Chopped...for Blacksmiths!

[LadyofArc]

The SO is getting into blacksmithing (As part of our re-enactment group) and has recently gotten his hands on the first two seasons of Forged in Fire. It is actually quite interesting.

The show is basically "Chopped/Cutthroat Kitchen/other Food Network cooking comp show," for bladesmiths. Like the other examples I mentioned, they have three rounds, with someone getting canned after each round - in the first round, they have to make a functional blade to certain specifications by forging it, second round they have to make a handle for said blade (after which it's tested for strength/durability etc.) and then the third round they go back to their home forges and have a week to make a particular weapon before getting it tested for strength/durability/sharpness.

I love it because there's absolutely zero fighting between the contestants - the drama comes more from what happens during the forging process (with more than one contestant setting something on fire) and the outcomes of the tests. The contestants also take any losses gracefully and it's a refreshing change from the other shows I've seen.

Although I swear to all that is sacred, there is at least one contestant in every episode who does not listen to the instructions given and will make a blade that is too long or too short. Those guys get cut quickly (no pun intended )

Favourite bit so far though - the last two contestants had to make a fully functional claymore (in a week). Then come the tests. The first test was slicing a whole pig with the sword. First guy's sword gets subjected to the test...and the blade bends around the pig (as in it did not cut through at all). The first guy turns to the other guy and says "Congratulations," figuring that the other guy has won. Other guy's sword gets subjected to the test...it hits the spine and explodes, sending pieces of metal everywhere. The first guy just has this epic "WTF" look on his face, but ends up getting his bent sword straightened out in time for him to do the second test and unsurprisingly, he wins.

(The reason behind the blades failing the way they did - the bent one wasn't hard enough while the explodey one was too brittle)

Anyone else watched this?

[Ghel]

I think I've watched an episode of this, or something similar. I remember two or three contestants working on a soundstage to make knives. They were given an assortment of materials to work with. One chose to make his knife with recycled chain. Another, ball bearings. I think they were trying to make the sides of the knife look cool. But I only watched the one episode. I'm just not that into reality tv.

[EricKei]

there is at least one contestant in every episode who does not listen to the instructions given and will make a blade that is too long or too short. Those guys get cut quickly

Once in a while is a convenient happenstance. Nearly every damn episode is a plant. >_>

[LadyofArc]

Once in a while is a convenient happenstance. Nearly every damn episode is a plant. >_>

I have a feeling that might be the case in later seasons (haven't watched that far ahead to confirm, the show is now in its fifth season). The first time it happened though (surprisingly NOT the first episode), the guy tried to argue that the parameters given (in this case, length only) was meant to include the tang. (In this case, his blade was way too short. 1-2 inches off can be put down to just sucky guesstimation, this was off by almost 4-5 inches!)

For the rest of that season, the host emphasised "The length of the blade, NOT including the tang is between <x> and <y> inches and the overall length must not exceed <z> inches." Sometimes they'll also dictate that the contestant do something else to that blade (for instance, add serrations to it, which need to be along a certain portion of the blade) and contestants HAVE been cut for failing to include that or not following the parameters for the "extra" requirement, rather than their blade being too long/too short.

This is one of the few reality shows I actually don't mind watching since the contestants don't fight amongst themselves (if anything, they're just more about showing off THEIR blade against someone else's) and they're all very sporting about it (Masterchef Australia and occasionally Cutthroat Kitchen I'll watch too, anything else can go pound sand)

[Blue Ginger]

That sounds really interesting for reality TV. I'm not a fan of the fighting and bitchiness of a lot of the reality show either. Or the sob stories that have nothing to do with the thing they are supposed to create. I want to see the yummy food not a 20 minute background of their dog, grandma and the postman. (The only exemption is anything with Gordon Ramsay because I love listening to the new and interesting insults that man comes up with.)

I probably wouldn't hunt it down, but I'd watch it when there is nothing on the falls in the 'I must watch this'. But I am also some that loves watching people create things. I've been known to watch people drawing/painting, chainsaw carving and candle dipping/carving.

[greek_jester]

Ooh, this sounds fun. *Googles* Hmm, might be on UK telly. I must do a search when I get home, see if it's on one of the channels I have.

I love seeing things made, it's absolutely fascinating. I once spent a happy few hours at a glass-making business, watching how they made the different vases, bottles, and animals. Absolutely enthralling, and watching them casually work on molten glass that would burn straight through their hands if they moved wrong was amazing.

[Jetfire]

Once in a while is a convenient happenstance. Nearly every damn episode is a plant. >_>

I've been watching it pretty regularly, and it doesn't happen every episode, nor every other episode. Maybe 3 or 4 eps a season someone will mess up the specs and be too short/too long.

Most often the first elimination is due to some flaws in the blade that the judges figure can't be fixed (They only forge in the first round; second round is finishing the blade but no forges allowed at that point).

