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[dramatic music]
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- Here in The Forge,
we put hundreds
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00:00:10,625 --> 00:00:12,375
of smiths to the test.
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- It's hot in here.
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- But only a select few
have proven themselves
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time and time again,
remaining undefeated.
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♪
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Now three of our
most decorated champions
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will put their perfect records
on the line
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and go head-to-head
against previous
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"Forged in Fire" winners
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in some of the most
heated battles yet.
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- This is a living nightmare.
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- Everything's [bleep]
[bleep] right now,
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if you know what I'm saying.
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- Will anyone have
what it takes to finally...
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[metal clanging]
Oh!
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Beat the Unbeaten?
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♪
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[dramatic music]
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- My name is John Wigger,
and I'm 33 years old.
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I first competed in season 5,
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and I was the champion
of the bardiche.
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♪
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Everybody I went against
last time,
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it was their first time
in The Forge.
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Now, everybody I'm gonna
be competing against this time
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has done it,
and they've been champions.
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So no one's lost yet.
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Someone's gotta lose,
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and I know
it's not gonna be me.
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♪
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- My name is Eric Finch.
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I'm 22 years old.
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I competed on season 9
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and became
a "Forged in Fire" champion
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on the episode
"Fastest Blade in the West,"
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and I made
the Vaquero machete.
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During the last competition,
I made a Western Bowie knife
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that was complimented
as the best replicated knife
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they'd ever seen on the show.
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So standards are set high.
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I'm hopefully gonna
come out here
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and create something
best they've ever seen again.
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♪
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- Well, bladesmiths,
champions, gentlemen,
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welcome back to The Forge.
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Now, you guys know
how this goes.
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You're here to compete
and show your skills
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in an intense and unique
bladesmithing competition.
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Now, this time, it's gonna
consist of two rounds,
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the first of which will be
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the two of you going
head-to-head
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in a straight five-hour round
bladesmithing competition
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where you're gonna build
a weapon from start to finish.
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Now, when that round
is complete,
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the judges are gonna step in,
testing your blades
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and ultimately deciding
which one of you
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has impressed them the most
and would be
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moving into the second round
of competition.
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Now, your second round
competitor
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will be one of our
Titans of The Forge,
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a bladesmith
who has been unbeaten
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in this competition
with multiple wins.
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All right, gentlemen, let's
talk about the first round.
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For this first round,
we're doing a throwback
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to one of our favorite
challenges.
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This is a challenge that
we call Crazy Crates.
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Now, the good news here is
that you guys get to build
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whatever blade you want.
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The bad news is,
when the clock starts,
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you guys are gonna run up
and choose
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one of these crates,
not knowing
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what the challenge is inside.
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There will be steel
and the technique
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that you must use to build
your signature blade.
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Now, if you choose a crate that
you're not comfortable with,
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you will have the option
to come back up
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and grab another crate.
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But that's your backup steel,
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and you're stuck
with that method.
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So I highly recommend
you at least give
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the first crate a shot.
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- It's intimidating
not knowing
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what you're gonna
have to make,
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or especially what
you're gonna have to make
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out of a certain material.
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I don't know what's in there.
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I don't know
what I'm gonna get,
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so it's definitely
very, very scary.
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- Now, gentlemen,
when the five hours is up,
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like I said,
the judges are gonna step in.
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They're gonna test your blades,
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first for strength
and durability
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in a copper tube chop,
and then check
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your edge retention
in a playing card slice.
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♪
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Now, gentlemen, this is
a very difficult challenge.
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And you've only got five hours
on the clock, so good luck,
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because your time starts now.
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[rock music]
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Here we go, off to the races.
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These guys have to come up,
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pick one of these
mystery crates,
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and attempt to build a blade
with what's inside.
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- [laughs]
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- I'm going with this guy.
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Feeling lucky?
- Yeah.
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- "What's in the box?"
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♪
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- Oh, what'd he get,
what'd he get, what'd he get?
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- Twisted stack Damascus.
- Ooh.
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- Twisted stack.
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- Eric got the twisted stack
Damascus.
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- Oh, man.
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- That's the toughest one
out there.
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- Nickel Go Mai.
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- Nickel Go Mai.
- Oh, yeah, easy peasy.
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- So we got
five different layers,
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alternating
and forge weld together.
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- Ooh, you lucky dog.
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- Hey, let's do it.
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[laughter]
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- John's got nickel Go Mai.
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Eric's got the twisted
stack Damascus.
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As of right now, as it stands,
you guys think
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John's got the harder one,
or Eric?
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- I think Eric's definitely
got the harder one
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because Eric has to make
Damascus, and then cut it,
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twist it, restack it.
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And then he can start
making his blade.
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And John has one forge weld,
and Eric at least has two.
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- I haven't ever really done
nickel Go Mai.
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But out of all the other
things that it could have been,
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I'm pretty comfortable
with what I got.
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I have worked with a little
bit of nickel in the past.
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But I kind of make
what the people want at home,
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and not a lot of people ask
for nickel in their knives.
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- The last time John was here,
he did a cold forge outside,
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no power tools, right?
- Yeah.
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Yeah, it was
really, really hot.
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Plus, they were trying
to reduce
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a huge piece of steel by hand.
- Yeah.
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00:04:53,333 --> 00:04:55,375
- My biggest concern
with this technique
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is I'm not 100% sure
what's gonna happen
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when I forge weld
this together.
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- Now, with the Go Mai,
it's a good idea
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00:05:03,042 --> 00:05:06,208
to do an anatmospheric weld
to close everything off
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so you don't have any
runoff of that nickel
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when you're heating it up.
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- I don't think he is.
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Now, what can happen
if he doesn't
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weld all the way around?
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- You might get delaminations.
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- Yeah, I've seen it
kind of pop out
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00:05:17,292 --> 00:05:19,542
when on Big Blu when someone
starts their weld.
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- Last time
I was at the forge,
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I was the young guy going
against the old guys,
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00:05:22,792 --> 00:05:25,000
and now I'm the old guy
going against the young guy.
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So let's see if I can
come out the winner again.
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Luckily, I brought
my own power hammer.
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- For some reason, I feel like
I know John intimately.
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- [laughs]
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- You bardiche will KEAL.
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Oh, it will KEAL!
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[laughter]
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- You know him very intimately.
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- 95.
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I've never done
stacked twist Damascus before.
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Making any type
of Damascus is difficult.
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You're always running the risk
of getting delams
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or, you know,
a piece falling off.
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Twisted Damascus, because
of how many steps go into it,
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and twisting it,
then having to re-forge weld it
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and bring it all back together,
it's just multiplying
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your chances for error.
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- It is a very large difference
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between the amount of steel
these guys have.
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- Yep.
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- Using all the metal
I was given
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would have made way too big
of a billet at once.
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So I'm deciding
to take it in half
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and do two separate billets,
and then combine them
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later down the road.
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- So Eric decided to make
two separate stacks.
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00:06:19,708 --> 00:06:21,792
So he's gonna be working
two billets at the same time.
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- That's smart
because you can draw one out,
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00:06:23,167 --> 00:06:24,542
draw the other one out.
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And you know, it doesn't
cost you any more time.
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00:06:27,042 --> 00:06:28,333
- All right, here we go.
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00:06:28,333 --> 00:06:30,208
Both our smiths have
their billets in the fire.
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♪
193
00:06:32,833 --> 00:06:35,042
- As my billet's heating,
I'm looking for handle material
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00:06:35,042 --> 00:06:37,083
'cause you only have
a certain amount of time
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00:06:37,167 --> 00:06:39,250
to spend on each object.
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00:06:39,333 --> 00:06:41,167
- John's already mixing up
some glue.
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00:06:41,250 --> 00:06:43,042
Is he doing his own slab?
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00:06:43,042 --> 00:06:45,083
- Yeah, he had a couple little
slabs of G-10 in his hand.
199
00:06:45,167 --> 00:06:46,708
- That's good.
200
00:06:46,708 --> 00:06:48,458
So he's also working
on his handle material.
201
00:06:48,542 --> 00:06:50,583
- I ended up choosing
Micarta because the last time
202
00:06:50,583 --> 00:06:53,625
I was on the show,
I tried to use some wood.
203
00:06:53,708 --> 00:06:54,458
Oh, no!
204
00:06:54,542 --> 00:06:56,542
It cracked.
205
00:06:56,542 --> 00:06:59,417
And every time I put it in
the drill press, it just broke.
206
00:06:59,417 --> 00:07:01,417
Micarta is super strong
and durable,
207
00:07:01,542 --> 00:07:03,125
and I don't want to deal
with any of those
208
00:07:03,208 --> 00:07:04,208
problems this time.
209
00:07:04,208 --> 00:07:05,875
♪
210
00:07:05,958 --> 00:07:08,458
- Eric, with that massive pile
of steel he cleaned up,
211
00:07:08,458 --> 00:07:10,542
first out of the fire.
212
00:07:10,667 --> 00:07:12,667
He's using the press
like a power hammer.
213
00:07:12,708 --> 00:07:14,250
- Oh, I do it all the time.
- [laughs] So awesome.
214
00:07:14,333 --> 00:07:15,833
- Yeah, yeah.
215
00:07:15,875 --> 00:07:17,708
- So I have to forge out
a billet of Damascus,
216
00:07:17,708 --> 00:07:20,333
cut in half, then twist
each one and then take them
217
00:07:20,375 --> 00:07:21,708
and stack them
on top of each other
218
00:07:21,708 --> 00:07:23,250
to forge my blade out of.
219
00:07:23,333 --> 00:07:25,333
I gotta be really careful here
because if I screw this up,
220
00:07:25,375 --> 00:07:27,625
I'm gonna have to go
get another crate.
221
00:07:27,625 --> 00:07:29,875
- All right, Eric with
the second billet, same deal,
222
00:07:29,875 --> 00:07:34,208
real quick, gentle presses,
parallel to the dies.
223
00:07:34,333 --> 00:07:35,958
- I'm taking a big risk
with doing this.
224
00:07:36,042 --> 00:07:38,708
And if this fails, I have
to go get another crate,
225
00:07:38,708 --> 00:07:39,917
and I have no idea
what's gonna be in it.
226
00:07:40,042 --> 00:07:41,250
But it's "Forged in Fire."
227
00:07:41,250 --> 00:07:43,458
♪
228
00:07:43,542 --> 00:07:44,875
- While my billet's heating,
229
00:07:44,875 --> 00:07:46,250
I'm gonna start
designing my blade
230
00:07:46,375 --> 00:07:48,833
and figure out the steps
I'm gonna take to finish that.
231
00:07:48,917 --> 00:07:51,875
I end up choosing not
to double up my CRV core.
232
00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,375
I was worried that
the center may be too thick,
233
00:07:54,500 --> 00:07:56,167
and you wouldn't get a good
contrast in the nickel
234
00:07:56,208 --> 00:07:57,625
and the other metals.
235
00:07:57,708 --> 00:07:59,000
I'm a little worried
because I'm not
236
00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:00,875
gonna have very much material
at the end of this.
237
00:08:00,875 --> 00:08:02,583
♪
238
00:08:02,667 --> 00:08:04,583
- What the hell is dribbling?
239
00:08:04,583 --> 00:08:06,542
- It's gotta be in the nickel.
- I know.
240
00:08:06,542 --> 00:08:08,000
- He's cooked that nickel.
241
00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,375
He left it in there so long
it just dropped out.
