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[dramatic music]
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- Here in The Forge,
we have put hundreds of smiths
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to the test,
but one fierce competitor
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has proven himself
time and time again.
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- Ben Abbott.
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- An expert blacksmith
and bladesmith,
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a fan favorite turned judge,
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Ben Abbott remains
undefeated in this Forge.
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His current record
is seven wins and zero losse,
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but soon, all that could change.
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♪ ♪
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Tonight we are bringing back
two smiths
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from Ben Abbott's first time
competing in this Forge
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who are looking
to rewrite history.
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Do they have what it takes
to finally beat Ben Abbott?
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The competition continues now.
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♪ ♪
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[rock music]
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- My name is Brent Stubblefield.
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I'm 40 years old,
from Richmond, Virginia.
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I am a full-time smith,
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and last time
I competed on "Forged"
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I was sent home
because of inexperience.
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- Brent, when heating that
spine, you let that heat travel
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all the way to the edge,
and that really puts
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the strength of your blade's
edge in question.
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- But now I am
a full-time bladesmith,
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and I'm here to win
and take no prisoners.
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♪ ♪
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- My name is Nathan Zimmerman.
I'm 31.
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I'm from Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
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and I'm a full-time bladesmith
and knife sharpener.
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The last time I competed,
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I put a bunch of spiderweb
cracks all over the blad.
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- Well, Nathan,
I can see two large cracks
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going across the spine,
a few smaller ones,
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and, plus, we've actually
got lateral cracking.
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That's a very big issue.
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- My skills have vastly
improved since last time,
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so if I were to come back
and beat Ben,
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it would obviously
be a legendary feat,
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that's for sure.
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♪ ♪
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- Well, Brent, Nathan,
gentlemen,
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welcome back to The Forge.
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Now, guys, you have been
selected for an epic rematc.
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The last time you were here
was back in season two,
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and that just so happened
to be the same competition
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that was Ben Abbott's
first time in this Forge.
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Now, I don't want to get
into the history of it
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and get into the details,
but we all know how that went.
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- Ben, congratulations.
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You are the "Forged in Fire"
champion
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and will be receiving
a check for $10,000.
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- Now, one of you
is gonna have the chance
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to rewrite history
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and potentially beat Ben
in this Forge,
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earning you that coveted title
of "Forged in Fire" champion
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that comes with a check
for $10,000.
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Since you last met Ben,
he has tallied up
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quite a few more wins,
and he is currently undefeated
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with a record of 7-0.
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So, bladesmiths, you have
your work cut out for you.
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The two of you are going up
against each other
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in a five-hour straight
bladesmithing competition,
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where we want you to build
a signature blade
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in your signature style,
but before we get in to I,
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I gotta ask, do you guys think
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you have what it takes
to take Ben down now?
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- I hope he's ready.
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[laughter]
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- Brent, how about you?
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- You know,
I'm cautiously optimistic.
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[laughter]
- That's fair.
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Ben, do you have anything
to say to the guys
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before we get going?
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- I know you guys are feeling
confident and that's good,
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but all I can say is good luck.
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- All right, guys,
in this competition,
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Ben is going
to be solely a spectator.
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He is not gonna be
testing your weapons.
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All the crucial decisions
are gonna be left
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up to Dave and Doug;
they're gonna be the ones
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deciding which one of you
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will be going forward to the
final round of the competition
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to face Ben.
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Now, I said you guys
are gonna be building
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your signature blades,
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but as far as techniques go,
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we're gonna leave that up
to the Wheel of Forging.
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I'm gonna spin the wheel
for each one of you,
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and wherever it lands
is the technique
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you must use
to build your blade.
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Brent, you're up first.
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- All right.
- Let's see what you get.
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- I really don't want
that wheel to land
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on Canister Damascus.
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I want to make
a pattern Damascus
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and show that I can do that.
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- I gotta say, Brent,
you are about the luckiest guy
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that's walked
through this Forge.
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You just landed on Choose
Your Own Pattern Damascus.
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I gotta ask,
what do you want to do?
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- I want to do something
that'll really wow the judges.
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Twisted crushed Ws,
we'll see how that looks.
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- That is
a massively tall order.
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You think you have
what it takes?
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- We're not gonna win this thing
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without taking a few risks.
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- That is very, very true.
Nate, you're up. You ready?
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- Yeah. Come on, same thing.
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There was a couple options
on there
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that I really don't want
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to have to be doing
in this competition
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because having to do
a jelly roll,
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having to do a Turkish twist,
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is just something
that I don't think
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that I could do
within the allotted time.
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- You have to do
Raindrop Pattern Damascus.
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- Raindrop Damascus is something
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I've done quite a few times
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and I've played around with
a lot.
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The most difficult part
of this process for me
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is gonna be making sure
that I have clean forge welds.
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- Now, guys, once the clock
expires, the judges
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are gonna check your blades
for strength and durability
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in a log chop
and check your edge retentin
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in an apple slice.
You guys ready?
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- Ready.
- Ready.
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- Let the epic battle begin.
Your time starts now.
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♪ ♪
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- All right.
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- Ben, you seem pretty tickled
about this one.
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- Yeah, man, you know,
these are buddies of mine,
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so it's just really great
to see these guys again.
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- Now, are you concerned?
- Yeah. Yeah. I'm concerned.
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These are good smiths,
and, you know,
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we belong to a larger group
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that freely shares information
to and fro.
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So I don't really have
any secrets from these guys.
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- That can be dangerous.
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- I only have five hours to do
this really complex pattern.
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I am trying to go
above and beyond.
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I want to show the judges
that I'm not afraid
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to risk everything
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because this is my chance
to prove
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that I've got what it takes
to beat the unbeaten.
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So I want to get that steel
stacked and welded
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and in the forge immediately.
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There's so many things
that have to go right.
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Nothing can go wrong.
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I have to hit the bull's-eye
with this build.
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- Brent got to choose
whatever he wanted to do,
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but he chose crushed W twisted.
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- Yeah.
- Never seen it. No idea.
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Please explain.
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- All right.
So you take your stack
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and you stack it up as normal,
you'll forge weld it togethe,
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then you turn it on its side
and you squeeze it,
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and what that does
is it takes those layers
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and it crushes them
into sort of like a U-shape.
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Then you restack that again
and you squeeze it again,
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and they get more crushed
and they actually,
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instead of just being a U,
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they've become Ws
all the way down the billing.
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And if you twist it,
every now and then you see
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a little bit of that pattern
as it comes around.
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- I tack it up
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and get it into the forge
in 17 minutes flat.
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♪ ♪
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- Coming into this competition
a second time,
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my focus is slightly different.
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I'm not trying to make
the best knife I've ever mad.
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I'm really trying to just mae
a blade that will,
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first off, be finished.
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Second off, not have any cracks.
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Third off, perform well
in the challenges
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because I think that
that's what's gonna
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make me go on
to the second round.
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I gotta keep 'em in order.
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My game plan is to get
my steel cleaned,
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'cause that's, I think,
the most important step
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in forge welding.
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- It's only 15 layers
is what he's got right now.
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When he draws that out,
is that anywhere near enough
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to be able to see that raindrop
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or does he have to
draw, cut, stack?
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- Yeah. I would love
to see him draw that out,
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cut in in at least five pieces,
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maybe six pieces, restack that.
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- Yeah. With a few layers
you end up with raindrop
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that looks kind of like a ring
and a dot, and that's borin.
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- I know that I have
a low layer count.
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I can make it look a lot cooler
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with a higher layer count,
but I don't want
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to have to forge weld
twice in this round.
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So I think I can make it work
as long as I drill
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my holes deep enough,
I forge my blade thin enough,
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and I don't grind
all that raindrop away.
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♪ ♪
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- I have my billet up to heat,
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so not it's time
to squish some welds.
203
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This has to go
absolutely perfect.
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This is a really
complex pattern.
205
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I just don't have
the time to restart.
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I know that I've
gotta get that in there
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and give it just
some nice light compression
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and get it right back
in the forge.
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00:07:28,982 --> 00:07:30,992
- Oh...
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00:07:31,151 --> 00:07:33,069
- Any weakness in those
initial forge welds
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will shear apart later,
212
00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:39,584
destroying my chances
at winning.
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The forge weld looked okay,
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but we won't know
until much later.
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- I think he's positive
that those welds have held
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00:07:46,008 --> 00:07:47,592
and now it's about
drawing that billet out
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as quickly as he can.
218
00:07:48,928 --> 00:07:50,753
- And that's really important.
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00:07:50,837 --> 00:07:53,181
Time management is absolutely
paramount in this competition.
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- Not only that, he's got
to cut and stack it,
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but after the next build
it's got to be
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00:07:57,844 --> 00:07:59,929
almost like a square
so he can twist it.
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- That's right.
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00:08:01,607 --> 00:08:04,517
- I'm not doing amazing,
but I'm doing okay.
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I go over to the chop saw
and cut it up.
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Once everything's
stacked to my liking,
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I take it over
to the welder, tack it up,
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put it back in the forge again.
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I really want to have
this thing forged out
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at about the two-hour mark.
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I think I'll be okay,
if everything goes perfect.
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♪ ♪
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- We're getting
pretty close here.
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So once the billet
is about the same temperature
235
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as the forge, I take it out
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and I lightly press it
on the forge press
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just to set the welds
very lightly.
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- Now, that's a good color.
- That's it.
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Once I know my billet is solid,
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I really feel a lot better
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about my chances
in this competition.
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♪ ♪
243
00:08:48,737 --> 00:08:50,655
- My second stack is welded,
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00:08:50,739 --> 00:08:52,648
and now I gotta get it
back to welding heat
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so that I can twist it.
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- You really want
to get this twist
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looking kind of like all thread.
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00:08:58,155 --> 00:08:59,572
It needs to be really,
really twisted
249
00:08:59,665 --> 00:09:01,407
for that pattern
to really show up well.
