00,208 --> 00:04:01,333 I know this is a supersized competition, 97 00:04:01,458 --> 00:04:03,208 but this one tops the charts. 98 00:04:03,375 --> 00:04:04,958 What makes this challenge so difficult? 99 00:04:05,083 --> 00:04:07,292 - Well, the biggest part about this challenge is fullering. 100 00:04:07,375 --> 00:04:08,625 You want to get the width. 101 00:04:08,750 --> 00:04:11,167 This blade is 4 inches wide, at least, 102 00:04:11,333 --> 00:04:13,167 and it's 22 inches long. 103 00:04:13,292 --> 00:04:15,750 So if you just smash this two-inch round flat, 104 00:04:15,875 --> 00:04:18,292 you're gonna get something that's like, three inches wide. 105 00:04:18,417 --> 00:04:19,958 And then you're gonna draw it for all extra length 106 00:04:20,083 --> 00:04:21,000 that you don't need. 107 00:04:21,167 --> 00:04:23,167 ♪ ♪ 108 00:04:23,292 --> 00:04:25,500 - This is a lot of steel to move 109 00:04:25,625 --> 00:04:27,458 in a very short period of time. 110 00:04:27,583 --> 00:04:30,417 Do you want to swap ours out for the big fullering dies? 111 00:04:30,542 --> 00:04:32,000 - Yeah, I think we should. 112 00:04:32,083 --> 00:04:35,500 - My main concern with a piece of steel that large s 113 00:04:35,625 --> 00:04:37,625 if I don't heat it up enough, 114 00:04:37,750 --> 00:04:40,875 I'm just gonna work in stress fractures like crazy. 115 00:04:41,042 --> 00:04:43,625 - Austin, using that first heat to one draw it out of t 116 00:04:43,750 --> 00:04:46,708 and then go parallel to those dies and fuller it out. 117 00:04:46,875 --> 00:04:50,292 - What he's done is he's created two flat surfaces. 118 00:04:50,417 --> 00:04:51,833 Now he can start fullering that out. 119 00:04:51,958 --> 00:04:54,667 Good idea. 120 00:04:54,792 --> 00:04:56,208 ♪ ♪ 121 00:04:56,375 --> 00:04:58,042 - I've never built anything this big. 122 00:04:58,208 --> 00:05:00,208 Right away, I'm trying to draw it out to length. 123 00:05:00,375 --> 00:05:02,083 I'm terrified to not meet that standard 124 00:05:02,208 --> 00:05:03,917 of a 22 to 24-inch edge. 125 00:05:04,042 --> 00:05:05,500 - Length is easy. 126 00:05:05,625 --> 00:05:08,417 Getting width out of a blade is where it takes more effort. 127 00:05:08,542 --> 00:05:09,667 - Yeah, the biggest problem 128 00:05:09,792 --> 00:05:11,708 is if you draw that length out first 129 00:05:11,833 --> 00:05:13,167 you could draw it to the point where 130 00:05:13,292 --> 00:05:15,292 you don't have enough material 131 00:05:15,375 --> 00:05:17,500 to fuller it into what you want it to be. 132 00:05:17,667 --> 00:05:19,583 - As soon as I get my bar 133 00:05:19,708 --> 00:05:21,500 to the maximum blade length requirement, 134 00:05:21,625 --> 00:05:23,167 right away I'm like, I need to start getting this thing 135 00:05:23,292 --> 00:05:25,875 widened out a little bit. 136 00:05:26,708 --> 00:05:27,542 - All right. 137 00:05:27,708 --> 00:05:29,417 I've gotta move this piece of steel, 138 00:05:29,542 --> 00:05:31,292 so I'm just squishing the living hell out of i, 139 00:05:31,417 --> 00:05:33,167 getting it out to length. 140 00:05:33,292 --> 00:05:35,083 - Oh, yeah, Robert's got to swap up 141 00:05:35,208 --> 00:05:37,333 and start fullering his. - Oh, yeah. 142 00:05:37,458 --> 00:05:38,583 - And then, once it's out to length, 143 00:05:38,708 --> 00:05:41,417 then I want to work on getting it wider, 144 00:05:41,542 --> 00:05:44,292 meeting the parameters. 145 00:05:44,375 --> 00:05:47,083 - My plan is to draw out a length 146 00:05:47,208 --> 00:05:49,417 for both the edge and the tang. 147 00:05:49,542 --> 00:05:52,000 - Jason's going pretty aggressive on the press here. 148 00:05:52,125 --> 00:05:53,958 And it's not only getting very long, 149 00:05:54,042 --> 00:05:56,417 but things are getting a little bit mangled. 150 00:05:56,542 --> 00:05:59,500 - The work is really turning into a banana shape. 151 00:05:59,625 --> 00:06:02,708 I'd like to keep the blade as flat as possible. 152 00:06:02,875 --> 00:06:05,208 That's almost always impossible 153 00:06:05,375 --> 00:06:08,917 when making an extremely long piece. 154 00:06:09,042 --> 00:06:11,083 It will be a big challenge 155 00:06:11,208 --> 00:06:13,417 to finish this and make it straight. 156 00:06:13,542 --> 00:06:15,167 Starting to get tired. 157 00:06:15,333 --> 00:06:17,958 - Bladesmiths, one hour has elapsed! 158 00:06:19,458 --> 00:06:20,750 - Imagine these smiths coming in here thinking 159 00:06:20,875 --> 00:06:23,250 they're gonna make a competition knife, 160 00:06:23,375 --> 00:06:24,208 and then they go, "Wait a minute. 161 00:06:24,375 --> 00:06:25,958 That's just like a final weapon!" 162 00:06:26,083 --> 00:06:27,625 Look how big that thing is. 163 00:06:27,750 --> 00:06:30,667 - As this thing gets longer, what rapidly becomes an issue 164 00:06:30,792 --> 00:06:33,417 is just fitting it into the forge. 165 00:06:33,542 --> 00:06:36,750 It's hanging out both ends. It's wanting to slide out. 166 00:06:36,875 --> 00:06:40,708 It's just a huge, heavy piece of metal. 167 00:06:40,833 --> 00:06:43,333 But it doesn't require a whole lot of fancy shaping. 168 00:06:43,458 --> 00:06:46,500 It's one big rectangle that I'm just trying to 169 00:06:46,625 --> 00:06:48,667 push in the right direction. 170 00:06:48,792 --> 00:06:50,500 Ooh, get it! 171 00:06:51,792 --> 00:06:53,542 - I know that I have the length, 172 00:06:53,708 --> 00:06:56,625 but I'm still struggling trying to get the width that I need. 173 00:06:56,708 --> 00:06:58,375 OK. 174 00:06:58,542 --> 00:07:00,167 I need at least another inch. 175 00:07:00,250 --> 00:07:01,583 I know for a fact 176 00:07:01,708 --> 00:07:03,500 that if I don't make four inches, I'm going home. 177 00:07:03,667 --> 00:07:05,000 - Something to keep in mind is, 178 00:07:05,125 --> 00:07:07,833 this is a tool, not a weapon. It's supposed to be heavy. 179 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,667 And if you run out of width and you have to gain width 180 00:07:10,750 --> 00:07:12,500 by just making things thinner and thinner, 181 00:07:12,625 --> 00:07:14,000 you're gonna end up with something that's actually 182 00:07:14,125 --> 00:07:15,167 too light for our tests. 183 00:07:15,333 --> 00:07:17,000 - This thing is kicking my butt. 184 00:07:17,125 --> 00:07:18,583 But as I continue to work it, 185 00:07:18,708 --> 00:07:20,292 I really start to see it widen out. 186 00:07:20,375 --> 00:07:21,583 Sweet. 187 00:07:21,708 --> 00:07:24,542 And, boom, four inches. I've hit the parameters. 188 00:07:24,708 --> 00:07:27,792 I know that I at least have a shot. 189 00:07:28,708 --> 00:07:31,000 - Robert's blade's looking like a meandering river right now. 190 00:07:31,167 --> 00:07:34,167 We've got some sections that are clearly four inches, 191 00:07:34,292 --> 00:07:36,042 others that are far from it. 192 00:07:36,167 --> 00:07:38,208 - To get this as wide as I cn to make that four inches, 193 00:07:38,333 --> 00:07:39,833 it's a delicate balance I have to keep 194 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,667 of not hitting the steel too much on one side 195 00:07:42,792 --> 00:07:44,250 and not enough on the other. 196 00:07:44,375 --> 00:07:45,833 But you don't want to thin it up so much 197 00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:48,500 that it's a worthless paperweight. 198 00:07:48,583 --> 00:07:50,667 - OK, Robert is getting some width, 199 00:07:50,833 --> 00:07:52,667 but not the width he needs. 200 00:07:52,792 --> 00:07:55,667 - If I don't get it to four inches, I know I'm done. 201 00:07:55,750 --> 00:07:57,167 So just keep hammering. 202 00:07:57,292 --> 00:07:59,125 [hammer pounding] 203 00:07:59,250 --> 00:08:00,542 ♪ ♪ 204 00:08:00,667 --> 00:08:02,333 - This is pretty rough. 205 00:08:02,417 --> 00:08:06,000 - Well, it looks like Jason needs to cool off a little bit. 206 00:08:06,083 --> 00:08:06,875 - [groans] 207 00:08:07,042 --> 00:08:09,958 It is quite heavy to have something 208 00:08:10,083 --> 00:08:14,000 three feet away from my body that is that massive. 