Forged in Fire

For the first time, five novice smiths get their chance to be a part of the global phenomenon that is Forged in Fire. But they have to earn their way into the competition because one smith will be sent home before the first forge is ever lit. The four remaining competitors are tasked with forging a blade with steel from a mystery box of their choosing. After two intense rounds full of tough welding, bloody wounds, and clever workarounds, only two are left standing. They return to their home forges with just five days to recreate a 16th century weapon of war known as the War Golok. Which budding bladesmith will turn their admiration into domination and forge their name in history as a Forged In Fire Champion?

For the first time ever, the bladesmiths begin on a farm where they harvest steel from farming tools, then must use coal forges to make their signature blades with a hidden lanyard hole. Can they keep the fires burning to match the pace of the ticking clock? Ultimately only two smiths return to their home forges to recreate a decorated and deadly Schiavona sword for a chance to claim the title of Forged in Fire champion.

The smiths get locked and loaded to forge a signature blade out of a 50-caliber flintlock pistol. Despite giving it their best shot, it's a struggle turning a gun into a blade and after two grueling rounds two smiths are sent barreling towards elimination. In the final round, the remaining competitors must recreate a lethal gladiator sword, the Sica, and its unique construction poses the final challenge in their attempt to crush the competition.

Edged-weapon mastery is put to the test right away as four bladesmiths must forge a functional friction folder. Without knowing how their blades will be tested, each smith must find the critical junction where skill meets resiliency to produce a folding knife versatile enough to handle any test imaginable. Ultimately, only two smiths push through to the final round where they must recreate a Japanese trident, called the Jumonji Yari.

When a cannon is wheeled into the Forge, the bladesmiths are challenged to salvage its parts in order to make signature blades. Will the smiths blast their way through the competition or will the battering of tests break them? In the end, two smiths shoot through to the final round where they must recreate the North African Kabyle Flyssa.

The heat is doubled as four master smiths compete alongside their apprentices to forge an iconic weapon of warfare–the trench knife. Each team must work together, tagging in and out every half hour, with only one smith allowed to touch the knife at a time. Blood is spilled and tears are shed. Refusing to retreat, two teams square off in one final battle to recreate a blade that's stood the test of time–the Chinese Dao Sword.

Four bladesmiths must kick their skills into gear when they're tasked with forging blades out of steel from a chain and a sprocket. Wayward welds and pivotal decisions separate the hard steel from the soft and the victors from the rest. Only two will hold it together long enough to secure a spot in the final round, where they have five days to forge the iconic Karabela saber.

Four bladesmiths find the devil is in the details when they must combine two or more steels to forge J. Nielson's favorite blade, a Damascus European dagger. In a challenge where symmetry and precision can make or break a blade, two smiths produce knives that survive J.'s merciless tests. In the final round, they have five days to forge a fearsome pole weapon–the Zande Spear.

Four bladesmiths test their mettle in a rock quarry, where they're tasked with making blades using only harvested steel and coal forges. Over the course of two intense rounds, the smiths show their true grit constructing a blade while fighting the elements. After brutal tests designed to chip away at the competitors' resolve, only two smiths advance to the final round. Back at their home forges, they must recreate one of the most dangerous folding weapons in history — the Spanish Navaja.

The pressure is on as the smiths are tasked with forging Dave Baker's favorite blade, the Scottish Dirk. Can they master the difficult design of this weapon, and live up to the high expectations of their expert judge? With a sharp edge over the competition, two smiths head home for the final round to recreate the German Halberd, a medieval era triple threat.

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.

In a special military themed episode, four bladesmiths, all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, dive into the fray when they are tasked with forging a combat knife from an anti-tank hedgehog. After two grueling rounds of competition filled with frustration and a medical emergency, the final two smiths advance and head back to their home forges to recreate another military favorite, the M1917 Naval Cutlass.

Four bladesmiths are pushed to their limits when they each must forge a signature blade from small springs of steel. Wonky welds and broken billets cause major setbacks that must be corrected before the time runs out. Ultimately, two smiths manage to turn their setbacks into comebacks to secure a spot in the final round where they must recreate the deadly Horseman's Axe.

Four bladesmiths must figure out how to hack it when they are tasked with crafting a hatchet from pieces of odd shaped steel. After several forging failures, parameter mishaps, and intense conditions -- only two smiths head back to their home forges where they must recreate the deadly Maasai Lion Spear.

The bladesmiths must make their signature blades out of only drill bits and a chunk of mild steel, but untwisting the bits and combining the two steels proves almost impossible. After two rounds, only two smiths survive the chopping block and are sent back to their home forges to recreate a beautiful, but deadly Indonesian sword — the Kelewang. A final round of testing proves that victory lies at the junction between form and function.

The bladesmiths are forced to make canister Damascus using nuts and bolts, and the twists and turns of the challenge may be more than they can handle. Ultimately, two smiths avoid getting canned and move on to the final round where they must recreate a pair of deadly Indian Bagh Nakh weapons.

The bar is raised for four smiths when they must forge the iconic KA-BAR military blade using only tiny cubes of W-1 steel. Getting them combat ready is only half the battle as the judges will subject them to two brutal tests. In the final round, the two remaining competitors have five days in their home forges to recreate the battle-tested Glaive Guisarme.

Four bladesmiths are thrown into the fire when they must forge a multipurpose weapon from old rescue tools. Blades that can cut, pry, and hammer are then put through a brutal round of testing. After narrowly escaping elimination, two smiths head back to their home forges to recreate a unique utilitarian tool – the Russian Pioneer sword.

Four bladesmiths are tasked with forging a signature blade from a bicycle. After major setbacks and time-consuming failures, each smith is pushed to their limit as they race to the finish before the clock hits zero. Ultimately, two smiths advance and are shocked to learn that they must recreate an ancient weapon, the Wind and Fire Wheels.

Four bladesmiths spring into action when they are tasked with forging friction folders from a huge steel coil. Without knowing how their blades will be tested, they must produce weapons that can withstand any test. In the final round, the two remaining smiths head back to their home forges to create a blade that requires both precision and detail: the French Smallsword.