250
00:09:01,491 --> 00:09:05,169
[dramatic music]
251
00:09:05,254 --> 00:09:06,921
- I'm 150 pounds soaking wet,
252
00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:09,841
so I'm kind of struggling
with this thing.
253
00:09:09,925 --> 00:09:11,334
Now, one of the things
about not being able
254
00:09:11,418 --> 00:09:13,177
to twist it as much as I'd like,
255
00:09:13,337 --> 00:09:16,672
is it leaves bigger,
wider deep places
256
00:09:16,757 --> 00:09:21,594
that will create all kinds
of cold shuts and nasty stuf,
257
00:09:21,687 --> 00:09:23,512
but that's gonna
be a concern for later.
258
00:09:23,606 --> 00:09:25,189
I gotta get moving.
259
00:09:25,274 --> 00:09:26,858
No more.
260
00:09:27,017 --> 00:09:28,934
It wore me out,
but I got it done.
261
00:09:29,019 --> 00:09:31,362
Not as tight as I want it,
but I got a twist in ther,
262
00:09:31,521 --> 00:09:34,607
which is all
I told them I would do.
263
00:09:34,691 --> 00:09:37,285
- I really enjoy building
my tools of the task,
264
00:09:37,444 --> 00:09:39,537
so decide to do this
complex spider shape
265
00:09:39,696 --> 00:09:41,122
with a curved cutting edge
266
00:09:41,281 --> 00:09:43,124
because that'll chop wood
very well.
267
00:09:43,208 --> 00:09:46,210
I want to put a bit of a guard
on my blade for safety.
268
00:09:46,295 --> 00:09:48,204
Any big knife like this
should have a finger catch
269
00:09:48,288 --> 00:09:50,206
or something like that.
270
00:09:50,299 --> 00:09:51,966
I'm just hitting
into the edge of the anvil,
271
00:09:52,125 --> 00:09:53,793
very carefully,
because that could be
272
00:09:53,877 --> 00:09:55,470
a point of stress
where it could break.
273
00:09:55,554 --> 00:09:57,805
It could cost me
later in the competition.
274
00:09:57,964 --> 00:10:00,391
But I do think it's cool
to be true to my own style
275
00:10:00,550 --> 00:10:02,301
and make a blade that really
looks like something
276
00:10:02,386 --> 00:10:04,646
that might come out of my shop.
277
00:10:04,805 --> 00:10:05,897
All righty.
278
00:10:06,056 --> 00:10:07,556
Right after I put that step in,
279
00:10:07,641 --> 00:10:08,983
I'm feeling pretty good.
280
00:10:09,142 --> 00:10:10,318
So I head over
to the drill press
281
00:10:10,477 --> 00:10:11,402
and start drilling
into the blade
282
00:10:11,487 --> 00:10:13,071
to get my raindrop pattern.
283
00:10:13,155 --> 00:10:15,740
- Is raindrop on the same level
284
00:10:15,899 --> 00:10:17,241
as the twisted crushed Ws?
285
00:10:17,401 --> 00:10:18,484
- Well, I would say it's not
286
00:10:18,577 --> 00:10:19,902
the same level of difficulty,
287
00:10:19,995 --> 00:10:22,664
but done correctly,
it's just as dramatic.
288
00:10:22,823 --> 00:10:25,908
- Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
289
00:10:25,992 --> 00:10:27,752
- I know that
I've gotta be quenched
290
00:10:27,911 --> 00:10:29,578
by about the two-hour mark
291
00:10:29,663 --> 00:10:32,340
if I have any hope
to finish on time.
292
00:10:32,499 --> 00:10:34,333
♪ ♪
293
00:10:34,418 --> 00:10:35,510
- All right. Brent is quenched.
294
00:10:35,669 --> 00:10:38,763
- I can't believe
how straight it is.
295
00:10:38,922 --> 00:10:41,340
Now I can take it back
to the grinder
296
00:10:41,433 --> 00:10:45,436
and grind my shape
just like I want.
297
00:10:46,855 --> 00:10:48,931
- So really all I want to
accomplish in this first roud
298
00:10:49,015 --> 00:10:51,275
is have one of my knives
get tested by the judges
299
00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:52,518
because I didn't get
to do that the first time
300
00:10:52,602 --> 00:10:54,186
I was on the competition.
301
00:10:54,271 --> 00:10:56,939
- Nathan, I loved what you
were doing with that design,
302
00:10:57,032 --> 00:10:59,692
but you put so many structural
flaws in that blade
303
00:10:59,776 --> 00:11:02,528
that we cannot test that blade.
304
00:11:02,612 --> 00:11:04,613
- But I'm expecting
much better results
305
00:11:04,698 --> 00:11:05,957
this time than previously,
306
00:11:06,041 --> 00:11:07,625
because I know my blade
doesn't have cracks,
307
00:11:07,710 --> 00:11:10,712
I know my forge welds
are at least solid.
308
00:11:10,796 --> 00:11:13,122
- Shazam!
- Nathan's in the oil.
309
00:11:13,215 --> 00:11:15,124
- Good color for Nathan.
310
00:11:15,208 --> 00:11:17,218
- I pull it out, and I'm very
happy with my quench,
311
00:11:17,377 --> 00:11:19,303
but if I take
a freshly quenched blade
312
00:11:19,388 --> 00:11:22,223
and try to chop a log with it,
it's gonna snap in half
313
00:11:22,307 --> 00:11:25,476
because it's very, very hard
and it's very brittle.
314
00:11:25,561 --> 00:11:27,061
So I temper it just
315
00:11:27,220 --> 00:11:29,054
to bring that hardness
down a little bit
316
00:11:29,139 --> 00:11:32,475
and make it faster to grind
and make it tougher.
317
00:11:32,568 --> 00:11:35,060
- When I'm doing any kind
of a torch temper,
318
00:11:35,145 --> 00:11:37,405
I like to get that blade
completely clean
319
00:11:37,564 --> 00:11:39,815
because I want to see
where the color's moving
320
00:11:39,900 --> 00:11:41,409
and how deep it's moving through
321
00:11:41,493 --> 00:11:43,077
and how quickly
it's moving through the blade.
322
00:11:43,236 --> 00:11:45,404
- So you'd go and do, like,
a quick pass on the grinder,
323
00:11:45,489 --> 00:11:46,998
just to expose...
- Oh, yeah.
324
00:11:47,157 --> 00:11:48,750
- So the temper
went pretty well.
325
00:11:48,834 --> 00:11:50,251
I didn't overheat
any of my spots.
326
00:11:50,410 --> 00:11:53,078
But I hear Brent grinding away
across the shop.
327
00:11:53,172 --> 00:11:54,005
The time is starting
to tick down,
328
00:11:54,164 --> 00:11:55,673
I know I have a lot left to do,
329
00:11:55,832 --> 00:11:58,926
so I decide to move on
to the handle.
330
00:11:59,085 --> 00:12:00,428
♪ ♪
331
00:12:00,587 --> 00:12:03,014
- All right, bladesmiths,
you have one hour left.
332
00:12:03,098 --> 00:12:04,599
[rock music]
333
00:12:04,758 --> 00:12:07,676
- So I'm grinding away
all this extra material,
334
00:12:07,761 --> 00:12:09,771
and right by the bolster
335
00:12:09,855 --> 00:12:11,514
where it's not as thick
as I would like,
336
00:12:11,598 --> 00:12:13,441
there's a little place
on both sides
337
00:12:13,525 --> 00:12:15,359
that could be fissures
for a break.
338
00:12:15,444 --> 00:12:17,361
[bleep].
339
00:12:17,446 --> 00:12:19,438
- Uh, that's not a good sign.
340
00:12:19,523 --> 00:12:20,531
[dramatic music]
341
00:12:20,616 --> 00:12:22,274
- This could be disastrous.
342
00:12:22,359 --> 00:12:25,203
- If it's a deep enough crack,
it's a structural issue.
343
00:12:25,287 --> 00:12:28,113
- If I can't fix this blade
right now,
344
00:12:28,198 --> 00:12:30,458
I'm not gonna
be the one facing Ben.
345
00:12:34,379 --> 00:12:35,880
I just decide
to go tack-weld it.
346
00:12:35,964 --> 00:12:37,715
- Not a good time for Brent to
have to weld on to his blade.
347
00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:39,375
- No.
348
00:12:39,468 --> 00:12:41,460
- If it's a deep enough crack,
it's a structural issue.
349
00:12:41,553 --> 00:12:42,804
- People get sent home for that,
350
00:12:42,888 --> 00:12:44,463
so you just--
You want to address it.
351
00:12:44,548 --> 00:12:47,883
- Now, there's a risk to this
because it's easy
352
00:12:47,968 --> 00:12:51,804
to overheat your edge,
and the last time
353
00:12:51,888 --> 00:12:53,806
I competed on the competitio,
I was sent home
354
00:12:53,890 --> 00:12:55,983
because I overheated
the edge of my blade
355
00:12:56,142 --> 00:12:58,727
while I was trying
to take a warp out of it.
356
00:12:58,821 --> 00:13:01,730
[dramatic music]
357
00:13:01,824 --> 00:13:04,158
- Did you notice the color in
the center of Brent's blade?
358
00:13:04,317 --> 00:13:07,245
- Yes, I did. Yes, I did.
- [laughing]
359
00:13:07,404 --> 00:13:08,737
- There's little to no hardness
360
00:13:08,822 --> 00:13:10,915
right in the center
of Brent's blade now.
361
00:13:10,999 --> 00:13:13,167
- And I really don't want
to do that this time.
362
00:13:13,326 --> 00:13:15,419
It may give me some weld
in the pattern,
363
00:13:15,504 --> 00:13:17,746
but hopefully this one little
tack-weld on that spot
364
00:13:17,831 --> 00:13:19,674
won't look too bad.
365
00:13:19,758 --> 00:13:21,750
All right.