209 00:08:14,083 --> 00:08:18,208 The straightness of my blade is very bad. 210 00:08:18,333 --> 00:08:20,542 I'm not sure how I'm gonna correct it. 211 00:08:20,708 --> 00:08:24,250 It's just a reality of the situation. 212 00:08:24,375 --> 00:08:26,417 ♪ ♪ 213 00:08:26,542 --> 00:08:29,542 - Guys, look at Austin's blade. - Yeah, man. 214 00:08:29,667 --> 00:08:31,875 He's got the length, got close to the width. 215 00:08:32,042 --> 00:08:34,042 - Getting the shape that I desire 216 00:08:34,208 --> 00:08:37,250 is taking a lot longer than I had planned for. 217 00:08:37,375 --> 00:08:38,875 As soon as I get that, 218 00:08:39,000 --> 00:08:40,792 I immediately begin checking for parameters 219 00:08:40,875 --> 00:08:43,042 to make sure I haven't overblown anything 220 00:08:43,167 --> 00:08:44,833 or gone way under. 221 00:08:44,958 --> 00:08:46,083 OK, that'll work. 222 00:08:46,208 --> 00:08:47,667 - Right now, Austin seems to be 223 00:08:47,792 --> 00:08:49,833 sitting prettier than everybody else. 224 00:08:49,917 --> 00:08:52,000 - I wanted to compete in "Forged in Fire" 225 00:08:52,125 --> 00:08:56,458 because I always push to do more, to do better. 226 00:08:56,583 --> 00:08:59,167 And I wanted to show my kids, especially, 227 00:08:59,292 --> 00:09:00,833 that when there is a challenge, 228 00:09:00,958 --> 00:09:02,833 when something's gonna make you uncomfortable, 229 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:03,917 go for it. 230 00:09:04,042 --> 00:09:05,792 ♪ ♪ 231 00:09:05,917 --> 00:09:07,833 - I'm actually a student athlete. 232 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:09,958 I pride myself on being a good distance runner. 233 00:09:10,083 --> 00:09:11,375 And the stamina that comes along with 234 00:09:11,542 --> 00:09:13,833 being a distance athlete absolutely helps, 235 00:09:13,958 --> 00:09:16,542 'cause we train to overcome that fatigue. 236 00:09:16,708 --> 00:09:19,000 - Ian's done a good job of getting that width. 237 00:09:19,083 --> 00:09:21,000 Now it's just a question of how thin is this blade 238 00:09:21,125 --> 00:09:23,500 actually gonna be when he turns it in? 239 00:09:23,625 --> 00:09:26,958 - Both this and running require so much stamina. 240 00:09:27,083 --> 00:09:28,500 And you really wouldn't think it, 241 00:09:28,583 --> 00:09:30,000 but it kicks your butt. 242 00:09:30,167 --> 00:09:33,542 - Bladesmiths, you've got 60 minutes remaining! 243 00:09:33,667 --> 00:09:35,792 - As I'm working this hog splitter, 244 00:09:35,917 --> 00:09:38,833 I start sweating profusely. 245 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:42,458 And my arms are really feeling heavy. 246 00:09:42,542 --> 00:09:44,292 Oh, my goodness. 247 00:09:44,417 --> 00:09:45,667 - Can we get someone to look at Jason? 248 00:09:45,833 --> 00:09:48,292 I'm nervous. He's really, really... 249 00:09:48,417 --> 00:09:49,208 starting to look unhealthy. 250 00:09:53,042 --> 00:09:54,000 [dramatic music] 251 00:09:54,083 --> 00:09:55,208 - I think it's safe to say this is by far 252 00:09:55,333 --> 00:09:56,917 the hardest weapon we have ever asked smiths to make 253 00:09:57,042 --> 00:09:58,333 in the first round of competition 254 00:09:58,417 --> 00:10:00,333 and I'd say it's showing. 255 00:10:00,500 --> 00:10:01,583 - You OK? 256 00:10:01,708 --> 00:10:03,792 - I'm--I'm getting a little exhausted. 257 00:10:03,875 --> 00:10:05,417 - Oh, no. 258 00:10:05,542 --> 00:10:08,000 - Looks like the medic just took Jason off. 259 00:10:08,083 --> 00:10:12,833 - This is an especially taxing competition, heat-wise. 260 00:10:12,958 --> 00:10:14,667 Not only are they standing in front of the forges 261 00:10:14,750 --> 00:10:16,500 like all smiths are in this competition, 262 00:10:16,625 --> 00:10:19,542 but this is a 4-inch by 22-inch billet 263 00:10:19,708 --> 00:10:22,958 that is screaming hot. 264 00:10:23,792 --> 00:10:25,208 - I feel like I'm making progress as I go. 265 00:10:25,375 --> 00:10:27,542 I mean, honestly, it's a big piece of flat steel 266 00:10:27,708 --> 00:10:28,833 is all this thing is. 267 00:10:28,958 --> 00:10:31,500 You can see it slowly starting to become 268 00:10:31,583 --> 00:10:34,500 not just a hog splitter, a giant hog splitter. 269 00:10:34,625 --> 00:10:35,917 - Robert looks like he's got some decent widt. 270 00:10:36,042 --> 00:10:37,667 - Yeah, but just toward the tip. 271 00:10:37,792 --> 00:10:39,750 Doesn't have a consistent four inches throughout. 272 00:10:39,875 --> 00:10:41,792 - Then it's a little bit of straightening 273 00:10:41,875 --> 00:10:44,500 that you have the time for, and then heat treat. 274 00:10:44,667 --> 00:10:46,833 - Bladesmiths, you're down to the final 30 minutes! 275 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,042 ♪ ♪ 276 00:10:49,167 --> 00:10:51,667 - All right. 277 00:10:51,833 --> 00:10:54,583 - Stepping outside into a cool spot where there aren't 278 00:10:54,708 --> 00:10:57,792 12 forge burners going, pretty refreshing. 279 00:10:57,917 --> 00:10:59,667 I'm gonna need every second of this clock 280 00:10:59,750 --> 00:11:03,000 in order to make this thing look like a hog splitter. 281 00:11:03,167 --> 00:11:07,542 ♪ ♪ 282 00:11:07,708 --> 00:11:10,917 - Austin is the first one in the oil. 283 00:11:11,042 --> 00:11:12,833 What kind of things can we expect 284 00:11:12,917 --> 00:11:14,083 to go wrong during a quench? 285 00:11:14,208 --> 00:11:16,375 - Because these ones are relatively thin 286 00:11:16,500 --> 00:11:17,875 and really wide, 287 00:11:18,042 --> 00:11:20,833 there's a lot more opportunity for any part of that 288 00:11:20,917 --> 00:11:23,292 to cause some stress to make a warp. 289 00:11:23,417 --> 00:11:24,958 - [laughs] 290 00:11:25,042 --> 00:11:26,750 That's terrible. 291 00:11:26,875 --> 00:11:28,667 There is indeed a warp, 292 00:11:28,833 --> 00:11:31,667 so I throw it into a straightening jig. 293 00:11:31,792 --> 00:11:33,333 OK, that'll work. 294 00:11:33,500 --> 00:11:35,000 I think we're good. 295 00:11:35,083 --> 00:11:37,542 Overall, I'm really pleased with how it turned out. 296 00:11:37,708 --> 00:11:39,833 I know this is something that I can clean up 297 00:11:39,958 --> 00:11:42,458 and turn into something presentable. 298 00:11:42,583 --> 00:11:45,083 ♪ ♪ 299 00:11:45,208 --> 00:11:46,625 - Ian is quenched, guys. 300 00:11:46,750 --> 00:11:48,458 - I pull it up and it's pretty darn straight. 301 00:11:48,583 --> 00:11:51,458 It's not perfect, but I mean, I can work with this 302 00:11:51,542 --> 00:11:53,500 and I'm happy. 303 00:11:53,625 --> 00:11:54,625 ♪ ♪ 304 00:11:54,750 --> 00:11:56,833 - I'm at length. Now it's time to 305 00:11:56,917 --> 00:11:59,708 widen it out to four inches. Don't be dumb. 306 00:11:59,875 --> 00:12:01,083 You've gotta get it to four inches. 307 00:12:01,208 --> 00:12:02,500 It's a parameter. 308 00:12:02,583 --> 00:12:04,583 - Bladesmiths, you got five minutes left! 309 00:12:04,708 --> 00:12:06,833 - There's no time. Just get it heat treated. 310 00:12:06,958 --> 00:12:08,583 You don't want to go home because 311 00:12:08,708 --> 00:12:11,750 you don't have a heat treated blade. 312 00:12:11,875 --> 00:12:14,167 - All right, Robert's quenched now as well. 313 00:12:14,292 --> 00:12:15,750 - My blade looks OK, 314 00:12:15,875 --> 00:12:18,333 but my biggest concern is not meeting parameters. 315 00:12:18,458 --> 00:12:20,500 My boy told me, "Don't be the first one out." 316 00:12:20,625 --> 00:12:24,125 And, hopefully, I can make him happy. 317 00:12:24,250 --> 00:12:26,542 ♪ ♪ 318 00:12:26,667 --> 00:12:28,000 - All right. Jason quenched, guys. 319 00:12:28,167 --> 00:12:33,250 That's four 22 to 24-inch hog splitters in the oil 320 00:12:33,375 --> 00:12:35,125 in under three hours. 321 00:12:35,250 --> 00:12:36,792 Unreal. 322 00:12:36,917 --> 00:12:38,333 - Look at that warp. 323 00:12:38,458 --> 00:12:41,125 - My blade is pretty wobbly. 324 00:12:41,208 --> 00:12:44,583 I don't have time to make it straight. 325 00:12:44,708 --> 00:12:49,625 - Five, four, three, two, one! 326 00:12:49,750 --> 00:12:51,167 Bladesmiths, turn off your machines. 