"Forged in Fire" on History Channel

whitetailfreak

Senior Member
It's on now, and looks like an interesting show. While Im not a knifemaker, I enjoy owning customs and am fascinated by the process.
 

georgia_home

Senior Member
I've seen worse reality shows. Seeing them make the katana's was cool. How well they cut was impressive. The tests seemed hokie, but I guess there aren't may ways to test some things.
 

Anvil Head

Senior Member
Definitely a mix of true reality and hokihoodoo. Interesting watch but some of the stuff, like most tv is just "artistic license" to keep you watching.
 

Nicodemus

The Recluse
Staff member
Friend of mine was on there last night.
 

northgeorgiasportsman

Moderator
Staff member
I saw them advertising the "best blades smiths in the world" and wondered if Carl was there.
 

bbs383ci

Senior Member
I have talked several times with a guy that was on the show, James Huse, he said it was a lot of drama added in and he said the time frame they give you to make a usable knife is doable but he said you cant make it look nice, he also said nor did you have enough time to do proper heat cycles on the steel. he said it was neat thing to do and if they asked him to do it again he would say no. lol
 

deerhunter79

Senior Member
I had a friend, that lives 1.2 miles from my house on there. Might be able to help him work some up there.
 

wvdawg

Moderator
Staff member
Caught the show too. I'd much rather sit around the shop with some of the fantastic bladesmiths on here!
 

10mmhunter

Senior Member
I want to know how to apply.. I've tested mine hard and have never had one of my blades fail like the ones they make. Its obvious they don't communicate well with the Smiths cause there have been a few blade length and designs that didn't fit the rules of the game. I agreed with the guy that won last night. I would have used the rasp because it's fast and easy to harden and temper. I was glad he won it looked like he was working out of a $50 knife shop. He will be able to use that $10,000
 

Anvil Head

Senior Member
To meet the time/test guidelines they put out for the smiths' to work by, I'd go with O1 and skip the heat-treat all together. Could do the same with 52100 but it's a bit stiffer under the hammer so takes a bit longer. You can get a tolerable thermal cycling done on these during the finishing stages of forging process. Not optimal by any means, but more than enough to pass their "tests". Gives you a lot more time for handle and finish. There are ways to meet their requirements without working so hard.
Looked to me that the issues with the knives not meeting the specs as to size were not in the given instruction but on the listening end. (but then I wasn't there)

Was approached on this but not interested. I've already got a very full life. And.....a lot of the guys selected are really good smiths in spite of the "show".
 

10mmhunter

Senior Member
Carl, who ever approached you...give them my #. I'd like a shot at that competition. I'm mostly house broke, have learned to play well with others, and could keep the profanity to a minimum. I just can't believe that I couldn't forge a more than sufficient blade in 3 hours. If I was in a hurry I might even make them a sheath during the finishing portion. Why do you think there have been so many cracked blades? I've had stress fractures in a couple of Hawks where I just pushed the O1 too far. But never on a knife blade with known steel.
 

Anvil Head

Senior Member
One of the producers of "The Moonshiners" (Discovery Channel) said he could make it happen after he saw some of my work.
I declined for reasons stated above. Quite frankly I don't recall his name and never got a card, next time I see him I'll get the info for you.
However, I think they sent out a general invite on TV prior to the series start (but not sure).

Yeah, they tend to make it look harder than it is. A focused experienced bladesmith should have a lot fewer problems/issues than what appear on the show......stage fright or not.
 

Anvil Head

Senior Member
Raley
Ray R. posted this over on KNF. Might try here.

>>>Currently filming 8 episodes in Brooklyn, apparently. If you really want to be on the show, contact Outpost Entertainment at http://www.outpostentertainment.com/ If there is a second season you might have a shot ... <<<
 

Razor Blade

Senior Member
Poor one guy , the first one gone,just seemed to have a hard time. Looked like he made a start of a great knife, but the pressure got to him.
 

Etoncathunter

Senior Member
I know like any reality show some of it is dramatized for the benefit of ratings, but I'm hooked on it. It's something I've always found fascinating, but I know I have neither the skill nor patience to every try this sort of stuff. I liked this weeks episode.
 
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