366
00:13:21,835 --> 00:13:24,253
It looks consolidated,
but time is running out.
367
00:13:24,337 --> 00:13:27,348
I need to get this handle done.
368
00:13:27,507 --> 00:13:29,925
- Bladesmiths, you guys
are down to 45 minutes.
369
00:13:30,018 --> 00:13:32,678
[rock music]
370
00:13:32,762 --> 00:13:34,272
- Time is starting to tick down,
371
00:13:34,356 --> 00:13:35,606
and I know I have
to get the handle scales
372
00:13:35,691 --> 00:13:38,017
fit up and shaped.
373
00:13:38,101 --> 00:13:39,861
I like to put a tapered handle.
374
00:13:39,945 --> 00:13:42,021
It has a little more mass
up at the top of the handle
375
00:13:42,105 --> 00:13:43,781
and a little less at the back.
376
00:13:43,866 --> 00:13:46,358
It makes a really comfortable
handle and also helps
377
00:13:46,451 --> 00:13:47,860
with the balance of the knife.
378
00:13:47,944 --> 00:13:49,453
There we go.
379
00:13:49,613 --> 00:13:51,873
So I get the tang of my knife
ground approximately flat.
380
00:13:51,957 --> 00:13:55,293
I epoxy it all together with
some quarter inch steel pins.
381
00:13:55,377 --> 00:13:57,461
I know that I can't waste
the five minutes
382
00:13:57,546 --> 00:14:00,039
that the epoxy is drying,
so I clamp it up
383
00:14:00,123 --> 00:14:02,958
and I immediately start
trying to thin my edge don
384
00:14:03,043 --> 00:14:05,219
and get the finish that I know
I need to show off
385
00:14:05,378 --> 00:14:06,795
the Damascus pattern
that I made.
386
00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,299
♪ ♪
387
00:14:10,383 --> 00:14:11,884
- There's 30 minutes left.
388
00:14:11,968 --> 00:14:13,385
I've got the handle installed,
389
00:14:13,470 --> 00:14:15,813
but I've gotta let it cure
before I can shape it.
390
00:14:15,972 --> 00:14:20,142
I'm going to finish grinding
while the epoxy is setting up,
391
00:14:20,235 --> 00:14:21,569
and I'm hoping that I can get
that pattern etch
392
00:14:21,728 --> 00:14:24,647
to sharpen the blade
in the last few minutes,
393
00:14:24,740 --> 00:14:27,399
and I want to make sure that
my edge geometry is robust
394
00:14:27,484 --> 00:14:29,985
so that it's great
at chopping that log.
395
00:14:30,078 --> 00:14:32,663
I check the edge, make sure
it feels pretty good,
396
00:14:32,822 --> 00:14:34,323
and put it in the acid.
397
00:14:34,416 --> 00:14:38,577
- Fifteen minutes left, guys.
- I hope this is pretty.
398
00:14:38,662 --> 00:14:40,829
I pull it out of the etch.
399
00:14:40,914 --> 00:14:44,008
The twisted crushed W pattern
looks great.
400
00:14:44,167 --> 00:14:46,001
It has some really bold line,
401
00:14:46,094 --> 00:14:47,920
and I'm just really hoping
that it's gonna be
402
00:14:48,004 --> 00:14:51,590
something that the judges
just haven't seen before.
403
00:14:51,675 --> 00:14:53,342
- We got five minutes
on the clock.
404
00:14:53,435 --> 00:14:54,685
Fare thee well, buddy.
- All right, brother.
405
00:14:54,770 --> 00:14:56,103
- See you later.
406
00:14:56,188 --> 00:14:57,012
- I'll see you guys
on the other side.
407
00:14:57,105 --> 00:14:58,105
- All right, Ben.
408
00:14:58,264 --> 00:15:00,191
- Yeah, you better
get ready, Ben.
409
00:15:00,350 --> 00:15:03,268
- At this point, I have
basically a sharpened edge,
410
00:15:03,353 --> 00:15:05,187
but I also know that I need
to get a good finish
411
00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:07,523
on this blade to show off
the Damascus pattern,
412
00:15:07,607 --> 00:15:10,534
so I want to make sure
that's all etched.
413
00:15:10,619 --> 00:15:11,610
- Nate is etching.
414
00:15:11,695 --> 00:15:13,037
- I'm really happy to see
415
00:15:13,121 --> 00:15:14,613
that there's rings
all over the blade.
416
00:15:14,698 --> 00:15:15,957
Some of them are not very bold.
417
00:15:16,116 --> 00:15:17,700
That's because I have
a low layer count,
418
00:15:17,784 --> 00:15:19,460
but they are on both sides
of the blade
419
00:15:19,619 --> 00:15:21,128
and I'm really thrilled
to see that.
420
00:15:21,287 --> 00:15:22,964
I'm feeling pretty good
about my blade.
421
00:15:23,123 --> 00:15:24,799
I'm happy
that my pattern's showing.
422
00:15:24,883 --> 00:15:26,542
I'm happy that it feels good,
so I'm really hoping
423
00:15:26,635 --> 00:15:28,711
that my blade performs
well in the testing here.
424
00:15:28,795 --> 00:15:31,722
♪ ♪
425
00:15:31,807 --> 00:15:36,802
- Five, four, three, two, one.
426
00:15:36,886 --> 00:15:38,053
Bladesmiths,
turn off your machines,
427
00:15:38,146 --> 00:15:39,555
put down those blades.
428
00:15:39,639 --> 00:15:41,649
This round is over.
429
00:15:41,733 --> 00:15:43,317
- Previously on the competition,
430
00:15:43,402 --> 00:15:44,810
my blade didn't even get tested,
431
00:15:44,903 --> 00:15:47,146
so I'm thrilled
to be able to see that
432
00:15:47,230 --> 00:15:49,398
and I'm excited to see
how my blade performs.
433
00:15:49,482 --> 00:15:51,742
♪ ♪
434
00:15:51,901 --> 00:15:53,160
- All right, gentlemen.
435
00:15:53,245 --> 00:15:56,155
It's time for the strength
test, the log chop.
436
00:15:56,248 --> 00:15:57,581
Now, to test
the overall strength
437
00:15:57,666 --> 00:15:59,074
and construction of your blades,
438
00:15:59,159 --> 00:16:01,502
I'll be chopping
into this log multiple times.
439
00:16:01,586 --> 00:16:03,671
Now, this is not about
what your blades do to the log,
440
00:16:03,755 --> 00:16:05,589
but what that log
can do to your blades.
441
00:16:05,674 --> 00:16:07,091
And Brent, you're up first.
You ready?
442
00:16:07,250 --> 00:16:08,917
- Go for it, Dave.
443
00:16:09,011 --> 00:16:10,761
[dramatic music]
444
00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:13,431
I want to get through this
so bad, but these wooden logs
445
00:16:13,515 --> 00:16:15,099
are a lot tougher
than wooden dowels.
446
00:16:15,258 --> 00:16:16,842
The bark's all been shaved off,
447
00:16:16,935 --> 00:16:18,102
so there's gonna
be no soft stuff.
448
00:16:18,186 --> 00:16:19,770
We're going right
into the hard stuff.
449
00:16:19,855 --> 00:16:21,430
I'm really nervous.
450
00:16:21,514 --> 00:16:28,320
♪ ♪
451
00:16:33,035 --> 00:16:36,370
- That flew straight by.
452
00:16:39,199 --> 00:16:41,784
- Brent, you can see
right there, that brown.
453
00:16:41,868 --> 00:16:43,202
- Yeah.
454
00:16:43,286 --> 00:16:44,628
- There was some kind of
a microfracture in there
455
00:16:44,713 --> 00:16:49,625
that when I hit this,
it made contact just behind it
456
00:16:49,709 --> 00:16:50,959
and it just peeled off,
you know?
457
00:16:51,044 --> 00:16:52,628
You know, the grain structure
looks great,
458
00:16:52,721 --> 00:16:55,806
but that crack being right
where it was on the spine,
459
00:16:55,891 --> 00:16:58,300
it looks like it was just
one of those microfractures
460
00:16:58,393 --> 00:16:59,977
that you just don't see.
461
00:17:00,062 --> 00:17:01,470
What can I say?
462
00:17:01,554 --> 00:17:03,388
- Last thing I expected,
to be honest with you.
463
00:17:03,473 --> 00:17:05,474
- Me too.
464
00:17:05,558 --> 00:17:08,310
♪ ♪
465
00:17:08,394 --> 00:17:09,645
- All right, Brent.
466
00:17:09,729 --> 00:17:10,979
Unfortunately, your blade
467
00:17:11,064 --> 00:17:12,073
did suffer
a catastrophic failure
468
00:17:12,157 --> 00:17:13,649
on the first strike of the test,
469
00:17:13,733 --> 00:17:15,326
so we cannot continue
testing your blade.
470
00:17:15,410 --> 00:17:17,578
But you're not
out of the fight yet
471
00:17:17,737 --> 00:17:18,913
because, Nathan,
in order to move forward
472
00:17:18,997 --> 00:17:20,664
into the final round
of the competition
473
00:17:20,749 --> 00:17:22,908
and go against Ben,
you have to completely survive
474
00:17:22,992 --> 00:17:24,827
one of the same strikes
on our log.
475
00:17:24,920 --> 00:17:26,003
Are you ready?
476
00:17:26,162 --> 00:17:27,246
- Yeah.
- All right.
477
00:17:27,330 --> 00:17:29,673
Let's do it.
- Let's see it.
478
00:17:29,758 --> 00:17:31,250
Right now, I just need my blade
479
00:17:31,334 --> 00:17:32,510
to make it through one strike
480
00:17:32,594 --> 00:17:34,095
and then I'm off
to face Ben Abbott.
481
00:17:34,254 --> 00:17:38,507
So I'm excited,
but also a little bit nervou.
