1
00:00:05,006 --> 00:00:12,011
♪ ♪
2
00:00:15,016 --> 00:00:17,516
- I'm lyle nordquist.
I'm 31 years old.
3
00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:19,309
I'm a part-time bladesmith,
4
00:00:19,353 --> 00:00:20,519
full-time electrician.
5
00:00:20,563 --> 00:00:22,896
I feel like
I'm a gentle giant,
6
00:00:22,982 --> 00:00:24,481
6'3", almost 300 pounds.
7
00:00:24,525 --> 00:00:26,567
I feel like
I can be intimidating.
8
00:00:26,652 --> 00:00:30,320
But overall, I'm not really
that mean of a person.
9
00:00:30,406 --> 00:00:31,655
♪ ♪
10
00:00:31,741 --> 00:00:34,658
- my name's paul crosby.
I am 51 years old.
11
00:00:34,744 --> 00:00:36,160
And I'm a part-time bladesmith.
12
00:00:36,245 --> 00:00:38,037
I have a granddaughter
at home.
13
00:00:38,122 --> 00:00:39,163
She's one years old.
14
00:00:39,248 --> 00:00:41,248
She is the apple of my eye.
15
00:00:41,333 --> 00:00:45,377
And winning this for her
is what I'd really like to do.
16
00:00:45,421 --> 00:00:46,712
♪ ♪
17
00:00:46,756 --> 00:00:49,214
- I'm ben butcher.
I am 34 years old.
18
00:00:49,300 --> 00:00:52,009
If I win that $10,000,
19
00:00:52,094 --> 00:00:54,053
I'm gonna go soak
20
00:00:54,138 --> 00:00:57,181
in some hot springs
for, like, a week.
21
00:00:57,224 --> 00:00:59,683
It's gonna be dope.
[laughs]
22
00:00:59,769 --> 00:01:01,101
♪ ♪
23
00:01:01,187 --> 00:01:03,353
- I'm james welker.
I'm 43 years old.
24
00:01:03,439 --> 00:01:05,230
And I'm from tacoma,
washington.
25
00:01:05,274 --> 00:01:07,941
If I won the $10,000,
well, I'd buy a tiger,
26
00:01:08,027 --> 00:01:11,987
then I would get cable so that
I can watch it with my tiger.
27
00:01:13,407 --> 00:01:14,531
♪ ♪
28
00:01:14,617 --> 00:01:17,409
- bladesmiths, welcome
to the forge.
29
00:01:17,453 --> 00:01:19,369
You're about to take part
in a forging competition
30
00:01:19,455 --> 00:01:22,581
that will test every aspect of
your blade-making capabilities.
31
00:01:22,666 --> 00:01:24,416
There's gonna be three rounds
in the competition.
32
00:01:24,460 --> 00:01:26,376
At the end of each round,
you're gonna present your work
33
00:01:26,462 --> 00:01:28,212
to our panel of expert judges--
34
00:01:28,297 --> 00:01:31,507
abs master smith j. Nielson,
35
00:01:31,592 --> 00:01:34,510
historic-weapons re-creation
specialist dave baker,
36
00:01:34,595 --> 00:01:37,304
and edged-weapons specialist
and kali martial artist
37
00:01:37,389 --> 00:01:39,598
doug marcaida.
38
00:01:39,642 --> 00:01:41,767
The four of you will be
competing head-to-head
39
00:01:41,852 --> 00:01:44,353
for the coveted title
of "forged in fire" champion
40
00:01:44,438 --> 00:01:46,230
and a check for $10,000.
41
00:01:46,315 --> 00:01:47,397
I hope you brought your a games
42
00:01:47,483 --> 00:01:49,108
because you guys
are gonna be competing
43
00:01:49,193 --> 00:01:51,360
in what might be the biggest
challenge we've had yet.
44
00:01:51,445 --> 00:01:53,403
But we'll get to this
in a minute.
45
00:01:53,489 --> 00:01:54,738
On top of your guys' anvils,
46
00:01:54,824 --> 00:01:57,908
you'll see you have stacks
of 1095 and 15n20 steel.
47
00:01:57,993 --> 00:02:00,786
You'll be using that steel
to build damascus blades...
48
00:02:00,830 --> 00:02:02,454
But not your signature
style blades.
49
00:02:02,540 --> 00:02:04,748
I want you guys to build this.
50
00:02:04,834 --> 00:02:11,797
♪ ♪
51
00:02:13,050 --> 00:02:16,051
this is a nine-foot dagger.
52
00:02:16,137 --> 00:02:18,595
- This isn't enough steel.
- Yeah.
53
00:02:18,681 --> 00:02:20,639
- So, now, before you guys
throw your hands up
54
00:02:20,724 --> 00:02:23,976
and you walk away, let me be
a little bit more specific.
55
00:02:24,019 --> 00:02:26,770
We want you to build a 1/5
scale replica of this blade.
56
00:02:26,814 --> 00:02:28,147
So break out your calculators,
57
00:02:28,232 --> 00:02:29,606
break out those
measuring tapes.
58
00:02:29,650 --> 00:02:32,317
Every aspect of this knife
needs to be scaled down
59
00:02:32,403 --> 00:02:33,819
five times.
60
00:02:33,863 --> 00:02:35,654
You need to have
a through-tang dagger.
61
00:02:35,698 --> 00:02:37,156
And we'll be measuring
the blade length
62
00:02:37,241 --> 00:02:38,657
from tip to shoulders
63
00:02:38,742 --> 00:02:41,535
and measuring the width
of the blade at the shoulders.
64
00:02:41,620 --> 00:02:44,037
- Math? Oh, no.
65
00:02:44,123 --> 00:02:45,831
- Now, in round two
of the competition,
66
00:02:45,916 --> 00:02:47,541
you guys will be adding handles
to your blades,
67
00:02:47,626 --> 00:02:49,501
turning them into fully
functioning weapons.
68
00:02:49,545 --> 00:02:51,753
At that point, we'll be testing
for strength and durability
69
00:02:51,839 --> 00:02:53,172
in an animal skull chop
70
00:02:53,257 --> 00:02:55,966
and checking for sharpness
in a sugarcane slice.
71
00:02:56,051 --> 00:02:57,593
♪ ♪
72
00:02:57,678 --> 00:03:00,679
you only have three hours
to complete this challenge.
73
00:03:00,764 --> 00:03:03,307
Good luck.
Your time starts now.
74
00:03:03,392 --> 00:03:07,352
♪ ♪
75
00:03:07,438 --> 00:03:09,521
- whose overcompensated
knife is that?
76
00:03:09,565 --> 00:03:11,398
[laughter]
77
00:03:11,483 --> 00:03:14,693
- the hard thing I think is we
usually give them a parameter
78
00:03:14,737 --> 00:03:17,362
within two inches--
not so in this.
79
00:03:17,406 --> 00:03:19,198
- The most obvious step
would be to figure out
80
00:03:19,241 --> 00:03:22,492
how many inches it is
and divide it by five.
81
00:03:22,578 --> 00:03:24,703
- We're doing
a damascus blade.
82
00:03:24,747 --> 00:03:25,871
That's a lot of material,
83
00:03:25,956 --> 00:03:27,080
and I got to get it up
to temperature.
84
00:03:27,166 --> 00:03:28,624
So I'm gonna get
that stuff cleaned up,
85
00:03:28,709 --> 00:03:30,042
get it in the forge,
86
00:03:30,085 --> 00:03:32,294
and then when I've got that
downtime, I'll go take
87
00:03:32,379 --> 00:03:34,755
all the measurements off
that big old knife.
88
00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,549
- Well, one of james's tools--
he brought a long magnet
89
00:03:37,635 --> 00:03:39,301
so he can clean
multiple pieces at once.
90
00:03:39,386 --> 00:03:40,677
- I haven't seen that before.
91
00:03:40,763 --> 00:03:42,512
- I have never seen that
in this forge before.
92
00:03:42,598 --> 00:03:44,056
- Yeah.
- It's very clever.
93
00:03:44,141 --> 00:03:47,351
- This magnet I brought
with me is my secret weapon.
94
00:03:47,436 --> 00:03:48,894
I'm able to stack
that metal together,
95
00:03:48,938 --> 00:03:50,354
and it holds it in place,
96
00:03:50,439 --> 00:03:52,231
and then we weld it together
and get it in the fire.
97
00:03:52,316 --> 00:03:53,899
Ben, you want to use
my magnet?
98
00:03:53,984 --> 00:03:55,525
It's faster.
99
00:03:55,611 --> 00:03:56,735
- Cool.
100
00:03:56,820 --> 00:03:59,655
James, awesome dude
that he is, he's like,
101
00:03:59,740 --> 00:04:01,365
"here, man, use this."
102
00:04:01,450 --> 00:04:03,825
this is gonna save me
so much time.
103
00:04:03,911 --> 00:04:06,703
- Did james just share
his magnet with ben?
104
00:04:06,789 --> 00:04:09,414
- Yeah.
- That is very cool.
105
00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:13,293
- I'd rather win based
on the quality of my blade
106
00:04:13,379 --> 00:04:15,921
than because my competitor
ran into a snag
107
00:04:15,965 --> 00:04:17,923
and wasn't able
to finish in time.
108
00:04:17,967 --> 00:04:19,591
So I know,
at the end of the day,
109
00:04:19,677 --> 00:04:22,261
whether I'm actually the winner
or if I just got lucky.
110
00:04:22,346 --> 00:04:24,263
- Welding.
111
00:04:24,306 --> 00:04:25,931
Now that I've got
my billet together,
112
00:04:25,975 --> 00:04:28,225
I take a moment,
catch my breath...
113
00:04:28,310 --> 00:04:30,102
[breathes deeply]
114
00:04:30,187 --> 00:04:31,937
get my measurements.
115
00:04:32,022 --> 00:04:34,273
I haven't done high-school
math in, you know...
116
00:04:34,316 --> 00:04:37,109
[blows raspberry]
20 years.
117
00:04:37,194 --> 00:04:39,945
And I have to figure out
what five-to-one ratio
118
00:04:40,030 --> 00:04:41,113
of all of these things are.
119
00:04:41,156 --> 00:04:42,614
I'm just like,
"are you kidding me?"
120
00:04:42,700 --> 00:04:44,074
- we've got the quintessential
121
00:04:44,159 --> 00:04:46,118
"measure twice, cut once"
scenario going on right now,
122
00:04:46,161 --> 00:04:47,953
'cause if you don't get
the right measurements
123
00:04:48,038 --> 00:04:50,580
in the very beginning
of this round, you're sol.
124
00:04:50,666 --> 00:04:52,499
- Okay.
125
00:04:52,584 --> 00:04:54,126
♪ ♪
126
00:04:54,211 --> 00:04:56,086
- did lyle use
all of his steel?
127
00:04:56,130 --> 00:04:58,588
- It doesn't look like it.
- Yeah, I don't think so.
