Plot Synopsis

Hosted by weapons expert Wil Willis, a former Army Ranger and decorated Air Force para-rescue specialist, FORGED IN FIRE features world-class bladesmiths competing against each other for a $10,000 weekly prize, as they recreate history's most iconic edged weapons. In each one-hour episode, four new master bladesmiths put their skills and reputations on the line, trying to avoid elimination while using traditional and state-of-the-art tools and machinery to turn raw metal into authentic working versions of classic bladed weapons of yesteryear. The first two stages of the three-part competition occur on the show's set, with one bladesmith eliminated after each stage. The remaining two competitors are sent home, where they have five days to create the same type of weapon. At the end of the episode, the finalists' weapons are assessed and tested by a panel of judges, including: J. Neilson, a Pennsylvania-based Mastersmith who has been making knives and edged weapons for more than 20 years; Doug Marcaida, a New York-based hand-to-hand combat specialist who has studied and mastered fighting styles and techniques around the world; and David Baker, a California-based authority known for replicating period-accurate weapons for museums and films.

The sophomore season of FORGED IN FIRE premiered on Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 10pm ET/PT on History, with Wil Willis returning as host and all three judges -- J. Neilson, Doug Marcaida and David Baker -- coming back for another season. In the season opener, "The War Hammer," the bladesmiths must choose wisely as they are asked to dumpster dive for the right steel to be turned into a hardened blade of their choosing. Will these blades hold up after a tough round of testing? Only two move on to forge a War Hammer. After five days at their home forges, the smiths return hammers in hand to pound their way to victory. But in the end only one nails the competition and is crowned the Forged in Fire champion.

Season 3 of FORGED IN FIRE premiered on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 at 9pm ET/PT on History. The new season features returning host Wil Willis and judges J. Neilson, Doug Marcaida and David Baker, who are joined by newcomer and master bladesmith Jason Knight. The season opener, "Champions Edition," features four former champions -- Matthew Parkinson (Season 1), Burt Foster (Season 2), Ben Abbott (Season 2) and Salem Straub (Season 2) -- competing in an unprecedented head-to-head battle. These 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 move on to the final round where they 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? After a 2.5-month break, FORGED IN FIRE returned for the rest of its third season on Tuesday, January 10, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT. In the mid-season premiere, "The Pata," prior winners return to prove who among them is the best of the best by forging a blade using canoe damascus. After two high-octane rounds of competition, the two remaining champions move to the final round where they must create a weapon known for its unique mechanics and deadly double-edged blade -- the Pata. With $10,000 and their reputation on the line, which smith will survive the judges' brutal testing to once again be crowned Forged in Fire champion?

Season 4 of FORGED IN FIRE premiered on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 from 9-11pm ET/PT, as History debuted back-to-back new episodes immediately following a 12-hour marathon (8am-8pm) of encore episodes. In the season opener (9pm), "Judges Pick," 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 to claim the $10,000 prize and give their judge the ultimate bragging rights? Then, in the night's second new episode (10pm), "Deer Horn Knives," four bladesmiths tee up for a never-before-seen challenge when they must harvest the steel from a vintage golf club to forge their signature blade. In a race against the clock, and using unconventional methods, the competitors navigate broken blades and broken spirits to determine which make the cut. In the final round, the remaining smiths must forge a pair of iconic double bladed weapons with two times the edge, in their last attempt to claim the title of Forged in Fire Champion. After a one-month break, FORGED IN FIRE returned with new Season 4 episodes on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 9pm ET/PT. In the mid-season premiere, "International Championship," four of the top bladesmiths from around the globe compete in the first ever Forged In Fire International Championship. With national pride on the line, each smith must put their blood, sweat and fire into forging a blade in their signature style. But when the pressure mounts, frustration becomes the universal anthem in the forge and ultimately two smiths are forced to return to their home countries empty handed. The final two smiths must recreate the Spadroon, a weapon that has transcended borders, in their last effort to bring home the title of Forged In Fire International Champion.

History Channel premiered the fifth season of FORGED IN FIRE on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 9pm ET/PT. In the season opener, "Rookies Edition," 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?

The seventh season of FORGED IN FIRE debuted on October 9, 2019. In the season opener, "Sword of Perseus," four bladesmiths are sent on an Odyssey worthy of the Greek Gods: forge a blade from Greek armor and artifacts using the Go-Mai, or the five-layer technique. The smiths wrestle with steels of varying hardness to try to create a blade that would make the weapons God Hephaestus proud. Two smiths get through the brutal testing and head home to re-create the mythical Sword of Perseus. Which smith will return to the forge with a weapon formidable enough to take down the mighty Medusa. After a two-month break, FORGED IN FIRE returned with new Season 7 episodes on Wednesday, July 15, 2020 at 9pm ET/PT on History Channel. In the summer premiere, "Tomahawk and Bowie," four smiths are put to the test when they must forge keys to unlock boxes of steel needed to make a knife. After a couple of intense rounds, two competitors are picked to head back to their home forges to recreate two American classics: the Tomahawk and Bowie. Which smith will honor American history by producing a weapon set worthy of the title of Forged in Fire Champion and the $10,000 prize?

Season 8 of FORGED IN FIRE premiered on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at 9pm ET/PT on History Channel, immediately following an all-day marathon (7am-9pm) of encore episodes. The season opener, "Veteran's Knife Special," 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.

FORGED IN FIRE returned for its ninth season on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 from 9-11pm ET/PT on History Channel, with back-to-back new episodes. In the season premiere, "Crushed Car Challenge" (9pm), 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.

The 10th season of FORGED IN FIRE, a special ON THE ROAD edition of the series, debuted with back-to-back episodes on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 from 9-11pm ET/PT on History Channel. In the season opener, "On the Road: Texas Showdown" (9pm), this special ON THE ROAD edition of FORGED IN FIRE heads 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. Then, in the night's second episode, "On the Road: Montana Face-Off" (10pm), this ON THE ROAD installment of FORGED IN FIRE heads to Bigfork, Montana to the New Agrarian School where three of their top smiths will be tested like never before. After two grueling challenges only one will remain standing and go on to represent the New Agrarian School in the finals for the ultimate grand prize.

Season 11 of FORGED IN FIRE debuted on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT on History Channel. The new season heads back to the forge for some of the most intense blade smithing competitions yet. First up, a showdown never-before seen on Forged in Fire. In a two-hour special four teams of expert builders compete in an all-out Battle Royale to see who will leave with $20,000 and the first ever title of Forged in Fire: Instruments of Death champions! Then it's a fight for glory and honor as we invite back our most skilled, most victorious, our unbeaten champions to defend their titles against underdogs ready to prove their worth. But they're not the only ones with their reputations on the line, as our smiths also duke it out for the chance to Beat the Judges! With bigger challenges, higher stakes, and even tougher contestants, these Smiths will have to chisel, quelch, and weld their way through everything from Battle Weapons to Swords of Mystery to prove they're more than just your average bladesmith to earn a spot in the Forged Hall of Fame.
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On Wednesday, November 27, 2024 at 10pm ET/PT, History Channel premiered "Beat the Judges: Shamshir Showdown," the season finale of FORGED IN FIRE. In this final "Beat the Judges" competition, two former Forged in Fire champions duel it out in a 5-hour round making a pichangatti to earn the right to go head-to-head with one of our formidable judges. With only 8 hours to produce the intimidating shamshir, will this champion have what it takes to beat a judge?