TV ruins Reality AGAIN

[Quiet]

They've done a few episodes where they smiths had to bring in their best work for judging and someone would be eliminated right at the start.

Then from what I can recall they had to work all day on the one blade for testing. Nothing at the home forge after the first stage.

I recall that episode (vaguely). I remember it being somewhat boring as a result. Plus, one thing I forgot to really mention clearly in my previous post is: what maker would spend a ton of time on making a beautiful work of art, say making a beautiful rapier, knowing there's a high probability it's going to be destroyed doing something dumb like hacking through materials which rapiers absolutely weren't designed to do, destroying all those hours of work in the process. There's a reason why these guys get like, four days to make something at home. Focus on proper heat treat, make it decent looking, and truck on.

 

[jlauffer]

I have not watched the show much, but what struck me is: why are the "judges" whacking knives as hard as they can on concrete or other hard surfaces and then talking down to the maker when it fails. The other issue is they win a "grand prize" of $10,000, well in todays world 10k is not jack as time is money and what about the people that don't win, do they get paid?

Don't recall the judges "talking down" to the makers when a knife fails. They simply point out the issue(s) that led to the failure. For example, when a blade breaks, there's almost always that telltale dark spot that indicates there was a crack.

As for the $10k, the show is based on the Food Network show Chopped, which also awards $10k. They're weekly shows, so not like they can afford to give away $100k each week. But both have done special tournaments with higher payouts like $50k.

 

[Danke42]

Don't recall the judges "talking down" to the makers when a knife fails.

Could make for better TV.

 

[Mecha]

That sounds pretty cool, may have to check that out.Heres a question; what knife would you guys bring to this ^ show? Im thinking Busse Hellrazor II or 3V Recon Scout....

Here's mine, if you want to see it:

Knife or Death season 2: titanium sword

Throughout the process of developing highly functional real titanium swords, there have been a few notions repeatedly brought up against them that are incorrect...sort of. Each of them is a reason why titanium supposedly can not make a "real sword," which we will define as "able to perform...

www.bladeforums.com

 

[Sharp Steel]

The guys with almost no equipment can pull off amazing things. I still remember the one where the finalists were making a really thin sword. To do the heat treat the guy dug a hole in the ground, filled it with coals and was using a leaf blower to fan it. He ended up with the better blade and the win.

Sorry for the self quote, but the episode was just on. The sword was the North African Kabyle Flyssa. I forgot that they never mention the beak on the pommel of the one sword was broken off. You can see the exposed wood in the close up.

 

[Lansa]

I haven't watched the new episode yet, but I like this tv show. I even found a good addon on this list for this purpose. Before Will was replaced I had it rated at an 8. It was at one point one of my wife's and my favorite shows on TV; however, without Will, it lost a lot of its original feel and falls flat. Nothing against the new host, but he doesn't bring the same energy Will did.

 

[WValtakis]

That sounds pretty cool, may have to check that out.Heres a question; what knife would you guys bring to this ^ show? Im thinking Busse Hellrazor II or 3V Recon Scout....

I'd bring the one designed for the show...sadly it was canceled right about the time they were finished Keffeler/Carothers K18

 

[Danny Linguini]

Don't recall the judges "talking down" to the makers when a knife fails. They simply point out the issue(s) that led to the failure. For example, when a blade breaks, there's almost always that telltale dark spot that indicates there was a crack.

As for the $10k, the show is based on the Food Network show Chopped, which also awards $10k. They're weekly shows, so not like they can afford to give away $100k each week. But both have done special tournaments with higher payouts like $50k.

That’s what I liked about this show - no matter how bad a piece got turned in, the judges always found something to compliment the smiths for. They are always respectful toward the competitors. I used to watch this regularly, because the show focused on the challenges and the skills required to meet them, and left out the artificial drama. Unfortunately it was off the air for awhile and they aired some other garbage on Wednesday nights, and I’ve totally lost track of it and when - or even IF - it will be on again.

But yeah, it did go downhill after Wil left. I found him much more likable than the new guy.

 

[Ivan Campos]

I haven´t watched many episodes because I have no patience to watch most anything (there was a South American version I never saw) and all I saw were parts of the very early ones.
To say the least, the show inspired a lot of people to at least learn more about knifemaking - and I don´t have to explain what I do for a living now but many people ask me if "it really takes so little time to get a knife done".

 

[David Mary]

I’d watch it if there were lions.

But what about dragons?

 

[Centermass]

But what about dragons?

Animated, CGI, or real?

 

[David Mary]

if "it really takes so little time to get a knife done".

Why, how long do they take in the show?

I remember a video where some YouTuber paid a visit to an old timer's forge and this 80 year old knife making veteran crafted a beautiful hand made Bowie from scratch in four hours.

 

[Ivan Campos]

I have seen some demos like this too but some people somehow get to the conclusion that everything shown is made during the time of the episode exhibition.