Forged in Fire

In this first half of a two-part Road to Redemption competition, seven past competitors who fell short return to the forge for a second chance at glory and redemption. But these smiths aren't merely trying to beat one another: for the first time ever, they'll have to create four different weapons and survive four rounds of testing in order to earn the title and a $20,000 prize. The bladesmiths begin outside using the dreaded coal forge. Many battle burnt metal, and one competitor will never even make it into the Forge. After a round of testing, five smiths return to their home forges to create a perfect competition chopper. Which four will produce blades that perform and keep their quest of becoming a Forged in Fire Champion alive?

In the second half of the Road to Redemption competition four former smiths remain, each competing for a second chance to become a Forged in Fire Champion. There's no slowing down for these bladesmiths as they're tasked with crafting a Jambiya, an elegant and deadly Yemeni dagger. The intricacies of the dagger prove too much for one smith, and an intense round of testing eliminates a second. For the first time ever, the two finalists must choose their weapon which they will create at their home forges. Which smith has the knowledge, skills, and craftsmanship to outlast the others, win $20,000, and earn the most elusive prize of all: redemption?

Four bladesmiths honor some of the greatest Americans of all times – the Presidents. First, competitors pay homage to famed adventurer, President Theodore Roosevelt, by forging a replica of his Rough Rider Bowie. With precise parameters in place, the challenge proves to be tougher than a bull moose, and several smiths struggle to meet the mark. After brutal testing, two smiths pull ahead to move on to their home forge to recreate an intricate Presidential weapon: George Washington's Colichemarde.

For the special 100th episode of Forged in Fire, four bladesmiths are tasked with forging a chopper and must choose from a mammoth pile of metals and materials from all previous 99 episodes. Some of the smiths are doomed to repeat the past, making mistakes made by former competitors. After a fiery round of tests, the two finalists head home to recreate one of the most epic swords in the history of this competition: the O-Katana.

Four smiths must think outside the box when tasked with using the dreaded canister method to forge a signature blade. Welding failures and abandoned canisters leave some of the competitors scrambling. After a colorful round of testing two smiths return to their home forges where they must recreate the signature weapon of history's deadly cavalrymen: the Austro-Hungarian Hussar Saber.

Four bladesmiths plunge into the first round of competition where they must forge a blade using steel harvested from a vintage pinball machine. There's no playing around as the smiths aim to get to the next level before the clock runs out. After a wicked round of testing, only two smiths advance and return home to build a weapon rooted in savagery: the Barbarian Sword.

The wheels start turning when four bladesmiths must forge friction folders from a rusty pickup truck. The salvaged steel proves temperamental, causing a few of the blades and smiths to crack under the pressure. The two smiths left standing head back to their home forges to recreate an exotic weapon wielded by ancient Southeast Asian warriors: the Javanese Kris.

Four bladesmiths take a stab at history when they are tasked with recreating an iconic fighting knife from the 20th century: the Fairbairn Sykes. However, replicating the blade is only half the challenge -- they must also combine three different sizes of W1 round stock to forge their weapon. After battling forge welds and parameters, one smith falls victim to a costly mistake. Two smiths make it through a brutal round of testing and head back to their home forges to recreate another iconic World War II weapon: General Yamashita's Gunto.

Four bladesmiths must forge signature blades from different sizes of spring steel. Competitors toil with the canister Damascus technique with varying degrees of success, and one smith sets a Forged in Fire record. Two smiths survive an intense round of testing and return home to recreate a legendary weapon: the Greek Kopis.

In a five-part competition, top bladesmiths from each branch of the US military - Army, Air Force, Marines, and Navy - compete to earn a spot representing their branch in a battle for our biggest prize ever: $50,000. Round one belongs to the Army, as four soldiers must forge a special forces V-42 stiletto. After a ruthless bout of testing, two smiths are dispatched to their home forges to build a US Army Officer's Sword. The winner secures a place at the Army Anvil competing in the Battle of the Branches finale, where victory brings pride, glory, and a $50,000 grand prize.

In Round Two of the Battle of the Branches Tournament, four airmen from the US Air Force must forge a Bolo knife using the San Mai technique to combine high carbon steel with helicopter parts. Shaping these massive pieces of uncooperative metal into usable steel will take all of the airmen's ingenuity. After rounds of close inspection and brutal testing, two smiths return home to forge a weapon that exemplifies their branch: the Air Force NCO Sword. Which airman's blade will land him a spot at the Air Force Anvil, and a chance at the $50,000 grand prize?

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.

Round Four of the Battle of the Branches sets sail as four Naval officers must forge a multipurpose Naval Mark 3 Dive Knife with metal from a giant anchor chain. It's sink or swim as delaminations and forge weld failures plague some of the bladesmiths. After a particularly brutal round of testing, two sailors return home to recreate the intricate and iconic Naval Officer's Sword. Which smith will secure a spot at the Navy Anvil, a chance at glory, and the $50,000 grand prize?

In the final round of the Battle of the Branches the winning Soldier, Airman, Marine and Sailor return to the forge for the ultimate showdown. Tasked with replicating an iconic M3 Trench Knife from layered damascus in only three hours, the smiths work to showcase their expertise and push themselves to go above and beyond. After a last minute flaw sends one smith packing, the remaining three veterans must face a brutal bout of testing. Ultimately two servicemen persevere and head home to recreate a legendary sword: General George Washington's Lion-headed Cuttoe. Which smith will earn bragging rights for his branch, be crowned Battle of the Branches Champion, and take home the biggest prize in Forged in Fire history: $50,000?

Four bladesmiths are in for a workout when they are tasked with forging signature blades from gym equipment. The competitors flex their skills, battling forge welding failures and warps. After a severe round of testing, the two remaining smiths have only four days in their home forges to recreate one of Japan's deadliest swords: the Nagamaki.

Four bladesmiths are tasked with forging fantasy blades from a meteorite, battling difficult forge welds they create their one of a kind blades; the final two head to their home forges to re-create a legendary weapon: Attila the Hun's Sword of Mars.

Four bladesmiths fight fire with fire when they must dismantle a forge and use that steel to construct a blade. The competition gets heated as the smiths struggle to salvage enough material to create a san mai billet, leading one competitor to crack under the pressure. After a punishing round of tests, the final two return to their home forges where they have just four days to recreate one of history's most elegant weapons of war: The Partizan.

Four bladesmiths face triple the challenges when they must forge a canister Damascus blade from three different steels using three separate cans. Keeping their canisters and blades straight proves easier said than done, and Round 1 gives one of the competitors a tough break. After a rough round of testing, two finalists head back to their home forges to recreate not one, but two of history's most reliable hunting weapons: the Messer and Bi-knife.

Four bladesmiths are dispatched to the snowy winter tundra to forge a kukri with steel harvested from an old snowmobile. Provided with no power tools, the smiths might fight to forge their blades with just hand tools and the dreaded coal forge. After a physically and mentally exhausting outdoor round, one smith is eliminated before ever reaching the comfort of the indoor forge. At the forge, another contestant is eliminated after a particularly brutal round of testing. The two remaining smiths head home to forge a massive and intricate sacrificial sword from South Asia: the Ram Dao.

It's anyone's game when four bladesmiths are tasked with forging blades from old toys using the san mai technique. The smiths realize playtime is over as the pressure of the competition heats up and they experience difficult delaminations. A dangerous slip-up during Round Two reminds the competitors to not play with sharp objects. After a ruthless round of testing, two smiths return to their home forges to recreate an iconic American blade: the M1832 Foot Artillery Sword.