1 00:00:06,049 --> 00:00:07,716 - Here in The Forge, 2 00:00:07,875 --> 00:00:09,301 we've put hundreds of smiths to the test, 3 00:00:09,385 --> 00:00:11,544 but one fierce competitor has proven himself 4 00:00:11,629 --> 00:00:14,881 time and time again, Ben Abbott. 5 00:00:14,974 --> 00:00:16,975 An expert blacksmith and bladesmith, 6 00:00:17,060 --> 00:00:18,894 a fan favorite turned judge, 7 00:00:19,053 --> 00:00:22,230 Ben Abbott remains undefeated in this forge, 8 00:00:22,315 --> 00:00:27,069 but soon, all that could change. 9 00:00:28,404 --> 00:00:30,146 Tonight, we've gathered three talented bladesmits 10 00:00:30,231 --> 00:00:35,735 to go head, to head, to head, to beat the unbeaten. 11 00:00:35,820 --> 00:00:38,571 - Come on. - Right there. 12 00:00:38,656 --> 00:00:42,659 - Do they have what it takes to finally beat Ben Abbott? 13 00:00:42,752 --> 00:00:44,419 The competition continues now. 14 00:00:44,578 --> 00:00:51,426 ♪ ♪ 15 00:00:52,345 --> 00:00:54,838 - I'm Jeremy Gonzales. I'm from Beeville, Texas. 16 00:00:54,931 --> 00:00:55,847 I served in the Navy 17 00:00:55,932 --> 00:00:57,257 on the U.S. submarine force. 18 00:00:57,341 --> 00:00:58,350 I've been forging for 19 00:00:58,509 --> 00:01:00,685 a little over three years now. 20 00:01:00,845 --> 00:01:01,928 I never really had the opportunity 21 00:01:02,021 --> 00:01:04,097 until I went to a PTSD treatment center 22 00:01:04,181 --> 00:01:05,774 in Bandera, Texas called Warriors Heart. 23 00:01:05,858 --> 00:01:07,776 Hopefully, that warrior mentality can push me 24 00:01:07,935 --> 00:01:11,104 over the edge of what it takes to beat Ben today. 25 00:01:11,188 --> 00:01:13,106 - My name's Zechariah Nelson. 26 00:01:13,190 --> 00:01:15,033 I'm from Bowling Green, Kentucky. 27 00:01:15,118 --> 00:01:17,202 I've been bladesmithing for about seven years now. 28 00:01:17,361 --> 00:01:18,703 I'm a custom fabricator for my 29 00:01:18,863 --> 00:01:20,196 parents construction business. 30 00:01:20,289 --> 00:01:22,040 At home, I have five sisters 31 00:01:22,199 --> 00:01:23,542 and four brothers rooting for me, 32 00:01:23,626 --> 00:01:26,119 along with my parents and my amazing wife. 33 00:01:26,203 --> 00:01:28,463 If I can beat Ben at 19, I can do anything. 34 00:01:28,622 --> 00:01:30,215 ♪ ♪ 35 00:01:30,299 --> 00:01:33,042 - I'm Robert Loveday. I'm from Carroll, Nebraska, 36 00:01:33,127 --> 00:01:34,052 I'm an anesthesiologist 37 00:01:34,211 --> 00:01:35,545 and part-time bladesmith. 38 00:01:35,629 --> 00:01:36,888 I started making knives 39 00:01:37,047 --> 00:01:39,057 when I was about 22 years old. 40 00:01:39,142 --> 00:01:41,977 It was a big stress relief for me and it just stuck. 41 00:01:42,136 --> 00:01:43,812 I really want a chance to go against Ben, 42 00:01:43,971 --> 00:01:45,305 show them what I got and see what he's got. 43 00:01:45,389 --> 00:01:47,640 Gonna be a lot of fun. 44 00:01:47,725 --> 00:01:50,318 - Bladesmiths, welcome to The Forge. 45 00:01:50,403 --> 00:01:51,895 The three of you signed up 46 00:01:51,979 --> 00:01:53,822 for an intense bladesmithing competition 47 00:01:53,981 --> 00:01:56,900 that's going to test every aspect of your skills. 48 00:01:56,993 --> 00:02:00,069 Now, today's competition will not consist of three rounds. 49 00:02:00,154 --> 00:02:01,070 We're not gonna have a whole forging portion 50 00:02:01,155 --> 00:02:02,488 of the competition, 51 00:02:02,582 --> 00:02:04,324 and you're not gonna be going against your peers 52 00:02:04,408 --> 00:02:05,584 for the title of "Forge in Fire" champion 53 00:02:05,743 --> 00:02:07,660 and the check for $10,000. 54 00:02:07,753 --> 00:02:10,163 Instead, in order to take home the win, 55 00:02:10,247 --> 00:02:12,081 you're gonna have to face a fierce opponent 56 00:02:12,166 --> 00:02:16,011 with an unbeaten record, currently 5-0, Ben Abbott. 57 00:02:16,170 --> 00:02:18,004 ♪ ♪ 58 00:02:18,097 --> 00:02:19,088 Ben, you got anything to say these guys 59 00:02:19,182 --> 00:02:20,590 before they get into it? 60 00:02:20,683 --> 00:02:21,850 - Hope you brought your A-game 61 00:02:21,934 --> 00:02:23,101 'cause it's not going to be easy, 62 00:02:23,260 --> 00:02:25,520 but good luck to all of you. 63 00:02:25,605 --> 00:02:26,938 - Ben is gonna be purely an observer 64 00:02:27,023 --> 00:02:29,024 during the first portion of this competition. 65 00:02:29,183 --> 00:02:30,775 He's not gonna be present during the testing. 66 00:02:30,935 --> 00:02:33,937 Now that is in the hands of our two other esteemed judges. 67 00:02:34,021 --> 00:02:35,772 They are the ones who are gonna be making 68 00:02:35,865 --> 00:02:38,116 all of the critical decisions as to who's gonna stay 69 00:02:38,201 --> 00:02:39,859 and who's gonna be heading home. 70 00:02:39,952 --> 00:02:41,119 Now here's how it's going to work. 71 00:02:41,204 --> 00:02:43,446 You will have five hours to complete a blade 72 00:02:43,539 --> 00:02:45,457 from start to finish. 73 00:02:45,616 --> 00:02:47,542 We don't have any model blade we want you to recreate. 74 00:02:47,701 --> 00:02:49,786 We want you to put together your signature blade 75 00:02:49,879 --> 00:02:51,788 in your signature style. 76 00:02:51,872 --> 00:02:54,883 In order to do so, we want you to use this. 77 00:02:55,042 --> 00:03:00,213 ♪ ♪ 78 00:03:00,297 --> 00:03:03,141 Bladesmiths, what we have here is a pile of scrap steel 79 00:03:03,300 --> 00:03:05,727 from previous competitions. 80 00:03:05,886 --> 00:03:07,229 Guys, we got everything from sledgehammers, 81 00:03:07,313 --> 00:03:10,640 the excavator bucket from the second chance tournament, 82 00:03:10,733 --> 00:03:13,309 we've got farming tools from the farming competition, 83 00:03:13,402 --> 00:03:16,238 we've got nails. There is a ton of options here. 84 00:03:16,397 --> 00:03:17,739 We just ask that you 85 00:03:17,898 --> 00:03:19,658 source your high-carbon steel from this pile 86 00:03:19,742 --> 00:03:21,576 and use any forge welding technique you want 87 00:03:21,735 --> 00:03:22,994 to make your blades. 88 00:03:23,079 --> 00:03:24,988 You cannot do a mono steel blade, 89 00:03:25,081 --> 00:03:27,573 but you can do a canister, you can do twisted Damascus, 90 00:03:27,658 --> 00:03:30,168 you can do layered Damascus. That choice is up to you. 91 00:03:30,327 --> 00:03:33,579 Now again, you guys have to do a forge-welded blade. 92 00:03:33,664 --> 00:03:35,999 Just makes sure that they fall within these parameters. 93 00:03:36,083 --> 00:03:37,750 By the end of the five-hour competition, 94 00:03:37,843 --> 00:03:40,670 you need to turn in a 13-to 15-inch blade. 95 00:03:40,754 --> 00:03:43,006 When that time runs out, you need to be quenched, 96 00:03:43,090 --> 00:03:45,591 hardened, tempered, and have a handle attached, 97 00:03:45,685 --> 00:03:47,686 fully functional, and ready for testing. 98 00:03:47,845 --> 00:03:49,762 - I see there's not gonna be 99 00:03:49,855 --> 00:03:52,682 an easy layered Damascus with known steel, 100 00:03:52,775 --> 00:03:56,778 but you gotta be expecting a bunch of random materials 101 00:03:56,937 --> 00:03:58,938 if you're coming on this competition. 102 00:03:59,023 --> 00:04:00,865 - Now at the end of that five-hour round, 103 00:04:00,950 --> 00:04:02,617 your blades will get tested by Dave and Doug 104 00:04:02,776 --> 00:04:04,369 and they're gonna check for strength and durabiliy 105 00:04:04,453 --> 00:04:06,621 in a copper pipe chop, 106 00:04:06,780 --> 00:04:07,864 and they're gonna check your edge retention 107 00:04:07,957 --> 00:04:10,283 in a foam tube slice. 108 00:04:10,376 --> 00:04:11,534 Now, bladesmiths, I hope you're rested 109 00:04:11,618 --> 00:04:12,702 because you only have five hours 110 00:04:12,786 --> 00:04:14,537 to complete your very best blade 111 00:04:14,621 --> 00:04:16,631 to prove to these guys you have what it takes 112 00:04:16,716 --> 00:04:18,875 to beat Ben Abbott. Good luck. 113 00:04:18,968 --> 00:04:22,137 Your time starts now. 114 00:04:22,296 --> 00:04:23,638 Here we go. 115 00:04:23,797 --> 00:04:25,890 All right guys, looking at the pile we have here, 116 00:04:25,975 --> 00:04:27,550 what would you guys be going for? 117 00:04:27,643 --> 00:04:29,802 - I'd probably take one of those big, old ball bearings 118 00:04:29,887 --> 00:04:31,896 draw it out, put some mild on the sides. 119 00:04:31,981 --> 00:04:35,141 - Personally, I would grab either the chainsaw chain 120 00:04:35,225 --> 00:04:38,144 or the nails and do a canister so have a lot of options 121 00:04:38,237 --> 00:04:39,821 for drawing that out into a weapon. 122 00:04:39,980 --> 00:04:41,823 ♪ ♪ 123 00:04:41,982 --> 00:04:44,075 - My game plan is to make a canister Damascus. 124 00:04:44,234 --> 00:04:46,069 I see that coil of piano wire, 125 00:04:46,153 --> 00:04:48,246 I know that it's a good, high-carbon steel. 126 00:04:48,405 --> 00:04:49,831 Somebody want one of these? 127 00:04:49,990 --> 00:04:52,158 Nobody wanted those nice, round W1 bars 128 00:04:52,242 --> 00:04:54,502 and so I snatched those up, too. 129 00:04:54,661 --> 00:04:56,838 I'd probably done 10 or 12 canisters at home 130 00:04:56,997 --> 00:04:58,498 and I've had pretty good success with them. 131 00:04:58,582 --> 00:05:00,592 I need more wire. 132 00:05:00,751 --> 00:05:02,510 I wash everything with acetone 133 00:05:02,669 --> 00:05:05,013 and take the forge scale off of the W1 round. 