Series synopsis
Forged in Fire is an American reality television series that premiered on History on June 22, 2015. It stars Wil Willis, Grady Powell, J. Neilson and David Lain Baker.
Competitors re-create weapons from historical periods ranging from Japanese katanas to medieval broadswords to ancient throwing blades. Each entry is judged on its artistry as well as its functionality and accuracy.
Premise
Competitors re-create weapons from historical periods ranging from Japanese katanas to medieval broadswords to ancient throwing blades. Each entry is judged on its artistry as well as its functionality and accuracy.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Wil Willis as Self - Host
- Grady Powell as Self - Host
- J. Neilson as Self - Judge
- David Lain Baker as Self - Judge
- Doug Marcaida as Self - Judge
- Jason Knight
Episodes
This series spans 12 seasons with 278 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 15 | March 7, 2018 | June 15, 2022 |
| Season 1 | 8 | June 22, 2015 | August 10, 2015 |
| Season 2 | 10 | February 16, 2016 | April 19, 2016 |
| Season 3 | 16 | August 23, 2016 | February 14, 2017 |
| Season 4 | 23 | April 11, 2017 | October 31, 2017 |
| Season 5 | 39 | March 13, 2018 | December 19, 2018 |
| Season 6 | 30 | February 6, 2019 | September 25, 2019 |
| Season 7 | 37 | October 9, 2019 | August 19, 2020 |
| Season 8 | 46 | November 18, 2020 | February 2, 2022 |
| Season 9 | 26 | March 30, 2022 | November 2, 2022 |
| Season 10 | 28 | October 4, 2023 | September 24, 2025 |
| Season 11 | 0 | July 1, 2026 | July 29, 2026 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bladesgiving Special | March 7, 2018 |
| 2 |
The Rhomphaia The bladesmiths are forced to achieve one of six Damascus patterns for their first round blade, and they must choose wisely. The ladder to victory is full of twists as the smiths stack, weld and repeat trying to forge beautifully crafted and durable blades under their specified parameters. When time runs out, only two competitors enter the final challenge to recreate the fearsome Rhomphaia sword. Which smith will demonstrate true mastery to dominate the competition and be named the next Forged In Fire Champion? |
March 7, 2018 |
| 3 |
Super Champion Elite Four former winners return to the forge for the biggest twist in the show's history. |
March 12, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Japanese Katana In this explosive new series, four bladesmiths will compete for $10,000 and the title of Forged in Fire champion. Across three grueling rounds, competitors design and forge deadly edged-weapons of war. Their work will be put to the test, and those that fail will be sent home. In the final round, the two remaining bladesmiths must forge one of the most iconic weapons from history; the Japanese Katana. Their swords will be pushed to the absolute limit…the final test will determine which is stronger; their Katanas or a speeding bullet? |
June 22, 2015 |
| 2 |
Chakram Four bladesmiths must forge a weapon using only reclaimed metal. With the clock winding down, two of the competitors are dramatically forced to improvise, and one almost doesn't make it through the round at all. |
June 29, 2015 |
| 3 |
Viking Battle Axe The bladesmiths must transform a steel "train spring" into a weapon of their choosing. Only two competitors will move on and are given just five days to forge a legendary Viking Battle Axe. After a barbaric round of testing from the judges, only one man will be left standing. |
July 6, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The War Hammer Our 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 will 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 will nail the competition and be crowned the Forged in Fire champion. |
February 16, 2016 |
| 2 |
Khopesh This week our bladesmiths are given a "twisted" challenge when they are asked to forge a weapon from cable steel. The competition slowly unravels as they handle this difficult steel. After two rounds only two are left to return home and forge an Egyptian Khopesh. Back at the forge their iconic weapons are put through their paces but only one can be crowned Forged In Fire champion. |
February 23, 2016 |
| 3 |
The Scottish Claymore Four blade smiths face one of the most grueling challenges in Forged in Fire history when the electricity and power tools are taken away from them and they must forge a blade with just fire and their bare hands. They'll have just five days to create the iconic Scottish Claymore, the legendary weapon of William Wallace. |
March 1, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Champion Edition / Scottish Claymore Season 3 begins with the return of four champions who are charged with making a high-carbon-steel inlay. Then, two finalists are challenged to forge a Scottish Claymore, which has stumped previous contestants. |
August 23, 2016 |
| 2 |
Fan Favorites / Hook Sword Four former contestants, back in the Forge by popular demand, return for a second shot at victory and redemption in an all new challenge full of unexpected twists. Competition gets heated right away when they are forced to make their signature style blades with materials from a surprising source. After two rounds of grueling competition, only two smiths are left to take on the final challenge of recreating a weapon they've never seen before: The Hook Sword. This complex weapon gives both fan favorites a run for their money, but only one will hook the crown and take home $10,000. |
August 30, 2016 |
| 3 |
Butterfly Swords Four new contestants must choose wisely as they try to craft a blade of their signature style from a pile of tools, both old and new. Then the stakes are doubled when, for the first time ever, they must forge not one, but two swords in the final round. Crafting Chinese Butterfly Swords, our final two bladesmiths face twice the work, and twice the pressure, in their attempt to claim the title of Forged in Fire champion. |
September 6, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Judges Pick The judges pick past bladesmiths to represent them; first, the smiths must use steel from N.Y.C. streets to forge signature blades. In the final round, the competitors have five days to forge a sword that originated in West Africa, the Ida. |