242
00:08:10,500 --> 00:08:12,333
- It seems like that
anatmospheric weld
243
00:08:12,333 --> 00:08:15,042
would probably have been
a very good idea.
244
00:08:15,125 --> 00:08:16,500
- He's gonna have big voids.
245
00:08:16,625 --> 00:08:18,667
- I don't even think
he noticed it.
246
00:08:18,792 --> 00:08:21,667
- Start forging out the billet,
and I'm getting
247
00:08:21,708 --> 00:08:25,375
a little worried that
I may not have enough material.
248
00:08:25,375 --> 00:08:27,125
If I don't have
enough material,
249
00:08:27,208 --> 00:08:29,792
what I'll probably have to do
is squeeze down
250
00:08:29,875 --> 00:08:31,917
on the sides of the blade
and draw it out.
251
00:08:32,042 --> 00:08:33,500
But I'm worried
about doing that also,
252
00:08:33,542 --> 00:08:35,667
because that's
what causes delam.
253
00:08:35,708 --> 00:08:39,750
So I'm just going to forge it
out as far as I can
254
00:08:39,750 --> 00:08:41,292
and keep a good thickness that
255
00:08:41,292 --> 00:08:43,083
I'm comfortable with
to profile later.
256
00:08:43,083 --> 00:08:44,500
♪
257
00:08:44,583 --> 00:08:46,125
- All right, champs,
you guys are an hour in.
258
00:08:46,208 --> 00:08:48,667
You've got four hours left.
259
00:08:48,750 --> 00:08:50,667
- Now that my final two pieces
of twisted Damascus
260
00:08:50,792 --> 00:08:52,333
are drawn together
and drawn out,
261
00:08:52,375 --> 00:08:53,792
I have to twist each one.
262
00:08:53,875 --> 00:08:55,250
♪
263
00:08:55,375 --> 00:08:57,375
Going into a twist,
you risk having
264
00:08:57,375 --> 00:08:59,083
your end layers start
pulling apart.
265
00:08:59,083 --> 00:09:01,458
So I'm making sure
to clamp down in the vise
266
00:09:01,458 --> 00:09:03,667
my end layers,
and I twist it slowly.
267
00:09:03,708 --> 00:09:05,208
- When you're twisting,
you want to keep
268
00:09:05,292 --> 00:09:06,958
a nice, even pressure on it
269
00:09:06,958 --> 00:09:10,208
because those shocks often
find the weakest link
270
00:09:10,333 --> 00:09:11,917
and then tear it.
271
00:09:12,042 --> 00:09:13,208
- This is definitely
tougher than
272
00:09:13,208 --> 00:09:14,875
I thought it was gonna be.
273
00:09:14,875 --> 00:09:16,875
- That's a very thick billet
to be twisting.
274
00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:19,500
- Yeah, he's gonna be
exhausted here in a second
275
00:09:19,542 --> 00:09:20,917
trying to twist this.
276
00:09:20,917 --> 00:09:24,875
♪
277
00:09:24,875 --> 00:09:27,417
- Hey, use the--
use the press to squeeze it,
278
00:09:27,542 --> 00:09:28,500
and then you can spin it.
279
00:09:28,625 --> 00:09:29,708
- We'll give it a try.
280
00:09:29,708 --> 00:09:30,958
You know what?
We'll give it a try.
281
00:09:31,042 --> 00:09:32,667
♪
282
00:09:32,708 --> 00:09:34,500
The press is so heavy
that it allows me
283
00:09:34,583 --> 00:09:36,333
to twist it with no problem.
284
00:09:36,417 --> 00:09:37,667
- John just talked to Eric,
285
00:09:37,750 --> 00:09:39,333
and I think he was telling him,
hey, buddy,
286
00:09:39,458 --> 00:09:41,917
we got a press right there,
use that.
287
00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:43,667
- So now that I have my two
pieces of twisted Damascus,
288
00:09:43,708 --> 00:09:45,458
clean, tack up the ends,
289
00:09:45,458 --> 00:09:46,333
and get it right back
in the forge.
290
00:09:46,375 --> 00:09:49,375
♪
291
00:09:49,458 --> 00:09:51,167
- John's already
profiling a blade.
292
00:09:51,167 --> 00:09:53,500
I can see the tang
and the shape of the blade.
293
00:09:53,542 --> 00:09:55,500
- I noticed when
I'm forging this billet,
294
00:09:55,542 --> 00:09:57,542
when I'm trying to forge
on the corners of it,
295
00:09:57,542 --> 00:09:59,333
it's wanting to split apart
a little bit.
296
00:09:59,458 --> 00:10:00,958
- I think he's got
a giant delam.
297
00:10:00,958 --> 00:10:02,167
- [bleep].
298
00:10:02,208 --> 00:10:03,750
So I'm a little worried.
299
00:10:03,833 --> 00:10:05,958
- At this point,
if John has to start over,
300
00:10:06,042 --> 00:10:08,833
he better hope that one
of those boxes is monosteel.
301
00:10:08,917 --> 00:10:10,208
- There's no time for this.
302
00:10:10,292 --> 00:10:12,500
I have to make this blade work.
303
00:10:12,583 --> 00:10:13,958
Oh, man.
304
00:10:18,208 --> 00:10:19,458
- So we're 90 minutes in.
305
00:10:19,458 --> 00:10:21,167
Right now,
John's almost got a billet
306
00:10:21,167 --> 00:10:22,333
that is the length
of the blade he needs.
307
00:10:22,375 --> 00:10:23,667
He still needs the tang.
308
00:10:23,667 --> 00:10:25,500
He still needs the tip.
309
00:10:25,500 --> 00:10:27,375
- I think he's got
a giant delam.
310
00:10:27,458 --> 00:10:29,292
- Oh, man.
311
00:10:29,375 --> 00:10:30,792
So I'm a little worried.
312
00:10:30,917 --> 00:10:32,625
But my other side
of my billet looks good.
313
00:10:32,625 --> 00:10:34,542
I think I'm gonna make that
the top of my knife
314
00:10:34,667 --> 00:10:36,875
and get a new edge.
315
00:10:36,875 --> 00:10:38,708
The welds look pretty good,
and I think
316
00:10:38,792 --> 00:10:40,750
I'm gonna be okay with that.
317
00:10:40,833 --> 00:10:42,333
- All right, so John's got
this delamination,
318
00:10:42,333 --> 00:10:45,042
but it's kind of isolated
on one side of the billet.
319
00:10:45,167 --> 00:10:47,875
And it seems like he's come up
with a plan to get past that.
320
00:10:47,875 --> 00:10:49,000
He's just flipping it around
321
00:10:49,083 --> 00:10:50,375
and utilizing that as his tang.
322
00:10:50,375 --> 00:10:51,958
- There you go.
323
00:10:52,042 --> 00:10:53,875
- I'm able to move
my delam to the tang.
324
00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:58,750
But then I look down the spine
and I see a few more delams.
325
00:10:58,875 --> 00:11:01,208
[bleep].
- Oh, no.
326
00:11:01,333 --> 00:11:03,792
He's got a delamination
that looks like a crack
327
00:11:03,875 --> 00:11:05,583
all the way down
the spine of his blade.
328
00:11:05,667 --> 00:11:07,375
- I do not have time
to start this all over.
329
00:11:07,458 --> 00:11:09,750
So I have to work
with what I got.
330
00:11:09,750 --> 00:11:13,667
I look at my blade edge,
and there is no delams.
331
00:11:13,708 --> 00:11:15,333
I'm just gonna run
a bead of weld
332
00:11:15,375 --> 00:11:16,875
all the way down
the spine of it
333
00:11:16,958 --> 00:11:18,792
in any spot there's a delam.
334
00:11:18,792 --> 00:11:21,042
And then I know
I can grind that off.
335
00:11:21,042 --> 00:11:24,750
- All right, gentlemen,
you guys have three hours left.
336
00:11:24,833 --> 00:11:26,958
- Now that my twisted pieces
are back up to temperature,
337
00:11:27,042 --> 00:11:28,333
I gotta get them welded up.
338
00:11:28,333 --> 00:11:30,500
If this weld fails,
there's a chance
339
00:11:30,583 --> 00:11:32,333
I might have to restart
my billet.
340
00:11:32,458 --> 00:11:34,417
- He needs to take his time
341
00:11:34,500 --> 00:11:35,625
and be patient
with this forge weld.
342
00:11:35,708 --> 00:11:37,500
- Yep. Nice.
343
00:11:37,625 --> 00:11:38,583
I'm liking what I see.
344
00:11:38,583 --> 00:11:39,833
- Tiny, couple touches.
345
00:11:39,833 --> 00:11:41,333
- Nice.
- Done.
346
00:11:41,458 --> 00:11:42,667
- Yep.
347
00:11:42,750 --> 00:11:44,333
- Dude, he is doing it
by the book.
348
00:11:44,458 --> 00:11:45,458
- I love it.
349
00:11:45,458 --> 00:11:47,208
I love what I'm seeing.
350
00:11:47,292 --> 00:11:48,875
- I have a solid billet,
and now I'm ready
351
00:11:48,875 --> 00:11:50,500
to start drawing this out.
352
00:11:50,583 --> 00:11:52,208
♪
353
00:11:52,292 --> 00:11:54,375
- I would like to see
these blades quenched.
354
00:11:54,458 --> 00:11:55,458
2 1/2 hours left.
355
00:11:55,542 --> 00:11:56,917
- Yep.
356
00:11:57,042 --> 00:11:58,542
- I get the delams worked out.
357
00:11:58,625 --> 00:12:00,542
I get my profile worked in.
358
00:12:00,625 --> 00:12:04,042
And everything's
to parameters, thank God.
359
00:12:04,042 --> 00:12:06,917
I'm just praying
this quench goes well.
360
00:12:06,917 --> 00:12:08,417
♪
361
00:12:08,417 --> 00:12:09,542
- Whoa.
362
00:12:09,625 --> 00:12:10,625
- All right, he's quenching.
363
00:12:10,708 --> 00:12:11,667
- Oh, a little hot.
364
00:12:11,708 --> 00:12:13,167
- All right.
365
00:12:13,208 --> 00:12:14,542
- It wasn't screaming hot.
It was just hot.
366
00:12:14,542 --> 00:12:16,125
- No.
- Whoo!
367
00:12:16,208 --> 00:12:17,583
She's hard.
368
00:12:17,583 --> 00:12:18,500
It's skating like
Nancy Kerrigan.
369
00:12:18,625 --> 00:12:20,000
[laughs]
370
00:12:20,083 --> 00:12:23,250
Whoo, whoo! Pretty sweet.
371
00:12:23,333 --> 00:12:25,000
- For any blade,
going into the quench
372
00:12:25,083 --> 00:12:27,000
is definitely the most
make or break moment.
373
00:12:27,125 --> 00:12:30,208
You risk cracking,
twisting, warping,
374
00:12:30,208 --> 00:12:32,375
especially after doing
a multi-stack twist
375
00:12:32,375 --> 00:12:34,292
Damascus billet.
376
00:12:34,375 --> 00:12:36,542
- All right,
now Eric is in the oil.
377
00:12:36,542 --> 00:12:38,208
This is absolutely insane.
378
00:12:38,208 --> 00:12:42,292
After all that effort, Eric is
now caught up with John.
379
00:12:42,292 --> 00:12:43,250
- It's straight.