327 00:12:51,333 --> 00:12:55,167 Put down your tools. This round is over! 328 00:12:55,333 --> 00:12:58,583 - I am fairly confident that I've met parameters, 329 00:12:58,708 --> 00:13:01,667 but the tang looks ugly. 330 00:13:01,792 --> 00:13:04,167 The edge wanders all over the place. 331 00:13:04,333 --> 00:13:09,167 I'm bringing a lot of flaws into this judging. 332 00:13:09,792 --> 00:13:11,083 - All right, gentlemen, in the past three hours, 333 00:13:11,208 --> 00:13:13,708 we asked you to take a massive amount of steel, 334 00:13:13,875 --> 00:13:15,458 12 pounds of W1, 335 00:13:15,542 --> 00:13:16,917 and turn them into hog splitters. 336 00:13:17,042 --> 00:13:18,958 But, guys, the time has come for the first critique. 337 00:13:19,083 --> 00:13:21,583 Austin, you're up first. Please present your work. 338 00:13:21,708 --> 00:13:23,667 ♪ ♪ 339 00:13:23,792 --> 00:13:25,833 - All right, Austin. Well, it's close, man. 340 00:13:25,958 --> 00:13:27,500 There's some whoopity-doos and stuff, 341 00:13:27,667 --> 00:13:29,000 but your edge is remarkably straight. 342 00:13:29,167 --> 00:13:30,958 Really well done paying attention 343 00:13:31,083 --> 00:13:32,167 to the part that's important. [chuckles] 344 00:13:32,333 --> 00:13:33,917 You really nailed it on the dimensions. 345 00:13:34,042 --> 00:13:35,667 Now it's just a matter of refinement. 346 00:13:35,833 --> 00:13:38,333 Well done. 347 00:13:38,458 --> 00:13:40,625 - All right, Jason, your turn. Please present your work. 348 00:13:40,708 --> 00:13:42,542 ♪ ♪ 349 00:13:42,667 --> 00:13:44,167 - All right, Jason, you did it. 350 00:13:44,292 --> 00:13:47,083 You turned in a nice profile with this hog spitter. 351 00:13:47,208 --> 00:13:48,833 But the one thing that gives me pause 352 00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:53,250 is that your blade itself has some warps and twists to it. 353 00:13:53,375 --> 00:13:55,000 So if you move to the second round, 354 00:13:55,083 --> 00:13:56,292 you want to straighten that out. 355 00:13:56,375 --> 00:13:58,542 Good job. 356 00:13:58,667 --> 00:14:00,750 - Ian, please present your work. 357 00:14:00,875 --> 00:14:02,583 ♪ ♪ 358 00:14:02,708 --> 00:14:04,000 - So, Ian, right off, 359 00:14:04,125 --> 00:14:06,292 you've got the profile on its way. 360 00:14:06,417 --> 00:14:07,667 But there's a little bit of straightening 361 00:14:07,792 --> 00:14:09,167 to do with your blade. 362 00:14:09,292 --> 00:14:11,083 And since it's so lean already, 363 00:14:11,208 --> 00:14:13,250 there's no room to grind any of it out. 364 00:14:13,375 --> 00:14:14,750 So if you're gonna straighten that out, 365 00:14:14,875 --> 00:14:16,375 you're gonna probably have to use some heat. 366 00:14:16,500 --> 00:14:18,083 But so far, so good. 367 00:14:18,208 --> 00:14:20,500 Well done. 368 00:14:20,625 --> 00:14:23,083 - All right, Robert, you're up. Please present your work. 369 00:14:23,208 --> 00:14:24,833 ♪ ♪ 370 00:14:24,958 --> 00:14:26,292 - All right, Robert. 371 00:14:26,375 --> 00:14:27,708 In general, I think you've got a great shape. 372 00:14:27,875 --> 00:14:30,958 But just by eyeball, this looks like 373 00:14:31,042 --> 00:14:34,000 the narrowest blade that I've seen so far. 374 00:14:34,125 --> 00:14:37,583 So we're gonna give it a little look. 375 00:14:37,708 --> 00:14:42,125 So here, you're 3 and 3/4. 376 00:14:42,250 --> 00:14:47,208 And you don't hit 4 inches till that. 377 00:14:47,375 --> 00:14:50,333 So there's a large section of this blade that's under 378 00:14:50,458 --> 00:14:52,833 the four inch minimum that we were asking for. 379 00:14:52,958 --> 00:14:54,875 [dramatic music] 380 00:14:55,042 --> 00:14:56,417 - All right, Robert. 381 00:14:56,542 --> 00:14:58,708 Unfortunately, because of that parameter failure, 382 00:14:58,833 --> 00:15:00,000 your time in this competition has ended. 383 00:15:00,083 --> 00:15:01,167 At this point in time, I'll have to ask you 384 00:15:01,292 --> 00:15:02,500 to please step off The Forge floor. 385 00:15:02,667 --> 00:15:03,917 ♪ ♪ 386 00:15:04,042 --> 00:15:05,833 - I didn't make parameters. It happens. 387 00:15:05,958 --> 00:15:07,750 Just trying to get the metal pulled out 388 00:15:07,875 --> 00:15:09,500 just wasn't gonna happen. 389 00:15:09,583 --> 00:15:10,833 It was a very big challenge. 390 00:15:10,958 --> 00:15:13,708 And the time crunch was just too much 391 00:15:13,833 --> 00:15:17,125 to try to get it all done in three hours. 392 00:15:17,208 --> 00:15:18,958 - Well, gentlemen, congratulations. 393 00:15:19,042 --> 00:15:20,292 You made it past the first round 394 00:15:20,375 --> 00:15:21,750 of this supersized challenge, which means 395 00:15:21,875 --> 00:15:24,333 the three of you are joining us in round two. 396 00:15:24,458 --> 00:15:25,917 Now, as far as handle materials go, gentlemen, 397 00:15:26,042 --> 00:15:29,042 sorry to say the pantry is off limits. 398 00:15:29,208 --> 00:15:30,667 In order to complete your blades, 399 00:15:30,792 --> 00:15:33,833 we have supplied these 5-foot long 2x2s, 400 00:15:33,958 --> 00:15:35,625 and that's all you have available 401 00:15:35,750 --> 00:15:37,792 to make your handle scales. 402 00:15:37,875 --> 00:15:39,167 Once this round is complete, 403 00:15:39,250 --> 00:15:40,833 you will turn your hog splitters over to our judges 404 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:42,417 and they will check for strength and durability 405 00:15:42,542 --> 00:15:44,083 in a bone chop, 406 00:15:44,208 --> 00:15:47,250 and then check your edge retention in a pork slice. 407 00:15:47,375 --> 00:15:49,667 Now, bladesmiths, you only have two hours in this round 408 00:15:49,792 --> 00:15:51,208 of the competition, so good luck. 409 00:15:51,333 --> 00:15:52,500 You've got a lot of work ahead of you. 410 00:15:52,625 --> 00:15:53,917 Your time starts now. 411 00:15:54,042 --> 00:15:56,083 [intense rock music] 412 00:15:56,208 --> 00:15:57,625 The first three hours of this challenge 413 00:15:57,708 --> 00:16:00,458 was really difficult. They did a great job with it, 414 00:16:00,583 --> 00:16:03,417 but they still have a massive amount of work to do. 415 00:16:03,542 --> 00:16:05,917 - First thing I need to do, I have a warp in my blade; 416 00:16:06,042 --> 00:16:08,375 I want to do my best to fix it. 417 00:16:08,500 --> 00:16:10,833 - Looks like Ian's gonna be using some heat here. 418 00:16:10,958 --> 00:16:12,250 - Yep. If you're planning on 419 00:16:12,375 --> 00:16:14,833 using heat to manipulate the metal, 420 00:16:14,958 --> 00:16:16,333 wouldn't that be something you wanted to do now 421 00:16:16,500 --> 00:16:18,042 before getting the handle on? - Yeah. 422 00:16:18,208 --> 00:16:19,667 - If I'm not careful, I could overheat my blade. 423 00:16:19,792 --> 00:16:22,042 And that would totally destroy the temper in the edge. 424 00:16:22,167 --> 00:16:23,542 So I take it out of the vise real quick, 425 00:16:23,667 --> 00:16:26,500 and I'm just trying and trying to get that warp out. 426 00:16:26,667 --> 00:16:28,667 - Is this too much risk? 427 00:16:28,750 --> 00:16:30,833 - This is a huge risk. [laughter] 428 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:32,625 ♪ ♪ 429 00:16:32,708 --> 00:16:33,833 - All right. 430 00:16:33,958 --> 00:16:35,208 It's still not all the way out, 431 00:16:35,333 --> 00:16:37,500 but I need to start grinding this blade. 432 00:16:37,625 --> 00:16:40,125 ♪ ♪ 433 00:16:40,250 --> 00:16:42,042 - The first thing I've got to do 434 00:16:42,208 --> 00:16:43,792 is get it into the profile that I want. 435 00:16:43,875 --> 00:16:47,292 And, of course, I know that my knife has got to go on a diet. 436 00:16:47,375 --> 00:16:49,292 It's gotta lose some weight. 437 00:16:49,375 --> 00:16:50,792 - If Austin plays his cards right, 438 00:16:50,875 --> 00:16:52,208 he's got a potential of just running away 439 00:16:52,375 --> 00:16:55,708 with this competition, turning in a very beautiful 440 00:16:55,833 --> 00:16:57,000 and functional blade. - Yeah. 441 00:16:57,167 --> 00:16:59,667 Yeah, his profile is looking spot on right now. 442 00:16:59,792 --> 00:17:01,500 - Yeah. 443 00:17:02,625 --> 00:17:04,083 - [groans] 444 00:17:04,208 --> 00:17:06,333 This round, I have two hours. 