April 11, 2017 |
| 2 |
Deer Horn Knives Four bladesmiths tee up for a never-before seen challenge, harvesting steel from a vintage golf club to forge signature blades. In the final round, the remaining smiths must forge a pair of iconic double bladed weapons with two times the edge. |
April 11, 2017 |
| 3 |
The Katzbalger For the first time ever, the competitors are challenged with creating not one, but two blades in the first round. After a grueling second round, the two remaining smiths have just five days to create an iconic 15th century combat sword–the Katzbalger. |
April 18, 2017 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Rookies Edition (The War Golok) Five novice smiths must earn their way into the competition because one smith will be sent home before the forge lights up; the two left standing must re-create a 16th-century weapon known as the War Golok. |
March 13, 2018 |
| 2 |
The Schiavona The bladesmiths begin on a farm where they must harvest steel from farming tools, then use coal forges to make their signature blades with a hidden lanyard hole; the two remaining smiths must recreate the Schiavona. |
March 20, 2018 |
| 3 |
The Sica The smiths must forge a signature blade out of a 50-caliber flintlock pistol; despite giving it their best shot, it becomes a struggle to turn a gun into a blade and after two grueling rounds, two smiths get sent barreling towards elimination. |
March 27, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Long Road to Redemption (1) Seven competitors return to the forge for a second chance at glory and redemption; they'll have to create four different weapons and survive four rounds of testing; the smiths begin outside using the dreaded coal forge. |
February 6, 2019 |
| 2 |
Long Road to Redemption (2) 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. 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? |
February 13, 2019 |
| 3 |
Washington's Colichemarde Four bladesmiths honor American presidents by forging a replica of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Rider Bowie; the remaining two smiths move on to their home forge to re-create George Washington's colichemarde. |
February 20, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Sword Of Perseus 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. |
October 9, 2019 |
| 2 |
General Patton's Sabre In a Forged in Fire first, four bladesmiths are tasked with forging a parameter specific blade shape in just two hours. To add more fuel to the fire, the smiths are unaware of the weapon they’re making and how it will be tested. |
October 16, 2019 |
| 3 |
The Jian Sword Four smiths get thrown into the mix when they must Frankenstein a blade from one knife and combine it with a different weapon’s handle. |
October 23, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Veteran's Knife Special On this special episode, Forged in Fire 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 patriotic 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. |
November 18, 2020 |
| 2 |
The Deadly Vajra-Mushti Four smiths get rolling when they are tasked with making cannister Damascus from tubes. After a couple of intense rounds in the forge, two competitors head back to their home forges to recreate a deadly and unique Indian weapon: the varja-mushti. Which smith will produce a weapon worthy of the Forged in Fire title and walk away with a check for $10,000? |
November 25, 2020 |
| 3 |
The Legendary Sword of Saladin Four smiths are in for a twist when they are tasked with forging signature blades from either a large suspension cable or thin piano wire. After two intense rounds that come down to the wire, two return home to recreate the legendary Sword of Saladin, one of the sharpest blades in the world. Which smith's weapon will cut through the competition, leading them to victory and a check for $10,000? |
December 2, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Crushed Car Challenge Four smiths have to create a knife from the most mangled mess of a vehicle ever seen on the forge floor; the two surviving smiths return to their home forges to re-create a matched set of curved katars. |
March 30, 2022 |
| 2 |
Blackout Four smiths must forge signature blades from W-1 steel without the aid of any electricity (i.e., in candlelight during a "blackout"). The two finalists return to their home forges to recreate the blunt-tipped Sword of Mercy, the English blade still used today for coronations. Who will step into the light from this challenge and be crowned Forged in Fire Champion and win $10,000? |
April 6, 2022 |
| 3 |
The Ninja's Sword Four smiths forge their own version of a ninja blade, with the smith with the lightest blade winning an extra 20 minutes in round two. |
April 13, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
On the Road: Texas Showdown Heading 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. |
October 4, 2023 |
| 2 |
On the Road: Montana Face-Off Heading to Bigfork, Mont., to the New Agrarian School where three of their top smiths will be tested like never before; after two grueling challenges only one will go on to represent the New Agrarian School in the finals for the ultimate grand prize. |
October 4, 2023 |
| 3 |
On the Road: Appalachian Showdown In the heart of North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains is the world-renowned Clay Spencer Blacksmith shop, where three of the forge's best smiths will be tested; the winner will have the chance to compete against other smiths from across America. |
October 11, 2023 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mind Over Metal | July 1, 2026 |
| 2 | Two Faced Challenge | July 8, 2026 |
| 3 | J. Neilson's Secrets Of The Forge | July 15, 2026 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | History |
|---|---|
| First aired | June 22, 2015 |
| Last aired | September 24, 2025 |
| Runtime | 42 minutes |
| Status | Returning Series |
| Schedule | Wednesday at 22:00:00 |