134 00:05:05,097 --> 00:05:07,423 So they'll--hopefully, they'll get a nice, clean weld. 135 00:05:07,508 --> 00:05:10,101 - Rob's got the piano wire and W1 136 00:05:10,186 --> 00:05:11,519 from the pick of the barrel challenge. 137 00:05:11,678 --> 00:05:13,772 - But that's not really what I would choose. 138 00:05:13,856 --> 00:05:16,516 They're not gonna give you a lot of pattern. 139 00:05:16,609 --> 00:05:17,934 - Welding. 140 00:05:18,018 --> 00:05:19,519 So if I don't get a good weld on this, 141 00:05:19,612 --> 00:05:21,771 the powder can start burning out of there. 142 00:05:21,855 --> 00:05:25,367 Oxygen can get in there, cause some bad welds. 143 00:05:25,451 --> 00:05:27,202 So I'm starting to feel the pressure. 144 00:05:27,361 --> 00:05:28,953 ♪ ♪ 145 00:05:29,113 --> 00:05:32,281 - This is so [bleep]. [bleep]. 146 00:05:32,375 --> 00:05:35,043 I'm a young smith and I may think that I can do anything, 147 00:05:35,127 --> 00:05:36,536 but I know I'm limited in my skill, 148 00:05:36,620 --> 00:05:38,621 so I really didn't want to risk canister Damascus, 149 00:05:38,705 --> 00:05:40,465 so I just saw this train spring. 150 00:05:40,624 --> 00:05:42,959 And I figured that'd be really easy to uncoil once I got hot. 151 00:05:43,043 --> 00:05:45,545 - Well, it looks like Zechariah is going with that coil spring. 152 00:05:45,638 --> 00:05:48,131 - Yep. - And let's see if he's active. 153 00:05:48,224 --> 00:05:49,799 - Welding. 154 00:05:49,883 --> 00:05:52,227 - We do not want mono steel blades. 155 00:05:52,386 --> 00:05:54,062 - Yeah. 156 00:05:54,146 --> 00:05:55,480 - I just have to include a forge weld somewhere, 157 00:05:55,564 --> 00:05:57,140 so I just took my canister, 158 00:05:57,224 --> 00:05:58,224 threw the chainsaw chain in here, 159 00:05:58,308 --> 00:06:00,059 filled up with powder. 160 00:06:00,144 --> 00:06:01,653 - Zechariah's got the chainsaw. 161 00:06:01,737 --> 00:06:04,230 Hopefully, he's going to do a nice Damascus San Mai. 162 00:06:04,314 --> 00:06:05,657 - Probably confused the judges. 163 00:06:05,741 --> 00:06:06,658 Welding. 164 00:06:06,742 --> 00:06:08,067 But I knew what I was doing. 165 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:09,411 I was gonna make two bolsters with it 166 00:06:09,495 --> 00:06:11,904 and just kind of forge weld those on there. 167 00:06:11,989 --> 00:06:13,573 And I was trying to think outside the box 168 00:06:13,666 --> 00:06:14,907 so I can go up against Ben Abbott. 169 00:06:14,992 --> 00:06:16,826 Gotta get it hot. 170 00:06:16,919 --> 00:06:20,079 - There's scrap left over from past challenges, 171 00:06:20,172 --> 00:06:23,499 so I grabbed this God-awful contraption. 172 00:06:23,592 --> 00:06:25,927 It has a big chunk of spring steel in the middle of it 173 00:06:26,086 --> 00:06:30,014 and use that as my base billet and then use the mild stel 174 00:06:30,099 --> 00:06:32,341 from the side of the bucket for a San Mai, 175 00:06:32,435 --> 00:06:34,594 where you put two different types of steel together 176 00:06:34,678 --> 00:06:38,273 to give it more flexibility for the chop challenge. 177 00:06:38,432 --> 00:06:39,858 - Jeremy is just grabbing mild steel 178 00:06:40,017 --> 00:06:41,350 from the side of the bucket. 179 00:06:41,435 --> 00:06:42,685 - That's a very time-consuming process. 180 00:06:42,769 --> 00:06:43,936 - Oh, yeah. 181 00:06:45,272 --> 00:06:47,782 - I had no idea it was gonna be so difficult to cut into. 182 00:06:47,941 --> 00:06:49,701 ♪ ♪ 183 00:06:49,785 --> 00:06:51,202 Holy cow, a stick. 184 00:06:51,287 --> 00:06:53,779 - Looks like Jeremy has just tunnel vision 185 00:06:53,873 --> 00:06:55,531 rather than pick up a different piece of metal 186 00:06:55,616 --> 00:06:57,459 that's much easier to forge weld. 187 00:06:57,618 --> 00:07:01,129 - I'm pounding on this thing. It is not working. 188 00:07:01,288 --> 00:07:02,788 ♪ ♪ 189 00:07:02,873 --> 00:07:04,874 - Come in! - [laughs] 190 00:07:04,967 --> 00:07:07,376 - I'm just not making any progress at this point. 191 00:07:07,470 --> 00:07:10,213 Finally, I decided to use a pry tool and pry it open. 192 00:07:10,306 --> 00:07:12,724 And I just stomped on the thing and it flies off. 193 00:07:12,808 --> 00:07:14,726 Now I can move on to the second piece that I need. 194 00:07:14,810 --> 00:07:16,719 Come on. 195 00:07:16,803 --> 00:07:18,888 - While that Damascus is heating up, 196 00:07:18,972 --> 00:07:21,149 I think a guard might impress the judges. 197 00:07:21,233 --> 00:07:24,152 I hope it gets me through to face Ben Abbott. 198 00:07:24,236 --> 00:07:26,738 So I pull out a three inch thick piece of angle iron 199 00:07:26,822 --> 00:07:28,981 to start working on a guard. 200 00:07:29,066 --> 00:07:30,399 - Good thing about this five-hour round 201 00:07:30,493 --> 00:07:33,912 is they can work on the entire blade throughout. 202 00:07:34,071 --> 00:07:37,749 - My plan is to punch a hole in it. 203 00:07:37,908 --> 00:07:42,078 So I take it to the press. 204 00:07:42,171 --> 00:07:43,338 They got stuck in there. 205 00:07:43,497 --> 00:07:45,248 ♪ ♪ 206 00:07:45,332 --> 00:07:48,334 Usually, I just can hit it on the side, pound it of, 207 00:07:48,418 --> 00:07:50,753 but today, it's not coming off. 208 00:07:50,846 --> 00:07:52,430 It's stuck in there. 209 00:07:52,515 --> 00:07:55,258 - Rob got that punch stuck in his guard for so long. 210 00:07:55,351 --> 00:07:58,844 He looks tired. 211 00:07:58,938 --> 00:08:01,272 - [bleep]. 212 00:08:01,431 --> 00:08:03,599 - Like 20 minutes trying to get the punch out of the guard. 213 00:08:03,684 --> 00:08:06,018 - And I'm wasting time. 214 00:08:06,103 --> 00:08:07,862 [chuckles softly] 215 00:08:07,947 --> 00:08:10,189 Eventually, I get the punch off of the guard. 216 00:08:10,274 --> 00:08:13,535 It's cost me more time than is worth it. 217 00:08:13,694 --> 00:08:15,278 ♪ ♪ 218 00:08:15,362 --> 00:08:16,704 - While I was waiting on that spring coil to get hot, 219 00:08:16,863 --> 00:08:18,456 I drew my design, 220 00:08:18,615 --> 00:08:20,041 just, like, a camp knife. 221 00:08:20,125 --> 00:08:21,534 Something that you can chop a copper pipe with 222 00:08:21,618 --> 00:08:24,128 or cut a foam tube with in this scenario. 223 00:08:24,288 --> 00:08:26,205 The coil heated pretty quick. 224 00:08:26,298 --> 00:08:27,957 The forges here are pretty hot. 225 00:08:28,041 --> 00:08:29,884 I got it straight by taking a piece of scrap angle iron 226 00:08:29,969 --> 00:08:31,553 and the leftover of my canister. 227 00:08:31,712 --> 00:08:33,388 ♪ ♪ 228 00:08:33,472 --> 00:08:34,889 It actually worked out really well. 229 00:08:35,048 --> 00:08:36,641 And then that canister in the forge, 230 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:38,050 I took it and I squished it out 231 00:08:38,143 --> 00:08:39,227 to make two bolsters with it. 232 00:08:39,386 --> 00:08:40,812 ♪ ♪ 233 00:08:40,896 --> 00:08:42,638 Man, that sucks. 234 00:08:42,723 --> 00:08:44,724 The spring coil wasn't very wide, 235 00:08:44,817 --> 00:08:47,059 so there wasn't a lot of material to draw out. 236 00:08:47,144 --> 00:08:49,571 - Now Zechariah's blade looks like it's getting pretty lean. 237 00:08:49,730 --> 00:08:51,647 - Yeah, you don't want the front of it to flop up 238 00:08:51,740 --> 00:08:52,740 when you're hitting the back. 239 00:08:52,825 --> 00:08:54,734 - Right there. 240 00:08:54,818 --> 00:08:58,830 - I set the San Mai welds by hand and they look great. 241 00:08:58,914 --> 00:09:00,498 I feel like they're sticking pretty good. 242 00:09:00,583 --> 00:09:01,833 And then I think to myself, 243 00:09:01,917 --> 00:09:03,159 "I should probably have a design." 244 00:09:03,243 --> 00:09:05,336 And I sketch out the Bowie knife there, 245 00:09:05,421 --> 00:09:06,579 I think it would be perfect 246 00:09:06,672 --> 00:09:07,663 for the testing of this competition. 247 00:09:07,748 --> 00:09:09,924 It's perfect for chopping. 248 00:09:10,009 --> 00:09:12,260 Has a belly on it, so I can slice through the foam 249 00:09:12,419 --> 00:09:14,512 better than a straight edged knife would. 250 00:09:14,597 --> 00:09:15,921 - I like the look of Jeremy's blade. 251 00:09:16,015 --> 00:09:17,599 It's kind of that a Persian fighter feel to it. 252 00:09:17,758 --> 00:09:19,342 - Yeah. 253 00:09:19,435 --> 00:09:21,519 - Big Blu, of course, makes short worth my billet, 254 00:09:21,678 --> 00:09:24,105 so I feel like I'm on track. 255 00:09:24,264 --> 00:09:26,024 Nice. 256 00:09:27,776 --> 00:09:30,102 - So I checked on the canister. Temperature looks great. 257 00:09:30,187 --> 00:09:32,697 I take it over to the press with the squaring dyes, 258 00:09:32,781 --> 00:09:34,532 feels like it's welding up really well. 259 00:09:34,617 --> 00:09:36,192 I'm going to leave that can on there 260 00:09:36,285 --> 00:09:39,454 and just start drawing out a long, thin piece of steel. 261 00:09:39,538 --> 00:09:43,032 So my plan is to make a recurve chopping knife and to do that, 262 00:09:43,125 --> 00:09:45,376 I need to fuller out the width of the blade 263 00:09:45,461 --> 00:09:47,119 so that the end of the blade 264 00:09:47,204 --> 00:09:49,464 can get that big swell that'll be great for chopping. 