128
00:04:58,674 --> 00:05:00,757
- They gave me a lot of steel
129
00:05:00,801 --> 00:05:02,384
as more of a trip-up, I think.
130
00:05:02,469 --> 00:05:05,345
They want you to spend
more time cleaning and welding
131
00:05:05,431 --> 00:05:06,305
and drawing out,
132
00:05:06,390 --> 00:05:07,431
when you're gonna end up
133
00:05:07,516 --> 00:05:09,391
cutting most
of that steel away.
134
00:05:09,476 --> 00:05:10,934
- Especially doing a dagger,
135
00:05:11,020 --> 00:05:13,395
you always want to leave it
a little bit thicker
136
00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,439
because you can actually
get a twist in there.
137
00:05:15,524 --> 00:05:16,690
And it's really hard
138
00:05:16,775 --> 00:05:18,734
to straighten out a twist
in a dagger.
139
00:05:18,819 --> 00:05:20,110
- I measure the blade.
140
00:05:20,195 --> 00:05:22,612
I end up coming up
with 2 1/2 inches wide
141
00:05:22,698 --> 00:05:24,448
by 12.1 long.
142
00:05:24,491 --> 00:05:25,991
So I'm confident
143
00:05:26,035 --> 00:05:28,452
in the amount of steel
that I'm putting together.
144
00:05:28,537 --> 00:05:30,329
- The other thing I'm curious
about with lyle, too,
145
00:05:30,414 --> 00:05:31,663
is him having so much
146
00:05:31,749 --> 00:05:33,790
less steel
he's working with right now,
147
00:05:33,876 --> 00:05:36,376
I'm wondering how
his "calculations" came out.
148
00:05:36,462 --> 00:05:40,172
- The blade's 75 inches.
- 75 divided by 5, you got--
149
00:05:40,257 --> 00:05:43,133
- 15-inch blade.
- And shoulders at about 2 1/2.
150
00:05:43,218 --> 00:05:46,845
♪ ♪
151
00:05:46,889 --> 00:05:49,014
- there's a lot of parts
to this dagger.
152
00:05:49,099 --> 00:05:51,350
And there's a lot of math
that could go wrong.
153
00:05:51,435 --> 00:05:53,352
First thing I'm doing
is drawing it out,
154
00:05:53,395 --> 00:05:55,854
marking my measurements
on the drawing
155
00:05:55,939 --> 00:05:58,982
to make sure
I get the proportions correct.
156
00:05:59,068 --> 00:06:01,818
Math isn't my best suit,
but I've got the measurements
157
00:06:01,904 --> 00:06:04,363
I think I need,
so I should be good.
158
00:06:04,448 --> 00:06:06,031
I'm looking around,
159
00:06:06,075 --> 00:06:08,325
everybody else
is working on their billets.
160
00:06:08,410 --> 00:06:11,370
I'm running behind.
I have to catch up.
161
00:06:11,413 --> 00:06:13,330
♪ ♪
162
00:06:13,415 --> 00:06:16,208
- bladesmiths, you got
two hours on the clock!
163
00:06:16,251 --> 00:06:18,251
- I want something
to stand apart,
164
00:06:18,337 --> 00:06:20,462
so I'm gonna do
a ladder pattern.
165
00:06:20,547 --> 00:06:22,506
- James is going above
and beyond.
166
00:06:22,591 --> 00:06:25,384
He really wants to present
something other than
167
00:06:25,427 --> 00:06:27,552
what the rest are doing,
just a damascus.
168
00:06:27,596 --> 00:06:30,263
- I want them to be staggered
one side to the other.
169
00:06:30,349 --> 00:06:31,848
If I don't stagger them,
170
00:06:31,934 --> 00:06:33,517
I end up lining them up
on top of each other,
171
00:06:33,602 --> 00:06:36,228
and after I squeeze them out,
it'll be too thin.
172
00:06:36,271 --> 00:06:39,231
If it's too thin, it could be
a weak point, it could break.
173
00:06:39,274 --> 00:06:40,732
♪ ♪
174
00:06:40,776 --> 00:06:42,234
all right.
175
00:06:42,277 --> 00:06:43,777
♪ ♪
176
00:06:43,862 --> 00:06:46,405
- now that I have
the metal welded,
177
00:06:46,448 --> 00:06:47,906
what I'm doing
is drawing it out
178
00:06:47,991 --> 00:06:51,493
and kind of getting
a rough shape that I want.
179
00:06:51,578 --> 00:06:54,704
- I'm really concerned about
lyle having enough steel.
180
00:06:54,790 --> 00:06:57,207
- Lyle's a big dude.
- He's a really big dude.
181
00:06:57,251 --> 00:06:59,543
- I mean, he might just make
that knife look small.
182
00:06:59,586 --> 00:07:02,045
I don't know.
183
00:07:02,131 --> 00:07:03,171
♪ ♪
184
00:07:03,257 --> 00:07:05,590
- ben has got
a big bar of steel.
185
00:07:05,634 --> 00:07:07,092
Holy cow.
186
00:07:07,177 --> 00:07:10,887
- This delightful piece
of steel is way too long.
187
00:07:10,973 --> 00:07:15,100
So I may as well just chop
as much off of it as I can
188
00:07:15,185 --> 00:07:18,854
to get it to roughly the length
that I need it.
189
00:07:18,939 --> 00:07:20,772
[bleep].
190
00:07:20,858 --> 00:07:22,858
I think I maybe cut off
a little too much.
191
00:07:22,943 --> 00:07:25,026
[laughs]
192
00:07:25,112 --> 00:07:28,447
I am praying that
there's enough steel
193
00:07:28,490 --> 00:07:31,658
to get it drawn out
to length and width.
194
00:07:31,743 --> 00:07:34,244
♪ ♪
195
00:07:34,329 --> 00:07:37,080
- I keep looking at my watch.
I'm not wearing a watch.
196
00:07:37,166 --> 00:07:39,249
- That's the only watch
we got to worry about, man.
197
00:07:39,334 --> 00:07:41,585
- That thing hates me. I don't
even want to look at it.
198
00:07:41,670 --> 00:07:43,670
- [laughs]
199
00:07:43,755 --> 00:07:45,964
- so I have my steel up
to temperature.
200
00:07:46,049 --> 00:07:47,924
And then I go for my weld.
201
00:07:48,010 --> 00:07:49,301
♪ ♪
202
00:07:49,386 --> 00:07:50,760
[bleep].
203
00:07:50,846 --> 00:07:53,013
- Whoa.
- Oh, my god.
204
00:07:53,098 --> 00:07:55,974
- My weld broke.
Split right in half.
205
00:07:56,059 --> 00:07:58,810
- Being aggressive
in that first pass,
206
00:07:58,896 --> 00:08:00,145
you could actually wind up
207
00:08:00,189 --> 00:08:02,481
shearing what
you're trying to create.
208
00:08:02,566 --> 00:08:04,858
- I'm scared this is gonna
send me home.
209
00:08:04,943 --> 00:08:07,110
I'm scared
I have to start over.
210
00:08:07,196 --> 00:08:09,613
The time is ticking away.
211
00:08:09,698 --> 00:08:11,531
It's a make-or-break moment
for me.
212
00:08:11,617 --> 00:08:13,909
I have to get
this weld to take.
213
00:08:17,206 --> 00:08:19,289
- One hour remaining
on the clock!
214
00:08:19,374 --> 00:08:21,666
- I'm scared this is gonna
send me home.
215
00:08:21,752 --> 00:08:24,377
I'm scared
I have to start over.
216
00:08:24,463 --> 00:08:27,464
I have to get
this weld to take.
217
00:08:27,549 --> 00:08:30,467
So, to fix this, I need flux,
218
00:08:30,552 --> 00:08:34,137
I need welding heat,
and I need a lot of luck.
219
00:08:34,223 --> 00:08:35,430
♪ ♪
220
00:08:35,516 --> 00:08:36,848
I think I got it.
221
00:08:36,934 --> 00:08:38,099
It's a solid weld.
222
00:08:38,185 --> 00:08:40,352
And I'm just relieved
223
00:08:40,437 --> 00:08:43,522
I can go back
to making my blade.
224
00:08:43,607 --> 00:08:46,024
- So flippin' hot.
- Yeah.
225
00:08:46,109 --> 00:08:47,776
- Oh!
226
00:08:47,861 --> 00:08:49,027
I'm gassed.
227
00:08:49,071 --> 00:08:51,530
I am running out of juice.
228
00:08:51,615 --> 00:08:52,781
Very long.
229
00:08:52,866 --> 00:08:54,741
I've already
hammered in the point.
230
00:08:54,826 --> 00:08:56,743
I realize I've got
too much material.
231
00:08:56,828 --> 00:08:59,746
- They need to start working
that blade from the tip,
232
00:08:59,831 --> 00:09:01,748
push back
to where your shoulders are,
233
00:09:01,833 --> 00:09:04,167
then take off
whatever you don't need.
234
00:09:04,253 --> 00:09:08,046
♪ ♪
235
00:09:08,131 --> 00:09:10,048
- ben has a nice-looking billet
right now.
236
00:09:10,133 --> 00:09:12,133
- Yeah, yeah.
- Starting to take shape.
237
00:09:12,219 --> 00:09:14,344
- I got this steel drawn out.
238
00:09:14,429 --> 00:09:17,556
And luckily,
I had enough thickness there
239
00:09:17,641 --> 00:09:19,724
to hopefully still
meet parameters.
240
00:09:19,810 --> 00:09:21,601
I prefer forge to finish,
241
00:09:21,687 --> 00:09:25,397
because if you hand-hammer it
as much as you can into shape
242
00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:26,773
and then go to quench,
243
00:09:26,858 --> 00:09:29,776
it kind of tends to avoid
having as much warpage.
244
00:09:29,861 --> 00:09:32,195
- So you think ben's
getting frustrated or tired?
245
00:09:32,281 --> 00:09:34,030
♪ ♪
246
00:09:34,116 --> 00:09:35,574
- yeah.
247
00:09:36,868 --> 00:09:39,202
- [exhales deeply]
248
00:09:39,288 --> 00:09:42,289
- I have my weld solid.
249
00:09:42,374 --> 00:09:45,458
And I'm realizing
I have way too much steel
250
00:09:45,544 --> 00:09:46,710
than I'm gonna need.
251
00:09:46,795 --> 00:09:50,380
♪ ♪
252
00:09:50,424 --> 00:09:51,923
frickin' hammer.
253
00:09:52,009 --> 00:09:53,425
- He's grinding it part
of the way through
254
00:09:53,510 --> 00:09:54,593
and trying to hammer it off
255
00:09:54,636 --> 00:09:56,177
instead
of just grinding it off.
256
00:09:56,263 --> 00:09:58,680
- I need to get this done now.
257
00:09:58,765 --> 00:10:00,974
I'm starting to
run out of time.