482
00:17:38,591 --> 00:17:40,935
♪ ♪
483
00:17:41,019 --> 00:17:42,937
Oh, [bleep].
- Oh!
484
00:17:46,683 --> 00:17:49,101
- No. No!
485
00:17:49,185 --> 00:17:52,571
- You've got to be kidding me.
- Come on.
486
00:17:53,448 --> 00:17:56,617
[dramatic music]
487
00:17:56,701 --> 00:17:59,537
- Exact same thing,
microfracture right there.
488
00:17:59,621 --> 00:18:01,038
You can see the brown.
489
00:18:01,123 --> 00:18:02,614
- Yeah. Yeah.
I can see it from here.
490
00:18:02,699 --> 00:18:06,368
- It's etched in to it. Yeah.
- God, come on.
491
00:18:06,461 --> 00:18:10,372
- I know how you feel, man.
- [laughing] Yeah.
492
00:18:10,456 --> 00:18:12,466
♪ ♪
493
00:18:12,551 --> 00:18:13,959
- Well, bladesmiths,
you've put us
494
00:18:14,043 --> 00:18:16,712
in a very unique situation.
495
00:18:16,805 --> 00:18:19,473
Just two minutes ago,
we had two beautiful blades
496
00:18:19,632 --> 00:18:21,133
coming out
of a five-hour competitio,
497
00:18:21,217 --> 00:18:23,227
but now, after two strikes,
498
00:18:23,311 --> 00:18:25,396
we have two
broken beautiful blades.
499
00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:27,064
The time has come for the judges
500
00:18:27,149 --> 00:18:29,975
to discuss your blades
and make a difficult decision.
501
00:18:30,059 --> 00:18:31,977
They've got to decide
which one of you
502
00:18:32,061 --> 00:18:33,404
is gonna be moving forward
in this competition
503
00:18:33,488 --> 00:18:34,822
and facing Ben.
504
00:18:34,981 --> 00:18:36,315
So while they discuss,
I'm gonna ask
505
00:18:36,399 --> 00:18:39,568
the both of you to please
step off the Forge floor.
506
00:18:39,661 --> 00:18:42,746
- I'm hoping that because
my blade bit in so deep,
507
00:18:42,831 --> 00:18:44,907
that they'll pick my blade,
508
00:18:44,991 --> 00:18:46,408
but it's all gonna
be up in the air now,
509
00:18:46,501 --> 00:18:48,243
and it's completely up
to the judges' decision.
510
00:18:48,328 --> 00:18:50,996
♪ ♪
511
00:18:51,089 --> 00:18:52,756
- So, guys, we've got two
broken blades,
512
00:18:52,841 --> 00:18:54,675
both beautiful,
but only one of these guys
513
00:18:54,834 --> 00:18:56,010
can move forward
in the final round.
514
00:18:56,169 --> 00:18:59,338
So have at it.
Dave, what do you think?
515
00:18:59,422 --> 00:19:01,256
- I think both smiths
did a great job.
516
00:19:01,349 --> 00:19:04,176
I just think that Brent's
willingness to risk
517
00:19:04,260 --> 00:19:06,437
and do a complicated pattern
518
00:19:06,521 --> 00:19:08,439
and have it come out
as well as it did
519
00:19:08,598 --> 00:19:10,682
is top-notch work.
520
00:19:10,775 --> 00:19:12,184
- Okay.
Doug, what do you think?
521
00:19:12,268 --> 00:19:15,270
- Both smiths present us
with great Damascus patterns
522
00:19:15,355 --> 00:19:17,281
through the process
they chose; it really shows.
523
00:19:17,365 --> 00:19:19,116
So both blades broke,
524
00:19:19,201 --> 00:19:22,444
but one blade,
if push comes to shove,
525
00:19:22,528 --> 00:19:24,205
I can try to test it
for a sharpness test.
526
00:19:24,364 --> 00:19:26,615
There's enough blade there
to cut apples.
527
00:19:26,708 --> 00:19:28,209
The other one doesn't.
528
00:19:28,368 --> 00:19:29,284
- So for you guys,
is this just coming down
529
00:19:29,377 --> 00:19:31,954
to which break is worse?
530
00:19:32,038 --> 00:19:33,631
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
531
00:19:33,715 --> 00:19:36,383
Brent's blade broke with that
much blade and a handle,
532
00:19:36,542 --> 00:19:38,552
whereas Nathan's blade
broke right at the handle.
533
00:19:38,711 --> 00:19:41,380
There's just nowhere
to hold that blade anymore.
534
00:19:41,473 --> 00:19:42,547
- All right, so it sounds like
535
00:19:42,632 --> 00:19:43,966
both of you guys
are on the same page.
536
00:19:44,050 --> 00:19:44,800
- I think so.
- Are you ready?
537
00:19:44,884 --> 00:19:45,884
- Mm-hmm.
- Yeah.
538
00:19:45,969 --> 00:19:47,302
- Let's call them back in.
539
00:19:47,387 --> 00:19:51,223
♪ ♪
540
00:19:51,307 --> 00:19:53,392
Bladesmiths, one of you
is still moving forward
541
00:19:53,485 --> 00:19:55,644
into the final round
to face Ben,
542
00:19:55,737 --> 00:19:59,481
going for that redemption,
a check for $10,000,
543
00:19:59,565 --> 00:20:00,983
and the title
of "Forged in Fire" champion.
544
00:20:01,067 --> 00:20:02,484
And the bladesmith
that's gonna be joining us
545
00:20:02,577 --> 00:20:03,986
in the final round
and facing Ben Abbott is...
546
00:20:04,070 --> 00:20:06,914
♪ ♪
547
00:20:07,073 --> 00:20:08,082
Brent.
548
00:20:08,166 --> 00:20:09,667
Congratulations.
549
00:20:09,751 --> 00:20:10,993
- Good job, buddy.
550
00:20:11,077 --> 00:20:13,754
- I wish winning felt better.
- [laughs]
551
00:20:13,913 --> 00:20:16,164
- Nathan, man,
you fought extremely hard,
552
00:20:16,258 --> 00:20:18,676
but unfortunately your blade
did not make the cut,
553
00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:20,168
and Dave Baker
is gonna tell you why.
554
00:20:20,253 --> 00:20:22,096
- Nathan, you brought us
a great-looking blade
555
00:20:22,255 --> 00:20:23,931
that was really comfortable
in my hand,
556
00:20:24,090 --> 00:20:26,517
but it came down
to where that blade broke.
557
00:20:26,601 --> 00:20:29,520
Brent's blade still has about
4 inches of blade on it,
558
00:20:29,604 --> 00:20:31,689
and yours, there's just no way
to hold onto it anymore.
559
00:20:31,848 --> 00:20:33,515
- Sure. That's fair.
560
00:20:33,608 --> 00:20:35,434
- Well, Nathan,
unfortunately, due to the fact
561
00:20:35,518 --> 00:20:37,611
that you no longer have
a viable blade,
562
00:20:37,770 --> 00:20:39,196
your time in this competition
has ended.
563
00:20:39,355 --> 00:20:40,272
I'm gonna have to ask you
564
00:20:40,365 --> 00:20:42,199
to please step off
the Forge floor.
565
00:20:42,358 --> 00:20:44,118
- I had a fun time here,
566
00:20:44,277 --> 00:20:46,445
and I was confident
that I put out a good blade,
567
00:20:46,538 --> 00:20:48,196
but just that one little section
568
00:20:48,281 --> 00:20:50,624
with some wonky forging
led to a tiny crack,
569
00:20:50,783 --> 00:20:53,368
that led to the blade
snapping right in half.
570
00:20:53,453 --> 00:20:55,212
I'm excited to see
what Ben and Brent pull out.
571
00:20:55,371 --> 00:20:56,880
I know Brent's gonna kick ass,
572
00:20:56,965 --> 00:20:58,048
I know Ben's gonna kick ass,
573
00:20:58,207 --> 00:20:59,541
so we'll see what happens.
574
00:20:59,625 --> 00:21:01,626
♪ ♪
575
00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:03,378
- Brent, congratulations, man.
576
00:21:03,463 --> 00:21:05,139
You made it through
the five-hour challenge,
577
00:21:05,223 --> 00:21:06,473
and that means
you're going forward
578
00:21:06,558 --> 00:21:07,716
in the final round
of the competition.
579
00:21:07,809 --> 00:21:09,301
You're gonna get
a second chance at Ben Abbott
580
00:21:09,394 --> 00:21:10,811
in a competition
of your choosing.
581
00:21:10,895 --> 00:21:12,229
Are you ready?
582
00:21:12,314 --> 00:21:13,647
- Yeah.
I feel like the last few years
583
00:21:13,732 --> 00:21:17,067
of my life have been, like,
leading up to this point,
584
00:21:17,152 --> 00:21:19,144
and I am just ready
to rock on that.
585
00:21:19,228 --> 00:21:21,322
The whole reason I came here
was to go up against Ben,
586
00:21:21,406 --> 00:21:22,823
so it's such a relief.
587
00:21:22,982 --> 00:21:26,910
It feels so good
to get that chance.
588
00:21:26,995 --> 00:21:29,079
- Well, Brent,
it may be unconventional,
589
00:21:29,164 --> 00:21:31,073
but you made it to the final
round of this competition.
590
00:21:31,166 --> 00:21:33,500
You're gonna go
head-to-head against the smith
591
00:21:33,585 --> 00:21:36,754
whose current record
is seven wins and zero losses,
592
00:21:36,838 --> 00:21:38,422
and to see
if you have what it takes
593
00:21:38,506 --> 00:21:40,248
to beat the unbeaten.
594
00:21:40,333 --> 00:21:42,918
♪ ♪
595
00:21:43,002 --> 00:21:45,095
Ben Abbott.
596
00:21:45,180 --> 00:21:47,422
- Brent, big surprise.
597
00:21:48,767 --> 00:21:52,019
Brent and I have been friends
ever since that first episod.