380
00:12:43,250 --> 00:12:44,208
I don't see any cracks.
381
00:12:44,208 --> 00:12:45,792
I see no warping.
382
00:12:45,875 --> 00:12:46,708
And man, it feels good
because I think
383
00:12:46,833 --> 00:12:47,750
I'm gonna get this blade done.
384
00:12:47,833 --> 00:12:49,208
[sighing] Oh.
385
00:12:49,333 --> 00:12:50,333
- All right, guys,
you got 90 minutes left
386
00:12:50,417 --> 00:12:52,208
to finish your work.
387
00:12:52,208 --> 00:12:53,792
- I'm feeling really good
right now.
388
00:12:53,875 --> 00:12:54,917
I'm grinding the profile,
389
00:12:54,917 --> 00:12:57,000
and everything looks
pretty tight.
390
00:12:57,083 --> 00:12:59,875
So now I'm gonna work on
making the handle feel good.
391
00:12:59,875 --> 00:13:01,708
Because I've seen people
go home just because
392
00:13:01,708 --> 00:13:03,625
of the handle,
if it's got hot spots in it,
393
00:13:03,625 --> 00:13:05,292
if it slides
up and down their hand.
394
00:13:05,375 --> 00:13:07,792
So I'm gonna try to make it
kind of tight in my hands
395
00:13:07,792 --> 00:13:10,375
so I know it's good
for everybody.
396
00:13:10,458 --> 00:13:11,500
Eric's got his blade.
397
00:13:11,583 --> 00:13:13,125
It looks great.
398
00:13:13,208 --> 00:13:15,250
So I'm a little worried
about that at the moment.
399
00:13:15,250 --> 00:13:17,250
♪
400
00:13:17,250 --> 00:13:19,000
- Now that my blade
is quenched,
401
00:13:19,083 --> 00:13:20,583
it feels a little heavier
than what I'd like.
402
00:13:20,708 --> 00:13:22,042
So I'm gonna add a big
fuller on the front half,
403
00:13:22,167 --> 00:13:23,375
removing some
of that weight to help
404
00:13:23,500 --> 00:13:25,042
bring it back a little bit.
405
00:13:25,125 --> 00:13:27,042
For one, it's gonna
lighten up the blade.
406
00:13:27,167 --> 00:13:29,208
But it's also gonna
hopefully give me an advantage
407
00:13:29,333 --> 00:13:31,250
in the card slice.
408
00:13:31,250 --> 00:13:32,750
Because instead of the cards
having to go the whole way up
409
00:13:32,833 --> 00:13:34,292
to a thick edge,
they only go up halfway,
410
00:13:34,375 --> 00:13:35,708
enter into the fuller,
and hopefully make it
411
00:13:35,792 --> 00:13:37,875
a lot better of a slicer.
412
00:13:37,875 --> 00:13:41,125
- You know, Eric's blade
is looking beautiful.
413
00:13:41,125 --> 00:13:42,833
- It really is.
- It's got a nice fuller to it.
414
00:13:42,833 --> 00:13:44,208
- He's just kind of got it
running almost down
415
00:13:44,208 --> 00:13:45,958
the middle,
which is neat because
416
00:13:46,042 --> 00:13:48,833
it should expose more
of the pattern.
417
00:13:48,875 --> 00:13:52,167
- John, Eric, guys,
30 minutes left.
418
00:13:52,292 --> 00:13:55,083
- With not much time left,
I need to grind down now
419
00:13:55,083 --> 00:13:56,542
so you're able to see
the nickel
420
00:13:56,542 --> 00:13:58,167
and the different kinds
of metal.
421
00:13:58,292 --> 00:14:01,292
- Looking at John's blade,
you can see the nickel
422
00:14:01,375 --> 00:14:02,875
very close to the edge.
423
00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:04,542
Is there a way to bring
that up in the grind?
424
00:14:04,625 --> 00:14:06,708
- Yeah, you just need
a very, very acute grind,
425
00:14:06,792 --> 00:14:08,208
and it'll come up.
426
00:14:08,292 --> 00:14:10,458
- Yeah, which has
its own problems
427
00:14:10,458 --> 00:14:12,667
in the test that we're doing.
428
00:14:12,750 --> 00:14:15,083
As I'm grinding,
I see there's another delam.
429
00:14:15,083 --> 00:14:16,667
[bleep].
430
00:14:16,708 --> 00:14:17,708
It's away from the edge.
431
00:14:17,792 --> 00:14:19,250
I know it's the nickel.
432
00:14:19,375 --> 00:14:20,833
It's too late
in the competition
433
00:14:20,833 --> 00:14:23,875
to try to do anything
to the delam.
434
00:14:23,958 --> 00:14:25,750
If I do that,
I'm gonna ruin my heat treat,
435
00:14:25,750 --> 00:14:27,125
my temper, and all that.
436
00:14:27,208 --> 00:14:28,500
So there's really
no reason to risk
437
00:14:28,583 --> 00:14:29,917
messing up my blade edge,
438
00:14:29,917 --> 00:14:31,417
'cause that's
what's most important.
439
00:14:31,500 --> 00:14:33,750
So I'm gonna try to hide it.
440
00:14:33,833 --> 00:14:35,708
- John put nail polish
on his blade.
441
00:14:35,792 --> 00:14:38,375
He followed the nickel
with nail polish
442
00:14:38,375 --> 00:14:41,167
and made, like,
a secondary shiny bit.
443
00:14:41,250 --> 00:14:42,167
- Camouflage.
444
00:14:42,250 --> 00:14:44,375
♪
445
00:14:44,458 --> 00:14:45,833
- So I want my handle
on my blade to be
446
00:14:45,833 --> 00:14:48,042
pretty thick and comfortable.
447
00:14:48,042 --> 00:14:49,125
These judges are
upping the game
448
00:14:49,125 --> 00:14:50,833
for this champions competition.
449
00:14:50,917 --> 00:14:52,542
I know they're expecting
a lot out of us.
450
00:14:52,625 --> 00:14:54,708
I think the judges are gonna be
really impressed with
451
00:14:54,833 --> 00:14:56,500
what I got done.
452
00:14:56,625 --> 00:14:58,542
- That's a sweet-looking blade.
453
00:14:58,625 --> 00:15:01,167
- I'm really relieved to see
a really cool-looking pattern
454
00:15:01,208 --> 00:15:03,000
and no signs of any delams
or cracking
455
00:15:03,125 --> 00:15:04,750
or any welds in my blade.
456
00:15:04,750 --> 00:15:05,792
All that's left to do
is sharpen.
457
00:15:05,875 --> 00:15:08,958
♪
458
00:15:09,042 --> 00:15:13,708
- 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
459
00:15:13,792 --> 00:15:15,333
Bladesmiths,
put down your tools.
460
00:15:15,417 --> 00:15:17,167
This round is over.
461
00:15:17,292 --> 00:15:19,542
- It was a stressful
five hours,
462
00:15:19,542 --> 00:15:20,958
but I got everything done.
463
00:15:21,042 --> 00:15:22,417
I'm pretty happy
with how it turned out.
464
00:15:22,500 --> 00:15:25,417
[dramatic music]
465
00:15:25,417 --> 00:15:26,583
- All right, gentlemen,
466
00:15:26,667 --> 00:15:27,708
it's time
for our strength test,
467
00:15:27,708 --> 00:15:29,958
the copper pipe chop.
468
00:15:30,042 --> 00:15:31,792
John, your nickel Go Mai
is up first.
469
00:15:31,875 --> 00:15:33,333
You ready for this?
- Do what you gotta do.
470
00:15:33,417 --> 00:15:34,292
No turning back now.
471
00:15:34,375 --> 00:15:35,292
- All right.
472
00:15:35,375 --> 00:15:36,917
♪
473
00:15:36,917 --> 00:15:38,958
- I know going
into this pipe chop,
474
00:15:39,042 --> 00:15:41,250
I can't really afford
to take any damage
475
00:15:41,333 --> 00:15:44,042
because I don't know if Eric's
gonna be taking any damage.
476
00:15:44,042 --> 00:15:46,167
And I think that could be
the decision of who wins.
477
00:15:46,208 --> 00:15:50,792
♪
478
00:15:50,792 --> 00:15:51,917
- [grunts]
479
00:15:52,042 --> 00:15:53,167
[rock music]
480
00:15:53,292 --> 00:15:56,833
[grunting]
481
00:15:56,875 --> 00:16:04,042
♪
482
00:16:09,542 --> 00:16:10,917
- That'll be enough of that.
483
00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:12,208
- Yeah, that was brutal.
484
00:16:14,542 --> 00:16:15,958
[dramatic music]
485
00:16:15,958 --> 00:16:17,333
- All right, John,
in your billet,
486
00:16:17,417 --> 00:16:19,042
there are some delaminations.
487
00:16:19,042 --> 00:16:20,667
I think you dealt with them
really well.
488
00:16:20,667 --> 00:16:23,083
For competition, you got that
sealed up in the back.
489
00:16:23,167 --> 00:16:25,083
Didn't open up,
didn't change at all,
490
00:16:25,167 --> 00:16:26,917
so good for you on that.
491
00:16:26,917 --> 00:16:29,083
Handle for me is just
a hair small.
492
00:16:29,083 --> 00:16:31,083
It would have been nice
to have a little more handle
493
00:16:31,208 --> 00:16:33,750
with this much blade doing
impact testing like this.
494
00:16:33,750 --> 00:16:36,417
But the main thing, your edge--
495
00:16:36,542 --> 00:16:39,500
that thing is just as sharp
as when I started.
496
00:16:39,625 --> 00:16:40,542
Nicely done.
497
00:16:40,667 --> 00:16:42,208
- Thank you, sir.
498
00:16:42,292 --> 00:16:43,750
- All right, Eric,
you ready to go?
499
00:16:43,750 --> 00:16:45,500
- Let's do it.
- Okay.
500
00:16:45,542 --> 00:16:47,333
♪
501
00:16:47,333 --> 00:16:49,208
- It's very intimidating
looking at these pipes, man.
502
00:16:49,208 --> 00:16:51,458
Copper is softer than steel,
but it's still a metal.
503
00:16:51,542 --> 00:16:53,125
It's not something
a blade should naturally
504
00:16:53,125 --> 00:16:54,167
get put up against.
505
00:16:54,250 --> 00:16:55,917
♪
506
00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:57,625
I'm just hoping that
it survives it.
507
00:16:57,708 --> 00:17:00,083
♪
508
00:17:04,375 --> 00:17:05,958
- Copper is not something
a blade should
509
00:17:06,042 --> 00:17:07,792
naturally get put up against.
510
00:17:07,875 --> 00:17:09,250
I'm just hoping that
it survives it.
511
00:17:09,250 --> 00:17:14,583
♪
512
00:17:14,667 --> 00:17:17,500
[rock music]
513
00:17:17,542 --> 00:17:21,083
♪
514
00:17:21,167 --> 00:17:23,500
- [grunting]
515
00:17:23,542 --> 00:17:30,417
♪
516
00:17:33,583 --> 00:17:34,875
[grunts]
517
00:17:34,958 --> 00:17:36,417
- Oy.
518
00:17:36,500 --> 00:17:38,542
- [laughs]
519
00:17:38,625 --> 00:17:40,333
- [sighs]
520
00:17:40,333 --> 00:17:43,333
- All right, Eric, right off,
that is a beautiful knife.