265 00:09:49,623 --> 00:09:52,875 - Look at Rob's billet. That is, like, 2 1/2 inches tall. 266 00:09:52,968 --> 00:09:55,053 - I'm deliberately leaving it a little bit thick. 267 00:09:55,212 --> 00:09:56,212 I don't want to be caught 268 00:09:56,296 --> 00:09:57,555 halfway through the competition, 269 00:09:57,640 --> 00:09:58,640 find out I don't have enough steel 270 00:09:58,799 --> 00:09:59,641 to make the knife that I want to make. 271 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:02,477 ♪ ♪ 272 00:10:02,561 --> 00:10:04,720 - I shaped my blade pretty well, actually. 273 00:10:04,805 --> 00:10:07,231 I have no mild steel on my blade at all. 274 00:10:07,391 --> 00:10:10,142 So I'm going to forge weld two bolsters onto the side of it 275 00:10:10,227 --> 00:10:11,653 and using that canister that I made. 276 00:10:11,737 --> 00:10:14,906 Cleaned up on both sides and cut it into two pieces, 277 00:10:15,065 --> 00:10:16,899 put bolsters on each side. 278 00:10:16,983 --> 00:10:18,651 - I'm looking at what Zechariah's doing. 279 00:10:18,744 --> 00:10:20,986 Basically, he's got a mono steel blade 280 00:10:21,071 --> 00:10:23,489 with a canister Damascus bolster. 281 00:10:23,582 --> 00:10:27,085 - The rules say you need to have a forge weld 282 00:10:27,169 --> 00:10:29,745 in the creation of the blade of your weapon. 283 00:10:29,838 --> 00:10:31,163 - So this doesn't count. 284 00:10:31,248 --> 00:10:33,332 He did forge weld, but not for the blade. 285 00:10:33,425 --> 00:10:36,344 - The idea is if you forge weld on your blade, 286 00:10:36,503 --> 00:10:39,764 there's a possibility that those forge welds don't take, 287 00:10:39,848 --> 00:10:43,935 and it's a demonstration of skill. 288 00:10:44,094 --> 00:10:47,939 - I get the blade up to a good temperature for a good quench. 289 00:10:48,023 --> 00:10:49,598 You don't want to get it too hot 290 00:10:49,692 --> 00:10:51,693 or else you'll run the risk of cracking your blade. 291 00:10:51,852 --> 00:10:53,936 ♪ ♪ 292 00:10:54,020 --> 00:10:55,521 - But guys, Rob, just quenched. 293 00:10:55,614 --> 00:10:56,447 What do you think of the temperatures? 294 00:10:56,606 --> 00:10:57,699 - That was a little hot for me. 295 00:10:57,858 --> 00:10:59,283 - Yeah. - Yeah? 296 00:10:59,368 --> 00:11:03,863 - Then I pull it out and it starts to warp. 297 00:11:03,956 --> 00:11:07,867 I don't know why it warped, but it--it warped. 298 00:11:07,951 --> 00:11:09,460 This point, I'm starting to get worried. 299 00:11:09,545 --> 00:11:12,380 I'm going to have to try to straighten out the warp. 300 00:11:12,539 --> 00:11:15,299 I can grind some of it out, but not enough, 301 00:11:15,459 --> 00:11:17,460 so I start bending the blade, 302 00:11:17,544 --> 00:11:20,555 hopefully before it completely hardens. 303 00:11:20,714 --> 00:11:21,973 Try to put a good amount of pressure on it 304 00:11:22,057 --> 00:11:23,299 without breaking it. 305 00:11:23,383 --> 00:11:25,384 I'm really hoping 306 00:11:25,469 --> 00:11:26,978 this isn't going to be the reason I go home. 307 00:11:27,062 --> 00:11:28,396 [bleep]. 308 00:11:32,309 --> 00:11:33,225 Seems like everything's 309 00:11:33,318 --> 00:11:34,477 getting a little bit straighter. 310 00:11:34,561 --> 00:11:36,404 I should be able to grind out 311 00:11:36,563 --> 00:11:38,072 any warps that are left behind. 312 00:11:38,231 --> 00:11:39,982 - I'm trying to make sure that color is even 313 00:11:40,075 --> 00:11:41,400 throughout the whole blade before I quench it. 314 00:11:41,493 --> 00:11:42,902 That way, I don't have hard spots 315 00:11:42,995 --> 00:11:44,153 and harder spots and everything. 316 00:11:44,246 --> 00:11:47,490 [upbeat music] 317 00:11:47,574 --> 00:11:50,326 ♪ ♪ 318 00:11:50,419 --> 00:11:52,745 - Oh. - Holy cow. 319 00:11:52,829 --> 00:11:54,330 - It's screaming already. 320 00:11:54,423 --> 00:11:56,081 - It's straight as it can be. Didn't pick up a warp. 321 00:11:56,175 --> 00:11:58,676 Went and took a file to it. 322 00:11:58,835 --> 00:12:00,586 It's hard. [laughs] 323 00:12:00,670 --> 00:12:02,513 Oh, yeah. 324 00:12:02,598 --> 00:12:04,015 - All right bladesmiths, 325 00:12:04,099 --> 00:12:06,350 you guys are halfway through this five-hour round. 326 00:12:06,435 --> 00:12:09,261 You have two hours and 30 minutes left. 327 00:12:09,346 --> 00:12:12,348 - So I'm like, gosh, my blade isn't even quenched yet. 328 00:12:12,441 --> 00:12:15,017 So I'm waiting for it to get the critical temperature. 329 00:12:15,101 --> 00:12:17,028 - Holy moly. - Oh, that's hot. 330 00:12:17,112 --> 00:12:18,354 - Yeah, that is screaming hot. 331 00:12:18,438 --> 00:12:22,533 ♪ ♪ 332 00:12:22,692 --> 00:12:26,695 - I quench and I just don't have a good feeling about it. 333 00:12:26,780 --> 00:12:28,623 It's way too hot, way too many flames coming up. 334 00:12:28,782 --> 00:12:30,449 [bleep]. 335 00:12:30,542 --> 00:12:33,035 It has this huge warp in it. 336 00:12:33,119 --> 00:12:35,371 Try to get it out by pressing the top of it. 337 00:12:35,464 --> 00:12:37,465 I'm starting to get nervous that it's going to snap, 338 00:12:37,549 --> 00:12:40,301 So I make the choice to quench again, 339 00:12:40,385 --> 00:12:41,969 which is not a good idea 340 00:12:42,054 --> 00:12:43,128 'cause you're going to lose carbon in the steel. 341 00:12:43,222 --> 00:12:45,306 First quench didn't go too good. 342 00:12:45,390 --> 00:12:47,892 - Really? - Literally like a banana. 343 00:12:47,976 --> 00:12:50,394 - Quenching multiple times from a very high temperature 344 00:12:50,554 --> 00:12:53,889 gives just a big, big grain. It makes things overly brittle. 345 00:12:53,974 --> 00:12:55,983 ♪ ♪ 346 00:12:56,068 --> 00:12:57,235 - You know, not the same amount of flame, 347 00:12:57,319 --> 00:12:58,486 so I'm feeling a lot better about this. 348 00:12:58,645 --> 00:13:00,563 Pretty good. 349 00:13:00,647 --> 00:13:02,481 There's a slight warp, 350 00:13:02,566 --> 00:13:04,483 but it's definitely something I can handle on the grinder. 351 00:13:04,576 --> 00:13:06,160 - So my blade is looking really good, 352 00:13:06,319 --> 00:13:07,995 but now I need to focus on the handle. 353 00:13:08,080 --> 00:13:09,572 Handles are very important to me 354 00:13:09,665 --> 00:13:11,156 and one of my favorite parts of making a knife, 355 00:13:11,241 --> 00:13:12,500 and so I had to take pride 356 00:13:12,584 --> 00:13:14,001 in how clean and crisp I get them. 357 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:15,419 - Good to see that Rob is in there 358 00:13:15,504 --> 00:13:17,338 reaming out that handle material. 359 00:13:17,422 --> 00:13:19,674 - He's certainly far ahead 360 00:13:19,833 --> 00:13:22,918 and he's got a blade that looks gorgeous. 361 00:13:23,011 --> 00:13:24,670 - So I get everything lined up and fit up, 362 00:13:24,754 --> 00:13:26,931 make sure that there aren't any major gaps. 363 00:13:27,015 --> 00:13:29,425 And fortunately, everything goes together really well. 364 00:13:29,509 --> 00:13:34,355 I hope it gets me through to face Ben Abbott. 365 00:13:34,514 --> 00:13:35,598 - All right, guys, you have an hour left. 366 00:13:35,682 --> 00:13:36,941 Go ahead and get it done. 367 00:13:37,100 --> 00:13:38,601 - Yeah, we've got three handles 368 00:13:38,685 --> 00:13:41,854 that need to be pitted up, blued, and shaped. 369 00:13:41,947 --> 00:13:43,439 - I can't wait for my epoxy to dry, 370 00:13:43,532 --> 00:13:45,107 so I go over there with a grinder with clamps on there 371 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,693 and I start working. 372 00:13:47,786 --> 00:13:49,203 I'm just sharpening the blade, 373 00:13:49,362 --> 00:13:51,030 just putting the last little edge on there 374 00:13:51,123 --> 00:13:52,781 just making sure it was razor-sharp, 375 00:13:52,866 --> 00:13:54,366 just making sure it was ready for testing. 376 00:13:54,451 --> 00:13:58,045 - I did say we don't want to see mono steel blades. 377 00:13:58,130 --> 00:13:59,714 And that would be considered a mono steel blade, you guys? 378 00:13:59,873 --> 00:14:01,382 - Oh, yeah. 379 00:14:01,466 --> 00:14:03,042 - I have no mild steel on my blade at all. 380 00:14:03,126 --> 00:14:04,969 And so I have no fear that 381 00:14:05,053 --> 00:14:07,221 when that blade hits that pipe, that it's solid. 382 00:14:07,380 --> 00:14:11,058 That will easily pass the testing. 383 00:14:11,143 --> 00:14:12,894 - All right. Rob is in the acid bath. 384 00:14:13,053 --> 00:14:14,470 We're definitely gonna see a pattern there. 385 00:14:14,563 --> 00:14:15,971 - That's great. 386 00:14:16,056 --> 00:14:18,232 - We got a wrapped-up blade from Zechariah, 387 00:14:18,317 --> 00:14:19,984 so I do not think we're gonna see an acid etch there. 388 00:14:20,068 --> 00:14:21,226 - No. 389 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:22,570 - A little bit of handle work. 390 00:14:22,654 --> 00:14:25,230 Jeremy, coming down to it, guys. 391 00:14:25,315 --> 00:14:28,734 - I finally get my epoxy. 392 00:14:28,818 --> 00:14:32,747 And then that's when I noticed the huge gap between the guard 393 00:14:32,831 --> 00:14:35,750 and the edge of the handle scale. 