598
00:21:52,103 --> 00:21:54,763
That was a hell of a time.
[laughs]
599
00:21:54,856 --> 00:21:58,609
I know he's an amazing smith,
so I'm gonna have to
600
00:21:58,693 --> 00:22:02,020
go all out plus a little
to keep the streak going.
601
00:22:02,113 --> 00:22:04,198
- Well, bladesmiths,
I gotta say, guys,
602
00:22:04,282 --> 00:22:06,691
I am thoroughly thrilled
about this competition,
603
00:22:06,776 --> 00:22:09,361
not only because we got
two talented smiths here,
604
00:22:09,445 --> 00:22:11,455
but because you guys have
a little bit of history.
605
00:22:11,614 --> 00:22:15,042
You know each other, you've
worked side by side before,
606
00:22:15,126 --> 00:22:18,036
and I'm very, very excited
to see you guys battle it out.
607
00:22:18,129 --> 00:22:19,955
In the next eight hours,
gentlemen,
608
00:22:20,039 --> 00:22:22,457
you will be going head-to-head
in a bladesmithing competition
609
00:22:22,550 --> 00:22:25,135
where you need to make a blade
from start to finish.
610
00:22:25,220 --> 00:22:26,962
Now, as you guys can see,
Dave and Doug
611
00:22:27,046 --> 00:22:28,222
are not gonna be joining us
for this round.
612
00:22:28,381 --> 00:22:29,965
For fairness, they're not
gonna have a clue
613
00:22:30,058 --> 00:22:32,717
whose blade is whose when
they get into testing.
614
00:22:32,802 --> 00:22:35,554
Now, Brent, because you won
the last round,
615
00:22:35,638 --> 00:22:37,139
you were able to choose
whatever blade you wanted
616
00:22:37,223 --> 00:22:38,649
from our "Forge of Fire" vault
617
00:22:38,733 --> 00:22:42,069
that you wanted yourself
and Ben to build.
618
00:22:42,228 --> 00:22:43,487
So for the next eight hours,
you are both
619
00:22:43,571 --> 00:22:45,981
gonna be working diligently
to build this.
620
00:22:46,074 --> 00:22:47,074
[dramatic music]
621
00:22:50,912 --> 00:22:52,154
The Ida Sword.
622
00:22:52,238 --> 00:22:54,156
- [chuckling] Oh, an Ida.
623
00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:56,158
♪ ♪
624
00:22:56,251 --> 00:22:57,659
- The Ida Sword
625
00:22:57,743 --> 00:22:59,494
used by the Yoruba people
of West Africa
626
00:22:59,579 --> 00:23:01,496
features a double-edged,
leaf-shaped blade
627
00:23:01,581 --> 00:23:03,507
ideal for harvesting crops
in the fields
628
00:23:03,666 --> 00:23:07,085
as well as inflicting lethal
slashes and stabs in battle.
629
00:23:07,178 --> 00:23:08,762
This deadly weapon appeared
630
00:23:08,847 --> 00:23:10,514
in season four
of "Forged in Fire,"
631
00:23:10,673 --> 00:23:13,675
where both smiths produced
ornate Damascus patterns,
632
00:23:13,759 --> 00:23:16,094
but one smith's mistake
during his quench
633
00:23:16,179 --> 00:23:18,096
caused his sword to chip
during the strength test,
634
00:23:18,189 --> 00:23:21,191
costing him the competition.
635
00:23:21,350 --> 00:23:25,187
- Your blade length needs to be
between 23 and 25 inches.
636
00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:26,780
You have quad hollows
637
00:23:26,865 --> 00:23:28,615
giving you a double-edged blade,
638
00:23:28,774 --> 00:23:31,776
and you have
an integral bolster to put on.
639
00:23:31,861 --> 00:23:33,695
- The biggest part of this blade
640
00:23:33,779 --> 00:23:35,289
is the quad hollow grind.
641
00:23:35,448 --> 00:23:37,207
It's just not one
of my strong suits.
642
00:23:37,366 --> 00:23:41,369
I really feel a little bit
on my back foot on this one.
643
00:23:41,454 --> 00:23:42,787
- Now, Brent, along
with choosing the weapon,
644
00:23:42,881 --> 00:23:44,456
you were able to choose
the technique
645
00:23:44,540 --> 00:23:46,291
that you'll both use
to build your Ida Swords.
646
00:23:46,375 --> 00:23:47,801
Bladesmiths, in eight hours,
647
00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:51,638
you need to make
your Ida Swords using this.
648
00:23:51,723 --> 00:23:54,549
What you have here
are stacks of 1095 and 15N20
649
00:23:54,634 --> 00:23:56,477
along with wrought iron chain.
650
00:23:56,636 --> 00:23:58,887
We want you to combine
those three elements
651
00:23:58,980 --> 00:24:00,055
in the Damascus San Mai.
652
00:24:00,139 --> 00:24:01,890
- Cool.
653
00:24:01,983 --> 00:24:03,484
- Now, Brent, because this
is your second time
654
00:24:03,643 --> 00:24:04,985
in this competition
and your second shot
655
00:24:05,144 --> 00:24:06,311
at the title
of "Forged in Fire" champion,
656
00:24:06,404 --> 00:24:07,988
we wanted to raise the bar
a little bit
657
00:24:08,072 --> 00:24:09,314
and see if Ben
had any spins he wanted
658
00:24:09,398 --> 00:24:10,482
to put on this competition.
659
00:24:10,575 --> 00:24:11,983
So, Ben, you've got anything?
660
00:24:12,068 --> 00:24:13,160
- Yeah. I think that that
there's something missing
661
00:24:13,244 --> 00:24:14,486
from that stack up, Brent.
662
00:24:14,579 --> 00:24:15,996
I think we need a little nickel.
663
00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:17,831
- Ooh.
- Ooh. All right.
664
00:24:17,916 --> 00:24:20,408
So we're talking
Damascus Go Mai now.
665
00:24:20,502 --> 00:24:22,085
- Yes, we are.
666
00:24:22,170 --> 00:24:24,588
I really enjoy adding nickel
to my San Mai,
667
00:24:24,672 --> 00:24:26,248
making it into a Go Mai.
668
00:24:26,332 --> 00:24:28,759
The transition between
the dark cutting edge
669
00:24:28,843 --> 00:24:30,669
and whatever you put
above the nickel,
670
00:24:30,753 --> 00:24:32,095
it really pops to the eye.
671
00:24:32,180 --> 00:24:34,598
I think it's really beautiful.
672
00:24:34,682 --> 00:24:36,424
- When that eight hours is up,
673
00:24:36,509 --> 00:24:38,426
we're gonna start off
with a dynamic KEAL test
674
00:24:38,511 --> 00:24:41,179
on a ballistics dummy
and a pork loin slice.
675
00:24:41,264 --> 00:24:42,931
Then Dave's gonna take over
676
00:24:43,024 --> 00:24:44,933
and put your blades through
a dynamic strength test
677
00:24:45,017 --> 00:24:48,937
with a ammo can chop
and a foam dummy slice.
678
00:24:49,021 --> 00:24:51,940
Good luck.
Your time starts now.
679
00:24:52,033 --> 00:24:55,360
[rock music]
680
00:24:55,444 --> 00:24:59,122
- This is unchartered waters
going on right now.
681
00:24:59,207 --> 00:25:00,707
Now, the process these smiths
are gonna have to go through
682
00:25:00,792 --> 00:25:02,459
in order
to get this built correct,
683
00:25:02,544 --> 00:25:04,628
we've seen before;
we've seen Damascus.
684
00:25:04,787 --> 00:25:07,130
- Whoa. Dagnabbit.
685
00:25:07,215 --> 00:25:08,456
- We've seen Go Mai.
686
00:25:08,541 --> 00:25:10,625
- Charlie wanted to go Go Mai
687
00:25:10,710 --> 00:25:13,712
'cause he wanted
a thicker blade.
688
00:25:13,796 --> 00:25:15,630
- We've seen nickel used.
689
00:25:15,715 --> 00:25:17,057
- I've never worked
with nickel before.
690
00:25:17,216 --> 00:25:19,810
This is gonna be
a bit of a challenge for me.
691
00:25:19,894 --> 00:25:22,387
- But we've never seen all
of them put together in one.
692
00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:24,973
This is gonna be
very interesting.
693
00:25:25,057 --> 00:25:29,069
♪ ♪
694
00:25:29,153 --> 00:25:30,979
- The whole reason I came hee
was to go against Ben,
695
00:25:31,063 --> 00:25:33,824
so it feels so great
to get that chance.
696
00:25:33,908 --> 00:25:36,910
But after this last testing,
I'm a little rattled.
697
00:25:37,069 --> 00:25:38,820
The first time
I was on this competition,
698
00:25:38,904 --> 00:25:42,657
my blade didn't hold up
that well to the testing.
699
00:25:42,742 --> 00:25:44,993
- Brent, we definitely
have waves in the blade.
700
00:25:45,086 --> 00:25:46,745
- This time, I thought
I had a great knife,
701
00:25:46,829 --> 00:25:48,330
and it exploded,
702
00:25:48,414 --> 00:25:49,998
so I want to make a blade
703
00:25:50,082 --> 00:25:52,667
that can pass
the "Forged in Fire" testing.
704
00:25:52,752 --> 00:25:55,178
- How are you feeling, bud?
- Pretty good. Pretty good.
705
00:25:55,263 --> 00:25:56,430
- So what's your plan
for the billet?
706
00:25:56,514 --> 00:25:57,922
You went with
the crushed Ws last time,
707
00:25:58,007 --> 00:25:59,182
you saw how that worked out.
708
00:25:59,267 --> 00:26:00,258
- No. You know what we're
gonna do here,
709
00:26:00,351 --> 00:26:01,602
we're gonna stage
the parameters,
710
00:26:01,761 --> 00:26:03,687
so I'm gonna go
with a natural pattern.