445 00:17:06,458 --> 00:17:11,708 I don't have time to address the large warp in my blade. 446 00:17:11,875 --> 00:17:14,542 So I'm focusing on my handle. 447 00:17:14,667 --> 00:17:17,167 I am stressed about the time in this round. 448 00:17:17,250 --> 00:17:19,333 I'd be lying if I didn't say that 449 00:17:19,417 --> 00:17:21,000 the fatigue from the first round 450 00:17:21,167 --> 00:17:23,000 isn't affecting me right now. 451 00:17:23,167 --> 00:17:27,417 But maximum effort. It's all I can do. 452 00:17:27,542 --> 00:17:29,958 ♪ ♪ 453 00:17:30,083 --> 00:17:31,000 - I do not want to rush at the end of this 454 00:17:31,167 --> 00:17:32,417 to put a handle on. 455 00:17:32,542 --> 00:17:34,167 If I do that, the handle's gonna be crap. 456 00:17:34,250 --> 00:17:36,167 On a weapon this big, 457 00:17:36,333 --> 00:17:37,958 the handle is massively important 458 00:17:38,042 --> 00:17:39,042 'cause if it's not comfortabe in your hand, 459 00:17:39,167 --> 00:17:41,333 it's gonna hurt every single swing. 460 00:17:41,500 --> 00:17:44,625 - Nobody is used to gluing up scales of this magnitude. 461 00:17:44,750 --> 00:17:47,000 - This is where you take the top off the epoxy 462 00:17:47,125 --> 00:17:48,958 and you just--sploosh. - Sure, but the thing is, 463 00:17:49,083 --> 00:17:51,500 it just takes a super thin coating of epoxy. 464 00:17:51,625 --> 00:17:53,667 It's not like filling the gap. - Yeah. 465 00:17:53,792 --> 00:17:55,917 - This is pretty easy to just take a popsicle stick 466 00:17:56,042 --> 00:17:57,167 and go-- [squelching noise] 467 00:17:58,000 --> 00:17:59,042 - Very cool. 468 00:17:59,208 --> 00:18:00,167 - Bladesmiths, you are now 469 00:18:00,333 --> 00:18:01,750 halfway through this handle round! 470 00:18:01,875 --> 00:18:04,583 You've got 60 minutes remaining! 471 00:18:04,708 --> 00:18:07,167 - I'm pretty sure that an hour is gonna give me plenty of time 472 00:18:07,292 --> 00:18:09,083 to get a handle on it. 473 00:18:09,208 --> 00:18:12,167 However, pin alignment is very important. 474 00:18:12,250 --> 00:18:15,708 And to ensure that I drill the holes in the right spo, 475 00:18:15,875 --> 00:18:19,000 I use a handy little hairpin that I made for my daughter 476 00:18:19,125 --> 00:18:20,333 to mark the wood. 477 00:18:20,458 --> 00:18:22,250 I made it too thick. It was too heavy. 478 00:18:22,375 --> 00:18:26,208 So I just--I decided to use that one for my shop. 479 00:18:26,875 --> 00:18:29,833 I'm really happy to put some handles on this thing, 480 00:18:29,958 --> 00:18:32,500 and I'm really looking forward to seeing the judges 481 00:18:32,625 --> 00:18:34,292 put it to the test. 482 00:18:34,375 --> 00:18:35,750 Ooh, OK. 483 00:18:35,875 --> 00:18:37,458 ♪ ♪ 484 00:18:37,583 --> 00:18:40,250 - I'm trying to get these handle scales attached, 485 00:18:40,375 --> 00:18:44,333 and I realize that it's not fitting well. 486 00:18:44,500 --> 00:18:47,083 - I haven't seen Jason deal with that 487 00:18:47,208 --> 00:18:49,750 really wobbly warp in his tang. 488 00:18:49,875 --> 00:18:52,083 That's gonna make fitting a handle really difficult. 489 00:18:52,208 --> 00:18:54,542 - I need to work very quickly 490 00:18:54,667 --> 00:19:00,417 to have this epoxy cure while it's all together. 491 00:19:00,542 --> 00:19:04,833 And this is where some bad decisions come about. 492 00:19:04,958 --> 00:19:06,500 - Now, that's under a ton of tension. 493 00:19:06,667 --> 00:19:09,125 So if that glue doesn't hold 100%, 494 00:19:09,208 --> 00:19:11,292 it'll pop loose. 495 00:19:11,375 --> 00:19:13,750 - I don't feel I have time to wait 496 00:19:13,875 --> 00:19:16,833 on these handle scales to cure. 497 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:18,500 I have to run over to the grinder 498 00:19:18,583 --> 00:19:20,500 and really start shaping my handle. 499 00:19:20,667 --> 00:19:22,667 ♪ ♪ 500 00:19:22,792 --> 00:19:24,000 [bleep]. 501 00:19:24,167 --> 00:19:27,500 - Oh, Jason's handle just split open. 502 00:19:27,583 --> 00:19:28,792 - Oh, no. 503 00:19:28,875 --> 00:19:31,333 I think the problem is, is that the bend is so big 504 00:19:31,458 --> 00:19:33,292 that there's no way to get the front and the back 505 00:19:33,417 --> 00:19:35,250 together at the same time. - Yeah. 506 00:19:39,042 --> 00:19:40,375 - I need to make these handle scales work 507 00:19:40,500 --> 00:19:43,417 because I don't feel that I have time at all to start over. 508 00:19:43,542 --> 00:19:46,750 So I just grab the gap filling super glue 509 00:19:46,875 --> 00:19:49,708 and start squirting it all throughout there. 510 00:19:49,833 --> 00:19:53,708 And the tang is finally 511 00:19:53,833 --> 00:19:56,292 starting to stick to the handle scales. 512 00:19:56,375 --> 00:19:58,792 - Jason's handle's like, 70% glue 513 00:19:58,875 --> 00:20:01,292 and like, 30% handle right now. - [chuckles] 514 00:20:01,417 --> 00:20:03,208 - I am absolutely worried 515 00:20:03,375 --> 00:20:05,667 this handle's going to come apart during testing. 516 00:20:05,833 --> 00:20:08,167 ♪ ♪ 517 00:20:08,250 --> 00:20:11,458 - Bladesmiths, you guys are down to 30 minutes left! 518 00:20:11,583 --> 00:20:12,792 ♪ ♪ 519 00:20:12,917 --> 00:20:15,583 - I've never had to shape a handle this quickly before. 520 00:20:15,708 --> 00:20:19,375 But I'm feeling extremely good with how it's coming along. 521 00:20:19,542 --> 00:20:21,667 I'm constantly pulling it aside from the grinder 522 00:20:21,792 --> 00:20:23,458 and swinging it around, feeling my hands, 523 00:20:23,583 --> 00:20:25,375 feeling the weight distribution just to see what it feels like. 524 00:20:25,542 --> 00:20:27,833 Whoo! We're getting somewhere. 525 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,250 As I get closer to being done, these next couple of minutes. 526 00:20:30,375 --> 00:20:32,875 I just need to get it as pretty and aesthetically pleasing 527 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:34,333 as I possibly can. 528 00:20:34,417 --> 00:20:37,167 - Ian, taking a little time to use the torch 529 00:20:37,292 --> 00:20:39,083 to apply some color. - It looks pretty decent. 530 00:20:39,208 --> 00:20:41,125 And, like, I--I mean, I would use it. 531 00:20:41,250 --> 00:20:43,167 [chuckles] 532 00:20:43,875 --> 00:20:45,375 - Shaping the handle takes a little bit longer 533 00:20:45,500 --> 00:20:47,458 than I was hoping for. 534 00:20:47,542 --> 00:20:49,167 With the time left on the clock, 535 00:20:49,292 --> 00:20:53,125 I will go for a very rough appleseed edge on it. 536 00:20:53,250 --> 00:20:54,917 - Not only is it how good of an edge 537 00:20:55,042 --> 00:20:56,500 can they put on it to begin with, 538 00:20:56,625 --> 00:20:58,167 it's what edge does it have 539 00:20:58,250 --> 00:21:00,000 after chopping a bunch of bones? 540 00:21:00,125 --> 00:21:02,708 - I mean, sharpen it like an axe. 541 00:21:02,833 --> 00:21:05,542 I mean, that's what these are. It's an axe for cutting pig. 542 00:21:05,708 --> 00:21:07,375 - It's there. It's got an edge. 543 00:21:07,542 --> 00:21:09,083 Hopefully, it survives the tests 544 00:21:09,208 --> 00:21:11,000 and hopefully, I get to continue. 545 00:21:11,167 --> 00:21:14,083 ♪ ♪ 546 00:21:14,208 --> 00:21:15,667 - As time's running out, 547 00:21:15,750 --> 00:21:19,500 I'm still rounding the edges of my handle scales. 548 00:21:19,625 --> 00:21:23,167 But I also need to get a sharp edge on my hog splitter. 549 00:21:23,292 --> 00:21:25,667 ♪ ♪ 550 00:21:25,792 --> 00:21:28,500 Ooh! - Oh, snap! 551 00:21:28,667 --> 00:21:30,792 - You all right? - Yeah, yeah. 552 00:21:30,875 --> 00:21:32,667 - You can see how hard he's grinding on it, 553 00:21:32,792 --> 00:21:35,167 that he blew that belt right off the grinder. 