394 00:14:35,834 --> 00:14:37,752 Best thing I figured I could do at the time 395 00:14:37,911 --> 00:14:39,328 is just try to fill it with epoxy 396 00:14:39,421 --> 00:14:41,172 to make sure that the guard can stay in a place 397 00:14:41,331 --> 00:14:42,581 and survive the testing. 398 00:14:42,674 --> 00:14:44,175 - Eight minutes for your glue to dry. 399 00:14:44,334 --> 00:14:46,344 I mean, it's five-minute epoxy. 400 00:14:46,503 --> 00:14:47,336 - Gonna get tight. 401 00:14:47,420 --> 00:14:50,014 ♪ ♪ 402 00:14:50,098 --> 00:14:53,017 Bladesmiths, you have five minutes left before testing. 403 00:14:53,176 --> 00:14:55,678 Ben that means, unfortunately, it's time for you to head out. 404 00:14:55,762 --> 00:14:57,104 We will see you in the next competition, buddy. 405 00:14:57,263 --> 00:14:58,189 - All right. 406 00:14:58,348 --> 00:14:59,848 - So right now I'm hoping 407 00:14:59,933 --> 00:15:02,518 that my emergency fix is going to be enough. 408 00:15:02,602 --> 00:15:04,362 ♪ ♪ 409 00:15:04,446 --> 00:15:09,274 - Five, four, three, two, one. 410 00:15:09,359 --> 00:15:10,952 Bladesmiths, turn off your machines, 411 00:15:11,036 --> 00:15:12,453 put down your tools. 412 00:15:12,537 --> 00:15:14,372 This round is over. 413 00:15:14,456 --> 00:15:16,457 - Looking at my blade, I feel pretty good about it. 414 00:15:16,541 --> 00:15:17,708 I think I've got a pretty good chance 415 00:15:17,793 --> 00:15:19,043 at making it to the next round 416 00:15:19,127 --> 00:15:20,869 where I get to go against Ben Abbott. 417 00:15:20,954 --> 00:15:22,797 That's the big thing. 418 00:15:22,881 --> 00:15:24,465 - Bladesmiths, welcome to testing. 419 00:15:24,624 --> 00:15:25,874 Now, in the first round of competition, 420 00:15:25,968 --> 00:15:28,961 we asked you guys to use pieces of scrap steel, 421 00:15:29,045 --> 00:15:30,972 use a forge welding technique to build your blades, 422 00:15:31,056 --> 00:15:33,975 and turn in something that was between 13 and 15 inches, 423 00:15:34,134 --> 00:15:37,302 but you cannot make a mono steel blade. 424 00:15:37,387 --> 00:15:40,889 Unfortunately, we do have a parameter issue. 425 00:15:40,974 --> 00:15:44,819 Zechariah, unfortunately, your blade does miss parameters 426 00:15:44,903 --> 00:15:46,904 and Dave Baker is going to tell you why. 427 00:15:46,989 --> 00:15:48,322 - Zechariah, I think you made a really great-looking 428 00:15:48,481 --> 00:15:50,649 blade here, but Grady was very specific 429 00:15:50,734 --> 00:15:54,153 when he asked that part of the blade be forge wel. 430 00:15:54,237 --> 00:15:57,740 You forge welded on a bolster, not part of the blade. 431 00:15:57,824 --> 00:16:00,084 Sets up an unfair testing advantage where both 432 00:16:00,243 --> 00:16:03,245 your opponents have forged weld sections of the blade. 433 00:16:03,338 --> 00:16:04,747 - Now, Zechariah, 434 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:06,165 unfortunately, your time in The Forge is ended. 435 00:16:06,249 --> 00:16:07,332 I'm going to have to ask you 436 00:16:07,426 --> 00:16:08,759 to please step off The Forge floor. 437 00:16:08,844 --> 00:16:11,512 - I appreciate it. - Thank you so much. 438 00:16:11,596 --> 00:16:14,515 - I see David Baker's point. I understand it. 439 00:16:14,599 --> 00:16:16,091 The two bolsters, I figured, it was a nice, 440 00:16:16,184 --> 00:16:17,926 easy way to throw some canister Damascus, 441 00:16:18,011 --> 00:16:19,511 throw a little bit of spice into my blade. 442 00:16:19,596 --> 00:16:21,346 I'm going home my head held high. 443 00:16:21,431 --> 00:16:22,598 No regrets. 444 00:16:22,682 --> 00:16:25,109 ♪ ♪ 445 00:16:25,268 --> 00:16:27,269 - All right, gentlemen. 446 00:16:27,362 --> 00:16:30,856 It's time for the strength test, the copper pipe smash. 447 00:16:30,940 --> 00:16:33,525 Now, we've seen this test chew the edge off a lot of blades. 448 00:16:33,610 --> 00:16:36,537 But for the proper heat treat, should survive with no proble. 449 00:16:36,621 --> 00:16:38,113 Jeremy, you're up first, you ready? 450 00:16:38,206 --> 00:16:40,115 - Do it to it. 451 00:16:40,208 --> 00:16:41,950 - Sounds good. 452 00:16:42,035 --> 00:16:43,535 ♪ ♪ 453 00:16:43,620 --> 00:16:45,046 - I'm a little worried about my heat treat. 454 00:16:45,205 --> 00:16:46,547 The second quench is definitely 455 00:16:46,631 --> 00:16:48,632 in the back of my mind and I'm just hoping 456 00:16:48,717 --> 00:16:49,958 my handle stays together at this point. 457 00:16:50,043 --> 00:16:55,556 ♪ ♪ 458 00:16:59,385 --> 00:17:05,524 ♪ ♪ 459 00:17:17,662 --> 00:17:19,080 - All right, Jeremy. 460 00:17:19,164 --> 00:17:21,916 So start out with the blade here. 461 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:25,494 Man, this thing's still sharp. Good job. 462 00:17:25,587 --> 00:17:28,839 Your handle construction is-- Yeah, it's a--[chuckles] 463 00:17:28,924 --> 00:17:29,840 It's a bit rushed. 464 00:17:29,999 --> 00:17:31,834 The main problem I have with this 465 00:17:31,927 --> 00:17:35,254 is your handle kind of gets thinner towards the back. 466 00:17:35,338 --> 00:17:36,931 So as I was swinging this, 467 00:17:37,015 --> 00:17:39,258 I kind of had to keep readjusting 468 00:17:39,342 --> 00:17:40,935 to get a good grip on this. 469 00:17:41,094 --> 00:17:43,354 Having said that, your blade held up beautifully. 470 00:17:43,513 --> 00:17:45,013 So good job, man. - Thank you. 471 00:17:45,107 --> 00:17:47,432 - You bet. All right, Rob. You're up. Are you ready? 472 00:17:47,526 --> 00:17:48,684 - All right, let's do it. - Okay. 473 00:17:48,768 --> 00:17:50,102 ♪ ♪ 474 00:17:50,195 --> 00:17:51,195 - Copper is a really soft metal, 475 00:17:51,354 --> 00:17:53,364 and so the blade edge sinks n 476 00:17:53,523 --> 00:17:56,191 and then any kind of twisting or bending of the knife 477 00:17:56,276 --> 00:17:59,361 will cause it to chip and break out of there and roll the edge. 478 00:17:59,445 --> 00:18:06,293 ♪ ♪ 479 00:18:18,390 --> 00:18:19,890 - So one of the things I really like about your blade 480 00:18:19,975 --> 00:18:21,976 is I see a crafted blade here. 481 00:18:22,135 --> 00:18:23,978 The handle's got a really nice shape to it. 482 00:18:24,062 --> 00:18:28,065 Two parts, hidden tang, well-fitted-up guard. 483 00:18:28,150 --> 00:18:30,058 There's a couple of small deflections, 484 00:18:30,143 --> 00:18:32,561 but nothing major, and your edge is straight. 485 00:18:32,645 --> 00:18:34,062 Very well done. - Thank you. 486 00:18:34,147 --> 00:18:38,734 ♪ ♪ 487 00:18:38,818 --> 00:18:40,152 - All right, bladesmiths. 488 00:18:40,236 --> 00:18:43,664 This is the sharpness test, the foam tube slice. 489 00:18:43,823 --> 00:18:46,658 Now, unlike the strength, this is all about 490 00:18:46,743 --> 00:18:49,086 how sharp your blades are and how well they cut. 491 00:18:49,171 --> 00:18:50,588 Jeremy, you're up first. Are you ready? 492 00:18:50,747 --> 00:18:52,164 - Let's do it. - Let's do this. 493 00:18:52,248 --> 00:18:53,674 - So this is it. 494 00:18:53,758 --> 00:18:56,168 The last obstacle I have between me and Ben. 495 00:18:56,252 --> 00:18:58,086 So have at it, Doug. Let's go. 496 00:18:58,171 --> 00:19:05,019 ♪ ♪ 497 00:19:10,934 --> 00:19:13,194 - All right, Jeremy let's talk about your weapon here. 498 00:19:13,353 --> 00:19:15,446 It's got a good feel in the balance. 499 00:19:15,530 --> 00:19:18,032 Now, your edge is sharp. 500 00:19:18,116 --> 00:19:20,192 It has nice cuts to the first strike. 501 00:19:20,276 --> 00:19:21,702 Not all the way through in the last pieces, 502 00:19:21,861 --> 00:19:26,373 but overall, sir, your weapon, it'll cut. 503 00:19:26,532 --> 00:19:28,116 All right, Rob, your turn. So you ready? 504 00:19:28,201 --> 00:19:29,618 - I'm ready. - Let's do this. 505 00:19:29,711 --> 00:19:36,550 ♪ ♪ 506 00:19:42,724 --> 00:19:44,216 All right, Rob, let's talk about your weapon here. 507 00:19:44,300 --> 00:19:45,726 First up, 508 00:19:45,810 --> 00:19:48,387 that's a handsome profile that you have right there. 509 00:19:48,471 --> 00:19:50,889 Now, your edge, it does cut. 510 00:19:50,974 --> 00:19:52,474 The first swing, it cut through 511 00:19:52,558 --> 00:19:53,892 and the second swing on the back-end side 512 00:19:53,985 --> 00:19:56,070 also cut through these foam tubes. 513 00:19:56,229 --> 00:19:58,897 Overall, sir, your weapon, it'll cut. 514 00:19:58,982 --> 00:20:00,074 - Thanks. 515 00:20:02,652 --> 00:20:04,319 - All right, bladesmiths. 516 00:20:04,404 --> 00:20:06,655 Both of your blades performed extremely during our testin, 517 00:20:06,748 --> 00:20:08,082 but in this competition, only one of you can move 518 00:20:08,241 --> 00:20:10,409 forward into the final round and face Ben Abbott. 519 00:20:10,502 --> 00:20:12,494 The judges talked over your blades 520 00:20:12,578 --> 00:20:14,171 and they did come up with a final decision. 