"Forged In Fire" on TV: Any thoughts?

Occasionally there is something interesting about knife making, but mostly it's a silly, contrived reality show.
 
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sgt1372 said:
I don't know why they insist that the finalists make swords and still am wondering why they reduced the time for the finalists to produce them from 5 to 4 days.
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I asked Jamie about that and he said the show's producers were very strict about the time you had to work on the blade. They would be there when you started and would take photographs of your shop to make sure it was in the same position and condition as when they stopped filming!
 
tokerblue said:
I asked Jamie about that and he said the show's producers were very strict about the time you had to work on the blade. They would be there when you started and would take photographs of your shop to make sure it was in the same position and condition as when they stopped filming!
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I get that they don't want the finalists to "cheat" but still don't know why they needed to reduce the time for the finalists to complete the sword from 5 to 4 days. The only thing I can think of is that it was matter of tightening up production schedule and perhaps reducing associated costs.

The reduced time doesn't seem to have affected the ability of the finalists to complete their work. So, in any event, it apparently doesn't matter.
 
Busto said:
I've thought the same thing, but today "Nobody" wants to get their hands dirty. Where is "Shop" class where many carpenters, welders of days gone by first learned the trades. Kids today want to sit at a Keyboard and think they can Rebuild Diesel Engines. Look at how fixated the younger generation is with their hand held devices. I recall Sci Fi movies with Aliens with delicate bodies with extremely LONG FINGERS not the hands of a Mechanic!!!
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Happy to report that my son is in shop class in 7th grade. They call the class Engineering, but it is basically wood shops. He has been using the lathe, drill press, band saw etc. He talks about what grit he sands to before staining. He was quick to enroll again for next semester. At home we are finishing some straight razors although he won't need his for a few more years.
 
After a few years of dealing in antique weapons and a childhood learning from my smith grandpa, it was the show that really pushed me to give knifemaking a try, though I certainly didn't use it as educational material. I just enjoyed watching knives being made in an entertaining fashion, so I gave it a try and fell in love.

I find the idea that an increase in beginner/amateur knife makers somehow "hurts the craft" ridiculous. one of my mediocre knives does not diminish the value of someone else's much better knife, the same way a boardwalk caricature doesn't devalue a Picasso. Also, wouldn't an increase in amateurs eventually lead to an increase in pros?
 
I agree: everybody has to start somewhere. Today's amateurs may just end up building that knives that you'll be lusting for (Someday...)
 
Bob Denman said:
I agree: everybody has to start somewhere. Today's amateurs may just end up building that knives that you'll be lusting for (Someday...)
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Well.....Buster Warenski had to start somewhere and we see how valued his work became!!!
 
Richard338 said:
Happy to report that my son is in shop class in 7th grade. They call the class Engineering, but it is basically wood shops. He has been using the lathe, drill press, band saw etc. He talks about what grit he sands to before staining. He was quick to enroll again for next semester. At home we are finishing some straight razors although he won't need his for a few more years.
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When I was in school we had all the Shop Classes and when we got our schedules for the semester we compared how many hours we got in "Disneyland" which we called the Shop area of the school because it gave us Hands on with professional tools we had no access to at home. This was the Early '60's so there was a premium on teaching the Trades. I'm Happy for you and your son utilizing your hands and tools, as for me I spent 30 years as a Journeyman Machinist/Engineer and I'm happy I learned a Trade after my college education it seemed more fulfilling.
 
I remember when Murray Carter was a contestant. How could he ever loose. He came in second.
 
Love the show. I've watched since the beginning. Often, the competitors are not great....sometimes they are world class smiths. I've had opportunity to meet about 5 in real life. Many who go on the show, I've known from Bladeforums and their work before they are on the show.

I have made a few knives over the years. Just tinkering..

And the wife bought me a forge and anvil.

So I've had the opportunity to to forge out two knives (working on a third).

This is the second knife I forged. I forged for my dad for Christmas. (before sharpening).
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My 10 year old loves the show. It’s one of the few things we can watch together and both enjoy. Every time he sees me sharpening a knife he asks if we can get a forge. The show is not overly educational but it does inspire some people to want to learn which will go further towards educating them than any info gleaned from the episodes ever will. I’ve bought books on the subject just due to my conversations with my son on top of the material-science books I still have from college.
As far as ruining the industry, at the end of the day the industry is controlled by the consumers. Bad knife makers won’t last long in the internet age. My guess is the show will generate many more interested consumers than makers so overall the hobby gets stronger.
 
I remember Walter Sorrells saying something like “if they wanted to be more accurate with naming the show they would have could it “ground in a giant cloud of dust“ SO true though right!?

Also every time I tell someone I’m a knife maker they immediately ask ”have you seen that show forged in fire?”
So from now on this is how I will tell someone I’m a knife maker “I’m a knife maker, yes I’ve seen forged in fire“
 
It’s shocking to me how negative some of the replies have been. The show is built to appeal to a broad audience. Of course some parts are going to be silly, but the show does have educational qualities. You get to see thermal cycling, some forging, some rudimentary heat treating, handle making, etc. What’s more is that it showcases makers.
 
Theres some things that could/should change but that’s not stoping me from liking and watching it.
And what’s the big deal if someone gets a wild hair and decides to try making a knife (I think that a great thing) what’s the worst that could happen, (they try selling a knife in 1095 or O1 that was heat treated in a gas/coal forge and quenched in vegetable oil) and hey they might just keep doing it and refine there skill/knowledge and become the next big knife maker you never know 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
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