711
00:26:03,771 --> 00:26:04,929
- Okay.
- Some people call it random.
712
00:26:05,014 --> 00:26:07,182
It's natural when I do it.
- [laughs]
713
00:26:07,266 --> 00:26:09,943
♪ ♪
714
00:26:10,102 --> 00:26:12,103
There is a lot on the line
here for Ben.
715
00:26:12,188 --> 00:26:14,439
If he loses one competition,
716
00:26:14,532 --> 00:26:16,524
he will no longer
be the unbeaten.
717
00:26:16,618 --> 00:26:19,527
- I feel really good
about my record so far,
718
00:26:19,612 --> 00:26:22,456
but every single challenge
is a brand new mystery
719
00:26:22,540 --> 00:26:25,533
and a potential failure,
and I don't want to lose.
720
00:26:25,618 --> 00:26:27,044
♪ ♪
721
00:26:27,203 --> 00:26:28,787
I draw the wrought iron,
722
00:26:28,871 --> 00:26:31,539
and while that's heating up,
I clean up the steel
723
00:26:31,624 --> 00:26:32,791
that I'm gonna use
for my Damascus billet.
724
00:26:32,884 --> 00:26:34,885
I'm gonna go with a 26-layer
725
00:26:34,969 --> 00:26:38,305
alternating stack
of 1095 and 15N20,
726
00:26:38,464 --> 00:26:40,974
draw it out
to a 24 plus inches long,
727
00:26:41,059 --> 00:26:44,135
cut it into six pieces,
and make 156 layers
728
00:26:44,220 --> 00:26:47,814
that I will make the core
of my Ida Sword out of.
729
00:26:47,973 --> 00:26:49,641
Ninety percent
of what you're gonna see
730
00:26:49,725 --> 00:26:52,486
at the end of the day
is gonna be the Damascus,
731
00:26:52,645 --> 00:26:54,821
so I really want
to put extra effort in
732
00:26:54,980 --> 00:26:59,076
to that Damascus
to make it beautiful.
733
00:26:59,235 --> 00:27:01,820
- So as my billet's coming up
to heat in the forge,
734
00:27:01,904 --> 00:27:04,164
I'm working on forging out
my wrought iron.
735
00:27:04,248 --> 00:27:06,166
- Is there anything specific
about wrought iron
736
00:27:06,325 --> 00:27:08,243
that makes it more difficult
to work with?
737
00:27:08,327 --> 00:27:11,421
- It can split really easy,
so if I'm not really careful
738
00:27:11,506 --> 00:27:13,924
and open this just slow
at real high heat,
739
00:27:14,008 --> 00:27:16,593
then this can tear;
I don't want to do that,
740
00:27:16,678 --> 00:27:18,762
so I'm just gonna open it up,
741
00:27:18,846 --> 00:27:21,515
as painful as it is,
a little slower.
742
00:27:21,674 --> 00:27:23,091
Now it's time
to squish some welds.
743
00:27:23,175 --> 00:27:24,843
♪ ♪
744
00:27:24,936 --> 00:27:26,761
This feels really solid,
really good,
745
00:27:26,854 --> 00:27:30,524
but I have to move on because
I know that this sword build
746
00:27:30,608 --> 00:27:33,935
is gonna take
every minute that I have.
747
00:27:34,019 --> 00:27:36,863
♪ ♪
748
00:27:36,948 --> 00:27:39,282
- After the welds are set,
I get the billet to length.
749
00:27:39,367 --> 00:27:42,360
Now it's time to start
grinding all that scale off
750
00:27:42,445 --> 00:27:43,528
of both sides of that billet
751
00:27:43,612 --> 00:27:45,447
so that I can cut it
and restack it.
752
00:27:45,531 --> 00:27:48,208
- This is a really
important moment for Ben.
753
00:27:48,367 --> 00:27:50,118
If he doesn't get the faces
of this steel,
754
00:27:50,211 --> 00:27:53,046
the billet, cleaned up,
when he cuts and restacks it
755
00:27:53,131 --> 00:27:55,039
he runs the risk
of having delaminations
756
00:27:55,124 --> 00:27:57,792
or cold shuts
in that final billet.
757
00:27:57,877 --> 00:28:00,220
- So I cut all my pieces
to 4 inches long.
758
00:28:00,379 --> 00:28:02,389
There's a huge risk
each time I win.
759
00:28:02,473 --> 00:28:04,466
It becomes more
and more important
760
00:28:04,550 --> 00:28:06,134
to keep the streak going.
761
00:28:06,218 --> 00:28:08,311
I don't want to get a first
number and a second number.
762
00:28:08,396 --> 00:28:10,889
I like "0" as a second number.
763
00:28:10,973 --> 00:28:12,807
So as this billet is heating up,
764
00:28:12,900 --> 00:28:16,236
I try to select a nice piece
of wood for my handle.
765
00:28:18,647 --> 00:28:21,566
- Brent just put his
final stack in the forge.
766
00:28:21,659 --> 00:28:24,244
So he's got a Damascus center
767
00:28:24,403 --> 00:28:27,155
collided with the nickel
and then the wrought iron.
768
00:28:27,239 --> 00:28:28,656
- I'm getting a little nervous.
769
00:28:28,741 --> 00:28:30,417
This is a critical moment
770
00:28:30,576 --> 00:28:31,585
'cause I've got to have
good welds.
771
00:28:31,744 --> 00:28:33,503
There we go.
772
00:28:33,588 --> 00:28:36,339
It looks good, it's not
splitting apart at the ends
773
00:28:36,424 --> 00:28:40,668
in any significant way,
and I'm really happy with it.
774
00:28:40,762 --> 00:28:43,764
- Brent, Ben, you guys
have four hours left.
775
00:28:43,848 --> 00:28:46,674
We're halfway through.
776
00:28:46,759 --> 00:28:48,518
Now on Ben's side of The Forge,
777
00:28:48,603 --> 00:28:50,270
he's going for a high-layered
Damascus in the core.
778
00:28:50,354 --> 00:28:52,180
Then he's still got
to collide it with the nickel
779
00:28:52,264 --> 00:28:53,440
and the wrought iron
780
00:28:53,599 --> 00:28:55,099
and go back
for another fourth weld.
781
00:28:55,184 --> 00:28:57,444
- All I've got now
is one more weld
782
00:28:57,528 --> 00:28:59,354
to get the wrought iron
and nickel
783
00:28:59,438 --> 00:29:02,532
stuck onto this billet,
and I am off to the races.
784
00:29:02,617 --> 00:29:05,109
- Ben is welding up
his final stack.
785
00:29:05,203 --> 00:29:06,536
He's got a lot of work to do
786
00:29:06,621 --> 00:29:08,780
to catch up
to where Brent's at right now.
787
00:29:08,873 --> 00:29:11,115
- This is both the scariest
788
00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:12,534
and most fun part
about this build.
789
00:29:12,627 --> 00:29:15,378
If the weld doesn't stick,
it would be catastrophic.
790
00:29:15,538 --> 00:29:17,464
This weld has to take.
791
00:29:17,623 --> 00:29:22,877
♪ ♪
792
00:29:22,962 --> 00:29:26,130
Now I'm relatively confident
that this billet is welded.
793
00:29:26,215 --> 00:29:29,559
But because of my choice
to restack my billet,
794
00:29:29,644 --> 00:29:31,469
it's put me behind.
795
00:29:31,562 --> 00:29:32,813
I need to catch up to Brent.
796
00:29:34,232 --> 00:29:35,816
[rock music]
797
00:29:35,975 --> 00:29:37,141
- The shape and profile
of this sword
798
00:29:37,226 --> 00:29:38,810
is a little tricky 'cause
799
00:29:38,894 --> 00:29:41,822
it's nice and flowing
like a leaf or a reed,
800
00:29:41,906 --> 00:29:44,574
but then I have to contend
with this quad hollow grind,
801
00:29:44,733 --> 00:29:48,403
so we have to be able to take
those grinds from all the wy
802
00:29:48,487 --> 00:29:51,739
from the hilt to the tip
and keep that central lin,
803
00:29:51,824 --> 00:29:54,584
as well as our edges,
as straight as possible.
804
00:29:54,669 --> 00:29:57,829
So I have this idea
that maybe I can make tooling
805
00:29:57,913 --> 00:30:02,083
to try to press in
some of this hollow grind.
806
00:30:02,167 --> 00:30:04,511
- Brent built his own dyes
for the press
807
00:30:04,595 --> 00:30:07,005
using some wrought iron
cylinders
808
00:30:07,089 --> 00:30:09,591
next to each other
on the bottom and on the to.
809
00:30:09,684 --> 00:30:11,092
- Let's see if it works.
810
00:30:11,176 --> 00:30:14,354
The center spine
that I forged in on my tooling
811
00:30:14,513 --> 00:30:16,598
is not really straight;
it's very lumpy,
812
00:30:16,682 --> 00:30:18,933
but I have so much to do,
I have to move on.
813
00:30:19,018 --> 00:30:22,612
♪ ♪
814
00:30:22,697 --> 00:30:26,032
- The next step is to cut
the shoulders for the bolster,
815
00:30:26,191 --> 00:30:28,610
where the bolster
matches up to the handle,
816
00:30:28,694 --> 00:30:31,863
and my first squeeze
is on the tang side
817
00:30:31,947 --> 00:30:33,364
of what's gonna be my bolster.
818
00:30:33,457 --> 00:30:35,366
I have to be really careful here
819
00:30:35,451 --> 00:30:37,535
because it could end up being
a weak spot, it could break.
820
00:30:37,628 --> 00:30:39,704
So I'm paying
very close attention
821
00:30:39,797 --> 00:30:41,381
to make sure
I don't over squeeze
822
00:30:41,540 --> 00:30:43,800
that junction
between bolster and blade.
823
00:30:43,959 --> 00:30:45,135
You look a little tired, Brent.