521 00:20:14,330 --> 00:20:15,831 Bladesmith who's moving forward 522 00:20:15,924 --> 00:20:17,341 into the final round of this competition to face Ben Abbott 523 00:20:17,425 --> 00:20:21,086 is... 524 00:20:21,179 --> 00:20:22,763 Rob. Congratulations, man. 525 00:20:22,847 --> 00:20:24,506 Jeremy, you fought hard, 526 00:20:24,599 --> 00:20:25,683 but unfortunately, your blade didn't make the cut, 527 00:20:25,767 --> 00:20:27,434 and Doug's gonna tell you why. 528 00:20:27,593 --> 00:20:30,187 - Jeremy, your steel is strong and sharp, 529 00:20:30,346 --> 00:20:31,772 but at the end of the day, 530 00:20:31,931 --> 00:20:33,190 your handle construction with that guard 531 00:20:33,275 --> 00:20:35,017 is not as refined as that of Rob's 532 00:20:35,101 --> 00:20:36,935 and that's the reason we're letting you go. 533 00:20:37,020 --> 00:20:38,445 - Thank you. 534 00:20:38,604 --> 00:20:39,521 - Well, Jeremy, thank you for coming out. 535 00:20:39,614 --> 00:20:41,189 It was a pleasure watching you work, 536 00:20:41,283 --> 00:20:42,524 but unfortunately, your time in this competition has ended. 537 00:20:42,617 --> 00:20:43,942 Now, I have to ask you 538 00:20:44,035 --> 00:20:45,027 to please step off The Forge floor. 539 00:20:45,111 --> 00:20:46,036 - Thank you. I appreciate it so much. 540 00:20:46,195 --> 00:20:47,696 - Thank you, Jeremy. 541 00:20:47,789 --> 00:20:48,947 - I definitely agree with the judges' decision. 542 00:20:49,032 --> 00:20:50,708 I'm still humbled and grateful 543 00:20:50,792 --> 00:20:52,376 for this awesome and amazing experience. 544 00:20:52,460 --> 00:20:56,204 I believe Rob is the perfect guy to go up against Ben. 545 00:20:56,289 --> 00:20:58,290 What's next for me is I'm gonna go home, 546 00:20:58,374 --> 00:21:00,292 I'm gonna continue making knives 547 00:21:00,385 --> 00:21:01,635 and reaching out to other veterans 548 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,296 and helping them as much as I can. 549 00:21:04,380 --> 00:21:06,131 - Rob, congratulations man. 550 00:21:06,224 --> 00:21:07,308 That means you are gonna be going 551 00:21:07,392 --> 00:21:08,633 to the final round of this competition 552 00:21:08,727 --> 00:21:10,561 going head-to-head with Ben Abbott, 553 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:12,387 where are you gonna choose what blade you're gonna be building 554 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:14,481 as well as what technique you're gonna be using 555 00:21:14,566 --> 00:21:16,224 to build that blade. How do you feel? 556 00:21:16,318 --> 00:21:17,809 - This is gonna be awesome. I'm excited about it. 557 00:21:17,902 --> 00:21:19,153 - Well, this is the last time 558 00:21:19,237 --> 00:21:21,146 you're going to see these two judges 559 00:21:21,230 --> 00:21:23,231 because they are going into the final testing completely blind. 560 00:21:23,316 --> 00:21:24,900 - Ben Abbott's really good smith. 561 00:21:24,984 --> 00:21:26,318 This is his home turf. 562 00:21:26,411 --> 00:21:27,569 I would love to bring him down. 563 00:21:27,653 --> 00:21:29,738 That would be a notch in my belt 564 00:21:29,831 --> 00:21:32,249 to say I beat Ben Abbott one-on-one in The Forge. 565 00:21:32,408 --> 00:21:34,335 - Rob, congratulations. 566 00:21:34,419 --> 00:21:36,328 You gotta be feeling on top of the world right now, right? 567 00:21:36,421 --> 00:21:37,755 - Yeah, it feels fantastic. 568 00:21:37,839 --> 00:21:39,590 - You just came off a huge win 569 00:21:39,674 --> 00:21:41,583 against two formidable opponents. 570 00:21:41,667 --> 00:21:44,094 But in order to get the title of "Forged In Fire" champion 571 00:21:44,179 --> 00:21:46,180 and a check for $10,000, 572 00:21:46,339 --> 00:21:48,182 you're gonna have to go head-to-head 573 00:21:48,341 --> 00:21:50,267 against our unbeaten judge, Ben Abbott. 574 00:21:50,352 --> 00:21:52,260 [dramatic music] 575 00:21:52,345 --> 00:21:54,521 ♪ ♪ 576 00:21:54,606 --> 00:21:55,931 - [sarcastic evil laugh] - Hey, Ben. 577 00:21:56,024 --> 00:21:57,766 - I am not surprised. 578 00:21:57,850 --> 00:22:00,277 I really respect Rob. 579 00:22:00,436 --> 00:22:01,937 I respect his choices 580 00:22:02,021 --> 00:22:04,272 and I respect his work that I've seen thus far. 581 00:22:04,357 --> 00:22:07,275 I know I got my work cut out for me to go up against him. 582 00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:10,704 - Welcome back, Ben. - Good to be here, Grady. 583 00:22:10,789 --> 00:22:12,781 - Now, you guys are gonna be going head-to-head 584 00:22:12,874 --> 00:22:14,282 in a competition where you're building a blade 585 00:22:14,376 --> 00:22:16,118 from start to finish. 586 00:22:16,202 --> 00:22:18,545 And you will only have nine hours to complete it. 587 00:22:18,630 --> 00:22:20,297 But as you noticed, 588 00:22:20,456 --> 00:22:22,716 Dave and Doug will not be joining us in this competition. 589 00:22:22,801 --> 00:22:25,552 They're gonna be going into the testing completely blin, 590 00:22:25,637 --> 00:22:27,638 not knowing whose blade is whose. 591 00:22:27,797 --> 00:22:30,057 Now, Rob, you chose a weapon from our "Forged in Fire" vault 592 00:22:30,141 --> 00:22:32,384 that you wanted to build up against Ben. 593 00:22:32,477 --> 00:22:34,636 Ben, you're gonna be building this. 594 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:36,397 ♪ ♪ 595 00:22:36,556 --> 00:22:37,898 - Uh-oh. 596 00:22:42,061 --> 00:22:44,488 The Irish ring-hilted sword. 597 00:22:44,572 --> 00:22:46,231 - Oh. 598 00:22:46,315 --> 00:22:48,409 - The Irish ring sword was a weapon of the elite 599 00:22:48,568 --> 00:22:51,829 gallowglass mercenaries in 12th-century Ireland. 600 00:22:51,913 --> 00:22:53,405 This extremely long, double-edged sword 601 00:22:53,489 --> 00:22:55,657 was featured in season 5 of "Forged in Fire" 602 00:22:55,741 --> 00:22:57,409 where the smiths were challenged 603 00:22:57,502 --> 00:23:00,254 with not only having to forge out something of this length, 604 00:23:00,338 --> 00:23:03,173 but also the added challenge of putting a fuller in it. 605 00:23:03,258 --> 00:23:05,584 While both smiths struggled to make such a long blade 606 00:23:05,668 --> 00:23:06,927 both light and strong, 607 00:23:07,086 --> 00:23:09,930 one smith went too thin in his design, 608 00:23:10,014 --> 00:23:14,509 causing a bend in testing and costing him the competition. 609 00:23:14,602 --> 00:23:15,936 - Now guys, when you're building your blades, 610 00:23:16,020 --> 00:23:17,688 you have a lot of parameters to follow. 611 00:23:17,772 --> 00:23:19,857 Your blade measured from tip to the guard 612 00:23:19,941 --> 00:23:23,018 needs to be between 29 and 31 inches. 613 00:23:23,102 --> 00:23:24,778 Need to have at least 20 inches of fullers 614 00:23:24,863 --> 00:23:26,280 running up both sides of the blade 615 00:23:26,364 --> 00:23:27,865 and your guard needs to be S-shaped 616 00:23:28,024 --> 00:23:29,283 and have forked terminals 617 00:23:29,367 --> 00:23:31,034 with at least three fingers on each. 618 00:23:31,194 --> 00:23:33,203 And at the end of your handle, you need to have a ring pommel. 619 00:23:33,362 --> 00:23:34,529 And inside that pommel, 620 00:23:34,614 --> 00:23:36,373 you have to be able to see the exposed tang. 621 00:23:36,532 --> 00:23:38,950 Now Rob, you also got to choose the steel you want to use 622 00:23:39,043 --> 00:23:41,295 to build your Irish ring-hilted sword. 623 00:23:41,454 --> 00:23:43,371 You're gonna be building it with this... 624 00:23:43,456 --> 00:23:45,540 ♪ ♪ 625 00:23:45,633 --> 00:23:48,210 Ladder pattern Damascus. 626 00:23:48,294 --> 00:23:49,711 ♪ ♪ 627 00:23:49,795 --> 00:23:52,139 - I remember a competition where Ben Abbott said 628 00:23:52,298 --> 00:23:55,217 that his specialty is a ring-hilted knife. 629 00:23:55,301 --> 00:23:57,060 This sword should be right up his alley. 630 00:23:57,145 --> 00:23:59,980 And I hope it sends a message that I'm not afraid 631 00:24:00,064 --> 00:24:03,391 to go up against him with a sword he knows how to mak. 632 00:24:03,476 --> 00:24:05,486 - All right guys, nine hours is not a lot of time 633 00:24:05,570 --> 00:24:07,488 to build this sword in this technique, 634 00:24:07,572 --> 00:24:09,981 but I've got full faith that you can both do it. 635 00:24:10,074 --> 00:24:11,566 Once that nine hours is complete, 636 00:24:11,651 --> 00:24:13,660 Doug's gonna start it off with a ballistics dummy 637 00:24:13,745 --> 00:24:15,403 and water tube slice. 638 00:24:15,488 --> 00:24:16,914 Then Dave is gonna take over 639 00:24:16,998 --> 00:24:18,582 and check for strength and sharpness 640 00:24:18,741 --> 00:24:20,158 in a Kendo stick chop 641 00:24:20,251 --> 00:24:21,993 and at the tatami matt slice. 642 00:24:22,086 --> 00:24:25,247 Good luck. Your time starts now. 643 00:24:25,340 --> 00:24:27,424 [dramatic music] 644 00:24:27,509 --> 00:24:29,593 So these guys have nine hours to complete their blades. 645 00:24:29,752 --> 00:24:33,597 Now, they're starting off with 32 layers of 10-95 and 15N2. 646 00:24:33,681 --> 00:24:36,091 That is gonna be a huge stack 647 00:24:36,184 --> 00:24:40,270 if they decide to do a forge weld all at one time. 648 00:24:40,429 --> 00:24:43,607 - First step is gonna be to be to clean up all these pieces. 649 00:24:43,766 --> 00:24:46,101 If had to figure out a reason that I keep coming back 650 00:24:46,194 --> 00:24:49,112 and competing, it would be a touch of insanity 651 00:24:49,197 --> 00:24:52,524 mixed with a real, absolute passion for this craft 652 00:24:52,608 --> 00:24:54,109 and a passion to be challenged, 653 00:24:54,202 --> 00:24:56,453 especially by some of the best in the world. 