Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges Season 1 Episode 1

Ep 1. Short Sword Damascus

  • TVPG
  • June 3, 2020
  • 41 min

Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges is a spin-off series of the popular competition show where bladesmiths face off against each other to create the best weapon. However, this time around, the contestants aren't facing each other, they're competing against the judges themselves. In the first episode, titled "Short Sword Damascus," three contestants - all previous competitors on Forged in Fire - compete against judges Doug Marcaida, David Baker, and J. Neilson.

The contestants are tasked with creating a short sword using the Damascus steel technique, a process that involves folding and welding layers of steel to create a unique, eye-catching pattern. The judges choose the design for the sword, which features a curved blade and a handguard made of separate pieces that must fit seamlessly together. The contestants have four days to complete their swords, with daily check-ins from the judges to provide feedback and guidance.

The first contestant, Ben Abbott, is a seasoned bladesmith who has won previous episodes of Forged in Fire. He takes inspiration from Japanese swords for his design and chooses to use a mixture of 1084 and 15N20 steels for his layers. He struggles with getting his handguard to fit snugly and has to make several adjustments. On the final day, he works frantically to get his sword finished in time.

The second contestant is Jodi Samson, an experienced blacksmith who specializes in making sharp, pointy objects. She decides to incorporate a pattern of stars and bars into her Damascus steel, which she hopes will make her sword stand out. However, she runs into trouble with her welds and has to start over, losing valuable time in the process. She also struggles with the handguard and has to make several attempts to get it right.

The third and final contestant is Jason Knight, a seasoned bladesmith who has appeared on multiple episodes of Forged in Fire and even served as a judge in one episode. He chooses to make his sword using a twist Damascus technique, which involves twisting the layers of steel to create a spiral pattern. He also decides to make his handguard out of copper, which he believes will highlight the beauty of the Damascus steel. However, he runs into trouble with the handguard and has to start over, losing valuable time.

On the final day, the contestants present their swords to the judges, who put them through a series of tests to see how well they perform. The swords are tested for sharpness by slicing through several objects, including a watermelon and a pig carcass. They are also tested for durability by hacking through a metal grate. Finally, the judges test the swords' balance and feel by having each contestant perform a series of strikes.

In the end, only one of the contestants is able to Beat the Judges and claim victory. The judges offer critiques and praise for each sword, pointing out what worked well and what could be improved. The episode ends with a preview of the next episode, teasing another exciting challenge for the contestants.

Description
Watch Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges - Short Sword Damascus (s1 e1) Online - Watch online anytime: Buy, Rent
Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges, Season 1 Episode 1, is available to watch and stream on History. You can also buy, rent Forged in Fire: Beat the Judges on demand at Philo, Amazon, Hulu, History, Sling, Google Play, Apple TV online.
  • First Aired
    June 3, 2020
  • Content Rating
    TVPG
  • Runtime
    41 min
  • Language
    English