258
00:10:01,059 --> 00:10:03,268
♪ ♪
259
00:10:03,353 --> 00:10:06,062
yay! Whoo!
260
00:10:06,148 --> 00:10:08,315
- Paul's finally got
that chunk cut off.
261
00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:10,317
- And now
if you look at his blade,
262
00:10:10,402 --> 00:10:12,319
it's not wide enough.
263
00:10:12,404 --> 00:10:14,821
- 30 minutes remaining!
264
00:10:14,906 --> 00:10:17,324
- Now that I got my steel
where I want it,
265
00:10:17,409 --> 00:10:19,200
I start grinding in my bevels.
266
00:10:19,286 --> 00:10:21,578
I leave it thick,
because with a chop,
267
00:10:21,663 --> 00:10:24,164
I want to keep it
as thick as I possibly can.
268
00:10:24,249 --> 00:10:25,790
But it's also a dagger.
269
00:10:25,876 --> 00:10:29,461
So you need to have that
diamond shape on both sides.
270
00:10:29,546 --> 00:10:32,005
- There's a lot more grinding
going on also with daggers.
271
00:10:32,090 --> 00:10:35,967
I mean, you've got quad grinds
going four different sides.
272
00:10:36,053 --> 00:10:38,261
- The time
is just eating away,
273
00:10:38,347 --> 00:10:40,263
and I'm kind of getting
nervous
274
00:10:40,349 --> 00:10:42,557
because I've been
at the grinder a long time.
275
00:10:42,643 --> 00:10:45,018
- This is a really good time
to quench,
276
00:10:45,103 --> 00:10:46,853
then do your grinding.
277
00:10:46,938 --> 00:10:48,229
♪ ♪
278
00:10:48,315 --> 00:10:50,231
- I'm trying to get
a nice even heat.
279
00:10:50,317 --> 00:10:52,776
And I like to use a magnet.
280
00:10:52,861 --> 00:10:54,027
- Once you hit non-magnetic
281
00:10:54,112 --> 00:10:55,320
and just get
a little bit past that,
282
00:10:55,405 --> 00:10:58,031
you're usually okay
for most steels.
283
00:10:58,116 --> 00:10:59,741
- Perfect.
- James just quenched.
284
00:10:59,826 --> 00:11:00,909
- There we go.
285
00:11:00,994 --> 00:11:02,494
- James, ben,
286
00:11:02,579 --> 00:11:06,831
they look like they're
pretty much spot on in profile.
287
00:11:06,875 --> 00:11:08,249
- When I pull it
out the quench,
288
00:11:08,335 --> 00:11:09,668
I notice that the front of it
289
00:11:09,753 --> 00:11:11,586
has this dark spot
in it still.
290
00:11:11,672 --> 00:11:13,672
So I then go back in.
291
00:11:13,757 --> 00:11:15,090
Nope.
292
00:11:15,175 --> 00:11:16,466
I pull it out again,
293
00:11:16,551 --> 00:11:18,551
I see the back of
it's cooled off too much.
294
00:11:18,637 --> 00:11:21,054
- Commit to it. There you go.
- Boom. All right.
295
00:11:21,139 --> 00:11:22,472
- Leave it in there.
296
00:11:22,557 --> 00:11:24,974
♪ ♪
297
00:11:25,060 --> 00:11:26,810
- okay.
298
00:11:26,895 --> 00:11:28,186
♪ ♪
299
00:11:28,271 --> 00:11:30,063
- there's a quench.
300
00:11:30,148 --> 00:11:31,898
- If it's not heated right,
301
00:11:31,983 --> 00:11:35,193
it could crack
or damage your blade.
302
00:11:35,278 --> 00:11:38,071
As soon as I pull that blade
out of the oil, it's straight.
303
00:11:38,156 --> 00:11:40,699
I'm very happy
with how it quenched.
304
00:11:40,784 --> 00:11:42,075
- Lyle's blade, to me,
305
00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:44,160
looks shorter than
any other blade out there.
306
00:11:44,246 --> 00:11:47,706
Paul's blade looks too thin
in profile to me.
307
00:11:47,791 --> 00:11:49,124
- The clock's ticking away.
308
00:11:49,209 --> 00:11:52,460
I really need to get
a hardened blade
309
00:11:52,546 --> 00:11:54,087
to present to the judges.
310
00:11:54,172 --> 00:11:55,714
♪ ♪
311
00:11:55,757 --> 00:11:57,507
deep-fried steel.
312
00:11:57,592 --> 00:11:58,967
♪ ♪
313
00:11:59,052 --> 00:12:00,719
it's nice and straight.
314
00:12:00,762 --> 00:12:03,638
Everything went good for once.
[chuckles]
315
00:12:03,724 --> 00:12:06,182
- bladesmiths, you got
five minutes!
316
00:12:06,268 --> 00:12:11,563
♪ ♪
317
00:12:11,648 --> 00:12:14,733
- oh, man!
318
00:12:14,818 --> 00:12:17,944
- Are you [bleep] kidding me?
319
00:12:18,029 --> 00:12:20,947
My heart sinks.
I'm done.
320
00:12:21,032 --> 00:12:23,742
Steel, when it's hardened,
becomes brittle.
321
00:12:23,827 --> 00:12:26,494
And I probably put a little
too much pressure on it
322
00:12:26,580 --> 00:12:29,164
at that juncture,
and it just let loose.
323
00:12:29,249 --> 00:12:32,876
My only hope is that
I can get a good weld on it.
324
00:12:32,961 --> 00:12:35,295
- He's not giving up,
because who knows?
325
00:12:35,380 --> 00:12:37,380
One of the other guys
might have a massive crack
326
00:12:37,466 --> 00:12:38,882
down the center.
- Yep.
327
00:12:38,967 --> 00:12:41,217
- Or might be three
inches too short.
328
00:12:41,303 --> 00:12:42,969
♪ ♪
329
00:12:43,054 --> 00:12:46,055
- five, four, three,
330
00:12:46,141 --> 00:12:48,057
two, one.
331
00:12:48,143 --> 00:12:50,727
Turn off your machines.
This round is over.
332
00:12:50,812 --> 00:12:52,145
♪ ♪
333
00:12:52,230 --> 00:12:53,354
- I am exhausted.
334
00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,523
About ten years ago,
I ran a marathon.
335
00:12:55,609 --> 00:12:57,317
And this is harder.
336
00:12:57,402 --> 00:12:58,818
This is more taxing.
337
00:12:58,904 --> 00:13:00,069
[exhales deeply]
338
00:13:00,155 --> 00:13:01,362
♪ ♪
339
00:13:01,448 --> 00:13:03,490
- all right, gentlemen,
you guys had three hours
340
00:13:03,575 --> 00:13:05,366
to work on a pretty
enormous challenge.
341
00:13:05,452 --> 00:13:07,786
You guys had to measure
our giant dagger here,
342
00:13:07,829 --> 00:13:09,162
scale it down to 1/5 size,
343
00:13:09,247 --> 00:13:11,372
and present us
with a damascus blade.
344
00:13:11,458 --> 00:13:13,041
Let's hear what the judges
have to say.
345
00:13:13,126 --> 00:13:14,501
James, you ready?
- Yes.
346
00:13:14,586 --> 00:13:16,669
- All right,
please present your work.
347
00:13:16,755 --> 00:13:20,381
♪ ♪
348
00:13:20,467 --> 00:13:23,510
- all right, james, right off,
scale is what this was about.
349
00:13:23,595 --> 00:13:26,471
We've got about 75 inches
of blade there roughly,
350
00:13:26,515 --> 00:13:28,973
1/5 of that
is gonna be about 15 inches.
351
00:13:29,059 --> 00:13:30,600
Let's see how you did.
352
00:13:30,685 --> 00:13:32,602
♪ ♪
353
00:13:32,687 --> 00:13:36,272
I'm looking at 14 7/8.
Spot on.
354
00:13:36,358 --> 00:13:40,026
And the base,
roughly 2 1/2 inches.
355
00:13:40,111 --> 00:13:42,487
And yeah, again,
you're spot on, 2 1/2 inches.
356
00:13:42,572 --> 00:13:46,282
So really well done for nailing
the scale of this blade.
357
00:13:46,368 --> 00:13:47,992
I love that long magnet
you had.
358
00:13:48,078 --> 00:13:50,161
And I also love the fact
that you shared that
359
00:13:50,247 --> 00:13:53,164
with the smith working next
to you in a $10,000 challenge.
360
00:13:53,208 --> 00:13:55,500
That's awfully commendable.
- Thank you.
361
00:13:55,544 --> 00:13:57,252
- All right, ben,
you're up next.
362
00:13:57,337 --> 00:13:59,045
Please present your work.
363
00:13:59,130 --> 00:14:02,257
♪ ♪
364
00:14:02,342 --> 00:14:05,426
- all right, ben, let's take a
measurement of your blade here.
365
00:14:05,512 --> 00:14:09,264
And we are looking at around
14 1/2 inches.
366
00:14:09,349 --> 00:14:11,224
Good job on that.
Let's get the width.
367
00:14:11,309 --> 00:14:13,434
Around 2 1/2.
Spot on.
368
00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:16,229
Not only that,
you're very close to the design
369
00:14:16,314 --> 00:14:18,231
that we have presented
right there.
370
00:14:18,316 --> 00:14:21,150
Overall, solid work, sir.
- Thank you.
371
00:14:21,194 --> 00:14:22,986
- All right, paul. You ready?
- Yes, sir.
372
00:14:23,071 --> 00:14:24,654
- Please present your work.
373
00:14:24,739 --> 00:14:28,658
♪ ♪
374
00:14:28,743 --> 00:14:31,494
- all right, let's take
a closer look at this, paul.
375
00:14:31,580 --> 00:14:33,580
♪ ♪
376
00:14:33,665 --> 00:14:36,416
- you're about 16 1/4.
377
00:14:36,501 --> 00:14:38,251
You're an inch over.
378
00:14:38,336 --> 00:14:41,963
At the base, you're at 1 3/4.
379
00:14:42,048 --> 00:14:44,424
The base was supposed
to be 2 1/2.
380
00:14:44,509 --> 00:14:46,092
And it's very thin down here.
381
00:14:46,177 --> 00:14:47,468
I don't know if you have
enough material
382
00:14:47,554 --> 00:14:48,803
to stretch
that out to the width.
383
00:14:48,889 --> 00:14:50,513
And then the other thing
384
00:14:50,599 --> 00:14:52,390
is your tang snapping off
right at the end.
385
00:14:52,475 --> 00:14:53,808
You only had minutes.
386
00:14:53,894 --> 00:14:56,269
You did what you can do,
and I commend you for that.
387
00:14:56,354 --> 00:14:57,520
But right now
388
00:14:57,606 --> 00:14:59,731
it would be terrifying
to swing into a skull.
389
00:14:59,816 --> 00:15:00,815
- I agree.