654 00:24:56,538 --> 00:24:58,947 I know I can make this sword. I've done it before. 655 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:01,625 It took me a lot longer than nine hours last time. 656 00:25:01,709 --> 00:25:04,044 So let's see if I can speed it up. 657 00:25:04,203 --> 00:25:06,621 This time, I'm going to go with two billets. 658 00:25:06,706 --> 00:25:09,791 I'm going to draw them out, cut them into even lengths, 659 00:25:09,875 --> 00:25:12,377 stack those, and make a sword from there. 660 00:25:12,461 --> 00:25:14,629 It's something in the region of 80 to 90 layers 661 00:25:14,714 --> 00:25:16,715 and you can cut a pretty good ladder into that. 662 00:25:16,799 --> 00:25:20,635 ♪ ♪ 663 00:25:20,720 --> 00:25:22,637 - I have done projects like this before 664 00:25:22,730 --> 00:25:24,815 over the course of months, not over nine hours. 665 00:25:24,899 --> 00:25:28,318 My goal is to go for two billets of 16 layers each, 666 00:25:28,403 --> 00:25:31,730 cut 'em into five pieces, stack those up to 160, 667 00:25:31,823 --> 00:25:33,323 and then cut that in half, 668 00:25:33,408 --> 00:25:36,159 stack it up again to get a total of 320 layers. 669 00:25:36,244 --> 00:25:38,495 That should look pretty good in the final product. 670 00:25:38,654 --> 00:25:40,747 - A risk of going more layers is if I get a bad weld, 671 00:25:40,832 --> 00:25:42,499 then I have to start over from scratch. 672 00:25:42,584 --> 00:25:43,834 So I don't want to take too much risk, 673 00:25:43,918 --> 00:25:45,660 but I know Ben is bringing his A game. 674 00:25:45,753 --> 00:25:49,414 So I better go the distance. That man's an animal. 675 00:25:49,498 --> 00:25:51,166 - [chuckles] 676 00:25:51,259 --> 00:25:53,418 Rob took a look over across The Forge and saw that 677 00:25:53,502 --> 00:25:56,096 Ben is now already drawing his first billet out 678 00:25:56,180 --> 00:25:57,514 and chuckled to himself. 679 00:25:57,673 --> 00:25:59,424 Now he's finally realizing 680 00:25:59,508 --> 00:26:03,520 how serious Ben is about his work and this competition. 681 00:26:03,679 --> 00:26:05,105 - The two billets are drawn out to the right lengt. 682 00:26:05,264 --> 00:26:06,848 I have them all cleaned up on the grinder. 683 00:26:06,941 --> 00:26:09,851 And I'm going to chop them into five-inch sections. 684 00:26:09,935 --> 00:26:11,436 I end up with seven layers. 685 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,113 There is some gapping between the layers. 686 00:26:13,272 --> 00:26:14,856 It is a little bit of a concern. 687 00:26:14,949 --> 00:26:16,867 I really would like that to all be nice and tight. 688 00:26:16,951 --> 00:26:19,036 It may show up later as delamination 689 00:26:19,120 --> 00:26:21,204 if enough air gets in there before I can flatten it, 690 00:26:21,289 --> 00:26:23,290 but I just don't have time to grind things flat. 691 00:26:23,449 --> 00:26:26,034 I just have time to grind things clean. 692 00:26:26,127 --> 00:26:29,454 So I weld it all together as it is into one billet 693 00:26:29,538 --> 00:26:32,374 and throw it in the forge. 694 00:26:32,467 --> 00:26:33,884 ♪ ♪ 695 00:26:34,043 --> 00:26:35,377 - I grabbed my Damascus 696 00:26:35,461 --> 00:26:37,045 and I start setting the welds on the press. 697 00:26:37,129 --> 00:26:39,214 ♪ ♪ 698 00:26:39,307 --> 00:26:41,883 - Rob did say he wanted to do ladder pattern Damascus, 699 00:26:41,967 --> 00:26:43,051 so they're not gonna be able to get away 700 00:26:43,135 --> 00:26:44,728 with a really low layer count 701 00:26:44,887 --> 00:26:46,554 'cause you're not going to be able to see the patter. 702 00:26:46,639 --> 00:26:47,731 And you can't go too high 703 00:26:47,815 --> 00:26:49,057 because of going to kind of mesh together. 704 00:26:49,141 --> 00:26:50,725 ♪ ♪ 705 00:26:50,810 --> 00:26:52,986 - I have my Damascus bars drawn out. 706 00:26:53,071 --> 00:26:55,897 I need to divide them up hopefully into five pieces each 707 00:26:55,981 --> 00:26:58,483 and restack them to get a total of 144 layers. 708 00:26:58,567 --> 00:27:00,568 I weld them up at the MIG welder 709 00:27:00,653 --> 00:27:01,736 and put them back in the forge. 710 00:27:01,829 --> 00:27:04,322 ♪ ♪ 711 00:27:04,415 --> 00:27:06,333 - Now to put the ladder in it. 712 00:27:06,417 --> 00:27:09,252 So I ended up with 85 layers in my billet. 713 00:27:09,337 --> 00:27:10,328 I think that's a high enough layer count 714 00:27:10,421 --> 00:27:12,255 to get a visible ladder pattern. 715 00:27:12,415 --> 00:27:13,757 I'd rather double that, 716 00:27:13,841 --> 00:27:15,509 but I just don't have time to double that, 717 00:27:15,593 --> 00:27:18,086 so I figured 80, 85. 718 00:27:18,179 --> 00:27:19,421 Close enough. 719 00:27:19,505 --> 00:27:21,756 ♪ ♪ 720 00:27:21,849 --> 00:27:24,259 - So now my main billet is up to temperature. 721 00:27:24,352 --> 00:27:26,353 It's 144 layers, 722 00:27:26,512 --> 00:27:28,346 so I gently start setting those welds. 723 00:27:28,439 --> 00:27:29,940 - That was a tall stack, Rob. 724 00:27:30,024 --> 00:27:31,933 - A bit too tall. I hope it doesn't mush around too much. 725 00:27:32,017 --> 00:27:34,436 - Yeah, that's the risk, right? 726 00:27:34,520 --> 00:27:36,196 He's got to make sure that you can get to 727 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:38,690 every single one of those layers 728 00:27:38,774 --> 00:27:42,035 all pressed down or welded together at one time. 729 00:27:42,194 --> 00:27:43,954 - Now I'm ready to do another restack. 730 00:27:44,113 --> 00:27:46,364 I can tell Ben's ahead of me. 731 00:27:46,449 --> 00:27:49,284 I think if I can do one single restack, 732 00:27:49,368 --> 00:27:52,045 just double my 144 layers up to 288 layers, 733 00:27:52,204 --> 00:27:54,289 that's a good, respectable layer count. 734 00:27:54,373 --> 00:27:56,049 Hopefully, it will not cost me too much time. 735 00:27:57,552 --> 00:28:00,462 - Bladesmiths, the clock says four and a half hours. 736 00:28:00,546 --> 00:28:03,890 That means you guys are halfway through this competition. 737 00:28:03,975 --> 00:28:06,143 - I finished my thermal cycles. 738 00:28:06,302 --> 00:28:07,728 It's time to quench, 739 00:28:07,812 --> 00:28:09,304 and I really want this quench to go well. 740 00:28:09,397 --> 00:28:11,815 The slightest little warp, somewhere in the middle, 741 00:28:11,974 --> 00:28:14,893 could be catastrophic. 742 00:28:14,986 --> 00:28:16,561 - Ben has quenched his blade. 743 00:28:16,645 --> 00:28:17,979 He's way ahead of the game right now. 744 00:28:18,072 --> 00:28:19,981 - I'll take it. 745 00:28:20,074 --> 00:28:21,316 I'm so happy. 746 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:23,660 It is absolutely, laser straight. 747 00:28:23,745 --> 00:28:25,320 It's time to grind in the fullers. 748 00:28:25,404 --> 00:28:27,414 ♪ ♪ 749 00:28:27,498 --> 00:28:29,833 - I found a crack. 750 00:28:29,917 --> 00:28:31,743 - Something bad happened during Ben's quench 751 00:28:31,827 --> 00:28:33,828 and it formed a crack right down the center 752 00:28:33,921 --> 00:28:36,915 of one of the edges that could potentially be 753 00:28:36,999 --> 00:28:39,676 running all the way through the entire blade. 754 00:28:39,761 --> 00:28:41,419 - Got four hours left in this round. 755 00:28:41,512 --> 00:28:42,837 I've got to grind this out 756 00:28:42,922 --> 00:28:44,347 or to find some other way to fix it 757 00:28:44,432 --> 00:28:47,342 'cause I don't have time to start a new blade right no. 758 00:28:47,426 --> 00:28:49,102 - He's currently unbeaten, 759 00:28:49,261 --> 00:28:51,938 and this could mean his first loss. 760 00:28:55,684 --> 00:28:56,943 I can grind it. 761 00:28:57,102 --> 00:28:58,361 If it's still somewhere bad, MIG weld it. 762 00:28:58,521 --> 00:29:00,355 - He's in frantic grinding mode 763 00:29:00,439 --> 00:29:02,774 trying to get it all the way out. 764 00:29:02,858 --> 00:29:04,201 - I think I took care of it. 765 00:29:04,285 --> 00:29:06,277 I ground it way back, so I think it's gone 766 00:29:06,370 --> 00:29:07,695 so it's not gonna be an issue. 767 00:29:07,789 --> 00:29:09,280 I was very happy 768 00:29:09,365 --> 00:29:11,625 I was able to grind that the delamination away. 769 00:29:14,796 --> 00:29:15,954 - There are a couple of ways to do fullers. 770 00:29:16,038 --> 00:29:18,215 One is you grind off metal, 771 00:29:18,374 --> 00:29:21,384 but I'm worried that I'm not going to have enough steel, 772 00:29:21,469 --> 00:29:24,054 so the other way is to forge them in with the press. 773 00:29:24,213 --> 00:29:27,307 Ugh. Not very straight. 774 00:29:27,391 --> 00:29:29,226 It's not great, but it is what it is. 775 00:29:29,385 --> 00:29:31,052 I've got to move on. 776 00:29:31,136 --> 00:29:32,813 Hopefully, I can fix it a little bit at the grinder. 777 00:29:34,390 --> 00:29:35,732 ♪ ♪ 778 00:29:35,817 --> 00:29:37,984 - I put the blade into the temper oven 779 00:29:38,143 --> 00:29:39,903 and now it's time to start thinking ahead 780 00:29:40,062 --> 00:29:41,980 for the ring-hilt pommel. 