521
00:17:43,375 --> 00:17:45,042
It's honestly one
of the best-looking
522
00:17:45,125 --> 00:17:47,250
five-hour knives
I have ever seen,
523
00:17:47,375 --> 00:17:48,958
so good on you for that.
524
00:17:49,042 --> 00:17:51,208
Your handle construction,
that bird's head
525
00:17:51,292 --> 00:17:53,583
back here gives it
a lot of retention.
526
00:17:53,583 --> 00:17:55,167
As far as the edge
of your blade goes,
527
00:17:55,250 --> 00:17:56,667
sharp as it can be.
528
00:17:56,667 --> 00:17:58,000
A beautiful knife,
it's got a great shape
529
00:17:58,042 --> 00:17:59,042
and a wonderful feel.
530
00:17:59,042 --> 00:18:00,583
Well done.
- Thank you.
531
00:18:00,667 --> 00:18:04,292
[dramatic music]
532
00:18:04,375 --> 00:18:06,667
- All right, champions,
this is the sharpness test,
533
00:18:06,708 --> 00:18:09,333
the playing card slice.
534
00:18:09,417 --> 00:18:11,000
John, you're up first.
You ready for this?
535
00:18:11,083 --> 00:18:13,292
- Do what you do.
- All right, let's do this.
536
00:18:13,375 --> 00:18:20,208
♪
537
00:18:33,250 --> 00:18:35,083
All right, John,
let's talk about your blade.
538
00:18:35,167 --> 00:18:36,833
As I was cutting,
I could definitely feel
539
00:18:36,917 --> 00:18:39,375
that it's a very sharp blade,
except some of the edges
540
00:18:39,375 --> 00:18:41,375
over here weren't
as sharp as the others,
541
00:18:41,458 --> 00:18:43,208
because you could see,
it just tore the cards
542
00:18:43,292 --> 00:18:45,333
instead of cutting cleanly.
543
00:18:45,417 --> 00:18:47,375
Around here, there's
a little indentation in that.
544
00:18:47,375 --> 00:18:49,375
It might have been
the reason why
545
00:18:49,375 --> 00:18:51,333
it didn't cut through
some of the cards.
546
00:18:51,375 --> 00:18:53,125
But overall, it will cut.
547
00:18:53,125 --> 00:18:54,667
- Thank you.
548
00:18:54,792 --> 00:18:55,917
- All right, Eric,
your turn, so are you ready?
549
00:18:55,917 --> 00:18:56,833
- Do what you gotta do.
550
00:18:56,917 --> 00:18:58,333
- Let's do this.
551
00:18:58,375 --> 00:19:05,083
♪
552
00:19:14,708 --> 00:19:16,167
- Holy smokes.
553
00:19:16,250 --> 00:19:17,667
- Oh, my God.
554
00:19:21,375 --> 00:19:23,458
- All right, Eric,
let's talk about
555
00:19:23,458 --> 00:19:25,417
your store-bought knife
right here.
556
00:19:25,500 --> 00:19:26,833
- [laughs]
557
00:19:26,917 --> 00:19:29,042
- It is just exquisitely made.
558
00:19:29,042 --> 00:19:30,750
Good job on that.
559
00:19:30,750 --> 00:19:33,208
Now, your edge,
I guess you were all in,
560
00:19:33,333 --> 00:19:35,250
'cause as you can see,
it cut all the way through.
561
00:19:35,333 --> 00:19:37,958
Overall,
your knife, it will cut.
562
00:19:38,042 --> 00:19:40,667
- Thank you.
563
00:19:40,792 --> 00:19:43,458
♪
564
00:19:43,542 --> 00:19:44,875
- Gentlemen,
before we get to the hard part,
565
00:19:44,958 --> 00:19:46,375
I gotta commend both of you.
566
00:19:46,375 --> 00:19:48,125
That was an extremely
difficult challenge,
567
00:19:48,125 --> 00:19:49,500
and you both brought us
great blades.
568
00:19:49,583 --> 00:19:50,958
But as you know,
in this competition,
569
00:19:50,958 --> 00:19:52,833
only one of you can join us
in the second round
570
00:19:52,875 --> 00:19:54,167
to go against our Titan.
571
00:19:54,250 --> 00:19:55,833
The bladesmith
leaving The Forge is...
572
00:19:55,833 --> 00:20:00,375
♪
573
00:20:00,458 --> 00:20:01,500
John.
574
00:20:01,500 --> 00:20:02,750
Sorry, man, but you missed out
575
00:20:02,750 --> 00:20:03,792
by just this much.
576
00:20:03,875 --> 00:20:05,083
And Dave's gonna tell you why.
577
00:20:05,167 --> 00:20:06,708
- Hey, John,
you fought a great fight.
578
00:20:06,708 --> 00:20:09,875
But what this came down to
is your edge geometry.
579
00:20:09,958 --> 00:20:11,167
It was great
for a strength test,
580
00:20:11,167 --> 00:20:12,792
but not quite as good
for that card cut.
581
00:20:12,917 --> 00:20:14,833
Well, those are the reasons
we're letting you go.
582
00:20:14,833 --> 00:20:16,375
- So are you telling me
583
00:20:16,375 --> 00:20:18,167
that I did this for nothing?
584
00:20:18,167 --> 00:20:20,792
[laughter]
585
00:20:20,875 --> 00:20:22,833
- That's the sweetest thing
anybody's ever done for me.
586
00:20:22,958 --> 00:20:24,958
[laughter]
587
00:20:25,042 --> 00:20:26,667
Well, John, before you step
off The Forge floor,
588
00:20:26,667 --> 00:20:28,042
I would love a hug.
589
00:20:28,042 --> 00:20:30,000
[laughter]
590
00:20:30,083 --> 00:20:31,875
- Love you, man.
591
00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:32,833
- Great job.
- Good job, John.
592
00:20:32,833 --> 00:20:34,208
- Thank you.
593
00:20:34,292 --> 00:20:35,708
I knew it could come down
to the fit and finish,
594
00:20:35,792 --> 00:20:37,167
and it did.
595
00:20:37,167 --> 00:20:38,000
I still feel comfortable
with the knife
596
00:20:38,083 --> 00:20:40,875
I made in the time given.
597
00:20:40,875 --> 00:20:42,500
Since Eric's beat me now,
598
00:20:42,583 --> 00:20:44,375
I'm absolutely rooting for him
599
00:20:44,375 --> 00:20:45,708
in this next round.
600
00:20:45,708 --> 00:20:47,708
♪
601
00:20:47,708 --> 00:20:49,333
- Well, Eric,
congratulations, man,
602
00:20:49,458 --> 00:20:51,250
and welcome to the final round
603
00:20:51,333 --> 00:20:53,208
of this Beat the Unbeaten
competition.
604
00:20:53,208 --> 00:20:55,375
Now, it's about to get
a whole lot harder.
605
00:20:55,375 --> 00:20:57,708
Because in order to take home
your second champion title
606
00:20:57,792 --> 00:20:59,667
and a check for $10,000,
607
00:20:59,750 --> 00:21:01,750
you're going to have to go up
against a Titan,
608
00:21:01,750 --> 00:21:04,208
somebody with one
of the highest winning records
609
00:21:04,292 --> 00:21:06,375
we've ever seen
in this competition.
610
00:21:06,458 --> 00:21:08,875
It'll either be Gladiator
of The Forge Jesse Hu,
611
00:21:08,875 --> 00:21:10,583
Super Champ Collin Sage,
612
00:21:10,583 --> 00:21:13,375
or our very own judge,
Ben Abbott.
613
00:21:13,458 --> 00:21:15,208
You ready to find out
who you're going against?
614
00:21:15,292 --> 00:21:16,917
- Bring it on.
- All right, Eric.
615
00:21:16,917 --> 00:21:19,083
You are gonna have to fight
against this guy.
616
00:21:19,083 --> 00:21:22,000
[dramatic music]
617
00:21:22,083 --> 00:21:27,083
♪
618
00:21:27,167 --> 00:21:29,667
Gladiator of The Forge
Jesse Hu.
619
00:21:29,667 --> 00:21:31,375
- [laughs]
620
00:21:31,500 --> 00:21:34,208
- Jesse, welcome back.
621
00:21:34,208 --> 00:21:35,833
- My name is Jesse Hu.
622
00:21:35,875 --> 00:21:37,250
I had to run the gauntlet
623
00:21:37,250 --> 00:21:38,667
in the Gladiators of The Forge
competition,
624
00:21:38,833 --> 00:21:40,750
where I had to face
eight smiths.
625
00:21:40,875 --> 00:21:43,292
♪
626
00:21:43,292 --> 00:21:45,708
- Jesse, you are unstoppable.
627
00:21:45,833 --> 00:21:47,167
- Honestly, to this day,
I still don't know
628
00:21:47,208 --> 00:21:49,000
how I managed
to get through all eight.
629
00:21:49,125 --> 00:21:51,125
And so I'm back in The Forge
630
00:21:51,208 --> 00:21:54,042
because if I have the title
of unbeaten,
631
00:21:54,042 --> 00:21:56,208
and it's never tested,
632
00:21:56,292 --> 00:21:57,917
that title is meaningless.
633
00:21:57,917 --> 00:22:00,125
♪
634
00:22:00,125 --> 00:22:03,500
- So gentlemen, here's how
this second round is gonna go.
635
00:22:03,625 --> 00:22:06,958
In just a moment, Eric,
you've got two choices to make.
636
00:22:06,958 --> 00:22:09,500
I'm gonna open up
the "Forged in Fire" vault,
637
00:22:09,583 --> 00:22:11,417
give you access
to all the weapons
638
00:22:11,417 --> 00:22:13,167
that were built
by previous champions,
639
00:22:13,167 --> 00:22:16,292
and select one that you want
to build against Jesse.
640
00:22:16,292 --> 00:22:19,958
And not only that, you get to
choose the technique as well.
641
00:22:20,042 --> 00:22:21,417
♪
642
00:22:21,500 --> 00:22:23,417
So without further ado, Eric,
643
00:22:23,500 --> 00:22:24,542
are you ready to pick
your weapon?
644
00:22:24,625 --> 00:22:25,833
- Let's do it.
- All right.
645
00:22:25,917 --> 00:22:27,667
Let's get this vault open.
646
00:22:27,750 --> 00:22:34,583
♪
647
00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:47,958
Eric, come choose your weapon.
648
00:22:48,042 --> 00:22:49,083
- You know, I want to choose
something that's gonna
649
00:22:49,167 --> 00:22:50,167
be a challenge for both of us.
650
00:22:50,292 --> 00:22:51,750
But I don't want it to be
something
651
00:22:51,750 --> 00:22:53,375
that I'm gonna end up biting
off more than I can chew
652
00:22:53,458 --> 00:22:54,875
and screw myself over
in the end.
653
00:22:54,875 --> 00:22:56,542
So I think I'm gonna look
for something that is
654
00:22:56,542 --> 00:22:57,833
more of a one-edge knife.
655
00:22:57,875 --> 00:22:58,875
- Ooh.
656
00:22:59,042 --> 00:23:00,000
What do we have here?
657
00:23:00,125 --> 00:23:01,667
♪
658
00:23:01,708 --> 00:23:05,000
All right, Eric,
you chose the Kachin dao.