824
00:30:45,219 --> 00:30:46,544
Why don't you take a nap, man?
825
00:30:46,637 --> 00:30:48,221
- You think you're, like,
lulling me into,
826
00:30:48,380 --> 00:30:50,724
like, a sense of security,
you're not, man.
827
00:30:50,808 --> 00:30:53,643
- [laughs]
828
00:30:53,728 --> 00:30:55,562
The bolster is looking
really good,
829
00:30:55,646 --> 00:30:57,472
and now it's time
for the quench.
830
00:30:57,556 --> 00:31:00,475
♪ ♪
831
00:31:00,559 --> 00:31:03,069
- Ben went from being
relatively far behind
832
00:31:03,154 --> 00:31:05,146
and now he's the first one
quenched.
833
00:31:05,230 --> 00:31:07,824
♪ ♪
834
00:31:07,909 --> 00:31:11,152
- This is a critical moment
because this is the moment
835
00:31:11,236 --> 00:31:16,416
where this thing
becomes a sword.
836
00:31:16,500 --> 00:31:18,752
It's warped, so I'm going
straight to the leg vice
837
00:31:18,836 --> 00:31:20,662
to start to look
at straightening.
838
00:31:20,746 --> 00:31:24,090
I don't love that I'm pulling
on this blade back and forth
839
00:31:24,249 --> 00:31:26,334
to bend it
into the correct shape,
840
00:31:26,418 --> 00:31:29,095
but of course
it's very brittle from quench
841
00:31:29,180 --> 00:31:31,431
and I could break it.
842
00:31:31,515 --> 00:31:33,516
- This is dangerous, 'cause
if anything happens right now,
843
00:31:33,601 --> 00:31:35,343
he's only got three hours left
844
00:31:35,427 --> 00:31:37,345
to completely build a new blade.
845
00:31:37,429 --> 00:31:39,773
- If I go too far
and snap my blade,
846
00:31:39,857 --> 00:31:41,599
it's all over for me.
847
00:31:41,684 --> 00:31:43,276
I won't be able to finish.
848
00:31:43,435 --> 00:31:44,110
[grunts]
849
00:31:47,940 --> 00:31:49,941
- Okay. Let's stick with that.
850
00:31:50,034 --> 00:31:52,786
I've got a really warpy blade,
851
00:31:52,945 --> 00:31:56,122
but I still have a lot of mass
on this blade,
852
00:31:56,281 --> 00:31:58,625
so I can grind a little
off of this side,
853
00:31:58,709 --> 00:31:59,951
a little off of that,
854
00:32:00,044 --> 00:32:02,370
and find a center
that's straight.
855
00:32:02,454 --> 00:32:06,457
♪ ♪
856
00:32:06,542 --> 00:32:08,626
- It's time to start working
on the quad hollows.
857
00:32:08,711 --> 00:32:10,545
What makes a quad hollow grind
tricky
858
00:32:10,638 --> 00:32:13,297
is to do correctly it needs
to have a medial ridge,
859
00:32:13,382 --> 00:32:15,475
so if you waver,
860
00:32:15,559 --> 00:32:19,312
it's very easy to see,
and it looks bad,
861
00:32:19,397 --> 00:32:21,472
so it's gonna take
a lot of work to get right.
862
00:32:21,557 --> 00:32:23,307
Good stuff.
863
00:32:23,401 --> 00:32:25,059
The hollow grinds
are looking good.
864
00:32:25,144 --> 00:32:27,645
It's time to start working
on the handle.
865
00:32:27,730 --> 00:32:29,072
- You're running out of time,
guys.
866
00:32:29,231 --> 00:32:31,324
You have one hour left.
867
00:32:31,483 --> 00:32:32,984
- I take my blade
out of the temper,
868
00:32:33,068 --> 00:32:36,237
and I realize that I gotta
get this handle going.
869
00:32:36,321 --> 00:32:38,489
- On Brent's side, he's doing
a multi-piece
870
00:32:38,582 --> 00:32:39,490
through tang
handle construction.
871
00:32:39,575 --> 00:32:41,159
He's gonna have brass, wood,
872
00:32:41,252 --> 00:32:43,086
and then a brass pommel
on his blade.
873
00:32:43,170 --> 00:32:45,496
- I want to make sure
it indexes well
874
00:32:45,581 --> 00:32:48,166
and it's not too round;
I want those judges to fel
875
00:32:48,250 --> 00:32:51,085
like it was shaped
proportionate to their hands.
876
00:32:51,170 --> 00:32:52,595
I just want it to be
comfortable for them to use,
877
00:32:52,755 --> 00:32:53,930
and safe, of course.
878
00:32:54,015 --> 00:32:56,758
I finally get
the thing shaped up.
879
00:32:56,842 --> 00:32:59,260
I just grab that handle
and feel that sword,
880
00:32:59,344 --> 00:33:02,856
and this moment is the first
moment I felt like a sword.
881
00:33:03,015 --> 00:33:04,599
It's great.
882
00:33:04,683 --> 00:33:06,934
♪ ♪
883
00:33:07,028 --> 00:33:09,362
- Ben's now gonna get
his acid etch on his blade.
884
00:33:09,447 --> 00:33:12,607
We're gonna see
that beautiful 156 layers pop.
885
00:33:12,691 --> 00:33:14,609
- I've given all the time
I can give
886
00:33:14,693 --> 00:33:16,194
to the blade and the acid.
887
00:33:16,287 --> 00:33:18,446
It's now time to take a look.
888
00:33:18,530 --> 00:33:22,042
Dude! It looks boss.
I mean, I see the nickel,
889
00:33:22,201 --> 00:33:23,618
I see the wrought iron
in the center,
890
00:33:23,711 --> 00:33:25,703
and I'm super excited.
891
00:33:25,788 --> 00:33:28,122
It's just a matter
of the last little bits now.
892
00:33:28,207 --> 00:33:30,458
♪ ♪
893
00:33:30,542 --> 00:33:35,880
- Five, four, three, two, one.
Great work.
894
00:33:35,964 --> 00:33:37,390
Please put down your blades
895
00:33:37,549 --> 00:33:39,884
and prepare yourselves
for testing.
896
00:33:39,968 --> 00:33:41,227
- So I'm finished with my blade.
897
00:33:41,386 --> 00:33:42,887
I'm really happy
with the way it looks,
898
00:33:42,971 --> 00:33:46,066
and I look at Brent's blade,
and I'm intimidated.
899
00:33:46,150 --> 00:33:47,567
I really want to win,
900
00:33:47,726 --> 00:33:49,819
and my thus far
undefeated record
901
00:33:49,904 --> 00:33:51,395
is on the line.
902
00:33:51,480 --> 00:33:53,564
Now it's all down
to the testing.
903
00:33:53,657 --> 00:33:55,399
- Doug, Dave, guys, you missed
904
00:33:55,493 --> 00:33:56,993
yet another intense competition.
905
00:33:57,078 --> 00:33:59,412
Brent decided
he wanted he and Ben
906
00:33:59,571 --> 00:34:01,072
to build the Ida Sword,
so now you guys
907
00:34:01,156 --> 00:34:03,249
got your chance to put
your hands on the weapons
908
00:34:03,334 --> 00:34:04,250
and I want to hear
what you think.
909
00:34:04,409 --> 00:34:05,660
Doug, what do you think
of silver?
910
00:34:05,744 --> 00:34:07,337
♪ ♪
911
00:34:07,421 --> 00:34:09,506
- I really like the overall
symmetry of the blade,
912
00:34:09,590 --> 00:34:11,833
the way it feels, the grinds,
913
00:34:11,917 --> 00:34:15,253
and the way it just,
you know, transitions nicel.
914
00:34:15,346 --> 00:34:16,838
- Now let's talk about gold.
915
00:34:16,922 --> 00:34:18,589
♪ ♪
916
00:34:18,674 --> 00:34:20,600
- I like the configuration
of gold's handle.
917
00:34:20,684 --> 00:34:22,769
The flare it's got
fits my hand really nicely.
918
00:34:22,928 --> 00:34:24,595
It's easier
to control that weapon.
919
00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:27,440
But once you move forward,
things start changing.
920
00:34:27,525 --> 00:34:29,442
The edge is still in line,
921
00:34:29,601 --> 00:34:32,779
but the medial ridge
is moving like that.
922
00:34:32,938 --> 00:34:34,438
- Ready to put them to work?
- Oh, yeah.
923
00:34:34,532 --> 00:34:35,365
- Let's do it.
- Let's get to it.
924
00:34:35,524 --> 00:34:37,033
I'll call them in.
925
00:34:37,118 --> 00:34:40,027
[dramatic music]
926
00:34:40,112 --> 00:34:41,621
♪ ♪
927
00:34:41,780 --> 00:34:44,282
- Well, Brent, Ben,
congratulations
928
00:34:44,366 --> 00:34:45,792
on making it through
that very difficult
929
00:34:45,876 --> 00:34:47,710
eight-hour build
for your Ida Swords.
930
00:34:47,870 --> 00:34:49,370
It's coming down to this.
931
00:34:49,454 --> 00:34:50,797
Gentlemen, the stakes are high.
932
00:34:50,881 --> 00:34:52,373
Ben, you're trying to keep
your unbeaten streak
933
00:34:52,466 --> 00:34:54,709
of 7-0 going.
934
00:34:54,802 --> 00:34:58,054
Brent, you're trying to be
the first smith to beat Ben,
935
00:34:58,139 --> 00:34:59,380
taking home the title
of "Forged in Fire" champion
936
00:34:59,464 --> 00:35:01,549
and getting a check for $10,000.
937
00:35:01,633 --> 00:35:03,384
Best way, gentlemen,
we know how to find out
938
00:35:03,468 --> 00:35:05,645
which one of your swords
is gonna come out on top--
939
00:35:05,804 --> 00:35:08,055
By putting them
through a few tests.