390
00:15:00,901 --> 00:15:02,692
- All right, lyle, you ready?
- Yep.
391
00:15:02,777 --> 00:15:03,943
- Please present your work.
392
00:15:04,029 --> 00:15:07,113
♪ ♪
393
00:15:07,198 --> 00:15:08,615
- so, lyle, right off the bat,
394
00:15:08,700 --> 00:15:12,744
I love what I see as far
as the shape of this.
395
00:15:12,787 --> 00:15:14,329
You're great on the width.
396
00:15:14,414 --> 00:15:16,623
But the issue is you're only
at 12 inches,
397
00:15:16,708 --> 00:15:18,541
so you're, like, 3 inches shy
398
00:15:18,627 --> 00:15:22,378
of an actual scaled-down
version of that blade.
399
00:15:22,422 --> 00:15:25,298
This just is not the scale
that we were looking for.
400
00:15:25,383 --> 00:15:27,926
♪ ♪
401
00:15:28,011 --> 00:15:29,093
- all right, guys.
402
00:15:29,179 --> 00:15:31,054
This competition
was all about scale.
403
00:15:31,139 --> 00:15:33,348
Two of our bladesmiths
came extremely close to that.
404
00:15:33,433 --> 00:15:35,308
So, ben, james,
congratulations.
405
00:15:35,393 --> 00:15:37,310
You guys will be moving forward
into round two.
406
00:15:37,395 --> 00:15:39,020
That leaves us
with lyle and paul.
407
00:15:39,105 --> 00:15:40,813
You guys both missed the mark
408
00:15:40,899 --> 00:15:43,107
and didn't quite get
that 1/5 scale-down,
409
00:15:43,193 --> 00:15:45,526
which means one of you
is gonna be heading home.
410
00:15:45,612 --> 00:15:50,198
And the bladesmith leaving
the forge is...
411
00:15:50,283 --> 00:15:51,658
Paul.
412
00:15:51,743 --> 00:15:53,701
- Paul, I commend you
on your competitive spirit,
413
00:15:53,787 --> 00:15:56,162
because when you had
a catastrophic failure,
414
00:15:56,247 --> 00:15:57,413
you pushed through,
415
00:15:57,499 --> 00:15:59,415
you found a solution
to present a blade to us.
416
00:15:59,501 --> 00:16:02,710
Having said that, we question
the structural integrity
417
00:16:02,796 --> 00:16:04,087
where the tang meets the blade.
418
00:16:04,130 --> 00:16:05,964
For those reasons,
we're sending you home.
419
00:16:06,007 --> 00:16:07,298
- I understand.
420
00:16:07,384 --> 00:16:08,800
- All right, paul,
you did great work out there.
421
00:16:08,885 --> 00:16:10,385
But at this point,
I'm gonna have to ask you
422
00:16:10,470 --> 00:16:13,429
to please surrender your work
and leave the forge.
423
00:16:13,515 --> 00:16:17,308
- I understand why the judges
made the decision they made.
424
00:16:17,394 --> 00:16:18,851
- Good job, paul.
Thanks.
425
00:16:18,937 --> 00:16:21,145
- This competition is a lot
more intense
426
00:16:21,231 --> 00:16:23,147
than I thought
it was going to be.
427
00:16:23,191 --> 00:16:25,525
That tang effed me hard.
[chuckles]
428
00:16:25,610 --> 00:16:28,152
♪ ♪
429
00:16:28,196 --> 00:16:30,029
- all right, guys,
congratulations.
430
00:16:30,115 --> 00:16:31,531
You've made it
through round one,
431
00:16:31,616 --> 00:16:33,116
which means you're going
into round two
432
00:16:33,201 --> 00:16:34,617
where you're adding handles
to your blades,
433
00:16:34,703 --> 00:16:36,953
turning them into fully
functioning weapons.
434
00:16:37,038 --> 00:16:38,454
Now, let's talk materials.
435
00:16:38,498 --> 00:16:39,998
On top of your workstations,
you guys have a cloth.
436
00:16:40,083 --> 00:16:42,583
Go ahead and remove
that for me.
437
00:16:42,669 --> 00:16:44,043
What you guys
have in front of you
438
00:16:44,129 --> 00:16:45,586
is a giant block of ash wood.
439
00:16:45,672 --> 00:16:47,422
- Oh.
- That is the material
440
00:16:47,507 --> 00:16:49,048
you have to build your handles.
441
00:16:49,134 --> 00:16:51,884
You also have access
to the pantry for your guard
442
00:16:51,970 --> 00:16:53,636
and pommel materials.
443
00:16:53,722 --> 00:16:55,680
So take your time,
make them as close
444
00:16:55,765 --> 00:16:58,141
to our giant dagger
as possible.
445
00:16:58,226 --> 00:17:00,018
Now, after you guys
put your pommels, your handles,
446
00:17:00,103 --> 00:17:01,728
and your guards
on to your blades,
447
00:17:01,813 --> 00:17:03,187
we're gonna be testing
for strength and durability
448
00:17:03,273 --> 00:17:05,273
in a giant animal skull chop
449
00:17:05,358 --> 00:17:07,316
and for sharpness
in a sugarcane slice.
450
00:17:07,402 --> 00:17:09,027
♪ ♪
451
00:17:09,112 --> 00:17:11,487
good luck.
Your time starts now.
452
00:17:11,573 --> 00:17:14,866
♪ ♪
453
00:17:14,909 --> 00:17:16,242
- the nice thing about ash
454
00:17:16,327 --> 00:17:18,244
is it breaks
along the grain pretty well.
455
00:17:18,329 --> 00:17:19,620
♪ ♪
456
00:17:19,706 --> 00:17:21,080
- first thing I'm noticing
is lyle
457
00:17:21,166 --> 00:17:22,749
went straight
for the measuring tape
458
00:17:22,834 --> 00:17:24,417
to measure the guard
and the pommel.
459
00:17:24,502 --> 00:17:26,085
He doesn't want to make
that mistake twice.
460
00:17:26,129 --> 00:17:29,672
- Now that I got measurements,
I need to move on to my handle.
461
00:17:29,758 --> 00:17:31,632
♪ ♪
462
00:17:31,718 --> 00:17:34,218
I'm spending time
trying to get it milled out,
463
00:17:34,304 --> 00:17:38,014
getting a nice tight fit
without splitting my wood.
464
00:17:38,099 --> 00:17:41,517
- Can you tell me
what lyle's working on?
465
00:17:41,603 --> 00:17:44,729
- Yeah, lyle's cutting out
his material for his handle.
466
00:17:44,773 --> 00:17:49,025
- The wild bladesmith
doing its mating call.
467
00:17:49,110 --> 00:17:50,401
♪ ♪
468
00:17:50,487 --> 00:17:53,905
- round two
is all about keeping focused.
469
00:17:53,948 --> 00:17:56,407
For the guard, I'm going brass
instead of steel.
470
00:17:56,451 --> 00:17:58,951
Going after a steel guard
will likely take twice
471
00:17:59,037 --> 00:18:01,037
as long to rout out.
472
00:18:01,122 --> 00:18:03,331
♪ ♪
473
00:18:03,416 --> 00:18:04,957
I'm not gonna win
the beauty contest.
474
00:18:05,043 --> 00:18:07,585
But maybe I can win the
strength and sharpness contest.
475
00:18:09,506 --> 00:18:11,130
- The first thing that I do
476
00:18:11,216 --> 00:18:13,091
is I head to the pantry
to gather my parts.
477
00:18:13,176 --> 00:18:16,594
I want to find something that
looks similar to this blade.
478
00:18:16,679 --> 00:18:19,722
So, you know, everything looks
like steel, so I grab steel.
479
00:18:19,808 --> 00:18:21,349
♪ ♪
480
00:18:21,434 --> 00:18:23,851
I'm trying to cut through it
using an angle grinder,
481
00:18:23,937 --> 00:18:25,728
and it's just not
going anywhere.
482
00:18:25,814 --> 00:18:27,230
Like, it's not going anywhere.
483
00:18:27,315 --> 00:18:30,233
♪ ♪
484
00:18:30,318 --> 00:18:33,111
- you've got an hour
and 30 minutes remaining.
485
00:18:33,196 --> 00:18:34,737
- At this point, I look over
486
00:18:34,823 --> 00:18:39,033
and see james and lyle
both have their guards made.
487
00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:40,827
I stop.
I stop what I'm doing.
488
00:18:40,912 --> 00:18:42,995
That might be too much.
489
00:18:43,081 --> 00:18:46,624
I find the two biggest pieces
of brass that I can,
490
00:18:46,709 --> 00:18:49,502
and I cut out the shapes
that I need roughly.
491
00:18:49,587 --> 00:18:51,003
Like butter, it's fine.
492
00:18:51,089 --> 00:18:53,381
Should not have grabbed steel.
493
00:18:53,466 --> 00:18:55,842
- All right, lyle's putting
a thread on his tang.
494
00:18:55,927 --> 00:18:58,094
- Once I get the pommel
threaded on,
495
00:18:58,179 --> 00:19:01,055
I realize
that the tang's too long.
496
00:19:01,141 --> 00:19:03,599
The last thing I want is my
tang to break off in testing.
497
00:19:03,685 --> 00:19:05,852
♪ ♪
498
00:19:05,937 --> 00:19:07,937
after I cut it,
put it all together,
499
00:19:08,022 --> 00:19:09,480
and I had a nice tight fit.
500
00:19:09,566 --> 00:19:11,732
I wish I could take more time
to make things nicer,
501
00:19:11,818 --> 00:19:14,277
but I just don't have
the time to do that.
502
00:19:14,362 --> 00:19:15,736
♪ ♪
503
00:19:15,822 --> 00:19:18,573
- I got my guard drilled out
and in pretty good shape.
504
00:19:18,658 --> 00:19:22,160
Now it's time for the ash
to turn into the handle.
505
00:19:22,245 --> 00:19:24,537
- James is doing
that burn-through
506
00:19:24,622 --> 00:19:26,289
you guys are
always talking about.
507
00:19:26,374 --> 00:19:28,374
- Not always
the most efficient,
508
00:19:28,459 --> 00:19:30,793
but also,
you're creating a channel
509
00:19:30,879 --> 00:19:32,670
of charred wood in
there
510
00:19:32,755 --> 00:19:35,339
that can loosen up
as it's being used.
511
00:19:35,425 --> 00:19:36,507
♪ ♪
512
00:19:36,551 --> 00:19:37,758
- it's just sizzlin',
513
00:19:37,844 --> 00:19:40,720
and I realize
this ash is super wet.
514
00:19:40,805 --> 00:19:42,180
♪ ♪
515
00:19:42,265 --> 00:19:45,141
it is not going to be
a burn-through tang.
