The essential episodes of Forged in Fire
Watch these 15 in order and you've got Forged in Fire — each pick states its reason.
- 01
In this explosive new series, four bladesmiths will compete for $10,000 and the title of Forged in Fire champion. Across three grueling rounds, competitors design and forge deadly edged-weapons of war. Their work will be put to the test, and those that fail will be sent home. In the final round, the two remaining bladesmiths must forge one of the most iconic weapons from history; the Japanese Katana. Their swords will be pushed to the absolute limit… the final test will determine which is stronger; their Katanas or a speeding bullet?
- 02
The bladesmiths must transform a steel "train spring" into a weapon of their choosing. Only two competitors will move on and are given just five days to forge a legendary Viking Battle Axe. After a barbaric round of testing from the judges, only one man will be left standing.
- 03
The competition piles on as our bladesmiths are asked to forge a weapon in their signature style from a large pile of mixed metal that is welded together. Only two will return home to forge the mysterious Khanda, a legendary blade from ancient India. Will they bend or break under the pressure? That is the question our bladesmiths will face. Only the one left standing will be crowned Forged in Fire champion.
- 04
Four Forged in Fire champions return for a chance to prove who among them is the best of the best in a challenge that leaves no room for error: a high carbon steel inlay. After two surprising rounds of competition, only two will move on to the final round where they will have just five days to create a weapon that stumped previous contestants; the Scottish Claymore. Will this sizable blade be too much to handle, or will one be able to stand above the rest as Forged in Fire champion of champions?
- 05
For the first time, it's judge against judge when all four judges pick a past bladesmith to represent them in the ultimate battle for supremacy. First, each bladesmith must forge with steel from the streets of New York to create a blade in their signature style. In the final round, the two remaining competitors have five days to forge a sword that originated from the most skilled blacksmiths in West Africa, the Ida. Which smith will surmount it all and give their judge the ultimate bragging rights?
- 06
The smiths are forced to harvest steel from motorcycles to forge blades in their signature style, but things don't go according to plan; and after an intense race to the finish, the final two competitors have only five days to recreate a giant Indian two-handed sword.
- 07
Four bladesmiths must get rolling immediately when they are tasked with creating their signature blade out of a massive ball bearing. After an intense first round, the remaining smiths face an unexpected Forged in Fire first – and time is not on their side. Ultimately two smiths persevere and return to their home forges where they must recreate one of the Ottoman Empire's most lethal sabres: the Kilij.
- 08
In a grueling Forged In Fire first, four bladesmiths must forge not just one, but three knives from railroad spikes in only three hours. Time management is essential for hammering out three functional knives that can withstand a brutal round of testing. After two smith's knives go off the rails, the remaining two competitors return home to recreate the iconic Medieval Arming Sword.
- 09
Four bladesmiths must forge a fully functional serrated knife using steel from hand scissors, or risk getting cut from the competition. Serrations prove to be more than just a bump in the road for the two smiths who don't make the cut. The remaining two competitors return to their home forges to create a unique and challenging weapon from history: the Sengese.
- 10
Four bladesmiths take a shot at forging a signature blade from the steel rings of a whiskey barrel. They must quickly adapt when they realize there may not be enough hardenable steel to go around. After an intense round of testing, the final two smiths head home to forge an instrument of Chinese warfare: the Qinglong Ji.
- 11
In the third round of the Battle of the Branches, four Marines are tasked with forging one of the most versatile, and iconic combat knives in history: the KA-BAR. As an additional challenge, these smiths must adapt and overcome to forge together metals from a massive anchor using the San Mai technique. After a punishing round of testing, the two surviving smiths return home to forge a weapon that was crucial to history: the Marine Corps Officers Sword. Only one Devil Dog can earn the right to stand at the Marine Anvil and compete for the $50,000 grand prize.
- 12
Four smiths get ready for the ultimate showdown when they are tasked with forging a camp knife out of steel harvested from a barbecue. Temperatures run high as they first must figure out what steel is high carbon and what is mild. After their blades are grilled to perfection and have gone through an intense round of testing, only two smiths advance to their home forges to recreate a pair of Frankish Throwing axes.
- 13
On this special episode, Forged in Fire salutes our nation's veterans. Four bladesmiths with ties to the military are tasked with re-creating four unique blades co-designed by distinguished vets, all using different techniques, during a grueling three hour forging competition. After a round of brutal testing, two smiths return home to make the patripotic American Eagle Head Sabre. The two final weapons will be pushed to their limits, but only one smith will be worthy of the title of champion and the prize of $10,000.
- 14
In a new twist on the classic car challenge, four smiths have to create a knife from the most mangled mess of a vehicle ever seen on the forge floor. After their weapons are driven to the brink in an intense round of testing, the two surviving smiths return to their home forges to recreate two of the most unique weapons from history--a matched set of curved katars. In the end, only one smith's set of weapons will prevail, earning him $10,000 and the title of Forged in Fire champion.
- 15
On this special On the Road edition of Forged in Fire, we head to Texarkana, Texas to the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing, the oldest bladesmithing school in the country, where three of their top smiths will be put through the ultimate test. After two brutal challenges, only one will emerge victorious, representing the Bill Moran School in the finals and face off against other smiths across the country for our grand prize.