554 00:21:35,333 --> 00:21:37,333 - It's got to be hard keeping that wobbly edge 555 00:21:37,417 --> 00:21:38,875 from catching the belt. 556 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:40,333 [belt thumps] - See? 557 00:21:40,417 --> 00:21:42,125 - Number two. 558 00:21:42,208 --> 00:21:45,542 It's so frustrating to have those belts pop. 559 00:21:45,667 --> 00:21:47,167 - Gotta change something up. 560 00:21:47,250 --> 00:21:48,667 - I'm gonna go edge down. 561 00:21:48,792 --> 00:21:52,875 I come to my senses and turn the edge of my blade downward. 562 00:21:53,042 --> 00:21:55,625 I don't know how much time I have left. 563 00:21:55,750 --> 00:21:58,833 I just got to get through this and hope for the best. 564 00:21:58,958 --> 00:22:01,167 ♪ ♪ 565 00:22:01,250 --> 00:22:04,167 [dramatic music] 566 00:22:04,333 --> 00:22:07,208 ♪ ♪ 567 00:22:07,375 --> 00:22:12,250 - Five, four, three, two, one! 568 00:22:12,375 --> 00:22:13,667 Bladesmiths, put down your tools. 569 00:22:13,833 --> 00:22:17,000 This round is over! 570 00:22:17,167 --> 00:22:19,333 - Based simply on looking, 571 00:22:19,458 --> 00:22:22,917 I can tell that my knife is much heavier 572 00:22:23,042 --> 00:22:24,458 than my competitor's knives. 573 00:22:24,542 --> 00:22:27,250 And I honestly have no idea how testing's gonna go. 574 00:22:27,375 --> 00:22:30,875 ♪ ♪ 575 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:33,250 - All right, bladesmiths, welcome to the strength test: 576 00:22:33,375 --> 00:22:35,125 the bone chop. 577 00:22:35,250 --> 00:22:37,167 ♪ ♪ 578 00:22:37,250 --> 00:22:38,708 Ian, you're up first. You ready? 579 00:22:38,875 --> 00:22:40,667 - No. [laughter] 580 00:22:40,750 --> 00:22:43,000 - Well, we gotta do it, dude. We gotta do it. 581 00:22:43,125 --> 00:22:44,375 ♪ ♪ 582 00:22:44,542 --> 00:22:46,417 - These bones are, like, several inches thick. 583 00:22:46,542 --> 00:22:48,083 Like, they're no joke. 584 00:22:48,208 --> 00:22:50,250 I'm not gonna lie. I think I peed my pants a little bit. 585 00:22:50,375 --> 00:22:52,625 How on Earth is my blade gonna withstand this? 586 00:22:52,750 --> 00:22:57,167 ♪ ♪ 587 00:22:57,292 --> 00:22:59,417 [loud bang] 588 00:22:59,542 --> 00:23:02,625 [intense rock music] 589 00:23:02,750 --> 00:23:09,083 ♪ ♪ 590 00:23:09,208 --> 00:23:11,292 - Ooh! 591 00:23:11,417 --> 00:23:17,875 ♪ ♪ 592 00:23:20,208 --> 00:23:23,125 [dramatic music] 593 00:23:23,208 --> 00:23:24,458 - All right, Ian. 594 00:23:24,583 --> 00:23:25,833 Blade held up great. 595 00:23:25,958 --> 00:23:28,167 No problems with anything coming loose. 596 00:23:28,292 --> 00:23:29,500 One issue I have is 597 00:23:29,667 --> 00:23:32,208 there's a couple of rolls that happened. 598 00:23:32,333 --> 00:23:34,958 Moving back to your handle, I like a lot about this handle. 599 00:23:35,042 --> 00:23:36,250 I like the shape of it. 600 00:23:36,375 --> 00:23:37,667 I wish there had been a little kick down, 601 00:23:37,792 --> 00:23:39,500 but it didn't really get in my way. 602 00:23:39,583 --> 00:23:41,375 And, you know, it did a great job 603 00:23:41,500 --> 00:23:42,958 doing what it's supposed to do, so nice job. 604 00:23:43,042 --> 00:23:44,833 - Thank you. 605 00:23:45,708 --> 00:23:46,833 - All right, Jason, you're up. You ready? 606 00:23:46,958 --> 00:23:48,333 - Maximum effort. 607 00:23:48,417 --> 00:23:50,208 - Maximum effort, engaged. 608 00:23:50,333 --> 00:23:51,833 ♪ ♪ 609 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,833 - With the issues I had constructing my handle, 610 00:23:54,917 --> 00:23:56,333 I'm not confident 611 00:23:56,458 --> 00:23:58,375 that my handle scales are gonna stay on. 612 00:23:58,500 --> 00:23:59,833 We're gonna find out. 613 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:01,750 [suspenseful music] 614 00:24:05,500 --> 00:24:06,792 [suspenseful music] 615 00:24:08,125 --> 00:24:11,000 [intense rock music] 616 00:24:11,083 --> 00:24:12,375 ♪ ♪ 617 00:24:12,500 --> 00:24:13,833 - [exhales slowly] 618 00:24:13,958 --> 00:24:20,833 ♪ ♪ 619 00:24:22,583 --> 00:24:25,000 Hope that handle didn't come apart. 620 00:24:25,083 --> 00:24:27,875 ♪ ♪ 621 00:24:28,042 --> 00:24:28,875 - All right, Jason. 622 00:24:29,042 --> 00:24:31,042 It's all in one piece. Nice job for that. 623 00:24:31,167 --> 00:24:33,708 Your overall shape is rough, 624 00:24:33,833 --> 00:24:35,542 and there's a lot of wiggle. 625 00:24:35,667 --> 00:24:37,500 But the huge issue I've got 626 00:24:37,583 --> 00:24:40,333 is this tiny little burr right here. 627 00:24:40,458 --> 00:24:43,375 It's razor sharp, and it cut my hand. 628 00:24:43,500 --> 00:24:44,917 ♪ ♪ 629 00:24:45,042 --> 00:24:46,750 This part is supposed to cause damage... 630 00:24:46,875 --> 00:24:48,042 - Yeah. - Not this part. 631 00:24:48,208 --> 00:24:51,792 But your edge held up really well, so nice job. 632 00:24:51,875 --> 00:24:53,000 - Thank you. 633 00:24:53,125 --> 00:24:54,125 - Austin, your turn. 634 00:24:54,208 --> 00:24:55,708 You ready? - Yes, sir. 635 00:24:55,833 --> 00:24:57,083 ♪ ♪ 636 00:24:57,208 --> 00:25:01,000 The bone chop is a brutal way to test a blade. 637 00:25:01,083 --> 00:25:04,583 But I made this hog splitter specifically to do that, 638 00:25:04,708 --> 00:25:06,333 so we'll see if it works. 639 00:25:06,458 --> 00:25:08,458 [suspenseful music] 640 00:25:08,542 --> 00:25:11,458 [intense rock music] 641 00:25:11,542 --> 00:25:18,583 ♪ ♪ 642 00:25:22,542 --> 00:25:24,125 - OK. 643 00:25:24,208 --> 00:25:26,917 [dramatic music] 644 00:25:27,042 --> 00:25:27,750 - All right, Austin. 645 00:25:27,875 --> 00:25:30,750 Your edge held up really well. 646 00:25:30,875 --> 00:25:32,833 Here, there's a little bit of glinting 647 00:25:32,958 --> 00:25:35,250 where most of the bone chop was, 648 00:25:35,375 --> 00:25:36,667 but it's minor. 649 00:25:36,792 --> 00:25:38,250 It's a smooth and comfortable handle, 650 00:25:38,375 --> 00:25:40,583 and it swung like a ton of bricks. 651 00:25:40,708 --> 00:25:44,000 Nice job. - Thank you. 652 00:25:44,083 --> 00:25:45,458 - [claps] 653 00:25:45,583 --> 00:25:49,625 ♪ ♪ 654 00:25:49,750 --> 00:25:51,458 All right, bladesmiths. 655 00:25:51,542 --> 00:25:54,167 Welcome to the sharpness test... 656 00:25:54,292 --> 00:25:58,250 ♪ ♪ 657 00:25:58,375 --> 00:26:00,000 The pork slice. 658 00:26:00,083 --> 00:26:01,250 Ian, you're first. 659 00:26:01,375 --> 00:26:02,833 Are you ready? - Yes. 660 00:26:02,958 --> 00:26:04,958 - All right, let's do this. 661 00:26:05,083 --> 00:26:07,958 [dramatic music] 662 00:26:08,042 --> 00:26:14,250 ♪ ♪ 663 00:26:14,375 --> 00:26:17,208 [intense rock music] 664 00:26:17,333 --> 00:26:23,792 ♪ ♪ 665 00:26:24,750 --> 00:26:27,000 [dramatic music] 666 00:26:27,125 --> 00:26:29,667 All right, Ian. It's got a nice feel to it. 667 00:26:29,792 --> 00:26:31,500 It's got a nice profile. 668 00:26:31,583 --> 00:26:34,000 Now, your edge has that cleaver chopping edge. 669 00:26:34,125 --> 00:26:35,333 It's not razor sharp, 670 00:26:35,458 --> 00:26:39,500 but it's sharp enough to chop into this pork slice. 671 00:26:39,667 --> 00:26:42,333 Overall, your hog splitter, it will cut. 672 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:44,208 - Thank you. 673 00:26:44,375 --> 00:26:46,917 - All right, Jason, are you ready to go ham on ham? 674 00:26:47,042 --> 00:26:48,750 - Oh, maybe? 675 00:26:48,875 --> 00:26:50,708 - All right, let's do it anyways. 676 00:26:50,833 --> 00:26:53,833 [suspenseful music] 677 00:26:53,958 --> 00:26:56,000 ♪ ♪ 678 00:26:56,125 --> 00:26:57,750 - [sighs] 679 00:26:57,875 --> 00:26:59,375 I'm gonna cut another judge. 680 00:26:59,500 --> 00:27:03,458 ♪ ♪ 681 00:27:03,542 --> 00:27:06,375 [intense rock music] 682 00:27:06,500 --> 00:27:12,875 ♪ ♪ 683 00:27:14,875 --> 00:27:16,417 [dramatic music] 684 00:27:16,542 --> 00:27:17,500 - All right, Jason. 685 00:27:17,625 --> 00:27:19,667 You have a sharp edge, 686 00:27:19,792 --> 00:27:22,583 which is just as sharp as the burr right there. 