516
00:19:45,226 --> 00:19:46,559
♪ ♪
517
00:19:46,644 --> 00:19:48,227
I have to go back to the drill
518
00:19:48,313 --> 00:19:51,022
and work the drill bit
back and forth a little bit
519
00:19:51,107 --> 00:19:52,773
to open up the hole
inside the wood,
520
00:19:52,859 --> 00:19:54,859
as it'll help
secure the handle.
521
00:19:54,944 --> 00:19:58,196
I am falling behind.
522
00:19:58,281 --> 00:20:01,490
- Gentlemen, you've got
40 minutes remaining.
523
00:20:01,576 --> 00:20:03,117
♪ ♪
524
00:20:03,203 --> 00:20:05,870
- time is just running away
from me here.
525
00:20:05,914 --> 00:20:09,165
I don't actually
have a handle yet.
526
00:20:09,250 --> 00:20:10,458
♪ ♪
527
00:20:10,543 --> 00:20:11,834
I got to get a move on it.
528
00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:15,087
♪ ♪
529
00:20:15,173 --> 00:20:17,548
mother[bleep].
530
00:20:17,634 --> 00:20:19,592
It pops out the side.
531
00:20:19,677 --> 00:20:21,969
[bleep].
- Oh, boy.
532
00:20:22,055 --> 00:20:23,471
That doesn't sound good.
533
00:20:23,556 --> 00:20:26,474
- Can I save this?
No, I can't.
534
00:20:26,559 --> 00:20:28,893
And I have to
start another one.
535
00:20:28,978 --> 00:20:31,103
So frustrated,
I want to scream.
536
00:20:31,189 --> 00:20:33,189
There's not enough
[bleep] time.
537
00:20:33,274 --> 00:20:34,899
♪ ♪
538
00:20:34,984 --> 00:20:36,275
- this is, I think,
539
00:20:36,361 --> 00:20:39,028
the second chunk of wood
that ben's chopped off.
540
00:20:39,113 --> 00:20:41,489
He's not making progress.
541
00:20:41,574 --> 00:20:42,949
- This could be it.
542
00:20:43,034 --> 00:20:45,952
I don't have enough time
to make another handle.
543
00:20:46,037 --> 00:20:49,080
And I'm just praying
to the knife gods
544
00:20:49,165 --> 00:20:52,667
that I don't pop this piece
of handle material open.
545
00:20:52,752 --> 00:20:54,252
[grunts]
546
00:20:57,590 --> 00:20:59,382
- ben knows he's running
out of time.
547
00:20:59,467 --> 00:21:02,134
- I get my holes drilled
finally.
548
00:21:02,220 --> 00:21:05,388
This wave of relief
just washes over me,
549
00:21:05,473 --> 00:21:08,516
but I haven't got time
to feel grateful.
550
00:21:08,601 --> 00:21:10,142
I got to move.
551
00:21:10,228 --> 00:21:12,228
♪ ♪
552
00:21:12,313 --> 00:21:14,772
- so, at this point, I'm gonna
put two pins in the handle
553
00:21:14,816 --> 00:21:16,107
just for extra precaution.
554
00:21:16,150 --> 00:21:18,484
That way, I know
it's not gonna come apart.
555
00:21:18,569 --> 00:21:19,819
I can crack the handle,
556
00:21:19,904 --> 00:21:21,570
or the bit won't go
all the way through,
557
00:21:21,656 --> 00:21:24,073
and then I have a hole
in my handle,
558
00:21:24,158 --> 00:21:25,574
and I can't get a pin in it.
559
00:21:25,618 --> 00:21:28,035
Holes go through it,
and I'm just super excited
560
00:21:28,121 --> 00:21:30,788
'cause now I can start
sharpening my knife.
561
00:21:30,873 --> 00:21:33,958
♪ ♪
562
00:21:34,002 --> 00:21:35,418
- so I'm working on my pommel.
563
00:21:35,461 --> 00:21:37,253
I'm trying to peen the end on.
564
00:21:37,338 --> 00:21:40,589
Time's ticking away, and
peening is taking too long.
565
00:21:40,633 --> 00:21:42,133
- He's heating up that brass,
566
00:21:42,218 --> 00:21:44,385
cooking the epoxy
on the inside.
567
00:21:44,470 --> 00:21:45,803
So there's a good chance
568
00:21:45,888 --> 00:21:48,306
that'll come loose
and start spinning.
569
00:21:48,349 --> 00:21:50,975
- I finally get the peen
to take pretty well,
570
00:21:51,019 --> 00:21:52,518
but it's still a little loose,
571
00:21:52,603 --> 00:21:54,645
which could be enough
to send me home.
572
00:21:54,731 --> 00:21:58,065
In two-hour time period,
this is what we got to do.
573
00:21:58,151 --> 00:22:01,068
- Only 15 minutes
left in round two.
574
00:22:01,154 --> 00:22:04,822
- I don't have time
to thread the pommel.
575
00:22:04,866 --> 00:22:06,449
I don't have time
to thread the tang.
576
00:22:06,534 --> 00:22:08,492
I don't have any time
for that anymore.
577
00:22:08,536 --> 00:22:09,994
Gas is on.
578
00:22:10,079 --> 00:22:14,623
I decide that I'm gonna weld
around the back of my tang.
579
00:22:14,709 --> 00:22:17,293
You run the risk
of heating up the tang so much
580
00:22:17,378 --> 00:22:21,797
that you actually set the wood
and/or epoxy on fire.
581
00:22:21,883 --> 00:22:24,175
♪ ♪
582
00:22:24,260 --> 00:22:27,053
and good enough is good enough,
gentlemen.
583
00:22:27,138 --> 00:22:30,598
I notice that there's a gap
in my handle build.
584
00:22:30,683 --> 00:22:32,516
A gap is a stress riser.
585
00:22:32,602 --> 00:22:34,560
It could snap
right at that junction.
586
00:22:34,645 --> 00:22:36,354
[sighs]
587
00:22:36,397 --> 00:22:37,646
man.
588
00:22:37,732 --> 00:22:39,523
I don't have enough time.
589
00:22:39,609 --> 00:22:41,150
It is what it is now.
590
00:22:41,194 --> 00:22:45,654
- Five, four, three, two, one.
591
00:22:45,740 --> 00:22:48,032
Turn off your machines.
Put down your tools.
592
00:22:48,076 --> 00:22:49,992
This round is over.
593
00:22:50,036 --> 00:22:53,662
- Considering how challenging
round one and round two are,
594
00:22:53,748 --> 00:22:58,376
I'm not 100% sure that I want
to move on to round three.
595
00:22:58,419 --> 00:23:00,252
♪ ♪
596
00:23:00,338 --> 00:23:02,713
- bladesmiths, welcome
to our strength test,
597
00:23:02,757 --> 00:23:05,674
our giant skull chop.
598
00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,511
And just to make you guys feel
a little bit more relaxed,
599
00:23:08,596 --> 00:23:10,888
these are some of the biggest
skulls I ever chopped into.
600
00:23:10,973 --> 00:23:12,431
- [chuckles]
601
00:23:12,517 --> 00:23:13,891
- I'm gonna take your daggers,
602
00:23:13,935 --> 00:23:17,228
stab and smash
into these skulls repeatedly.
603
00:23:17,313 --> 00:23:18,479
Lyle, you're up first.
604
00:23:18,564 --> 00:23:20,606
You ready to go?
- Yes, sir.
605
00:23:20,691 --> 00:23:22,149
♪ ♪
606
00:23:22,235 --> 00:23:24,568
my palms are sweating.
607
00:23:24,612 --> 00:23:27,196
I can't afford any break
or chip or roll.
608
00:23:27,281 --> 00:23:34,245
♪ ♪
609
00:23:38,626 --> 00:23:41,919
- [grunting loudly]
610
00:23:41,963 --> 00:23:45,548
♪ ♪
611
00:23:45,633 --> 00:23:47,591
- [sighs]
612
00:23:47,635 --> 00:23:49,260
- all right, lyle,
you survived.
613
00:23:49,303 --> 00:23:51,595
Good job.
Your edge held up great.
614
00:23:51,639 --> 00:23:54,932
Your handle and guard, they're
kind of cocked off to the side
615
00:23:54,976 --> 00:23:57,893
and not quite in alignment,
but nothing came loose.
616
00:23:57,979 --> 00:24:00,271
Good job.
- Thank you.
617
00:24:00,314 --> 00:24:02,731
- Ben, it's always fun
for the second guy, isn't it?
618
00:24:02,817 --> 00:24:05,151
- [laughs]
just do it, man.
619
00:24:05,236 --> 00:24:07,111
♪ ♪
620
00:24:07,155 --> 00:24:09,321
when they said
a large animal skull,
621
00:24:09,407 --> 00:24:11,449
I was not considering
that the animal
622
00:24:11,534 --> 00:24:13,909
would have giant horns, too.
623
00:24:13,995 --> 00:24:15,077
I've got two 1/8-inch gaps
624
00:24:15,163 --> 00:24:17,246
between my guard
and my shoulders.
625
00:24:17,290 --> 00:24:18,456
And those are stress risers.
626
00:24:18,541 --> 00:24:20,458
It could cause
my blade to snap.
627
00:24:20,501 --> 00:24:21,250
♪ ♪
628
00:24:24,046 --> 00:24:30,634
♪ ♪
629
00:24:34,891 --> 00:24:37,558
- [grunts loudly]
630
00:24:37,643 --> 00:24:39,685
I still have a knife.
631
00:24:39,770 --> 00:24:41,395
- Well, ben, you survived.
632
00:24:41,481 --> 00:24:43,063
We do have a few issues.
633
00:24:43,149 --> 00:24:44,732
We've got the gapping
down here.
634
00:24:44,817 --> 00:24:47,276
But it didn't affect
anything, fortunately.
635
00:24:47,361 --> 00:24:49,320
One thing that is an issue
is you've got
636
00:24:49,405 --> 00:24:53,199
some serious chipping
right here on the one side.
637
00:24:53,284 --> 00:24:54,783
But the blade's in one piece.
638
00:24:54,869 --> 00:24:56,869
Good job.
- Thank you.
639
00:24:56,954 --> 00:24:57,953
- What are you thinking, james?
640
00:24:58,039 --> 00:24:59,914
- This is what we're here
for, right?
641
00:24:59,999 --> 00:25:01,832
- This is what I'm here for.
I know that.
642
00:25:01,918 --> 00:25:03,042
[laughter]
643
00:25:03,127 --> 00:25:04,502
♪ ♪
644
00:25:04,545 --> 00:25:05,669
- it makes me nervous
645
00:25:05,755 --> 00:25:08,672
because my pommel
is holding on by thread.
646
00:25:08,758 --> 00:25:12,468
And if that pommel falls off,
I know I'm going home.
647
00:25:12,553 --> 00:25:19,517
♪ ♪
648
00:25:21,479 --> 00:25:24,939
- [grunting loudly]
649
00:25:26,859 --> 00:25:30,152
- [chuckles]
650
00:25:30,238 --> 00:25:31,862
♪ ♪
651
00:25:31,948 --> 00:25:33,447
- you made it, james.