659
00:23:05,042 --> 00:23:09,208
♪
660
00:23:09,292 --> 00:23:10,833
The Kachin dao was
the weapon of choice
661
00:23:10,875 --> 00:23:12,500
for one of the most feared
headhunting tribes
662
00:23:12,667 --> 00:23:15,000
in the world,
the Kachin of Myanmar.
663
00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:16,500
Known for their deadly
fighting skills,
664
00:23:16,583 --> 00:23:17,625
these fearsome warriors
wielded
665
00:23:17,708 --> 00:23:19,208
this single-edged broadsword
666
00:23:19,292 --> 00:23:20,875
with a widened square tip
to chop,
667
00:23:20,875 --> 00:23:23,208
slice, and decapitate
anyone unlucky enough
668
00:23:23,292 --> 00:23:24,750
to cross their path.
669
00:23:24,750 --> 00:23:26,375
This deadly weapon
has also taken down
670
00:23:26,458 --> 00:23:28,000
smiths in the "Forged in Fire"
arena,
671
00:23:28,042 --> 00:23:30,417
where, back in season 4,
one smith's loose handle
672
00:23:30,500 --> 00:23:32,875
put that smith
on the chopping block.
673
00:23:32,958 --> 00:23:35,625
Gentlemen, in order
to have your weapons tested,
674
00:23:35,625 --> 00:23:37,833
you will have to follow
some very specific parameters.
675
00:23:37,875 --> 00:23:39,375
So listen closely.
676
00:23:39,375 --> 00:23:40,833
Your single-edged
straight blade will
677
00:23:40,958 --> 00:23:43,958
have to measure
between 20 and 22 inches.
678
00:23:43,958 --> 00:23:46,167
Now, that blade will have
to have a spatulated tip.
679
00:23:46,250 --> 00:23:47,625
Moving down into the hilt,
680
00:23:47,625 --> 00:23:49,167
it needs to have
a swelled pommel.
681
00:23:49,208 --> 00:23:50,917
♪
682
00:23:50,917 --> 00:23:53,500
- I've never seen
the Kachin dao in my life.
683
00:23:53,542 --> 00:23:54,708
I didn't know it existed.
684
00:23:54,708 --> 00:23:56,375
It looks like a mix between
685
00:23:56,458 --> 00:23:58,292
a pirate's cutlass
and a competition chopper.
686
00:23:58,375 --> 00:24:00,292
But I could be severely
underestimating
687
00:24:00,292 --> 00:24:01,292
what I have to make.
688
00:24:01,375 --> 00:24:02,750
♪
689
00:24:02,833 --> 00:24:04,042
- Now, there is another
decision to make.
690
00:24:04,125 --> 00:24:07,375
Eric, because you came out
on top of round one,
691
00:24:07,375 --> 00:24:09,000
you get to choose
whatever technique you want.
692
00:24:09,042 --> 00:24:10,833
So what are you thinking?
693
00:24:10,917 --> 00:24:12,500
- He can obviously
pick something
694
00:24:12,500 --> 00:24:13,708
that could be
detrimental to me.
695
00:24:13,708 --> 00:24:14,917
I have no say in anything.
696
00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:16,458
And he knows my work.
697
00:24:16,542 --> 00:24:18,292
And that is
the terrifying part.
698
00:24:18,375 --> 00:24:20,333
- How about we go with some...
699
00:24:20,375 --> 00:24:22,167
♪
700
00:24:26,458 --> 00:24:27,875
- Eric, because you came out
on top of round one,
701
00:24:27,958 --> 00:24:29,500
you get to choose
whatever technique you want.
702
00:24:29,583 --> 00:24:30,833
So what are you thinking?
703
00:24:30,833 --> 00:24:32,167
♪
704
00:24:32,250 --> 00:24:33,833
- How about we go with some...
705
00:24:33,875 --> 00:24:36,000
♪
706
00:24:36,083 --> 00:24:37,833
Damascus San Mai.
707
00:24:37,917 --> 00:24:40,167
- Damascus San Mai,
that's a great choice.
708
00:24:40,250 --> 00:24:42,167
Jesse, how do you feel
about that?
709
00:24:42,250 --> 00:24:44,167
- [laughs]
- Little iffy?
710
00:24:44,208 --> 00:24:46,333
It sounds like you made
an excellent choice, Eric.
711
00:24:46,375 --> 00:24:47,750
- [laughs]
- All right, gentlemen,
712
00:24:47,875 --> 00:24:50,083
this challenge will only
consist of eight hours.
713
00:24:50,083 --> 00:24:51,917
So without further ado,
gentlemen, good luck,
714
00:24:51,917 --> 00:24:53,875
because your eight hours
starts now.
715
00:24:53,875 --> 00:24:56,167
♪
716
00:24:56,208 --> 00:24:57,292
- Whoo!
- All right, here we go.
717
00:24:57,375 --> 00:24:59,458
We've got Damascus San Mai
718
00:24:59,542 --> 00:25:01,458
with a fairly
straightforward weapon.
719
00:25:01,542 --> 00:25:02,750
It looks like a machete.
720
00:25:02,875 --> 00:25:04,333
- That's basically
what these are.
721
00:25:04,375 --> 00:25:07,333
So it needs to be
a light, fast weapon.
722
00:25:07,417 --> 00:25:09,500
- I've known Jesse
for a few years now.
723
00:25:09,583 --> 00:25:11,333
I've seen his work.
I know what he can do.
724
00:25:11,458 --> 00:25:12,750
It's extremely impressive.
725
00:25:12,833 --> 00:25:14,542
I know he's gonna do
the best he can.
726
00:25:14,625 --> 00:25:16,208
But I gotta stay focused
on what I'm working on.
727
00:25:16,292 --> 00:25:19,083
♪
728
00:25:19,167 --> 00:25:20,458
Similar to the last challenge,
729
00:25:20,542 --> 00:25:22,750
I decided to go
with two stacks.
730
00:25:22,833 --> 00:25:25,500
Doing two stacks allows me to
work on two different billets
731
00:25:25,542 --> 00:25:27,625
at the same time,
so I'm not wasting time
732
00:25:27,708 --> 00:25:29,333
waiting for the one
to heat up.
733
00:25:29,375 --> 00:25:31,917
I'll take those two stacks,
forge weld them together.
734
00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:33,667
I'm gonna turn that
into my core,
735
00:25:33,667 --> 00:25:35,458
jacket 80CrV2 around it,
736
00:25:35,458 --> 00:25:36,958
and I'll forge my blade
from that.
737
00:25:36,958 --> 00:25:38,542
- You know, this is
gonna be exciting,
738
00:25:38,625 --> 00:25:43,500
only because we just saw
Eric submit a beautiful blade,
739
00:25:43,583 --> 00:25:45,833
one that is worthy
of going up against Jesse,
740
00:25:45,958 --> 00:25:47,375
who's won eight times already.
- Yep.
741
00:25:47,458 --> 00:25:51,375
♪
742
00:25:51,500 --> 00:25:53,375
- Winning "Forged in Fire,"
743
00:25:53,375 --> 00:25:55,708
it changed my life
a pretty drastic amount.
744
00:25:55,708 --> 00:25:57,167
People on the internet
are like,
745
00:25:57,250 --> 00:25:59,250
how'd you get such a nice job
at such a young age?
746
00:25:59,250 --> 00:26:00,417
Is it Daddy's money?
747
00:26:00,417 --> 00:26:01,542
I'm just like, no, I just--
748
00:26:01,542 --> 00:26:03,417
I won "Forged in Fire."
749
00:26:03,417 --> 00:26:06,042
Winning again would confirm
750
00:26:06,125 --> 00:26:08,250
that those eight wins
weren't a fluke.
751
00:26:08,250 --> 00:26:10,083
- So Jesse's got 24 layers
752
00:26:10,167 --> 00:26:12,417
of 1095 and 15N20
back at the welder.
753
00:26:12,500 --> 00:26:13,333
- Good.
- Awesome.
754
00:26:13,417 --> 00:26:14,917
- I'm excited.
755
00:26:14,917 --> 00:26:18,125
Jesse has shown us
some very intricate designs
756
00:26:18,208 --> 00:26:19,875
in some of the past
Gladiator competitions.
757
00:26:19,875 --> 00:26:21,667
- My blade looks menacing.
758
00:26:21,750 --> 00:26:23,917
It looks terrifyingly sharp.
759
00:26:23,917 --> 00:26:25,542
The grind lines are
pretty much perfect.
760
00:26:25,667 --> 00:26:26,792
- The look of this is sweet.
761
00:26:26,875 --> 00:26:28,208
The scale is right on.
762
00:26:28,292 --> 00:26:29,833
Nicely done.
763
00:26:29,917 --> 00:26:31,542
- This weapon looks
fairly unassuming,
764
00:26:31,542 --> 00:26:34,667
so I have to find a way
to make mine pop.
765
00:26:34,667 --> 00:26:37,958
So I'm gonna do
a twist Damascus San Mai.
766
00:26:38,042 --> 00:26:40,875
I went for one singular bar,
which I could twist in one go,
767
00:26:40,958 --> 00:26:44,792
cut it in half, and then just
slap it onto an 80CrV2 core.
768
00:26:44,875 --> 00:26:48,917
♪
769
00:26:48,917 --> 00:26:50,083
Whoo-hoo.
770
00:26:50,083 --> 00:26:51,875
♪
771
00:26:51,875 --> 00:26:54,167
- Eric's on the press
with his first billet.
772
00:26:54,250 --> 00:26:55,667
So fast.
773
00:26:55,667 --> 00:26:58,167
That was three seconds
on the press.
774
00:26:58,250 --> 00:26:59,542
- On my first heat,
I want to make sure
775
00:26:59,625 --> 00:27:01,542
I do nice, gentle taps,
just making sure
776
00:27:01,542 --> 00:27:03,542
to set those welds
and not overdoing it
777
00:27:03,542 --> 00:27:04,750
where it's gonna
pull the billet apart.
778
00:27:04,750 --> 00:27:06,167
- Is there some kind of logic
779
00:27:06,250 --> 00:27:09,083
behind Eric doing such quick
passes through the press?
780
00:27:09,167 --> 00:27:10,875
- It does two things.
First, you're not cooling
781
00:27:10,958 --> 00:27:13,083
your billet as much
for each push.
782
00:27:13,083 --> 00:27:15,833
And second, you're not
squeezing as much in each push
783
00:27:15,875 --> 00:27:18,500
and risking delamination.
784
00:27:18,583 --> 00:27:20,083
- Gotta get those welds set.
785
00:27:20,167 --> 00:27:21,833
It's now time to start
drawing these billets out.
786
00:27:21,875 --> 00:27:24,292
♪
787
00:27:24,375 --> 00:27:25,500
- Jesse right behind him
788
00:27:25,667 --> 00:27:27,958
with a much larger
piece of Damascus,
789
00:27:28,042 --> 00:27:30,000
setting his weld
for the first time.
790
00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:32,750
- I make sure my temperatures
are screaming hot.
791
00:27:32,833 --> 00:27:35,833
And I do fairly light presses.
792
00:27:35,833 --> 00:27:37,750
And I think it set together
pretty well.
793
00:27:37,750 --> 00:27:39,208
So I start drawing it out.
794
00:27:39,292 --> 00:27:40,792
♪
795
00:27:40,792 --> 00:27:42,500
- Now, we've seen
Jesse compete before.
796
00:27:42,583 --> 00:27:44,792
He's quick.