781 00:29:42,064 --> 00:29:45,909 Doing a nice, small pilot hole first. 782 00:29:45,993 --> 00:29:47,494 - So Ben's got a piece of mild steel, 783 00:29:47,578 --> 00:29:49,237 just a disk that he drilled a hole through 784 00:29:49,330 --> 00:29:52,916 and now he is drifting that whole to make it wider 785 00:29:53,075 --> 00:29:54,659 finished that pommel off. 786 00:29:54,743 --> 00:29:56,828 - I drill the holes for the tang to fit through. 787 00:29:56,912 --> 00:30:00,081 Some of the difficulties with making a donut shape 788 00:30:00,165 --> 00:30:01,675 is that it's really obvious 789 00:30:01,759 --> 00:30:02,500 when the hole isn't in the middle. 790 00:30:02,585 --> 00:30:03,918 All right. 791 00:30:04,011 --> 00:30:05,420 There's a lot of different parts of this blade. 792 00:30:05,504 --> 00:30:08,423 I can't waste any time. I've got to keep going. 793 00:30:08,507 --> 00:30:09,591 ♪ ♪ 794 00:30:09,675 --> 00:30:12,185 - All right, cross your fingers. 795 00:30:12,344 --> 00:30:13,928 In the last round, I had a big warp 796 00:30:14,021 --> 00:30:15,763 and I don't want it to be an issue for me again. 797 00:30:15,857 --> 00:30:17,023 So this time, 798 00:30:17,182 --> 00:30:18,358 I do everything I can to avoid warps. 799 00:30:18,517 --> 00:30:19,767 I did a good normalization process, 800 00:30:19,852 --> 00:30:21,936 so I expect it to be pretty good. 801 00:30:22,029 --> 00:30:24,939 Ben seems to be about two steps farther along than me, 802 00:30:25,024 --> 00:30:27,358 so I've got a lot of ground to make up. 803 00:30:27,451 --> 00:30:29,786 It looks pretty darn straight. 804 00:30:29,945 --> 00:30:33,373 - Bladesmiths, you're down to the final two hours remaining. 805 00:30:33,532 --> 00:30:35,950 - I'm working on grinding the sword, 806 00:30:36,035 --> 00:30:38,795 back to the guard, back to the pommel. 807 00:30:38,954 --> 00:30:40,371 Suddenly, I realized, 808 00:30:40,456 --> 00:30:42,966 "You haven't even started the handle." 809 00:30:43,050 --> 00:30:45,302 So I find a piece of poplar. 810 00:30:45,386 --> 00:30:48,138 It's a relatively light wood, but it's pretty strong. 811 00:30:48,297 --> 00:30:50,882 I don't have to worry about going to a nice, fine finish 812 00:30:50,966 --> 00:30:53,310 'cause this handle is going to get wrapped. 813 00:30:53,469 --> 00:30:56,638 This just got a lot harder when I can't open my fingers. 814 00:30:56,731 --> 00:30:59,983 I coated my fingers with so much contact cemet 815 00:31:00,067 --> 00:31:02,560 that the string is sticking to my fingers 816 00:31:02,653 --> 00:31:04,479 more than it's sticking to the wood. 817 00:31:04,563 --> 00:31:09,826 Ah, I'm so sticky, but the spring isn't sticking. 818 00:31:09,911 --> 00:31:12,570 It looked like something out of a Charlie Chaplin movi. 819 00:31:12,655 --> 00:31:14,748 Everything was sticking to everything. 820 00:31:14,832 --> 00:31:16,741 Finally, I get the wrap going okay. 821 00:31:16,825 --> 00:31:19,252 But at the end of the last competition, 822 00:31:19,337 --> 00:31:21,671 I really just hated how the handle came out. 823 00:31:21,830 --> 00:31:23,423 I hated how much I rushed. 824 00:31:23,507 --> 00:31:26,009 That damn thing on the [bleep]damn wrong side. 825 00:31:26,168 --> 00:31:28,511 And now, that big, red clock is breathing down my neck. 826 00:31:28,596 --> 00:31:31,005 I can feel it. 827 00:31:31,090 --> 00:31:33,091 - Excellent. 828 00:31:33,175 --> 00:31:36,269 I know that a guy with Ben's skills is not cutting corner, 829 00:31:36,354 --> 00:31:39,013 so I need to at least make my guard look good. 830 00:31:39,098 --> 00:31:40,181 The guard's coming together. 831 00:31:40,265 --> 00:31:42,100 It has good symmetry, good form. 832 00:31:42,184 --> 00:31:45,028 I kind of liked the way that the arms sweep up. 833 00:31:45,112 --> 00:31:46,688 Everything's going great right now. 834 00:31:46,781 --> 00:31:47,939 ♪ ♪ 835 00:31:48,023 --> 00:31:50,191 - I've got about 27 minutes left. 836 00:31:50,275 --> 00:31:53,027 Why don't we just go ahead and fit this stuff up? 837 00:31:53,112 --> 00:31:54,612 Nope. 838 00:31:54,697 --> 00:31:57,699 This slide is on the crossguard and it's loose. 839 00:31:57,792 --> 00:31:59,534 ♪ ♪ 840 00:31:59,618 --> 00:32:01,044 - If it comes down to it, 841 00:32:01,128 --> 00:32:02,620 they both have strong and sharp blades. 842 00:32:02,713 --> 00:32:04,288 What they're working on right now 843 00:32:04,373 --> 00:32:06,216 with the fit and finish could mean the difference 844 00:32:06,375 --> 00:32:07,634 between a win and a loss. 845 00:32:07,718 --> 00:32:10,878 - I take the edges of the slot, 846 00:32:10,972 --> 00:32:14,048 I hammer them from the top and I bend them in like thi. 847 00:32:14,133 --> 00:32:16,217 Then I take a squashed pipe. 848 00:32:16,301 --> 00:32:18,970 I drive that crossguard all the way down. 849 00:32:19,063 --> 00:32:20,471 And now, I know that that crossguard 850 00:32:20,564 --> 00:32:21,889 isn't going to start rattling 851 00:32:21,974 --> 00:32:23,224 during testing, it isn't gonna be an issue. 852 00:32:23,308 --> 00:32:25,727 ♪ ♪ 853 00:32:25,820 --> 00:32:29,063 - We're down to the final 15 minutes before testing. 854 00:32:29,156 --> 00:32:31,065 - I am frantic. 855 00:32:31,150 --> 00:32:32,993 I'm scrambling trying to get everything together 856 00:32:33,077 --> 00:32:35,245 to do my glue-up. 857 00:32:35,404 --> 00:32:38,156 Oh, no. Not good. 858 00:32:38,240 --> 00:32:40,825 The edge of the ring is hitting the tang 859 00:32:40,909 --> 00:32:43,494 and I'm unable to lock everything down. 860 00:32:43,579 --> 00:32:45,329 If this gives way during the strength test, 861 00:32:45,414 --> 00:32:47,257 and things could start to rattle and cut loose, 862 00:32:47,341 --> 00:32:49,083 so I'm worried. 863 00:32:49,168 --> 00:32:51,011 Ugh. 864 00:32:51,095 --> 00:32:54,338 To fix this, I have to grind off some of that tag 865 00:32:54,423 --> 00:32:55,598 so I can get it back on, 866 00:32:55,683 --> 00:32:57,183 hopefully before the epoxy's set enough 867 00:32:57,268 --> 00:32:59,093 that I can tighten everything down. 868 00:32:59,186 --> 00:33:01,012 If I don't get this done, it can be a disaster 869 00:33:01,096 --> 00:33:03,023 and it'll definitely cost me competition. 870 00:33:03,182 --> 00:33:04,766 I guarantee Ben's sword's gonna be tight. 871 00:33:04,850 --> 00:33:08,186 ♪ ♪ 872 00:33:08,279 --> 00:33:12,866 - Five, four, three, two, one. 873 00:33:13,025 --> 00:33:15,368 You guys just finished a nine-hour build. 874 00:33:15,453 --> 00:33:18,371 Well done. [claps] 875 00:33:18,456 --> 00:33:20,698 - When I look over at Ben's blade for the first time, 876 00:33:20,783 --> 00:33:22,283 it looks good. 877 00:33:22,367 --> 00:33:25,045 But I know that as good as Ben's blade looks, 878 00:33:25,204 --> 00:33:27,205 what it's gonna come down to is the test. 879 00:33:27,298 --> 00:33:29,457 If I can perform well on the test 880 00:33:29,541 --> 00:33:30,633 and he has some kind of problem in the test, 881 00:33:30,718 --> 00:33:32,710 then I can still come away with a victory. 882 00:33:32,795 --> 00:33:34,378 ♪ ♪ 883 00:33:34,463 --> 00:33:36,214 - Well guys, welcome back. 884 00:33:36,298 --> 00:33:39,550 I got to say, you missed an epic competition. 885 00:33:39,635 --> 00:33:41,219 Rob and Ben had nine hours 886 00:33:41,303 --> 00:33:43,554 to build their Irish ring-hilted swords 887 00:33:43,639 --> 00:33:45,223 in ladder pattern Damascus. 888 00:33:45,307 --> 00:33:46,557 And up to the last minute, 889 00:33:46,650 --> 00:33:48,651 I had no idea if they were going to finis. 890 00:33:48,736 --> 00:33:49,986 What do you guys think? Doug? 891 00:33:50,071 --> 00:33:52,322 - Beautiful work. I'm really impressed. 892 00:33:52,481 --> 00:33:54,491 I mean, they're so close. 893 00:33:54,575 --> 00:33:57,819 The first thing I noticed is when I picked up silver, 894 00:33:57,912 --> 00:34:00,404 the balance and the light feel of that, 895 00:34:00,498 --> 00:34:01,998 it's comfortable in the hand. 896 00:34:02,157 --> 00:34:03,583 - Dave, what do you think? 897 00:34:03,667 --> 00:34:05,243 - It's got a lower layer pattern 898 00:34:05,336 --> 00:34:06,920 probably by a hundred layers. 899 00:34:07,004 --> 00:34:09,664 So you get a less dramatic ladder. 900 00:34:09,757 --> 00:34:12,175 Still a ladder pattern, it's just not as dramatic. 901 00:34:12,334 --> 00:34:13,501 Now we get to green. 902 00:34:13,585 --> 00:34:15,002 ♪ ♪ 903 00:34:15,096 --> 00:34:17,255 Now, green's definitely a more stout sword. 904 00:34:17,339 --> 00:34:19,507 I like the detail on the handle 905 00:34:19,591 --> 00:34:21,926 and I really liked that ladder pattern. 906 00:34:22,019 --> 00:34:24,178 - Although green is a heavier blade 907 00:34:24,263 --> 00:34:26,606 and that's why you have a bigger ring on it. 908 00:34:26,690 --> 00:34:28,099 - All right, guys, well, 909 00:34:28,183 --> 00:34:29,350 it sounds like you're impressed by the blades, 910 00:34:29,443 --> 00:34:30,527 but there's only one way we know how to find out 911 00:34:30,611 --> 00:34:31,694 who's taking the win. 912 00:34:31,779 --> 00:34:33,113 Ready for testing? 913 00:34:33,197 --> 00:34:34,114 - Oh, yeah. - Giddyup. 