You survived.
652
00:25:33,533 --> 00:25:34,698
- [laughs]
653
00:25:34,784 --> 00:25:36,867
- your blade edge--
you didn't lose anything.
654
00:25:36,911 --> 00:25:38,494
It still feels very sharp.
655
00:25:38,579 --> 00:25:41,247
Only thing is your pommel
is a little bit loose,
656
00:25:41,332 --> 00:25:43,666
but it still feels secure.
657
00:25:43,751 --> 00:25:46,335
Good job.
- Thank you.
658
00:25:46,420 --> 00:25:49,463
♪ ♪
659
00:25:49,549 --> 00:25:52,716
- all right, bladesmiths,
this is the sharpness test--
660
00:25:52,802 --> 00:25:54,009
the sugarcane slice.
661
00:25:54,095 --> 00:25:55,511
♪ ♪
662
00:25:55,596 --> 00:25:57,096
now, in this particular test,
663
00:25:57,181 --> 00:26:00,099
I will take
your scaled-down daggers
664
00:26:00,184 --> 00:26:02,226
and try to cut
through these sugarcanes.
665
00:26:02,311 --> 00:26:04,019
Now, unlike
the strength test,
666
00:26:04,063 --> 00:26:06,730
this is all about what
your edges do to the sugarcane.
667
00:26:06,816 --> 00:26:08,274
Lyle, you're up first.
You ready for this?
668
00:26:08,359 --> 00:26:09,275
- Yes, sir.
669
00:26:09,360 --> 00:26:16,407
♪ ♪
670
00:26:26,127 --> 00:26:28,168
- all right, lyle, let's talk
about your weapon here.
671
00:26:28,254 --> 00:26:29,753
Your edge is over here.
672
00:26:29,839 --> 00:26:33,048
While this is an obtuse grind,
it actually cut very cleanly.
673
00:26:33,134 --> 00:26:36,468
Overall, sir,
your weapon will cut.
674
00:26:36,554 --> 00:26:37,469
- Thank you.
675
00:26:37,555 --> 00:26:39,013
- Ben, your turn, sir.
You ready?
676
00:26:39,098 --> 00:26:41,056
- Absolutely.
677
00:26:41,142 --> 00:26:48,105
♪ ♪
678
00:26:57,241 --> 00:26:59,658
- all right, ben, let's talk
about your blade here.
679
00:26:59,744 --> 00:27:00,784
On one side of the blade,
680
00:27:00,870 --> 00:27:03,412
it cuts cleanly
on the sugarcanes.
681
00:27:03,497 --> 00:27:04,663
But right here on the spot
682
00:27:04,749 --> 00:27:07,041
that you actually have
the jagged chips,
683
00:27:07,126 --> 00:27:09,918
it actually ripped
the sugarcane.
684
00:27:10,004 --> 00:27:13,589
But overall, sir, it'll cut.
- Thank you.
685
00:27:13,633 --> 00:27:15,382
- All right, james,
your turn, sir. You ready?
686
00:27:15,468 --> 00:27:17,259
- Slice it up.
- Sweet.
687
00:27:17,345 --> 00:27:24,391
♪ ♪
688
00:27:35,529 --> 00:27:37,821
all right, james, let's talk
about your blade here.
689
00:27:37,865 --> 00:27:40,324
This has a sweet feel
in the balance
690
00:27:40,409 --> 00:27:42,326
that you have created
with this particular blade.
691
00:27:42,411 --> 00:27:44,745
The only thing is the pommel
still got a little bit loose,
692
00:27:44,830 --> 00:27:46,872
but that was already there
prior to this test.
693
00:27:46,957 --> 00:27:50,167
It is sharp,
and, most importantly, sir,
694
00:27:50,252 --> 00:27:51,794
it will cut.
695
00:27:51,879 --> 00:27:54,046
♪ ♪
696
00:27:54,131 --> 00:27:56,465
- bladesmiths, you gave us
some great work here,
697
00:27:56,550 --> 00:27:58,175
but our judges
have made a decision,
698
00:27:58,260 --> 00:28:00,135
and the bladesmith
leaving the forge...
699
00:28:00,221 --> 00:28:03,639
♪ ♪
700
00:28:03,724 --> 00:28:05,349
is ben.
701
00:28:05,434 --> 00:28:07,267
- Ben, this came down
to basically two things--
702
00:28:07,353 --> 00:28:08,560
the damage on your blade,
703
00:28:08,646 --> 00:28:10,479
which was the only blade
that took damage,
704
00:28:10,564 --> 00:28:13,190
and the fit up
between your guard and pommel.
705
00:28:13,234 --> 00:28:14,483
- I understand.
706
00:28:14,568 --> 00:28:16,151
- Ben, I want to say
thank you for coming out,
707
00:28:16,237 --> 00:28:18,070
but, unfortunately,
I'm gonna have to ask you
708
00:28:18,155 --> 00:28:19,363
to leave the forge.
709
00:28:19,407 --> 00:28:21,073
- Thanks, guys.
- Well done, man.
710
00:28:21,158 --> 00:28:23,325
- I'm disappointed
'cause, of course,
711
00:28:23,411 --> 00:28:25,869
I wanted to see it
through to the end, man.
712
00:28:25,913 --> 00:28:29,415
I'm sure that the edge
of the blade that got chipped
713
00:28:29,500 --> 00:28:32,543
got hotter than the rest of it
when it was quenched.
714
00:28:32,628 --> 00:28:34,628
It was just more brittle.
715
00:28:34,714 --> 00:28:36,004
When I get home,
716
00:28:36,090 --> 00:28:38,257
I think I might still go
to those hot springs.
717
00:28:38,342 --> 00:28:39,842
[chuckles]
718
00:28:39,927 --> 00:28:41,051
♪ ♪
719
00:28:41,137 --> 00:28:42,469
- all right, guys,
congratulations.
720
00:28:42,555 --> 00:28:43,846
It is now down
to the two of you
721
00:28:43,931 --> 00:28:45,806
to battle it out,
figure out who's going home
722
00:28:45,891 --> 00:28:47,307
with the title
of "forged in fire" champion
723
00:28:47,393 --> 00:28:48,851
and a check for $10,000.
724
00:28:48,936 --> 00:28:50,769
In round three, we're gonna be
sending you guys back
725
00:28:50,855 --> 00:28:54,106
to your home forges to work
on this blade for four days.
726
00:28:54,191 --> 00:28:56,942
The blade we're gonna have
you guys build is this...
727
00:28:57,027 --> 00:29:01,572
♪ ♪
728
00:29:01,615 --> 00:29:04,742
the william wallace sword.
729
00:29:04,827 --> 00:29:06,994
[laughter]
big-un, right?
730
00:29:07,079 --> 00:29:09,413
- Armed with this gigantic
two-handed claymore,
731
00:29:09,498 --> 00:29:12,040
william wallace was known for
leading the scottish rebellion
732
00:29:12,126 --> 00:29:15,169
against the english
during the late 12th century.
733
00:29:15,254 --> 00:29:17,629
Measuring in
at a staggering 5'4" tall,
734
00:29:17,715 --> 00:29:19,882
the blade weighed less
than 6 pounds,
735
00:29:19,967 --> 00:29:22,050
making it both lightweight
and long enough
736
00:29:22,136 --> 00:29:24,136
to deliver deadly blows
against the enemy
737
00:29:24,221 --> 00:29:26,138
on horseback or on foot.
738
00:29:26,223 --> 00:29:27,806
Wallace led his troops
to victory
739
00:29:27,892 --> 00:29:29,141
with his namesake sword
740
00:29:29,226 --> 00:29:31,185
during the famous
battle of stirling bridge.
741
00:29:31,270 --> 00:29:33,228
Memorialized
as a scottish hero,
742
00:29:33,272 --> 00:29:35,814
wallace can be seen
wielding his iconic sword
743
00:29:35,900 --> 00:29:39,276
in the 1995 blockbuster
"braveheart."
744
00:29:39,361 --> 00:29:40,527
- this is the largest sword
745
00:29:40,613 --> 00:29:42,362
we've ever asked
any bladesmiths to make.
746
00:29:42,448 --> 00:29:44,948
- One look at that
beautiful sword, and I think,
747
00:29:45,034 --> 00:29:47,493
"nope."
[laughs]
748
00:29:47,578 --> 00:29:50,370
- you've got to make your
blades within these parameters.
749
00:29:50,456 --> 00:29:53,582
The blade length needs to be
between 51 and 53 inches
750
00:29:53,667 --> 00:29:55,876
with a blade width
no less than 2 inches.
751
00:29:55,961 --> 00:29:58,962
You guys need to have a guard
with upswept quillons,
752
00:29:59,006 --> 00:30:00,714
longe, and two side rings.
753
00:30:00,800 --> 00:30:02,716
Need to include
a two-handed handle
754
00:30:02,802 --> 00:30:04,635
and top it off with a pommel.
755
00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:06,178
The best of luck
to both of you guys.
756
00:30:06,263 --> 00:30:08,514
We'll see you back
in the forge in four days.
757
00:30:08,599 --> 00:30:13,435
♪ ♪
758
00:30:13,521 --> 00:30:16,480
- here we are, round three,
championship round.
759
00:30:16,565 --> 00:30:17,856
Let's draw this bad boy out.
760
00:30:17,942 --> 00:30:21,026
And a big challenge,
making a big sword.
761
00:30:21,111 --> 00:30:24,196
My plan is to get it designed,
get it drawn to length,
762
00:30:24,281 --> 00:30:25,656
and go to bed knowing
whether or not
763
00:30:25,741 --> 00:30:28,742
I've got the makings
of a legendary great sword.
764
00:30:28,828 --> 00:30:31,119
This sword's almost
as tall as I am.
765
00:30:31,205 --> 00:30:32,412
I've made a few swords,
766
00:30:32,498 --> 00:30:35,123
but never have I made
anything of this caliber.
767
00:30:35,209 --> 00:30:37,209
That's a 32-inch blade.
768
00:30:37,294 --> 00:30:39,503
I need 20 more inches.
769
00:30:39,588 --> 00:30:42,297
I think I'm gonna add
extra material on the outside
770
00:30:42,341 --> 00:30:44,758
and play it safe, make sure
I've got enough material
771
00:30:44,844 --> 00:30:46,260
for this thing
to get to length.
772
00:30:46,345 --> 00:30:47,928
It's gonna go
something like this.
773
00:30:48,013 --> 00:30:49,596
Let's weld all that together.
774
00:30:49,682 --> 00:30:51,807
Gonna guarantee
that I've got enough material
775
00:30:51,892 --> 00:30:53,642
to make this giant sword.
776
00:30:53,727 --> 00:30:56,186
Easy to cut off
extra material in the end.
777
00:30:56,272 --> 00:30:58,272
It's really hard
to make steel grow.