But he hasn't seen Eric,
797
00:27:44,875 --> 00:27:47,500
and Eric's moves
at just as fast a pace.
798
00:27:47,500 --> 00:27:48,667
- Perfect.
799
00:27:48,750 --> 00:27:50,500
- Champs, one hour has elapsed.
800
00:27:50,542 --> 00:27:53,250
You've got seven hours
remaining.
801
00:27:53,250 --> 00:27:55,250
- So now that my 12-layer
billets are drawn out,
802
00:27:55,250 --> 00:27:56,583
I'm gonna take them over
to the chop saw,
803
00:27:56,667 --> 00:27:59,208
cut them in half,
804
00:27:59,208 --> 00:28:00,958
giving me four pieces
of 12 layers
805
00:28:00,958 --> 00:28:02,958
that I'm gonna clean up,
restack,
806
00:28:03,042 --> 00:28:05,292
and forge weld
into a 48-layer billet.
807
00:28:05,375 --> 00:28:07,208
This is gonna become
my core piece of steel
808
00:28:07,208 --> 00:28:09,000
for my Damascus San Mai.
809
00:28:09,083 --> 00:28:11,375
♪
810
00:28:11,500 --> 00:28:13,583
- Eric is taking that second
billet onto the press now.
811
00:28:13,667 --> 00:28:14,833
It's forge welded together.
812
00:28:14,958 --> 00:28:18,167
Again, going with those
really small, easy taps.
813
00:28:18,292 --> 00:28:19,708
- Everything looks good
so I think
814
00:28:19,708 --> 00:28:20,875
I'm gonna get this blade done.
815
00:28:20,958 --> 00:28:24,000
♪
816
00:28:24,042 --> 00:28:26,750
- I get my billet drawn out
to around an inch by an inch.
817
00:28:26,750 --> 00:28:29,583
And then I immediately go
straight to my twist.
818
00:28:29,583 --> 00:28:31,750
One of the reasons
I chose twist Damascus
819
00:28:31,750 --> 00:28:32,875
was because I did it
in the past,
820
00:28:32,958 --> 00:28:34,333
but I did it very poorly.
821
00:28:34,375 --> 00:28:36,333
♪
822
00:28:36,458 --> 00:28:37,458
Oh, wow.
823
00:28:37,542 --> 00:28:39,208
Okay.
824
00:28:39,292 --> 00:28:41,375
I want to prove to myself
and the world
825
00:28:41,375 --> 00:28:42,375
that I can do it better.
826
00:28:42,500 --> 00:28:43,375
And it'll look cool.
827
00:28:43,375 --> 00:28:45,000
[grunts]
828
00:28:45,042 --> 00:28:47,083
- Jesse's decided to go
with twisted Damascus.
829
00:28:47,083 --> 00:28:49,833
He took that billet and did
about ten full rotations.
830
00:28:49,917 --> 00:28:51,208
- Jesse is going
above and beyond.
831
00:28:51,333 --> 00:28:52,542
- Perfect.
832
00:28:52,542 --> 00:28:53,667
It's golden.
833
00:28:53,750 --> 00:28:55,208
Like, I feel good about it.
834
00:28:55,208 --> 00:28:56,333
- What's going on
over there, buddy?
835
00:28:56,417 --> 00:28:57,250
- You're way ahead.
836
00:28:57,375 --> 00:28:59,125
- Me?
837
00:28:59,125 --> 00:29:01,333
I see you're getting twisty
over there.
838
00:29:01,375 --> 00:29:03,667
♪
839
00:29:03,708 --> 00:29:05,667
So I make sure to draw out
my 48-layer billet
840
00:29:05,708 --> 00:29:07,917
as wide as the 80CrV2.
841
00:29:08,000 --> 00:29:09,708
That way, all I have to do
is clean up my Damascus,
842
00:29:09,708 --> 00:29:12,167
and I can clad the 80CrV2
on the outside.
843
00:29:12,250 --> 00:29:14,125
♪
844
00:29:14,208 --> 00:29:15,833
- Not a fan.
845
00:29:15,958 --> 00:29:19,000
With the hardcore stuff that
we throw these swords against,
846
00:29:19,000 --> 00:29:21,542
I would have that 80CrV2
as a core no matter what.
847
00:29:21,625 --> 00:29:22,583
- 100%.
- No question.
848
00:29:22,708 --> 00:29:24,542
- It's always gonna be
a tougher steel.
849
00:29:24,625 --> 00:29:26,000
- Of all the forge welds
I've done,
850
00:29:26,083 --> 00:29:27,542
this is the most important one
851
00:29:27,625 --> 00:29:29,417
because this is
what makes it San Mai.
852
00:29:29,500 --> 00:29:32,375
And if it fails,
I don't have Damascus San Mai.
853
00:29:32,375 --> 00:29:34,375
♪
854
00:29:34,375 --> 00:29:36,500
I have a solid billet,
and now I'm ready to start
855
00:29:36,583 --> 00:29:39,083
drawing this out
into my Kachin dao.
856
00:29:39,167 --> 00:29:40,458
All right.
857
00:29:40,542 --> 00:29:41,667
- Guys, we're halfway through.
858
00:29:41,667 --> 00:29:43,000
You got four hours left.
859
00:29:43,042 --> 00:29:44,458
♪
860
00:29:44,542 --> 00:29:46,500
- Now that my Damascus San Mai,
it's all fit together,
861
00:29:46,583 --> 00:29:49,083
I can start working
on the shape.
862
00:29:49,083 --> 00:29:51,667
The example blade has
a much more gradual curve.
863
00:29:51,708 --> 00:29:54,042
So I take it to the anvil,
and I begin
864
00:29:54,125 --> 00:29:56,333
drawing out the material
on the spine
865
00:29:56,333 --> 00:29:59,583
and beveling it a little bit
to give it that nice curve.
866
00:29:59,667 --> 00:30:01,625
- So based on Jesse's swings
right now,
867
00:30:01,708 --> 00:30:03,333
I think he's getting ready
to quench.
868
00:30:03,375 --> 00:30:04,500
- Once I get the blade
to shape,
869
00:30:04,583 --> 00:30:06,417
it's time for the heat treat.
870
00:30:06,417 --> 00:30:10,333
♪
871
00:30:10,333 --> 00:30:11,750
- Whoa!
872
00:30:11,833 --> 00:30:14,167
Jesse's got his blade quenched.
873
00:30:14,167 --> 00:30:15,875
- Oh, [bleep].
874
00:30:15,875 --> 00:30:17,667
Perfect, a warp.
875
00:30:17,667 --> 00:30:18,750
I notice the warp.
876
00:30:18,833 --> 00:30:20,542
And it's actually pretty bad.
877
00:30:20,625 --> 00:30:21,833
- Uh-oh.
878
00:30:21,958 --> 00:30:23,042
- It's kicking
to the right quite a bit.
879
00:30:23,125 --> 00:30:24,292
- Jesse, right now,
has a couple of seconds
880
00:30:24,625 --> 00:30:26,500
to try to get a little bit
of that warp out of the blade.
881
00:30:26,583 --> 00:30:27,667
And that's exactly
what he's doing.
882
00:30:27,750 --> 00:30:29,375
♪
883
00:30:29,458 --> 00:30:31,333
We've seen plenty of smiths
break their blades
884
00:30:31,417 --> 00:30:32,500
in jigs like this.
885
00:30:32,583 --> 00:30:33,500
- Better be careful.
886
00:30:33,500 --> 00:30:34,708
♪
887
00:30:34,792 --> 00:30:36,792
- Oh!
- Oh!
888
00:30:36,875 --> 00:30:38,667
Somebody snapped a tang!
889
00:30:38,750 --> 00:30:40,292
♪
890
00:30:40,375 --> 00:30:41,417
Oh!
891
00:30:41,500 --> 00:30:43,083
Robert just snapped his blade.
892
00:30:45,167 --> 00:30:48,000
If this thing were
to fall apart now,
893
00:30:48,083 --> 00:30:50,458
that might as well be me
handing in my unbeaten title.
894
00:30:50,542 --> 00:30:51,292
♪
895
00:30:55,375 --> 00:30:57,042
- So we're halfway through our
Beat the Unbeaten competition.
896
00:30:57,167 --> 00:30:59,042
We've got our two smiths,
Eric going up against
897
00:30:59,042 --> 00:31:01,875
our unbeaten champ,
Gladiator Jesse Hu.
898
00:31:01,875 --> 00:31:03,917
Jesse over here has got
a warp to the right.
899
00:31:05,375 --> 00:31:08,375
If this thing were
to fall apart now,
900
00:31:08,375 --> 00:31:10,667
that might as well be me
handing in my unbeaten title.
901
00:31:10,750 --> 00:31:12,583
♪
902
00:31:12,583 --> 00:31:15,083
No matter how much each turn
of the vise scares me,
903
00:31:15,083 --> 00:31:16,333
I have to get this warp out.
904
00:31:16,375 --> 00:31:17,667
♪
905
00:31:17,792 --> 00:31:19,708
It's workable now.
906
00:31:19,792 --> 00:31:21,167
I get it most of the way out,
907
00:31:21,292 --> 00:31:22,625
but it's still not
perfectly straight.
908
00:31:22,708 --> 00:31:23,875
But I have enough meat
on my blade
909
00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:25,042
to where I can
grind it straight.
910
00:31:25,125 --> 00:31:26,333
I'm fine with it.
911
00:31:26,417 --> 00:31:29,542
♪
912
00:31:29,625 --> 00:31:31,500
- Now that I've got my blade
roughly forged out,
913
00:31:31,625 --> 00:31:33,292
it's time to get over to the
grinder and start grinding it.
914
00:31:33,375 --> 00:31:36,083
♪
915
00:31:36,083 --> 00:31:39,542
[bleep]. I got a little
surface delam up there.
916
00:31:39,667 --> 00:31:41,583
- Seems like Eric does have
a little bit of a delam
917
00:31:41,667 --> 00:31:43,208
toward the tip of his blade.
918
00:31:43,292 --> 00:31:44,750
- He's gotta be very careful
with that.
919
00:31:44,750 --> 00:31:46,917
- I'm gonna weld it
just in case.
920
00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:48,833
I don't know how deep
this delam runs,
921
00:31:48,917 --> 00:31:50,208
so I'm gonna take it over
to the welder
922
00:31:50,333 --> 00:31:52,333
and weld over it
just to secure it
923
00:31:52,417 --> 00:31:53,833
and make sure it doesn't
become an issue.
924
00:31:53,917 --> 00:31:55,708
The last thing I need
is that delamination
925
00:31:55,792 --> 00:31:56,708
opening up any more.
926
00:31:56,792 --> 00:31:58,167
Let's go. Let's go.
927
00:31:58,250 --> 00:32:00,750
♪
928
00:32:00,833 --> 00:32:02,375
- Jesse's going for
an integral bolster.
929
00:32:02,375 --> 00:32:04,583
- That's cool,
some extra embellishment,
930
00:32:04,667 --> 00:32:07,042
a little harder process.
- Yeah.
931
00:32:07,125 --> 00:32:08,958
- The example blade doesn't
have an integral bolster.
932
00:32:09,042 --> 00:32:11,208
But they're cool
and hard to execute.
933
00:32:11,333 --> 00:32:12,833
I think it would add
a lot to the piece.