687 00:27:22,708 --> 00:27:24,500 But in terms of function, 688 00:27:24,667 --> 00:27:27,958 your hog splitter will spit a hog. 689 00:27:28,042 --> 00:27:30,250 - Thank you. 690 00:27:30,375 --> 00:27:31,292 - All right, Austin, your turn. 691 00:27:31,375 --> 00:27:32,292 You ready? - Yes, sir. 692 00:27:32,417 --> 00:27:33,583 - Let's do this. 693 00:27:33,708 --> 00:27:36,542 [suspenseful music] 694 00:27:36,667 --> 00:27:39,208 ♪ ♪ 695 00:27:39,333 --> 00:27:42,167 [intense rock music] 696 00:27:42,292 --> 00:27:48,458 ♪ ♪ 697 00:27:48,542 --> 00:27:50,208 - Nice. 698 00:27:50,375 --> 00:27:52,500 [dramatic music] 699 00:27:52,583 --> 00:27:54,292 - All right, Austin. 700 00:27:54,417 --> 00:27:56,083 Now, that's a hog splitter. 701 00:27:56,208 --> 00:27:57,250 Almost split it in half. 702 00:27:57,375 --> 00:28:01,708 Your edge has a cleaver-like edge that cuts deep. 703 00:28:01,875 --> 00:28:06,250 Overall, your hog splitter will split a hog. 704 00:28:06,375 --> 00:28:08,000 - Thank you. 705 00:28:08,833 --> 00:28:10,875 - That was awesome. 706 00:28:11,042 --> 00:28:13,000 Well, gentlemen, in this supersized competition, 707 00:28:13,125 --> 00:28:16,292 you all successfully built the largest first round blade 708 00:28:16,417 --> 00:28:19,667 we have ever asked smiths to make in this Forge. 709 00:28:19,792 --> 00:28:21,458 And you guys all have a ton to be proud of. 710 00:28:21,583 --> 00:28:23,667 But, at the end of the day, only two of you can join s 711 00:28:23,833 --> 00:28:25,667 in the final round of this competition. 712 00:28:25,792 --> 00:28:27,500 The bladesmith leaving The Forge is... 713 00:28:27,625 --> 00:28:31,250 [dramatic music] 714 00:28:31,375 --> 00:28:32,667 Jason. 715 00:28:32,792 --> 00:28:34,000 Unfortunately, your blade didn't make the cut. 716 00:28:34,125 --> 00:28:35,333 And Ben's gonna tell you why. 717 00:28:35,458 --> 00:28:36,750 ♪ ♪ 718 00:28:36,875 --> 00:28:38,167 - Well, Jason, first off I gotta commend you 719 00:28:38,292 --> 00:28:39,792 for being able to move and manipulate 720 00:28:39,917 --> 00:28:41,667 that huge bar of steel. 721 00:28:41,792 --> 00:28:43,000 But, at the end of the day, 722 00:28:43,167 --> 00:28:45,375 your handle had burrs and sharp edges, 723 00:28:45,500 --> 00:28:48,000 and it cut my hand. 724 00:28:48,125 --> 00:28:50,292 That's why we're letting you go. 725 00:28:50,417 --> 00:28:54,042 - I'm sorry about your hand. - 'Tis but a scratch. 726 00:28:54,167 --> 00:28:56,000 - Well, Jason, you got a ton to be proud of, 727 00:28:56,125 --> 00:28:57,583 but unfortunately your time in this competition has ended. 728 00:28:57,708 --> 00:28:58,625 I'm gonna have to ask you 729 00:28:58,708 --> 00:28:59,917 to please step off The Forge floor. 730 00:29:00,042 --> 00:29:01,083 - All right. Thank you very much. 731 00:29:01,208 --> 00:29:02,583 - Thank you. 732 00:29:02,708 --> 00:29:04,000 - The judges made the right decision. 733 00:29:04,083 --> 00:29:07,833 My blade failed in kind of the worst way possible. 734 00:29:07,917 --> 00:29:10,000 It hurt a judge. 735 00:29:10,125 --> 00:29:12,750 It's disappointing, but I feel lucky 736 00:29:12,875 --> 00:29:15,250 to have not burned off a pigtail. 737 00:29:15,375 --> 00:29:18,000 However, if I had burned off a pigtail, 738 00:29:18,125 --> 00:29:20,167 it would've been a great story. 739 00:29:20,250 --> 00:29:22,125 ♪ ♪ 740 00:29:22,250 --> 00:29:24,333 - Ian, Austin, congratulations. Your hard work has paid off, 741 00:29:24,458 --> 00:29:26,583 and you guys are moving into the third and final round 742 00:29:26,708 --> 00:29:28,167 of this supersized competition. 743 00:29:28,250 --> 00:29:29,625 In this final round, you're going back to 744 00:29:29,750 --> 00:29:31,042 your home forges for four days 745 00:29:31,167 --> 00:29:32,833 to build an iconic weapon from history. 746 00:29:32,958 --> 00:29:36,458 Bladesmiths, we want you to build this. 747 00:29:36,542 --> 00:29:38,208 ♪ ♪ 748 00:29:38,333 --> 00:29:40,167 The Japanese greatsword. 749 00:29:40,250 --> 00:29:43,083 ♪ ♪ 750 00:29:43,208 --> 00:29:45,458 - The Japanese greatsword arose in popularity 751 00:29:45,583 --> 00:29:47,042 during the 14th century. 752 00:29:47,167 --> 00:29:49,167 Reaching lengths of up to five feet long, 753 00:29:49,250 --> 00:29:51,083 this massive, single edged, slightly curved blade 754 00:29:51,208 --> 00:29:53,500 was designed to deliver deep, penetrating cuts 755 00:29:53,625 --> 00:29:57,500 upon enemy soldiers on foot or horseback alike. 756 00:29:57,625 --> 00:29:59,958 While this enormous weapon became too impractical 757 00:30:00,042 --> 00:30:01,833 for battle by the 17th century, 758 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:04,000 it can still be seen in many action films, 759 00:30:04,125 --> 00:30:07,292 including the classic 1954 Kurosawa movie, 760 00:30:07,375 --> 00:30:09,333 "Seven Samurai." 761 00:30:10,042 --> 00:30:11,750 - It is one of the largest swords 762 00:30:11,875 --> 00:30:13,375 in the samurai's arsenal. 763 00:30:13,500 --> 00:30:14,667 And the ones you bring back 764 00:30:14,833 --> 00:30:16,167 need to fall within these parameters. 765 00:30:16,292 --> 00:30:18,958 Your blade needs to be slightly curved, single edged, 766 00:30:19,083 --> 00:30:21,875 and have a length between 42 and 44 inches. 767 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,500 Now, the hilt needs to feature a habaki, a tsuba, 768 00:30:24,667 --> 00:30:26,292 a fuchi, and a kashira, 769 00:30:26,375 --> 00:30:29,167 as well as a traditional Japanese handle wrap. 770 00:30:29,250 --> 00:30:33,458 - I am making a 5-foot long object from hell. 771 00:30:33,583 --> 00:30:34,917 Not only is it a big sword, 772 00:30:35,042 --> 00:30:37,083 it is a very intricate sword 773 00:30:37,208 --> 00:30:39,958 with a lot of handle detail. 774 00:30:40,042 --> 00:30:42,792 - Good luck, gentlemen. We will see you in four days. 775 00:30:42,875 --> 00:30:44,250 ♪ ♪ 776 00:30:44,375 --> 00:30:46,333 [exciting rock music] 777 00:30:46,458 --> 00:30:49,000 - We're at my home forge in Alvin, Texas. 778 00:30:49,125 --> 00:30:51,167 I'm making a Japanese greatsword. 779 00:30:51,250 --> 00:30:53,000 [forge roaring] 780 00:30:53,167 --> 00:30:56,250 This is going to be an extremely difficult buil. 781 00:30:56,375 --> 00:30:57,708 This is a massive sword. 782 00:30:57,833 --> 00:31:00,875 I need to move it 19 inches by hand 783 00:31:01,042 --> 00:31:02,833 'cause I don't have any power equipment. 784 00:31:03,000 --> 00:31:04,333 That first heat really showed me 785 00:31:04,458 --> 00:31:07,000 just how difficult and long this is gonna take 786 00:31:07,125 --> 00:31:08,458 with a hand hammer. 787 00:31:08,542 --> 00:31:09,958 I've gotta switch over to a lighter hammer, 788 00:31:10,083 --> 00:31:11,625 'cause I'm just worn out. 789 00:31:11,750 --> 00:31:12,875 This thing is absolutely ridiculous. 790 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:14,667 It's huge. It's obscene. 791 00:31:14,750 --> 00:31:17,167 I'm nearly at the end of day one, 792 00:31:17,250 --> 00:31:21,375 and I've got almost a foot to go in length. 793 00:31:21,500 --> 00:31:24,667 I've gotta pick up some time in day two. 794 00:31:24,792 --> 00:31:26,625 ♪ ♪ 795 00:31:26,708 --> 00:31:29,542 - We're back in my home forge in Bedford, Pennsylvania. 796 00:31:29,708 --> 00:31:30,750 It's day one. 797 00:31:30,875 --> 00:31:31,875 I'm excited. [chuckles] 798 00:31:32,042 --> 00:31:33,000 First thing I'm gonna do is just 799 00:31:33,167 --> 00:31:34,500 try to forge out this blade. 800 00:31:34,625 --> 00:31:35,625 It is a monster of a blade, 801 00:31:35,708 --> 00:31:37,292 and I just want to get it all roughed out. 802 00:31:37,375 --> 00:31:38,500 Oh, yeah. 803 00:31:38,625 --> 00:31:40,375 I'm so glad I have a press. 804 00:31:40,500 --> 00:31:42,792 I know that I can draw material quickly with that. 805 00:31:42,875 --> 00:31:44,167 All right, so we are pretty much 806 00:31:44,333 --> 00:31:45,792 at length to where I want to be. 807 00:31:45,875 --> 00:31:47,333 I'm pretty much done, 808 00:31:47,458 --> 00:31:49,292 and I'm ready to get it up to temperature and quench it. 809 00:31:49,375 --> 00:31:51,667 So my gas forge isn't actually big enough 810 00:31:51,792 --> 00:31:53,125 to do the heat treating. 