778
00:30:58,357 --> 00:31:00,774
Takes a lot of extra work,
love, care.
779
00:31:00,860 --> 00:31:01,984
You have to bury it
in the ground,
780
00:31:02,069 --> 00:31:03,235
water io at least twice a day.
781
00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:04,820
And then, you know,
by next spring,
782
00:31:04,905 --> 00:31:06,029
if it hasn't turned to rust,
783
00:31:06,073 --> 00:31:07,781
it might have grown
an inch and a half,
784
00:31:07,867 --> 00:31:09,324
but we don't have
that kind of time.
785
00:31:09,410 --> 00:31:12,911
♪ ♪
786
00:31:12,997 --> 00:31:14,371
- so it's day one.
787
00:31:14,456 --> 00:31:16,498
I'm back in bloomsburg,
pennsylvania, my home forge.
788
00:31:16,584 --> 00:31:19,459
I got to make
a william wallace sword.
789
00:31:19,545 --> 00:31:21,753
It's a beast of a sword.
790
00:31:21,839 --> 00:31:23,922
Today I would like
to get the blade drawn out
791
00:31:24,008 --> 00:31:26,091
to rough parameters,
hopefully.
792
00:31:26,176 --> 00:31:28,510
I can't screw this up.
I only have one piece of this.
793
00:31:28,596 --> 00:31:30,304
♪ ♪
794
00:31:30,389 --> 00:31:32,723
so now that I've got
my rough shape formed in,
795
00:31:32,766 --> 00:31:34,057
I get the angle grinder.
796
00:31:34,143 --> 00:31:37,311
That way, I can look
for delams and cracks.
797
00:31:37,396 --> 00:31:39,146
Looks good.
I don't see any cracks.
798
00:31:39,231 --> 00:31:41,690
And that's a wrap for day one.
799
00:31:41,775 --> 00:31:45,444
♪ ♪
800
00:31:45,529 --> 00:31:47,112
- it's the beginning
of day two,
801
00:31:47,197 --> 00:31:49,072
and I'm feeling great.
802
00:31:49,158 --> 00:31:50,407
The key to victory
803
00:31:50,492 --> 00:31:52,659
with a weapon
this size is performance,
804
00:31:52,745 --> 00:31:54,244
and it's all
about that heat treat.
805
00:31:54,330 --> 00:31:55,621
That is
the most critical part.
806
00:31:55,706 --> 00:31:57,915
Yeah.
Ooh, that looks great.
807
00:31:57,958 --> 00:32:00,375
I like it. I like it.
I like it.
808
00:32:00,461 --> 00:32:03,670
Just a little fire.
Just a little fire.
809
00:32:03,756 --> 00:32:05,130
Whoo!
810
00:32:05,215 --> 00:32:07,716
It seems to have taken great.
811
00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:11,094
I am ecstatic!
812
00:32:11,180 --> 00:32:12,888
That went wonderfully.
813
00:32:12,973 --> 00:32:14,806
♪ ♪
814
00:32:14,892 --> 00:32:16,058
- it's day three.
815
00:32:16,143 --> 00:32:18,060
I have to get
this quench done.
816
00:32:18,145 --> 00:32:20,062
♪ ♪
817
00:32:20,147 --> 00:32:21,939
I'm worried about something
going wrong with this
818
00:32:21,982 --> 00:32:24,107
because it takes way
too much time to make this,
819
00:32:24,193 --> 00:32:26,318
and I don't have enough time
to do another one.
820
00:32:26,403 --> 00:32:27,861
Get in there.
821
00:32:27,947 --> 00:32:29,488
Come on, you [bleep].
822
00:32:29,573 --> 00:32:29,947
♪ ♪
823
00:32:33,285 --> 00:32:36,286
♪ ♪
824
00:32:38,374 --> 00:32:39,831
♪ ♪
825
00:32:39,917 --> 00:32:43,001
I got a little bit of a warp
in it, but it's not bad.
826
00:32:43,087 --> 00:32:45,462
I'm pretty happy with it.
827
00:32:45,506 --> 00:32:47,464
♪ ♪
828
00:32:47,549 --> 00:32:49,132
- it's day four of captivity.
829
00:32:49,218 --> 00:32:53,470
And I feel like I have nearly
met the needs of my captors.
830
00:32:53,555 --> 00:32:56,056
[laughing] they'll let me back
out in the real world soon.
831
00:32:56,141 --> 00:32:57,349
♪ ♪
832
00:32:57,434 --> 00:33:00,978
so today is all about
final fit and assembly.
833
00:33:01,063 --> 00:33:04,481
Oh, I just realized
834
00:33:04,525 --> 00:33:06,984
my bent side ring...
835
00:33:07,069 --> 00:33:08,944
Is supposed to bend
the other direction.
836
00:33:09,029 --> 00:33:10,529
♪ ♪
837
00:33:10,614 --> 00:33:12,864
I can just get it back
in the forge, heat it up,
838
00:33:12,950 --> 00:33:14,825
and turn it around
the other direction.
839
00:33:14,910 --> 00:33:16,034
Let's see.
840
00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:17,494
Oh, man, I'm feeling great.
841
00:33:17,579 --> 00:33:20,122
This sword is enormous,
and it is light.
842
00:33:20,207 --> 00:33:22,040
I just spent
a week building it,
843
00:33:22,126 --> 00:33:23,500
so I want to wield this thing.
844
00:33:23,585 --> 00:33:25,002
There's not a lot of reasons
845
00:33:25,087 --> 00:33:26,670
to walk around town
with a chainmail shirt
846
00:33:26,755 --> 00:33:29,673
unless you have
a william wallace sword.
847
00:33:29,717 --> 00:33:32,009
Then, of course, you should
have a chainmail shirt on.
848
00:33:32,052 --> 00:33:35,804
♪ ♪
849
00:33:35,889 --> 00:33:38,432
that was pretty nice.
That cut really well.
850
00:33:38,517 --> 00:33:40,517
♪ ♪
851
00:33:40,602 --> 00:33:42,102
- it's day four.
This is it.
852
00:33:42,187 --> 00:33:44,312
This is the final, you know?
I got to get it done today.
853
00:33:44,398 --> 00:33:46,273
It's time to start putting
all the pieces
854
00:33:46,358 --> 00:33:47,691
of this sword together.
855
00:33:47,735 --> 00:33:49,359
I slipped the guard down
on my sword,
856
00:33:49,445 --> 00:33:50,610
and the challenge
857
00:33:50,696 --> 00:33:52,195
is just making sure
everything fits tight
858
00:33:52,281 --> 00:33:54,322
and there's no wiggling,
there's no moving,
859
00:33:54,408 --> 00:33:55,907
'cause if they hit
it off something
860
00:33:55,993 --> 00:33:57,993
and if something loosens up,
I could go home.
861
00:33:58,078 --> 00:34:00,579
I'm really happy
with the way it looks.
862
00:34:00,664 --> 00:34:02,456
Big sword for a big guy.
863
00:34:02,541 --> 00:34:03,707
♪ ♪
864
00:34:03,792 --> 00:34:05,417
- bladesmiths, welcome back
to the forge.
865
00:34:05,502 --> 00:34:06,626
You guys had four days
866
00:34:06,712 --> 00:34:09,212
to work on your giant
william wallace swords,
867
00:34:09,298 --> 00:34:11,048
and we cannot wait
to hear about them.
868
00:34:11,091 --> 00:34:12,507
James, how did it go for you?
869
00:34:12,593 --> 00:34:14,676
♪ ♪
870
00:34:14,720 --> 00:34:16,928
- it went according to plan.
871
00:34:17,014 --> 00:34:20,015
80crv--I sandwiched a little
1095 and 15n20 on the sides
872
00:34:20,059 --> 00:34:22,267
to make sure I had enough
material to get through it.
873
00:34:22,352 --> 00:34:24,269
Deerskin-wrap handle,
and the guard is forged
874
00:34:24,354 --> 00:34:26,646
out of a single piece
of 1/4-inch plate steel.
875
00:34:26,732 --> 00:34:28,565
- Great work.
Lyle, how about you?
876
00:34:28,609 --> 00:34:30,275
♪ ♪
877
00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:33,236
- it went better than
I thought it would go.
878
00:34:33,322 --> 00:34:36,782
80crv2 with a oak handle
with a leather wrap,
879
00:34:36,867 --> 00:34:39,493
a brass pommel,
and a steel guard.
880
00:34:39,578 --> 00:34:41,912
- Well, they both look great,
but there's only one way
881
00:34:41,997 --> 00:34:43,872
to figure out which one of you
is gonna be leaving here
882
00:34:43,957 --> 00:34:45,707
as the champion
of "forged in fire."
883
00:34:45,793 --> 00:34:47,918
we've got a strength,
a sharpness test,
884
00:34:48,003 --> 00:34:49,544
and up first, the keal test.
885
00:34:49,630 --> 00:34:50,670
Doug.
886
00:34:50,756 --> 00:34:52,130
♪ ♪
887
00:34:52,216 --> 00:34:55,258
- all right, bladesmiths,
welcome to the keal test.
888
00:34:55,344 --> 00:34:56,927
To find out what kind
of lethal damage
889
00:34:57,012 --> 00:34:59,387
your iconic william wallace
swords will do,
890
00:34:59,431 --> 00:35:02,057
I will take your sword
and deliver lethal blows
891
00:35:02,142 --> 00:35:04,059
on this wild-boar carcass.
892
00:35:04,103 --> 00:35:05,143
James, you're up first.
893
00:35:05,229 --> 00:35:06,812
You ready for this?
- Yes, I am.
894
00:35:06,897 --> 00:35:08,438
- All right, let's do it.
895
00:35:08,524 --> 00:35:11,191
- Those hogs can take out
a weapon pretty easily.
896
00:35:11,276 --> 00:35:13,276
It could wrap around
the side of the hog
897
00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:14,778
instead of cutting
into the hog.
898
00:35:14,863 --> 00:35:16,947
And all that momentum could go
into bending the blade
899
00:35:16,990 --> 00:35:18,907
rather than slicing
into the pig.
900
00:35:18,992 --> 00:35:21,159
And that makes me
very nervous.
901
00:35:21,245 --> 00:35:23,370
- [chuckling]
that is massive.
902
00:35:23,455 --> 00:35:30,293
♪ ♪
903
00:35:35,509 --> 00:35:37,092
- oh-oh.
904
00:35:37,177 --> 00:35:44,266
♪ ♪
905
00:35:46,854 --> 00:35:48,687
- all right, james, let's talk
about your blade here.
906
00:35:48,772 --> 00:35:50,480
Pocket knife, it is not.
907
00:35:50,524 --> 00:35:53,191
But this long blade actually
has a nice weight to it.
908
00:35:53,277 --> 00:35:55,152
It's wieldable with two hands.
909
00:35:55,237 --> 00:35:57,863
Grabbing on to your handle
here, I get a good grip.