934
00:32:12,958 --> 00:32:14,875
♪
935
00:32:14,958 --> 00:32:16,542
- So this is the part
right now,
936
00:32:16,625 --> 00:32:19,042
it's difficult to do
in this kind of competition,
937
00:32:19,042 --> 00:32:21,458
is make that nice,
flat transition
938
00:32:21,542 --> 00:32:23,792
from handle to bolster.
939
00:32:23,792 --> 00:32:25,250
- I'm gonna put
a brass spacer there
940
00:32:25,375 --> 00:32:26,458
because I think
it'll look cool.
941
00:32:26,458 --> 00:32:28,042
And I managed to get
942
00:32:28,042 --> 00:32:29,583
the back of the bolster
fit up to that brass
943
00:32:29,583 --> 00:32:30,833
pretty much perfectly.
944
00:32:30,875 --> 00:32:32,208
And now that
that's all fit together,
945
00:32:32,292 --> 00:32:33,750
I can start working on
the wood and the pommel.
946
00:32:33,875 --> 00:32:37,542
♪
947
00:32:37,542 --> 00:32:39,792
- It's time to get my blade
into the quench.
948
00:32:39,792 --> 00:32:41,167
- Look at that.
Look at that middle.
949
00:32:41,250 --> 00:32:42,167
- Wow, that is hot.
- Look at that middle.
950
00:32:42,292 --> 00:32:43,417
♪
951
00:32:43,500 --> 00:32:46,042
- Oh, my God.
952
00:32:46,042 --> 00:32:47,542
- That was all over the place.
953
00:32:47,625 --> 00:32:51,292
- I did not expect a quench
color like that from Eric.
954
00:32:51,375 --> 00:32:52,833
- Pretty good.
955
00:32:52,958 --> 00:32:55,458
It's straight,
and I am so relieved.
956
00:32:55,542 --> 00:32:57,583
- Eric's really happy
with how his blade came out,
957
00:32:57,708 --> 00:33:00,333
but he's not questioning
that quench at all.
958
00:33:00,458 --> 00:33:02,667
That kind of heat, the chance
of the blade being brittle,
959
00:33:02,750 --> 00:33:04,208
maybe taking
some serious damage
960
00:33:04,208 --> 00:33:06,458
during the strength test,
are probably pretty high.
961
00:33:06,542 --> 00:33:09,250
♪
962
00:33:09,375 --> 00:33:10,875
- At this point,
I'm at a crossroads.
963
00:33:10,875 --> 00:33:12,250
It's the time
where I have to determine
964
00:33:12,375 --> 00:33:14,000
what my final
mechanical connection
965
00:33:14,083 --> 00:33:15,875
is gonna be for my handle.
966
00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:18,417
The choices are either
peen it or weld it.
967
00:33:18,417 --> 00:33:20,333
And I feel like by peening it,
it would take long enough
968
00:33:20,375 --> 00:33:22,000
to where the heat can travel
through the tang.
969
00:33:22,125 --> 00:33:24,292
But if I were to weld it,
I would make a smaller
970
00:33:24,292 --> 00:33:26,292
pool of heat, and I can
just immediately cool it
971
00:33:26,292 --> 00:33:27,750
because that weld bead
is all mild steel.
972
00:33:27,833 --> 00:33:29,167
Welding!
973
00:33:29,292 --> 00:33:31,542
- Is Jesse gonna weld
his butt cap on?
974
00:33:31,542 --> 00:33:32,542
- Yep.
975
00:33:32,667 --> 00:33:34,208
- I'd do it.
976
00:33:34,208 --> 00:33:36,208
I don't think it's
a terrible idea.
977
00:33:36,208 --> 00:33:38,500
- There's a very applicable
Bruce Lee quote here.
978
00:33:38,500 --> 00:33:39,667
"Be like water.
979
00:33:39,750 --> 00:33:42,000
If there's a cup,
the water becomes the cup."
980
00:33:42,000 --> 00:33:42,958
If you pour water
into anything,
981
00:33:43,042 --> 00:33:43,958
it becomes that thing.
982
00:33:44,042 --> 00:33:46,083
So you have to adapt.
983
00:33:46,167 --> 00:33:47,458
That will work.
984
00:33:47,542 --> 00:33:49,875
- Jesse's blade is
pretty much formed.
985
00:33:49,875 --> 00:33:52,417
He just needs to start etching
that and sharpening the blade.
986
00:33:52,542 --> 00:33:55,125
♪
987
00:33:55,208 --> 00:33:57,292
- Gentlemen, you got
60 minutes left.
988
00:33:57,375 --> 00:33:58,625
♪
989
00:33:58,708 --> 00:34:00,583
- It's go time, and I gotta
get this blade done.
990
00:34:00,583 --> 00:34:03,208
♪
991
00:34:03,208 --> 00:34:04,167
One of the requirements
for this blade
992
00:34:04,292 --> 00:34:05,417
is to have
a mechanical connection.
993
00:34:05,500 --> 00:34:06,875
And the way
I constructed my handle
994
00:34:07,042 --> 00:34:09,167
is a through tang,
so my tang goes through
995
00:34:09,167 --> 00:34:10,500
every piece
of handle material.
996
00:34:10,542 --> 00:34:12,583
It comes out the end,
where I'm gonna peen it over
997
00:34:12,667 --> 00:34:14,375
and secure it all together.
998
00:34:14,375 --> 00:34:15,417
There we go.
999
00:34:15,500 --> 00:34:16,708
- Eric's about to peen it over.
1000
00:34:16,708 --> 00:34:18,083
- We should see the flames
1001
00:34:18,167 --> 00:34:19,250
from the epoxy
in just a second here.
1002
00:34:19,375 --> 00:34:21,083
- There.
- Yeah, there it is.
1003
00:34:21,083 --> 00:34:22,417
- And now he's just heating
that butt cap
1004
00:34:22,542 --> 00:34:24,667
and burning away material
in the connection point.
1005
00:34:24,750 --> 00:34:25,792
That's not good.
1006
00:34:25,875 --> 00:34:27,875
♪
1007
00:34:27,875 --> 00:34:30,875
- One of the downsides of using
the torch to heat the tang
1008
00:34:30,875 --> 00:34:33,417
is it heats up all the metal
and melts my epoxy.
1009
00:34:33,500 --> 00:34:35,667
So to make sure I have
an extra strong connection,
1010
00:34:35,667 --> 00:34:37,042
I'm gonna drill a hole
through my handle
1011
00:34:37,125 --> 00:34:38,833
and throw a pin in as well.
1012
00:34:38,833 --> 00:34:40,250
- Smart move.
1013
00:34:40,333 --> 00:34:41,667
- All that's left
to do is sharpen.
1014
00:34:41,792 --> 00:34:43,292
I'm not gonna worry about
what he's doing over there.
1015
00:34:43,375 --> 00:34:44,417
I think he should be worried
about what I'm doing.
1016
00:34:44,500 --> 00:34:45,500
[laughs]
1017
00:34:45,583 --> 00:34:47,417
♪
1018
00:34:47,542 --> 00:34:49,500
- I don't know what tests
they're gonna do with this,
1019
00:34:49,583 --> 00:34:52,625
so I choose an appleseed edge
as my edge geometry,
1020
00:34:52,708 --> 00:34:54,667
because it's strong enough
to survive anything,
1021
00:34:54,792 --> 00:34:57,292
and I can make it sharp enough
to cut through anything.
1022
00:34:57,375 --> 00:34:58,500
♪
1023
00:34:58,542 --> 00:35:00,542
Now that my blade's
all finished, all oiled,
1024
00:35:00,708 --> 00:35:02,875
all looking pretty,
I feel quite confident in it.
1025
00:35:02,875 --> 00:35:05,875
♪
1026
00:35:05,875 --> 00:35:07,042
Ooh.
- Oh!
1027
00:35:07,042 --> 00:35:08,958
- Oh, no.
- Jesse just cut himself.
1028
00:35:08,958 --> 00:35:11,167
- At least it's sharp.
1029
00:35:11,292 --> 00:35:13,750
This blade has drawn blood
before any of the tests.
1030
00:35:13,750 --> 00:35:15,667
So now it's enchanted.
1031
00:35:15,750 --> 00:35:17,667
I'll take it.
1032
00:35:17,750 --> 00:35:22,542
- 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
1033
00:35:22,542 --> 00:35:23,792
Gentlemen, turn off
your machines.
1034
00:35:23,875 --> 00:35:25,000
Put down your tools.
1035
00:35:25,000 --> 00:35:26,167
This round is over.
1036
00:35:26,208 --> 00:35:27,458
- Good job, man.
That was a tough one.
1037
00:35:27,542 --> 00:35:28,458
- Yeah.
1038
00:35:28,542 --> 00:35:29,375
♪
1039
00:35:29,500 --> 00:35:30,333
- I'm looking at my sword,
1040
00:35:30,458 --> 00:35:31,667
and there's a couple things
1041
00:35:31,708 --> 00:35:33,542
I might go back,
if I could, and change.
1042
00:35:33,542 --> 00:35:35,833
But you know, time's up,
I made this weapon,
1043
00:35:35,958 --> 00:35:37,333
and I'm proud
of what I'm presenting.
1044
00:35:37,375 --> 00:35:41,333
♪
1045
00:35:41,417 --> 00:35:44,667
- Champions, welcome
to the dynamic KEAL test.
1046
00:35:44,750 --> 00:35:46,208
♪
1047
00:35:46,208 --> 00:35:48,125
I'm gonna find out
what kind of lethal damage
1048
00:35:48,125 --> 00:35:50,000
your weapons can do,
how sharp they are,
1049
00:35:50,125 --> 00:35:52,417
and how they wield
in my hands--
1050
00:35:52,500 --> 00:35:55,167
not a Kachin dao, a Kachin now.
1051
00:35:55,208 --> 00:35:56,875
Eric, are you ready?
- Let's do it.
1052
00:35:56,875 --> 00:35:58,667
♪
1053
00:35:58,667 --> 00:36:00,833
This KEAL test,
it's a little scary.
1054
00:36:00,917 --> 00:36:02,417
You know, that's a big pig.
1055
00:36:02,500 --> 00:36:05,875
It's a massive target
to try to go through.
1056
00:36:05,958 --> 00:36:07,333
There's a lot of bones
in there.
1057
00:36:07,417 --> 00:36:08,667
You know, it's
a hard challenge.
1058
00:36:08,750 --> 00:36:10,083
I'm just hoping
that it survives it.
1059
00:36:10,208 --> 00:36:12,667
♪
1060
00:36:16,958 --> 00:36:18,542
- You know, this KEAL test,
it's a little scary.
1061
00:36:18,625 --> 00:36:20,250
You know, that's a big pig.
1062
00:36:20,333 --> 00:36:22,417
And it's--
it's a massive target
1063
00:36:22,417 --> 00:36:23,958
to try to go through.
1064
00:36:23,958 --> 00:36:25,125
There's a lot
of bones in there.
1065
00:36:25,125 --> 00:36:26,542
I'm just hoping
that it survives it.
1066
00:36:26,542 --> 00:36:30,167
♪
1067
00:36:30,250 --> 00:36:33,375
[rock music]
1068
00:36:33,458 --> 00:36:40,250
♪
1069
00:36:55,708 --> 00:36:57,208
- Ugh.
1070
00:36:57,292 --> 00:37:00,458
- [laughs]
1071
00:37:00,542 --> 00:37:03,000
All right, Eric, let's talk
about your Kachin dao.