811 00:31:53,250 --> 00:31:54,333 So what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna dig a ditch 812 00:31:54,458 --> 00:31:56,833 and make kind of like, a redneck coal forge. 813 00:31:56,917 --> 00:31:58,000 I have the blade in there. 814 00:31:58,125 --> 00:31:59,333 I'm just watching the temperature 815 00:31:59,458 --> 00:32:01,750 and just making sure I don't overheat it. 816 00:32:01,875 --> 00:32:03,000 Things are definitely heating up, 817 00:32:03,125 --> 00:32:04,875 literally. [chuckles] 818 00:32:08,583 --> 00:32:09,500 [dramatic music] 819 00:32:09,667 --> 00:32:11,708 [file scraping] It's hardened. 820 00:32:11,875 --> 00:32:13,000 I am really happy with how it came out. 821 00:32:13,125 --> 00:32:14,667 End of day one. 822 00:32:14,792 --> 00:32:17,000 Today, I got a lot farther than what I thought I would. 823 00:32:17,083 --> 00:32:19,542 My brain's, like, fried. [chuckles] 824 00:32:19,667 --> 00:32:21,958 Sweet. [chuckles] 825 00:32:22,792 --> 00:32:24,500 - Today is the start of day two. 826 00:32:24,625 --> 00:32:27,167 It's frustratingly slow progress from yesterday. 827 00:32:27,250 --> 00:32:28,958 Hoping I can get it to length quickly 828 00:32:29,042 --> 00:32:31,000 and get this thing quenched as quick as possible. 829 00:32:31,125 --> 00:32:32,333 It's right in between the two parameters. 830 00:32:32,458 --> 00:32:34,500 Perfect! 831 00:32:34,667 --> 00:32:35,833 Almost like I planned it. 832 00:32:36,625 --> 00:32:38,958 The heat treating process is going to be difficult, 833 00:32:39,042 --> 00:32:40,458 due to the extreme length 834 00:32:40,542 --> 00:32:43,375 and the fact that I've only got an 18-inch long forge. 835 00:32:43,500 --> 00:32:46,917 ♪ ♪ 836 00:32:47,042 --> 00:32:48,958 We are skating. 837 00:32:49,083 --> 00:32:50,833 I know the blade is good and hard. 838 00:32:50,917 --> 00:32:53,167 I feel pretty good about today's progress. 839 00:32:53,292 --> 00:32:55,750 Not quite what I originally had planned for, 840 00:32:55,875 --> 00:32:57,583 but still on schedule. 841 00:32:57,708 --> 00:32:59,708 Happy dance. 842 00:32:59,875 --> 00:33:01,250 All right, that's enough of that. 843 00:33:01,667 --> 00:33:03,292 - Day three. 844 00:33:03,375 --> 00:33:05,167 So next thing I need to do is I need to shape this handle, 845 00:33:05,292 --> 00:33:07,708 and get it actually ergonomic and feeling good in your hans 846 00:33:07,875 --> 00:33:08,833 'cause this handle's pretty big. 847 00:33:08,958 --> 00:33:10,167 All right. 848 00:33:10,292 --> 00:33:11,042 It's starting to fit my hands really good. 849 00:33:11,167 --> 00:33:12,167 I really like it. 850 00:33:12,292 --> 00:33:14,625 It is now a fully functional sword. 851 00:33:14,750 --> 00:33:16,583 This thing is a beast. [chuckles] 852 00:33:16,708 --> 00:33:20,500 [cackles] Evil laughter. 853 00:33:22,167 --> 00:33:25,125 - We are at day four. Ready to get this over with. 854 00:33:25,250 --> 00:33:29,125 I am putting on faux, not real, alligator skin, 855 00:33:29,208 --> 00:33:33,167 to give this sword a little bit of my Texas heritage 856 00:33:33,250 --> 00:33:35,167 down here on the dirty third coast. 857 00:33:35,333 --> 00:33:36,708 Everything looks good so far. 858 00:33:36,875 --> 00:33:38,500 Now it's just time for the handle wrap. 859 00:33:38,625 --> 00:33:42,375 Just trying to make it so that it's not uncomfortable 860 00:33:42,542 --> 00:33:43,875 for the judges' hands. 861 00:33:44,042 --> 00:33:46,000 My hands are now cramping severely 862 00:33:46,083 --> 00:33:50,125 as I'm doing this nearly 21 inches of braid. 863 00:33:50,250 --> 00:33:53,167 As I finish it up, I think it looks pretty cool. 864 00:33:53,292 --> 00:33:55,833 It just needs an edge, and then it's test time. 865 00:33:55,917 --> 00:33:58,167 I did grind the blade thin. 866 00:33:58,292 --> 00:34:01,458 And I'm hoping that the lighter weight and the thinner profile 867 00:34:01,583 --> 00:34:02,708 will help it cut better 868 00:34:02,833 --> 00:34:06,000 while still being thick enough to retain its edge 869 00:34:06,167 --> 00:34:07,583 during the damage test. 870 00:34:07,708 --> 00:34:09,500 Whoa! 871 00:34:09,667 --> 00:34:10,667 [chuckles] 872 00:34:12,083 --> 00:34:13,667 - It's morning of day four. 873 00:34:13,750 --> 00:34:16,042 First thing that I'm gonna do is start working the kashir. 874 00:34:16,208 --> 00:34:18,333 That's really the biggest thing I have to work on now, 875 00:34:18,458 --> 00:34:19,542 and I just need to get that done 876 00:34:19,667 --> 00:34:21,167 so I can focus on the handle wrapping. 877 00:34:21,250 --> 00:34:24,000 So I got the kashira put on. It's shaped. 878 00:34:24,125 --> 00:34:25,542 I really like it. 879 00:34:25,667 --> 00:34:28,792 I am ready for-- yeah, making it look cool. 880 00:34:28,875 --> 00:34:31,667 I start wrapping this handle. It's going really nicely. 881 00:34:31,750 --> 00:34:34,083 The brown and black contrast is awesome. 882 00:34:34,208 --> 00:34:36,250 It's starting to look like a finished product. 883 00:34:36,375 --> 00:34:38,292 Here we go. Very nice fit. 884 00:34:38,375 --> 00:34:39,833 ♪ ♪ 885 00:34:39,958 --> 00:34:41,542 Cool. [chuckles] 886 00:34:41,667 --> 00:34:44,375 [suspenseful music] 887 00:34:44,500 --> 00:34:46,583 ♪ ♪ 888 00:34:46,708 --> 00:34:49,167 - Bladesmiths, welcome back to the final round 889 00:34:49,292 --> 00:34:50,875 of our supersized competition. 890 00:34:51,042 --> 00:34:52,875 Both your blades look absolutely stunning. 891 00:34:53,042 --> 00:34:54,417 But before we get to testing those blades, 892 00:34:54,542 --> 00:34:56,667 we want to hear about them. So, Ian, tell us about yours. 893 00:34:56,792 --> 00:34:58,333 ♪ ♪ 894 00:34:58,417 --> 00:35:00,250 - It was an absolute beast to make. 895 00:35:00,375 --> 00:35:03,167 The whole blade was forged out of 5160 spring steel. 896 00:35:03,292 --> 00:35:05,167 - Absolutely stunning. 897 00:35:05,292 --> 00:35:06,833 - Now, Austin, how about you? How'd it go? 898 00:35:06,917 --> 00:35:08,375 ♪ ♪ 899 00:35:08,500 --> 00:35:10,833 - The blade has been forged from 5160 spring steel, 900 00:35:10,958 --> 00:35:14,125 with mild steel for the fittings 901 00:35:14,208 --> 00:35:16,583 and copper for the habaki. 902 00:35:16,708 --> 00:35:19,875 - Guys, I got to say, these are absolutely stunning pieces. 903 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:21,167 But, gentlemen, as you know, 904 00:35:21,292 --> 00:35:22,417 in order to find out which one of you 905 00:35:22,542 --> 00:35:23,917 is coming out on top in this competition, 906 00:35:24,042 --> 00:35:26,250 we've got a couple supersized tests for you. 907 00:35:26,375 --> 00:35:28,000 To start things off, I'm gonna hand you off to Doug. 908 00:35:28,083 --> 00:35:31,500 ♪ ♪ 909 00:35:31,667 --> 00:35:35,958 - Bladesmiths, welcome to the dynamic KEAL test. 910 00:35:36,083 --> 00:35:37,417 It's with great disappointment 911 00:35:37,542 --> 00:35:39,833 that I have to say that I will not be able to 912 00:35:39,917 --> 00:35:41,667 wield your weapons to test it. 913 00:35:41,750 --> 00:35:46,250 But Dave Baker will be enjoying and doing your tests. 914 00:35:46,375 --> 00:35:47,875 Ian, you're up first. You ready for this? 915 00:35:48,042 --> 00:35:49,458 - Go for it. 916 00:35:49,583 --> 00:35:51,375 - Take it away. 917 00:35:51,500 --> 00:35:53,083 - I have no fear it's gonna go through the pi. 918 00:35:53,208 --> 00:35:55,375 My fear is the bamboo. 919 00:35:55,500 --> 00:35:57,500 I'm terrified of it just, like, shattering, 920 00:35:57,625 --> 00:35:59,833 and just the blade being in two pieces at the end of this. 921 00:35:59,958 --> 00:36:01,500 [dramatic music] 922 00:36:05,417 --> 00:36:06,333 ♪ ♪ 923 00:36:06,500 --> 00:36:07,208 - [grunts] 924 00:36:07,333 --> 00:36:10,000 [intense rock music] 925 00:36:10,125 --> 00:36:17,208 ♪ ♪ 926 00:36:20,833 --> 00:36:22,417 - [whispering] Oh, my gosh. 927 00:36:22,542 --> 00:36:26,000 - [grunting] 928 00:36:26,125 --> 00:36:33,208 ♪ ♪ 929 00:36:33,958 --> 00:36:34,917 - [quietly] Oh, man. 930 00:36:35,042 --> 00:36:40,167 - [grunting] 931 00:36:41,958 --> 00:36:43,958 - [exhales] 932 00:36:44,042 --> 00:36:45,875 ♪ ♪ 933 00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:47,125 - So, Ian, right off, 934 00:36:47,208 --> 00:36:49,458 scale-wise, perfect for my hand. 935 00:36:49,542 --> 00:36:51,833 The wrap is really well dialed in. 936 00:36:51,958 --> 00:36:55,083 Your blade, every single one of those cuts was deadly. 