The show is pretty drama free for the most part. Sometimes the first challenge includes having the blacksmiths harvesting their metal from something (a car, a motorbike, farm equipment, etc...) and usually the smiths will help each other get enough metal.

[Valentinian]

I love seeing things made, it's absolutely fascinating.

This is one of my favourite YouTube subscriptions: Man at Arms: Reforged

I'm going to have to find out if I can get Forged in Fire too.

[Marmalady]

I once spent a happy few hours at a glass-making business, watching how they made the different vases, bottles, and animals. Absolutely enthralling, and watching them casually work on molten glass that would burn straight through their hands if they moved wrong was amazing.

Did the name of the business begin with the letters 'LG' by any chance?

[greek_jester]

Did the name of the business begin with the letters 'LG' by any chance?

Yes it did! Have you been?

[LadyofArc]

Or the sob stories that have nothing to do with the thing they are supposed to create. I want to see the yummy food not a 20 minute background of their dog, grandma and the postman. (The only exemption is anything with Gordon Ramsay because I love listening to the new and interesting insults that man comes up with.)
But I am also some that loves watching people create things. I've been known to watch people drawing/painting, chainsaw carving and candle dipping/carving.

Oops, thank you for reminding me to add Shark Tank to the shows I'll watch (our version is actually pretty light on the sob stories - the entrepreneur might talk about it, but only if it's relevant to the business eg two mums decided to start an inclusive daycare because their kids have disabilities, as opposed to this mum has cancer, so she's opening a daycare for kids with disabilities).

There's a guy who pops up on the medieval fair circuit who specialises in making benches and stuff with greenwood. Every fair, he'll always be making SOMETHING and it's actually quite fascinating to watch him do so (the club members also all buy their benches off of him since they can pass for historically accurate and a few of them have gone to him for woodworking advice since he doesn't use modern tools)

I love seeing things made, it's absolutely fascinating. I once spent a happy few hours at a glass-making business, watching how they made the different vases, bottles, and animals. Absolutely enthralling, and watching them casually work on molten glass that would burn straight through their hands if they moved wrong was amazing.

Some things end up being amazingly hypnotic. As I mentioned in my OP, my partner has started to get into blacksmithing. He and a mate did do some one weekend at a club get-together. It was very enthralling watching him gradually shape this piece of steel into something (he made two bottle openers that weekend - the first one he didn't cut the steel, so he turned one end into a bottle opener and the other end into a hook. The club has dubbed it the "battle opener.")

The show is pretty drama free for the most part. Sometimes the first challenge includes having the blacksmiths harvesting their metal from something (a car, a motorbike, farm equipment, etc...) and usually the smiths will help each other get enough metal.

I did like the one where they had to harvest the metal from a car. One of the guys went to it with something that looked like a blowtorch (not sure what it was?) to try and get his bits off around the axle, only for him to accidentally set the area directly underneath the body of the car on fire (Yes, they did have someone hovering around just out of frame with a fire extinguisher, so that got put out pretty damn quick)

I also loved the episode where they were given coal forges and an anvil to work with in the first round and nothing else (no power hammers, grinders etc.). They were very sportsmanlike and one guy even showed another guy (who had never used one) how to get it working correctly because his flame kept going out.

This is one of my favourite YouTube subscriptions: Man at Arms: Reforged

I'm going to have to find out if I can get Forged in Fire too.

We both like Men at Arms Reforged and one of the guys from that channel actually competed in Forged in Fire (he won that episode too!).

[Marmalady]

Yes it did! Have you been?

I have indeed, though some years ago when they were still at the 'L' that they took their name from, rather than where they are now. Absolutely fascinating.

[greek_jester]

Absolutely fascinating.

It was. I'm glad I went on my own, though, as my mum and my sister would have been bored after 10 minutes and wanted to leave. At least I was able to stay as long as I wanted, and was able to ask questions without my mum shushing me.

[AccountingDrone]

I also loved the episode where they were given coal forges and an anvil to work with in the first round and nothing else (no power hammers, grinders etc.). They were very sportsmanlike and one guy even showed another guy (who had never used one) how to get it working correctly because his flame kept going out.
.

Hubby and roomie don't use power tools, also there is a great society, ABANA Artists Blacksmiths Association of America that comes highly recommended, friendly folk. Phlip will be at Pennsic end of the month and they always have a bunch of smiths willing to teach there.

[Cia]

I think I've watched an episode of this, or something similar. I remember two or three contestants working on a soundstage to make knives. They were given an assortment of materials to work with. One chose to make his knife with recycled chain. Another, ball bearings. I think they were trying to make the sides of the knife look cool. But I only watched the one episode. I'm just not that into reality tv.

They were making Damascus steel, it's known for its distinctive patterns.

My daughter loves the show. I like it because of the lack of bitching between the contestants.