1072
00:37:03,083 --> 00:37:05,417
Your edge is sharp.
1073
00:37:05,417 --> 00:37:07,875
Even though it didn't cut
on some of these vines
1074
00:37:07,875 --> 00:37:09,917
that may have just collapsed
when I'm cutting through it,
1075
00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:13,958
look how deep the chops are
on this pig carcass.
1076
00:37:13,958 --> 00:37:16,833
So in all fronts, I think
it's a very sharp blade.
1077
00:37:16,917 --> 00:37:19,500
The wieldability and comfort
in my hands works.
1078
00:37:19,500 --> 00:37:21,833
And overall, it will KEAL.
1079
00:37:21,833 --> 00:37:23,375
- Good to hear.
1080
00:37:23,458 --> 00:37:25,958
- All right, Jesse, your turn,
so are you ready?
1081
00:37:26,042 --> 00:37:27,750
- Sure.
- All right.
1082
00:37:27,833 --> 00:37:30,250
[dramatic music]
1083
00:37:30,333 --> 00:37:31,667
- Going into the final test,
1084
00:37:31,708 --> 00:37:33,250
there's a couple things
I'm scared of.
1085
00:37:33,250 --> 00:37:34,667
It might not have
the sharpness
1086
00:37:34,667 --> 00:37:36,333
necessary to get
through those vines
1087
00:37:36,417 --> 00:37:38,250
because I don't know
what they're made of.
1088
00:37:38,333 --> 00:37:39,667
There's a chance that
it doesn't get through those
1089
00:37:39,708 --> 00:37:41,042
and he can't even
swing into the pig.
1090
00:37:41,042 --> 00:37:43,250
♪
1091
00:37:43,333 --> 00:37:46,458
[rock music]
1092
00:37:46,542 --> 00:37:53,333
♪
1093
00:38:14,125 --> 00:38:15,917
- Damn, dude.
That was sick, dude.
1094
00:38:16,042 --> 00:38:17,208
- That last vine though.
- I know.
1095
00:38:17,208 --> 00:38:18,208
[laughs]
1096
00:38:18,292 --> 00:38:20,542
[dramatic music]
1097
00:38:20,542 --> 00:38:22,375
- All right, Jesse, let's talk
about your Kachin dao here.
1098
00:38:22,458 --> 00:38:24,792
Looking at your Damascus
pattern,
1099
00:38:24,792 --> 00:38:29,333
I can really appreciate the
layers of your twist Damascus.
1100
00:38:29,417 --> 00:38:32,042
Now your edge--
your edge is sharp.
1101
00:38:32,042 --> 00:38:36,208
It cuts the pig carcass,
and it cut most of the vines.
1102
00:38:36,208 --> 00:38:37,500
It is wieldable.
1103
00:38:37,583 --> 00:38:39,833
And overall, it will KEAL.
1104
00:38:39,875 --> 00:38:41,167
- Thank you.
1105
00:38:41,250 --> 00:38:43,583
♪
1106
00:38:43,667 --> 00:38:45,833
- Bladesmiths, welcome
to the dynamic strength test.
1107
00:38:45,833 --> 00:38:47,500
♪
1108
00:38:47,542 --> 00:38:50,583
I'll be chopping into multiple
targets in this arena,
1109
00:38:50,583 --> 00:38:53,250
testing the edge, the strength,
and the overall construction
1110
00:38:53,333 --> 00:38:54,542
of your Kachin daos.
1111
00:38:54,625 --> 00:38:55,667
Eric, you're up first.
You ready?
1112
00:38:55,708 --> 00:38:56,875
- Let's do it.
1113
00:38:56,875 --> 00:38:58,167
- All right.
1114
00:38:58,250 --> 00:39:01,042
[rock music]
1115
00:39:01,125 --> 00:39:03,292
♪
1116
00:39:03,375 --> 00:39:04,667
- [buzzes lips]
1117
00:39:04,708 --> 00:39:07,708
♪
1118
00:39:08,875 --> 00:39:15,708
♪
1119
00:39:25,167 --> 00:39:27,833
- Oh!
- [groans]
1120
00:39:27,917 --> 00:39:30,042
- [bleep].
1121
00:39:30,125 --> 00:39:31,792
- [whistles]
1122
00:39:31,792 --> 00:39:33,083
[tense music]
1123
00:39:33,208 --> 00:39:34,958
- Wow.
1124
00:39:35,042 --> 00:39:36,500
- Well, Eric--
1125
00:39:36,500 --> 00:39:37,833
- Little bit of an issue.
1126
00:39:37,958 --> 00:39:40,625
- Yeah, I mean it was
a catastrophic failure...
1127
00:39:40,708 --> 00:39:42,500
- Yeah.
- Unfortunately.
1128
00:39:42,500 --> 00:39:44,917
The grain size in here
is not terrible,
1129
00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:46,417
but it's not the best
I've ever seen.
1130
00:39:46,417 --> 00:39:48,083
It's still--
it's still looking like
1131
00:39:48,167 --> 00:39:51,583
400-grit sandpaper instead
of, like, velvet, you know?
1132
00:39:51,583 --> 00:39:53,042
I don't see any weld flaws
or anything like that.
1133
00:39:53,125 --> 00:39:54,750
It just--just came apart.
1134
00:39:54,833 --> 00:39:56,542
- Yep, it happens.
1135
00:39:56,625 --> 00:40:01,500
♪
1136
00:40:01,542 --> 00:40:03,458
- Oh, I hate this.
1137
00:40:03,542 --> 00:40:04,667
- [chuckles]
You're telling me.
1138
00:40:04,750 --> 00:40:07,458
[laughter]
1139
00:40:07,458 --> 00:40:10,542
- Well, Eric, your blade
blasted through the pig.
1140
00:40:10,625 --> 00:40:12,750
But unfortunately,
the moose antler got
1141
00:40:12,875 --> 00:40:14,917
the best of your blade,
and it broke in two pieces.
1142
00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:16,708
This is considered
a catastrophic failure.
1143
00:40:16,708 --> 00:40:18,667
We cannot continue
testing it safely.
1144
00:40:18,750 --> 00:40:20,125
But you're not out
of the fight yet.
1145
00:40:20,208 --> 00:40:23,500
Now, Jesse, you will have
to survive five strikes
1146
00:40:23,625 --> 00:40:25,208
in this dynamic strength test.
1147
00:40:25,208 --> 00:40:26,792
Are you ready?
1148
00:40:26,792 --> 00:40:28,000
- Let's do it.
1149
00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:28,875
- All right, let's do it.
1150
00:40:28,958 --> 00:40:31,875
♪
1151
00:40:31,958 --> 00:40:34,417
- I'm excited, but also,
like, a teeny bit nervous.
1152
00:40:34,542 --> 00:40:36,000
I want to win super bad.
1153
00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:38,375
If I lose, I lose
the title of unbeaten.
1154
00:40:38,458 --> 00:40:39,500
Forget about money
at this point.
1155
00:40:39,542 --> 00:40:40,958
It's my honor on the line,
1156
00:40:41,042 --> 00:40:42,875
and my title.
1157
00:40:42,875 --> 00:40:45,833
[rock music]
1158
00:40:45,833 --> 00:40:52,667
♪
1159
00:41:09,708 --> 00:41:11,333
My heart.
- [laughs]
1160
00:41:11,417 --> 00:41:12,208
- [exhales deeply]
1161
00:41:15,208 --> 00:41:16,542
♪
1162
00:41:16,625 --> 00:41:17,833
- Well, Jesse,
you can breathe now, man.
1163
00:41:17,917 --> 00:41:19,292
You made it through
all five strikes
1164
00:41:19,292 --> 00:41:20,542
on that grueling test.
1165
00:41:20,542 --> 00:41:21,833
Congratulations.
1166
00:41:21,917 --> 00:41:23,750
Now, unfortunately for you,
Eric,
1167
00:41:23,833 --> 00:41:26,583
that means your time here
in this competition has ended.
1168
00:41:26,667 --> 00:41:28,750
You fought hard.
You gave us two great blades.
1169
00:41:28,833 --> 00:41:30,375
But before you step off
The Forge floor,
1170
00:41:30,375 --> 00:41:31,833
I think we'd all like
to shake your hand.
1171
00:41:31,917 --> 00:41:33,458
- I appreciate it.
- Thanks, buddy.
1172
00:41:33,542 --> 00:41:34,542
- This was a good time,
seriously.
1173
00:41:34,625 --> 00:41:35,708
- Good to see you.
1174
00:41:35,792 --> 00:41:37,792
- Obviously, the blade broke.
1175
00:41:37,792 --> 00:41:40,167
I still made
the best blade I could.
1176
00:41:40,250 --> 00:41:41,625
It would have been pretty cool
to take him down.
1177
00:41:41,708 --> 00:41:43,333
But you know,
you gotta be happy for him.
1178
00:41:43,417 --> 00:41:45,000
I think this came down to just
1179
00:41:45,083 --> 00:41:46,417
a little error
within the steel.
1180
00:41:46,500 --> 00:41:47,917
So maybe next time I'll be
1181
00:41:48,000 --> 00:41:49,542
a little more careful
with my heat treat.
1182
00:41:49,625 --> 00:41:51,875
Jesse, glad to be your friend,
1183
00:41:51,875 --> 00:41:54,125
and I'm glad to be able to
continue watching you succeed.
1184
00:41:54,125 --> 00:41:56,333
You know, unfortunately, I had
to be one of those people
1185
00:41:56,333 --> 00:41:57,833
that, you know,
rose you up even higher.
1186
00:41:57,875 --> 00:41:59,250
But you know,
it's kind of cool to say that.
1187
00:41:59,250 --> 00:42:01,667
♪
1188
00:42:01,750 --> 00:42:03,333
- Well, Jesse, you put
your streak on the line.
1189
00:42:03,458 --> 00:42:04,792
But you brought your talent.
1190
00:42:04,875 --> 00:42:06,250
You gave us a blade that
made it through the test.
1191
00:42:06,333 --> 00:42:07,792
Congratulations.
1192
00:42:07,875 --> 00:42:09,333
You, again,
are a "Forged in Fire" champion
1193
00:42:09,375 --> 00:42:10,583
with an unbeaten record.
1194
00:42:10,667 --> 00:42:12,333
That makes number nine.
Congratulations.
1195
00:42:12,375 --> 00:42:14,625
[applause]
Get over here, man.
1196
00:42:14,708 --> 00:42:16,375
- Winning again feels great
1197
00:42:16,458 --> 00:42:17,875
because it validates
everything
1198
00:42:18,000 --> 00:42:19,750
that I've been thinking about
since I last competed.
1199
00:42:19,750 --> 00:42:21,667
Because I won again,
I've really proven to myself
1200
00:42:21,792 --> 00:42:23,625
that those eight times
weren't a fluke.
1201
00:42:23,625 --> 00:42:25,542
I'm still unbeaten,
1202
00:42:25,625 --> 00:42:27,208
I'm ready to come back
and defend my title,
1203
00:42:27,292 --> 00:42:28,583
and I could not be happier.
1204
00:42:28,667 --> 00:42:30,667
Ben, I'm 9 and 0,
1205
00:42:30,708 --> 00:42:32,833
so I'm coming for you.
1206
00:42:32,917 --> 00:42:38,000
♪
1207
00:42:38,083 --> 00:42:39,917
[metal clangs]