914 00:34:34,198 --> 00:34:35,606 - Let's call 'em in. 915 00:34:35,691 --> 00:34:40,286 ♪ ♪ 916 00:34:40,371 --> 00:34:42,280 Well, Rob, Ben, I got to say guys, 917 00:34:42,364 --> 00:34:44,290 I am thoroughly impressed. 918 00:34:44,449 --> 00:34:46,543 You guys took on the monumental task 919 00:34:46,627 --> 00:34:50,046 in building a 30-inch sword in nine hours. 920 00:34:50,205 --> 00:34:54,292 Right now, Ben, you're in this to defend your champion title 921 00:34:54,376 --> 00:34:56,711 and go for your sixth win on "Forged in Fire." 922 00:34:56,804 --> 00:34:58,880 Rob, you're trying to knock him off his throne, 923 00:34:58,973 --> 00:35:02,383 go for your first win, and a check for $10,000. 924 00:35:02,467 --> 00:35:04,394 I wish I could give you guys both the prize here, 925 00:35:04,478 --> 00:35:05,979 but the best way we know how to find out 926 00:35:06,138 --> 00:35:07,889 which one of you guys is going home with the win 927 00:35:07,982 --> 00:35:09,649 is by putting your blades through some tests. 928 00:35:09,733 --> 00:35:11,893 First dynamic kill test with Doug. 929 00:35:11,977 --> 00:35:15,238 ♪ ♪ 930 00:35:15,397 --> 00:35:18,316 - Alright, bladesmiths, welcome to the dynamic kill test. 931 00:35:18,409 --> 00:35:20,410 To find out how lethal your weapons are, 932 00:35:20,494 --> 00:35:22,236 I'm going to deliver some deadly blows 933 00:35:22,329 --> 00:35:24,822 on this ballistics dummy and cut some water tubes. 934 00:35:24,907 --> 00:35:27,834 ♪ ♪ 935 00:35:27,918 --> 00:35:29,502 - I'm going first. 936 00:35:29,661 --> 00:35:32,005 I know my blade is sharp and I'm pretty sure 937 00:35:32,089 --> 00:35:34,415 it's going to cut deeply into that ballistics dummy, 938 00:35:34,499 --> 00:35:36,000 but those water tubes are quite telling. 939 00:35:36,093 --> 00:35:38,085 So there might be a small section 940 00:35:38,170 --> 00:35:39,762 and that's all it takes to just stop dead 941 00:35:39,922 --> 00:35:40,922 in some of those tubes. 942 00:35:41,006 --> 00:35:47,687 ♪ ♪ 943 00:36:09,618 --> 00:36:10,793 - All right guys, 944 00:36:10,878 --> 00:36:12,879 when delivering the cuts over here, 945 00:36:13,038 --> 00:36:15,456 they slash nicely to the water tubes 946 00:36:15,540 --> 00:36:18,301 and just demolished that ballistics dummy. 947 00:36:18,385 --> 00:36:20,637 On that piece, probably ran out of blade 948 00:36:20,721 --> 00:36:23,464 as I'm cutting on the back end, but it's, you can see, 949 00:36:23,548 --> 00:36:25,383 the cuts, they are very sharp. 950 00:36:25,476 --> 00:36:29,470 Overall, It will KEAL and cut. 951 00:36:29,554 --> 00:36:34,225 ♪ ♪ 952 00:36:34,318 --> 00:36:35,643 - The sharpness test is the test 953 00:36:35,727 --> 00:36:37,153 that I'm most concerned about 954 00:36:37,238 --> 00:36:39,563 because I know the edge on my blade is kind of heavy. 955 00:36:39,657 --> 00:36:40,731 It makes it difficult to cut. 956 00:36:40,816 --> 00:36:47,705 ♪ ♪ 957 00:37:11,772 --> 00:37:13,439 - All right, first up. 958 00:37:13,524 --> 00:37:15,099 When I picked this up, 959 00:37:15,183 --> 00:37:17,193 you can tell there's a big difference in the weight. 960 00:37:17,352 --> 00:37:19,020 The edge is sharp, 961 00:37:19,113 --> 00:37:22,023 so when I'm chopping into the ballistics dummy, 962 00:37:22,116 --> 00:37:24,617 it's a deep cut, 963 00:37:24,776 --> 00:37:26,694 but it's heavier and harder to control. 964 00:37:26,787 --> 00:37:30,623 It cut the first two tubes and then push the rest. 965 00:37:30,708 --> 00:37:32,792 But overall, looking at the damage of the ballistics dummy 966 00:37:32,951 --> 00:37:36,370 and some of the cuts, it will KEAL. 967 00:37:36,455 --> 00:37:40,049 ♪ ♪ 968 00:37:40,208 --> 00:37:41,384 - All right, gentlemen, 969 00:37:41,468 --> 00:37:42,877 it's time for our dynamic strength test, 970 00:37:42,961 --> 00:37:45,796 the bamboo sword chop and tatami mat slice. 971 00:37:45,881 --> 00:37:47,390 I'm not only looking at how well your weapons 972 00:37:47,474 --> 00:37:49,058 hold up in this test, 973 00:37:49,143 --> 00:37:51,394 but how they feel and how well they cut. 974 00:37:51,553 --> 00:37:54,305 Silver's up first. 975 00:37:54,398 --> 00:37:55,815 - This was an eyeball heat treat, 976 00:37:55,974 --> 00:37:57,900 so I'm pretty sure it looked even to me, 977 00:37:58,060 --> 00:37:59,310 but it's a thin sword. 978 00:37:59,394 --> 00:38:00,570 We'll see what happens. 979 00:38:00,729 --> 00:38:01,821 My heart will be pounding 980 00:38:01,980 --> 00:38:03,397 to the point where I can hear it in my ears. 981 00:38:03,482 --> 00:38:08,161 ♪ ♪ 982 00:38:11,990 --> 00:38:17,337 ♪ ♪ 983 00:38:29,683 --> 00:38:31,351 - All right, guys. 984 00:38:31,435 --> 00:38:33,761 Right off, the blade is really, really light. 985 00:38:33,845 --> 00:38:35,429 The edges are really sharp. 986 00:38:35,514 --> 00:38:39,100 All in all, I think this is a really well-crafted sword. 987 00:38:39,184 --> 00:38:40,360 Held up very nicely. 988 00:38:40,519 --> 00:38:42,520 There's just no damage on this edge. 989 00:38:42,604 --> 00:38:49,494 ♪ ♪ 990 00:39:08,889 --> 00:39:10,640 All right. 991 00:39:10,724 --> 00:39:12,800 Right off, this thing's a destroyer. 992 00:39:12,893 --> 00:39:14,894 [laughter] 993 00:39:15,053 --> 00:39:19,306 It's not outside the realm of proper weight. 994 00:39:19,391 --> 00:39:21,308 This is kind of the outside edge. 995 00:39:21,393 --> 00:39:24,478 When cutting, you feel the blade slow down 996 00:39:24,563 --> 00:39:27,323 as opposed to just pass through the tatami mat. 997 00:39:27,482 --> 00:39:29,826 So it's got a lot of drag on it and that really has to do 998 00:39:29,910 --> 00:39:32,161 with the thickness of the blade and the style of the grind 999 00:39:32,320 --> 00:39:33,830 that's on its edge, 1000 00:39:33,914 --> 00:39:37,658 but it held up well, it cut good. Good job. 1001 00:39:37,742 --> 00:39:42,004 ♪ ♪ 1002 00:39:42,164 --> 00:39:44,006 - All right, bladesmiths, the time has come to find out 1003 00:39:44,091 --> 00:39:46,426 if Ben, you're going to keep your unbeaten streak going 1004 00:39:46,585 --> 00:39:48,252 or if Rob, you've dethroned the king 1005 00:39:48,345 --> 00:39:49,670 and you're taking home the title 1006 00:39:49,763 --> 00:39:52,265 of "Forged in Fire" champion and a check for $10,000. 1007 00:39:52,349 --> 00:39:54,258 I got to say this was a very close race 1008 00:39:54,342 --> 00:39:56,436 and you made a difficult decision for the judges. 1009 00:39:56,595 --> 00:40:00,598 Today's "Forged in Fire" champion is... 1010 00:40:00,682 --> 00:40:04,602 ♪ ♪ 1011 00:40:04,686 --> 00:40:06,437 Ben Abbott. 1012 00:40:06,521 --> 00:40:08,948 Ben, congratulations. You are now 6-0. 1013 00:40:09,032 --> 00:40:12,109 Now Rob, you gave him an unbelievable run for his money, 1014 00:40:12,194 --> 00:40:14,111 but unfortunately, your blade didn't make the cut 1015 00:40:14,204 --> 00:40:15,946 and Doug's gonna tell you why. 1016 00:40:16,031 --> 00:40:20,042 - I mean, Rob, with nine hours, your blade was a work of art. 1017 00:40:20,127 --> 00:40:22,795 But it came down to the weight distribution effect 1018 00:40:22,880 --> 00:40:24,130 in some of the tests. 1019 00:40:24,289 --> 00:40:26,048 For those reasons, you didn't win today. 1020 00:40:26,208 --> 00:40:28,301 - Rob, you're talented. 1021 00:40:28,460 --> 00:40:30,044 There's nobody here that will question that. 1022 00:40:30,137 --> 00:40:31,962 But unfortunately, I'm going to have to ask you 1023 00:40:32,055 --> 00:40:33,473 to please step off The Forge floor. 1024 00:40:33,557 --> 00:40:34,798 - All right. Well, thank you. I had a great time. 1025 00:40:34,883 --> 00:40:36,300 - You're welcome. Nice job on that blade. 1026 00:40:36,384 --> 00:40:37,384 - Thank you. 1027 00:40:37,478 --> 00:40:38,227 Well, Ben won. 1028 00:40:38,312 --> 00:40:39,896 - Nice job, Rob. 1029 00:40:39,980 --> 00:40:41,230 - The judges made the right call and he deserved it. 1030 00:40:41,389 --> 00:40:43,483 That was an amazing blade. 1031 00:40:43,642 --> 00:40:45,392 I'm going to go home, see my family, 1032 00:40:45,477 --> 00:40:49,739 and make a really nice Irish ring-hilted sword. 1033 00:40:49,823 --> 00:40:53,567 It's gonna take me a lot longer than just nine hours. 1034 00:40:53,652 --> 00:40:56,913 - Well, Ben, that's 6-0, buddy. 1035 00:40:56,997 --> 00:40:58,239 - [chuckles] - You are unbelievable. 1036 00:40:58,332 --> 00:41:00,157 You are yet again the "Forged in Fire" champion. 1037 00:41:00,242 --> 00:41:02,418 Congratulations. [applause] 1038 00:41:02,503 --> 00:41:04,253 - I can't believe it. I can't believe it. 1039 00:41:04,412 --> 00:41:08,749 Rob is a great smith, a really fun guy, great competito, 1040 00:41:08,842 --> 00:41:11,427 and I'm really happy to have worked next to hi. 1041 00:41:11,512 --> 00:41:13,262 - Looks like you're keeping the unbeaten streak alive. 1042 00:41:13,347 --> 00:41:15,014 Congratulations, man. 1043 00:41:15,098 --> 00:41:17,007 You're not done yet. We've got more of this to com. 1044 00:41:17,100 --> 00:41:19,009 - Oh, my God. What did I sign up for? 1045 00:41:19,102 --> 00:41:24,098 - Good job, bud. [applause] 1046 00:41:24,191 --> 00:41:26,025 - For those that are coming to try to beat me, 1047 00:41:26,109 --> 00:41:29,529 I'm still here. Still undefeated. Bring it on.