910
00:35:57,948 --> 00:36:00,323
Your edge is razor sharp.
911
00:36:00,409 --> 00:36:03,994
It easily punctures
and has a nice draw cut to it.
912
00:36:04,079 --> 00:36:06,079
Now, cutting the carcass,
as you can see,
913
00:36:06,165 --> 00:36:07,330
it cut it in half.
914
00:36:07,416 --> 00:36:10,292
And, more importantly, sir,
it will keal.
915
00:36:10,377 --> 00:36:11,459
- Thank you, sir.
916
00:36:11,545 --> 00:36:12,961
- All right, lyle,
your turn, sir. You ready?
917
00:36:13,005 --> 00:36:15,130
- Yes, sir.
- Let's do it.
918
00:36:15,215 --> 00:36:17,132
♪ ♪
919
00:36:17,217 --> 00:36:19,384
- my stomach is just in knots.
920
00:36:19,469 --> 00:36:21,219
I'm nervous about my quench.
921
00:36:21,305 --> 00:36:22,888
And, you know, I'm just--
922
00:36:22,973 --> 00:36:26,016
I didn't know if I did it
right, but I'm gonna find out.
923
00:36:26,059 --> 00:36:27,976
I'm ready for it to be over.
924
00:36:28,061 --> 00:36:35,150
♪ ♪
925
00:36:54,421 --> 00:36:55,378
- all right, lyle, let's talk
926
00:36:55,464 --> 00:36:57,380
about your william wallace
sword here.
927
00:36:57,424 --> 00:37:00,217
It's a lighter sword.
It's about 1/2 pound lighter.
928
00:37:00,260 --> 00:37:02,552
Your edge is sharp.
929
00:37:02,638 --> 00:37:04,346
Now, it cut very deep
on this pig carcass.
930
00:37:04,389 --> 00:37:07,432
Didn't cut it in half,
but it did cut.
931
00:37:07,517 --> 00:37:10,101
Overall, sir,
your sword, it will keal.
932
00:37:10,187 --> 00:37:11,478
- Thank you.
933
00:37:11,563 --> 00:37:14,898
♪ ♪
934
00:37:14,942 --> 00:37:17,442
- all right, gentlemen, it's
time for the strength test,
935
00:37:17,527 --> 00:37:19,152
our battering-ram chop.
936
00:37:19,238 --> 00:37:22,113
Now, why would you attack
a battering ram with a sword?
937
00:37:22,199 --> 00:37:23,907
I don't know,
but we're gonna do it anyway.
938
00:37:23,951 --> 00:37:25,867
Now, remember, this test is not
about what your swords do
939
00:37:25,953 --> 00:37:28,245
to that battering ram
but how well they hold up.
940
00:37:28,330 --> 00:37:30,080
James, you're up first.
You ready?
941
00:37:30,165 --> 00:37:34,584
- Dave, I hate this plan.
[laughter]
942
00:37:34,670 --> 00:37:37,087
any confidence I had after
coming out of the keal test
943
00:37:37,172 --> 00:37:39,005
hits the floor
when I see that log.
944
00:37:39,091 --> 00:37:40,548
That's a sword breaker,
945
00:37:40,634 --> 00:37:43,093
because that log
is not gonna give at all.
946
00:37:43,178 --> 00:37:45,595
Worst-case scenario,
it could warp the blade,
947
00:37:45,681 --> 00:37:47,806
or it could just plain
snap the blade.
948
00:37:47,891 --> 00:37:49,224
[exhales deeply]
949
00:37:52,980 --> 00:37:56,231
- [grunting loudly]
950
00:37:56,316 --> 00:38:01,569
♪ ♪
951
00:38:01,655 --> 00:38:03,905
- [exhales deeply]
952
00:38:03,991 --> 00:38:05,699
- all right, james,
953
00:38:05,784 --> 00:38:08,576
blade is still true
as it was when we started.
954
00:38:08,662 --> 00:38:10,120
It's comfortable and strong.
955
00:38:10,205 --> 00:38:11,913
And, man, it held up well.
Good job.
956
00:38:11,999 --> 00:38:13,581
- Yeah, I really like hearing
you talk about it.
957
00:38:13,667 --> 00:38:15,292
That's great.
- [laughs]
958
00:38:15,377 --> 00:38:17,919
all right, lyle, your turn.
Ready?
959
00:38:18,005 --> 00:38:19,629
- I guess.
- I guess.
960
00:38:19,673 --> 00:38:26,720
♪ ♪
961
00:38:28,974 --> 00:38:31,933
[grunting loudly]
962
00:38:32,019 --> 00:38:38,815
♪ ♪
963
00:38:41,778 --> 00:38:43,486
all right, lyle, first off,
964
00:38:43,572 --> 00:38:46,990
remarkable job making a weapon
this big, this light,
965
00:38:47,075 --> 00:38:48,283
and hold up that well.
966
00:38:48,368 --> 00:38:49,659
That's impressive.
967
00:38:49,745 --> 00:38:52,829
But the issue is...
968
00:38:52,873 --> 00:38:55,332
We've got
some loosening going on.
969
00:38:55,417 --> 00:38:57,167
Other than that,
you did a great job.
970
00:38:57,210 --> 00:38:58,126
- Thank you.
971
00:38:58,211 --> 00:39:01,921
♪ ♪
972
00:39:02,007 --> 00:39:04,674
- all right, bladesmiths,
this is the sharpness test--
973
00:39:04,718 --> 00:39:05,800
the foam pillar slice.
974
00:39:05,886 --> 00:39:07,177
Now, unlike the strength test,
975
00:39:07,220 --> 00:39:09,095
this is all about how sharp
your weapons are
976
00:39:09,181 --> 00:39:10,889
and what they do
to these foam pillars
977
00:39:10,974 --> 00:39:12,265
that are
wrapped in leather.
978
00:39:12,351 --> 00:39:13,975
James, you're up first.
You ready?
979
00:39:14,061 --> 00:39:15,810
- Yeah, man. Let's go.
- Let's do it.
980
00:39:15,896 --> 00:39:22,859
♪ ♪
981
00:39:34,706 --> 00:39:36,081
all right, james,
982
00:39:36,166 --> 00:39:39,501
the edge of your sword
is like cutting through butter.
983
00:39:39,586 --> 00:39:42,754
It's a nice clean cut,
cuts all the way through.
984
00:39:42,839 --> 00:39:45,048
Overall, sir, your weapon,
985
00:39:45,092 --> 00:39:46,549
it will cut.
986
00:39:46,635 --> 00:39:47,717
- Thank you.
987
00:39:47,803 --> 00:39:50,011
- All right, lyle,
your turn, sir.
988
00:39:50,097 --> 00:39:51,388
You ready?
- Yes, sir.
989
00:39:51,473 --> 00:39:52,514
- Let's do this.
990
00:39:52,599 --> 00:39:59,562
♪ ♪
991
00:40:02,609 --> 00:40:04,609
all right, lyle, let's talk
about your sword here.
992
00:40:04,694 --> 00:40:07,862
First up, the guard is still
a little bit loose
993
00:40:07,906 --> 00:40:10,615
from the strength test,
but when it comes to the cuts,
994
00:40:10,700 --> 00:40:12,742
it is a sharp edge
that you have here.
995
00:40:12,828 --> 00:40:15,578
It did cut the leather.
It just didn't cut through.
996
00:40:15,664 --> 00:40:18,665
It's a lighter blade,
thinner edge over here.
997
00:40:18,750 --> 00:40:21,626
But it does cut.
- Thank you.
998
00:40:21,711 --> 00:40:23,044
♪ ♪
999
00:40:23,088 --> 00:40:24,462
- all right, gentlemen,
1000
00:40:24,548 --> 00:40:27,549
you guys both brought us back
giant william wallace swords
1001
00:40:27,592 --> 00:40:29,259
that exceeded
our expectation.
1002
00:40:29,344 --> 00:40:31,678
They're the largest swords
ever built in this competition.
1003
00:40:31,763 --> 00:40:33,721
So we want to commend
you guys both for that.
1004
00:40:33,807 --> 00:40:36,224
But there can only be one
champion in this competition.
1005
00:40:36,309 --> 00:40:38,309
And today's "forged in fire"
champion is...
1006
00:40:38,395 --> 00:40:41,604
♪ ♪
1007
00:40:41,690 --> 00:40:43,148
james.
Congratulations.
1008
00:40:43,233 --> 00:40:44,482
- Thank you.
- Lyle, unfortunately,
1009
00:40:44,568 --> 00:40:45,900
you just didn't
make the cut today.
1010
00:40:45,986 --> 00:40:47,610
And dave baker
is gonna tell you why.
1011
00:40:47,696 --> 00:40:51,114
- Lyle, you made us an amazing
sword that performed very well.
1012
00:40:51,158 --> 00:40:53,283
But that guard loosened up
in the strength test,
1013
00:40:53,326 --> 00:40:55,160
and it just didn't cut as well
in the sharpness test.
1014
00:40:55,245 --> 00:40:56,578
And that's why
we're letting you go.
1015
00:40:56,663 --> 00:40:57,787
- I understand.
1016
00:40:57,831 --> 00:40:59,080
- Lyle, thank you
for all your hard work.
1017
00:40:59,166 --> 00:41:00,457
You produced
a phenomenal weapon.
1018
00:41:00,542 --> 00:41:02,041
But, unfortunately,
I'm gonna have to ask you
1019
00:41:02,127 --> 00:41:04,043
to please step off the floor.
- Thank you.
1020
00:41:04,129 --> 00:41:05,962
I'm a little upset
that I lost.
1021
00:41:06,006 --> 00:41:10,258
But at the same time, I mean,
I got nothing to be sad about.
1022
00:41:10,343 --> 00:41:14,137
To be here at the finals and my
sword actually made it through,
1023
00:41:14,222 --> 00:41:17,640
I mean, I can't be more happy
about it.
1024
00:41:17,684 --> 00:41:20,226
♪ ♪
1025
00:41:20,312 --> 00:41:21,519
- james, congratulations.
1026
00:41:21,605 --> 00:41:23,354
You are
the "forged in fire" champion.
1027
00:41:23,440 --> 00:41:26,024
You'll be leaving here
with a check for $10,000.
1028
00:41:26,109 --> 00:41:27,650
How does it feel?
- Pretty great.
1029
00:41:27,694 --> 00:41:30,904
Yeah, baby!
I am "forged in fire" champion.
1030
00:41:30,989 --> 00:41:33,156
- Great work.
1031
00:41:33,200 --> 00:41:35,158
- Feels a little surreal,
1032
00:41:35,202 --> 00:41:37,035
like, maybe this isn't real.
1033
00:41:37,120 --> 00:41:38,244
Might find out tomorrow
1034
00:41:38,330 --> 00:41:40,622
that this didn't really happen.
[chuckles]
1035
00:41:40,707 --> 00:41:45,585
♪ ♪