940
00:35:08,140 --> 00:35:11,225
And up first, we have
the KEAL test with Doug.
941
00:35:11,310 --> 00:35:13,903
♪ ♪
942
00:35:14,062 --> 00:35:15,155
- All right, bladesmiths.
943
00:35:15,239 --> 00:35:17,740
Welcome to the dynamic
KEAL test.
944
00:35:17,825 --> 00:35:20,651
To find out lethal
your Ida Swords are,
945
00:35:20,736 --> 00:35:21,903
I'm gonna cut through
this ballistics dummy
946
00:35:21,987 --> 00:35:23,663
and pork loins.
You guys ready?
947
00:35:23,822 --> 00:35:27,074
- Yes, sir.
- All right. Let's do this.
948
00:35:27,168 --> 00:35:29,744
- My blade broke in half
on the first round...
949
00:35:29,828 --> 00:35:33,256
♪ ♪
950
00:35:33,415 --> 00:35:35,833
So the stakes are high,
951
00:35:35,918 --> 00:35:37,752
and I'm just ready to see wht
Doug can do with this thing.
952
00:35:37,836 --> 00:35:41,431
♪ ♪
953
00:35:41,590 --> 00:35:44,592
[dramatic rock music]
954
00:35:44,676 --> 00:35:51,524
♪ ♪
955
00:36:08,367 --> 00:36:10,043
- All right, guys,
the first thing about this
956
00:36:10,202 --> 00:36:11,786
is when you pick it up,
it's forward heavy
957
00:36:11,870 --> 00:36:14,464
'cause you have
thicker grinds right here.
958
00:36:14,548 --> 00:36:17,717
But when you swing it,
it's manageable.
959
00:36:17,876 --> 00:36:19,794
I like the flare
that he put over there
960
00:36:19,887 --> 00:36:22,296
'cause it's really giving me
a nice counterbalance,
961
00:36:22,381 --> 00:36:24,215
especially when you're
swinging something
962
00:36:24,308 --> 00:36:25,967
that has a forward weight to it.
963
00:36:26,060 --> 00:36:29,136
Overall, it will KEAL.
964
00:36:29,221 --> 00:36:33,233
♪ ♪
965
00:36:33,392 --> 00:36:35,318
- I'm most concerned that
my blade is gonna
966
00:36:35,402 --> 00:36:38,071
be heavier than Brent's
because it's bigger in profile
967
00:36:38,155 --> 00:36:40,823
and heavier
sometimes can be worse.
968
00:36:40,908 --> 00:36:43,317
♪ ♪
969
00:36:43,402 --> 00:36:46,320
[dramatic rock music]
970
00:36:46,405 --> 00:36:53,253
♪ ♪
971
00:37:10,345 --> 00:37:11,521
- All right, gentlemen.
972
00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:13,264
When I pick up this blade,
973
00:37:13,357 --> 00:37:16,517
I can feel
the distribution of the weight
974
00:37:16,601 --> 00:37:19,687
be far more even
compared to gold's over here.
975
00:37:19,780 --> 00:37:22,690
When I'm cutting this,
because of that distribution,
976
00:37:22,783 --> 00:37:26,610
it's even a deeper chop
into this ballistics dummy.
977
00:37:26,695 --> 00:37:29,122
Now, when I'm grabbing
onto the handle here,
978
00:37:29,281 --> 00:37:30,790
actually it feels good,
it's ovoid,
979
00:37:30,949 --> 00:37:32,625
I can really tell
where the edge is.
980
00:37:32,710 --> 00:37:37,130
Overall, it will KEAL.
981
00:37:38,382 --> 00:37:41,217
[rock music]
982
00:37:41,376 --> 00:37:42,802
- All right, gentlemen.
983
00:37:42,886 --> 00:37:44,554
It's time for our combined
strength and sharpness test,
984
00:37:44,638 --> 00:37:48,215
the ammo crate chop
and foam dummy slice.
985
00:37:48,309 --> 00:37:51,218
Gold anvil's up.
986
00:37:51,312 --> 00:37:53,387
- During the strength test,
anything can happen.
987
00:37:53,472 --> 00:37:56,316
It can have bending or warping
and, of course, breakage,
988
00:37:56,400 --> 00:37:58,476
and I definitely
do not want breakage
989
00:37:58,569 --> 00:38:00,737
for the second time
in competition.
990
00:38:00,821 --> 00:38:02,730
I'm really nervous.
991
00:38:02,814 --> 00:38:04,490
♪ ♪
992
00:38:08,403 --> 00:38:13,833
♪ ♪
993
00:38:24,178 --> 00:38:27,338
- So right off,
when you pick up this weapo,
994
00:38:27,431 --> 00:38:29,682
there's a lot of weight
up here in this blade.
995
00:38:29,767 --> 00:38:34,345
But in that test, the blade
took a warp right there.
996
00:38:34,438 --> 00:38:36,097
As far as the edges
of the blade go,
997
00:38:36,190 --> 00:38:37,681
they held up quite well.
998
00:38:37,775 --> 00:38:40,360
But there's really
no getting around that bend.
999
00:38:43,105 --> 00:38:46,023
[dramatic music]
1000
00:38:46,108 --> 00:38:52,789
♪ ♪
1001
00:39:11,725 --> 00:39:12,883
All right.
1002
00:39:12,976 --> 00:39:14,718
This thing is a superior cutter.
1003
00:39:14,812 --> 00:39:17,313
Those cuts took maybe
half the effort
1004
00:39:17,472 --> 00:39:19,640
to get deeper into that target.
1005
00:39:19,733 --> 00:39:23,903
As far as the strength test
goes, it took no damage.
1006
00:39:24,062 --> 00:39:25,863
Nice piece.
1007
00:39:27,241 --> 00:39:29,742
[suspenseful music]
1008
00:39:29,827 --> 00:39:31,318
- Well, bladesmiths,
in eight hours
1009
00:39:31,412 --> 00:39:33,663
you were both tasked to build
a very difficult blade
1010
00:39:33,822 --> 00:39:35,906
with an even more
difficult technique,
1011
00:39:35,991 --> 00:39:36,991
but in this competition
only one of you
1012
00:39:37,075 --> 00:39:38,334
can come out on top.
1013
00:39:38,493 --> 00:39:40,077
The winner of today's
"Forged in Fire"
1014
00:39:40,162 --> 00:39:41,745
competition is...
1015
00:39:41,830 --> 00:39:47,093
♪ ♪
1016
00:39:47,252 --> 00:39:49,345
Ben Abbott,
you are now 8-0, buddy.
1017
00:39:49,430 --> 00:39:50,671
Congratulations.
1018
00:39:50,764 --> 00:39:53,007
Brent, man, you're good.
1019
00:39:53,100 --> 00:39:54,758
You're an unbelievable smith,
1020
00:39:54,843 --> 00:39:56,853
but unfortunately, you didn't
come out on top today,
1021
00:39:57,012 --> 00:39:59,430
and Dave Baker
is gonna tell you why.
1022
00:39:59,514 --> 00:40:01,941
- Brent, I know how difficult
this blade is to make
1023
00:40:02,025 --> 00:40:03,934
and you did a great job
making it,
1024
00:40:04,019 --> 00:40:05,936
but you did take a slight bend
in the strength test,
1025
00:40:06,021 --> 00:40:07,363
and those uneven grinds
1026
00:40:07,448 --> 00:40:08,689
towards the front of this blade,
1027
00:40:08,782 --> 00:40:11,859
those are the two reasons
we chose the other sword.
1028
00:40:11,952 --> 00:40:13,110
- Well, Brent, again,
I want to say thank you
1029
00:40:13,203 --> 00:40:15,196
for coming back
and letting us all watch
1030
00:40:15,280 --> 00:40:16,622
you work in the Forge;
it was a pleasure,
1031
00:40:16,781 --> 00:40:18,624
but unfortunately
you're not the champion today.
1032
00:40:18,783 --> 00:40:20,126
This time I'm gonna have
to ask you to please step of
1033
00:40:20,210 --> 00:40:23,037
the Forge floor.
1034
00:40:23,130 --> 00:40:24,872
- I was able to do something
pretty incredible,
1035
00:40:24,965 --> 00:40:26,215
I think, in eight hours,
1036
00:40:26,374 --> 00:40:27,625
but Ben's a whole nother level.
1037
00:40:27,709 --> 00:40:29,126
It looks like he took
four days on it,
1038
00:40:29,211 --> 00:40:30,127
like a normal challenge.
1039
00:40:30,212 --> 00:40:31,378
Unbelievable.
1040
00:40:31,463 --> 00:40:33,631
I'm a two-time loser.
[chuckles]
1041
00:40:33,715 --> 00:40:37,977
♪ ♪
1042
00:40:38,061 --> 00:40:41,138
- Ben, Ben, Ben.
- Holy guacamole.
1043
00:40:41,231 --> 00:40:42,648
- Current record of 8-0
in The Forge.
1044
00:40:42,807 --> 00:40:43,983
How are you feeling?
1045
00:40:44,067 --> 00:40:47,737
- I feel amazing.
I'm super excited.
1046
00:40:47,896 --> 00:40:49,322
Brent is such an amazing smith,
1047
00:40:49,481 --> 00:40:53,242
and to be able to pull off
a win against him,
1048
00:40:53,401 --> 00:40:55,152
I just feel absolutely amazing.
1049
00:40:55,237 --> 00:40:57,738
But here I am, still undefeated.
1050
00:40:57,831 --> 00:40:59,665
With any luck, I'll be able
to keep this streak alive
1051
00:40:59,824 --> 00:41:01,584
forever and a day.
1052
00:41:01,743 --> 00:41:02,743
There's a lot of smiths
out there
1053
00:41:02,827 --> 00:41:04,411
that might want to take me down,
1054
00:41:04,505 --> 00:41:06,005
but I'm here, I'm ready.
1055
00:41:06,164 --> 00:41:08,174
Bring it on.