937 00:36:55,208 --> 00:36:57,458 Your edge is still a razorblade. 938 00:36:57,583 --> 00:36:59,083 It lost no edge, whatsoever. 939 00:36:59,208 --> 00:37:02,042 Nicely done. - Thank you. 940 00:37:02,208 --> 00:37:03,750 - All right, Austin, you ready? 941 00:37:03,875 --> 00:37:04,958 - Yes, sir. 942 00:37:05,042 --> 00:37:06,458 ♪ ♪ 943 00:37:06,542 --> 00:37:10,083 Going into the tests, I have concerns that 944 00:37:10,208 --> 00:37:12,250 my bevels are too thin, 945 00:37:12,375 --> 00:37:15,458 and that I will take edge damage in a strength test. 946 00:37:15,542 --> 00:37:17,667 ♪ ♪ 947 00:37:17,833 --> 00:37:18,750 - [grunts] 948 00:37:18,875 --> 00:37:21,667 [intense rock music] 949 00:37:21,792 --> 00:37:28,708 ♪ ♪ 950 00:37:43,250 --> 00:37:49,458 [grunting] 951 00:37:51,083 --> 00:37:54,042 [dramatic music] 952 00:37:54,167 --> 00:37:55,333 - All right, Austin. 953 00:37:55,417 --> 00:37:57,625 Right off, your sword has a lot of height to it. 954 00:37:57,708 --> 00:37:59,333 And it's got a lot of mass to it. 955 00:37:59,417 --> 00:38:02,375 But it's really nicely balanced, which I like. 956 00:38:02,542 --> 00:38:04,750 An issue: there are some dull spots on your blade, 957 00:38:04,875 --> 00:38:07,458 dull enough that I can run my finger back and forth on it. 958 00:38:07,542 --> 00:38:10,292 But I really like the look of this blade. 959 00:38:10,417 --> 00:38:12,958 Nicely done. - Thank you. 960 00:38:13,042 --> 00:38:15,667 [suspenseful music] 961 00:38:15,792 --> 00:38:18,250 - All right, bladesmiths, welcome to my dynamic test, 962 00:38:18,375 --> 00:38:20,167 the steel wind chime and fish slice. 963 00:38:20,250 --> 00:38:21,500 ♪ ♪ 964 00:38:21,625 --> 00:38:22,875 Ian, you're up first. You ready for this? 965 00:38:23,000 --> 00:38:24,208 - Not really. 966 00:38:24,333 --> 00:38:26,500 - Well, get ready. It's comin'. 967 00:38:26,625 --> 00:38:29,667 [intense rock music] 968 00:38:29,750 --> 00:38:35,542 ♪ ♪ 969 00:38:35,708 --> 00:38:38,833 [clattering] 970 00:38:38,958 --> 00:38:40,583 - Oh. 971 00:38:40,708 --> 00:38:45,792 [clattering] 972 00:38:45,875 --> 00:38:51,667 ♪ ♪ 973 00:38:51,833 --> 00:38:55,375 [clattering] 974 00:38:59,292 --> 00:39:01,583 [dramatic music] 975 00:39:01,708 --> 00:39:03,042 - All right, Ian, first things first. 976 00:39:03,167 --> 00:39:04,583 I'm impressed. 977 00:39:04,708 --> 00:39:07,833 This edge doesn't really show much of any indication 978 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:09,667 that it had been smashed into steel wind chimes. 979 00:39:09,833 --> 00:39:11,333 You know, you could see the cuts on all these fish 980 00:39:11,500 --> 00:39:12,708 are nice and clean. 981 00:39:12,875 --> 00:39:15,417 The handle wrap is really comfortable. 982 00:39:15,542 --> 00:39:17,292 The dimensions are good. 983 00:39:17,375 --> 00:39:18,583 All in all, nice job. 984 00:39:18,708 --> 00:39:20,167 - Thank you. 985 00:39:20,333 --> 00:39:21,333 - All right, Austin, you're up, man. 986 00:39:21,500 --> 00:39:23,250 How you feeling? - Let's get it over with. 987 00:39:23,375 --> 00:39:25,000 - All right. [chuckles] 988 00:39:25,125 --> 00:39:27,667 [suspenseful music] 989 00:39:27,792 --> 00:39:34,625 ♪ ♪ 990 00:39:34,750 --> 00:39:35,583 - Phew. 991 00:39:35,708 --> 00:39:39,208 [clattering] 992 00:39:39,333 --> 00:39:41,917 ♪ ♪ 993 00:39:42,042 --> 00:39:46,667 [clattering] 994 00:39:46,792 --> 00:39:49,292 ♪ ♪ 995 00:39:49,375 --> 00:39:51,708 [clattering] 996 00:39:51,833 --> 00:39:55,667 ♪ ♪ 997 00:39:55,792 --> 00:39:58,208 [groans] 998 00:39:58,375 --> 00:40:01,333 [dramatic music] 999 00:40:01,417 --> 00:40:02,667 - All right, Austin. 1000 00:40:02,833 --> 00:40:04,792 Well, you're all in one piece. Well done. 1001 00:40:04,875 --> 00:40:06,333 Where I was hitting the wind chimes, 1002 00:40:06,458 --> 00:40:07,667 each time I hit them, 1003 00:40:07,792 --> 00:40:09,167 you lost more and more of your edge. 1004 00:40:09,292 --> 00:40:11,750 There's some rolls that I can get a fingernail underneath. 1005 00:40:11,875 --> 00:40:14,333 So as I was progressing through the fish, 1006 00:40:14,458 --> 00:40:16,500 they became more and more difficult to cut through. 1007 00:40:16,583 --> 00:40:19,167 But, all in all, I think you did a great job. 1008 00:40:19,333 --> 00:40:20,625 - Thank you. 1009 00:40:20,708 --> 00:40:24,417 ♪ ♪ 1010 00:40:24,542 --> 00:40:26,542 - Bladesmiths, you both impressed us 1011 00:40:26,667 --> 00:40:28,125 the entire competition. 1012 00:40:28,250 --> 00:40:30,708 But at the end of it, only one of you can come out on top 1013 00:40:30,833 --> 00:40:32,208 and earn the title of "Forged in Fire" champion 1014 00:40:32,333 --> 00:40:33,458 and a check for $10,000. 1015 00:40:33,583 --> 00:40:37,875 Today's "Forged in Fire" champion is... 1016 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:39,792 Ian. Very well done. 1017 00:40:39,917 --> 00:40:41,667 Austin, unfortunately, your blade did not make the cut 1018 00:40:41,792 --> 00:40:43,625 and Doug's gonna tell you why. 1019 00:40:43,708 --> 00:40:45,708 - Austin, what it came down to is the dulling you took 1020 00:40:45,875 --> 00:40:46,625 during our test. 1021 00:40:46,708 --> 00:40:47,875 It just underperformed 1022 00:40:48,042 --> 00:40:49,917 on the dynamic KEAL and sharpness tests. 1023 00:40:50,042 --> 00:40:51,542 And those are the reasons why you didn't win today. 1024 00:40:51,667 --> 00:40:53,542 - I agree completely. 1025 00:40:53,667 --> 00:40:55,167 - Well, Austin, it's been an absolute pleasure 1026 00:40:55,292 --> 00:40:57,167 watching you pound steel in The Forge 1027 00:40:57,250 --> 00:40:59,083 and come out with two massive blades. 1028 00:40:59,208 --> 00:41:01,333 But, unfortunately, your time in this competition has ended. 1029 00:41:01,500 --> 00:41:02,583 I want to say thank you for coming out, 1030 00:41:02,708 --> 00:41:03,625 but I'm gonna have to ask you to please 1031 00:41:03,708 --> 00:41:05,417 step off The Forge floor. - Thanks, y'all. 1032 00:41:05,542 --> 00:41:06,833 I don't like to lose, 1033 00:41:06,958 --> 00:41:08,250 but Ian's a great guy to lose to. 1034 00:41:08,375 --> 00:41:10,333 That definitely makes it easier. 1035 00:41:10,500 --> 00:41:13,542 I made a mistake when I sharpened the sword. 1036 00:41:13,667 --> 00:41:15,500 I thought my bevels were far too thin, 1037 00:41:15,667 --> 00:41:19,625 so I put a fat edge on it and it cost me. 1038 00:41:19,708 --> 00:41:21,500 I'm gonna get right back into it, 1039 00:41:21,583 --> 00:41:24,750 and probably crank out a few swords. 1040 00:41:24,875 --> 00:41:27,667 But they're gonna be normal people sized sword. 1041 00:41:27,792 --> 00:41:30,667 ♪ ♪ 1042 00:41:30,792 --> 00:41:32,333 - Well, Ian, congratulations, man. 1043 00:41:32,500 --> 00:41:33,833 That makes you a "Forged in Fire" champ, 1044 00:41:33,958 --> 00:41:36,333 and you'll be getting a check for $10,000. 1045 00:41:36,417 --> 00:41:38,417 Very well done. [applause] 1046 00:41:38,542 --> 00:41:40,417 - I'm still kind of in shock, still a little shaky 1047 00:41:40,542 --> 00:41:42,958 but really excited and really thankful. 1048 00:41:43,042 --> 00:41:44,500 - How you feeling, bud? 1049 00:41:44,625 --> 00:41:45,542 - Pretty good. [chuckles] 1050 00:41:45,667 --> 00:41:46,833 Thank--thank you guys. 1051 00:41:46,958 --> 00:41:48,625 The amount of people that I've met, 1052 00:41:48,708 --> 00:41:51,167 the knowing what I can do in such a short amount of time, 1053 00:41:51,292 --> 00:41:53,042 it's just--I learned so much. 1054 00:41:53,167 --> 00:41:56,000 [intense rock music] 1055 00:41:56,083 --> 00:41:58,625 ♪ ♪