WIL WILLIS: Bladesmiths, now it's
time to send you back to your home forges
to recreate this iconic weapon--
J. Neilson's war scythe.
DOUG MARCAIDA: Next up, I'll be pre-testing--
[laughs maniacally] --J. Neilson's war scythe.
WIL WILLIS: This war scythe was personally created by our very
own Beast from the East.
This war scythe is a menacing variation
on a centuries-old peasants' weapon from Middle Age Europe.
Ready for battle at a moment's notice,
farmers would take their scythes from work to war
during uprisings, riots, or calls to battle.
This weapon uses a long shaft to generate massive power
to cut down enemies, while its lethal sharp point
could be thrust into infantry and cavalry.
This multifaceted scythe features a fork
opposite the blade as a brutal piercing element
and a small blade at the bottom of the pole
to finish off an opponent.
Scythes are represented in pop culture
as sinister and ominous weapons symbolizing death
and is most notoriously wielded by the grim reaper.
DOUG MARCAIDA: It was a very interesting weapon because you
got a scythe and you get a blade-- a curved blade, here--
on the edges on the outside.
Have I ever tested anything like that?
No.
And when I did, pure heaven.
WIL WILLIS: The kill test master, Doug Marcaida.
[maniacal laughter]
Yeah, he just looks like a murderer.
DOUG MARCAIDA: So this is a weapon,
if you're not careful or are unfamiliar with it,
you can actually hurt yourself.
When you've got blades everywhere
facing the wrong way-- you've got the front, the back here,
and the hook blade, and everything else-- you really
have to be used to handling weapons
and knowing where everything dangerous,
everything sharp is at.
Every time you swing, you make sure that you don't
swing it back to cut yourself.
To test J. Neilson's war scythe, because we didn't have
another weapon just like it, we had
to make a mockup of it that was similar to the dimensions
that J. presented.
It was very interesting.
It was very revealing on how to fight with something like this
without cutting yourself.
As you're coming forward, there's a blade right there,
so I got to be careful of that.
As I'm going there, there's another blade over here.
Just wielding that thing, it really
gave me a chance to actually learn to adjust and create
a movement that keeps me safe, but at
the same time do maximum damage to what's in front of me.
[dramatic music]
All right, Alex.
The balance is light, allowing it to be a very fast weapon
that you can use little hand, long-handed,
or for close quarters.
Your weapon will kill.
All right, Trevor.
Trick or treat? - Treat.
Indeed.
[rock music]
DOUG MARCAIDA: All right, Trevor.
The tip alone penetrates deeply into the gut.
And the edges here are sharp enough to,
well, make it lose his head.
Overall, sir, it will kill.
Thank you, sir.
J. NEILSON: All right, smiths.
Welcome to the strength test, the dreaded coffin challenge.
I'm going to take these bones and beat them repeatedly
into the blade of your scythe.
And Alex, you're locked in and ready to go first.
You ready?
Yep.
That's what I want to hear.
[dramatic music]
Alex, you survived.
Good job.
The only issue I had-- you have some slight rolling
on the edge.
And the head of this moves, so it's not secure anymore.
But your edge held up great.
Good job.
Thank you.
How are you feeling, Trevor.
- Pretty good, right now. - Good?
We'll see how you feel in a minute.
[rock music]
Nice job, Trevor-- held up well.
Your edge is still good, nice and sharp.
Everything's still tight.
Good job.
Thank you.
All right, bladesmiths.
This is the sharpness test, the zombie surprise.
To test the edge of your weapon, I'm going to take your scythe
and cut through this rope, thereby releasing a surprise.
(LAUGHING) All right.
Alex, you're up first.
You ready?
Certainly.
[rock music]
[bleep]
DOUG MARCAIDA: All right, Alex.
It cut easily on the rope.
When you're puncturing this, it cuts through and slices.
It'll cut.
- Thank you. - All right, Trevor.
Your turn, sir. You ready?
Hell yeah.
[thunder rolls]
[rock music]
DOUG MARCAIDA: All right, Trevor.
The edge that you have here lends itself
to cut the rope much easier.
When you're puncturing, it starts
to cut all the way through.
Overall, sir, it will cut.
Thank you.
WIL WILLIS: All right, bladesmiths.
You guys have done fantastic work, but only one of you
can be the "Forged in Fire" champion.
And that champion is--
Trevor.
Congratulations.
You are the new "Forged in Fire" champion.
Alex, unfortunately, your blade took some damage
in our strength test.
You did great work, my friend.
But at this time, I have to ask you to please exit the forge.
ALEX: Ultimately, it came down to the construction.
I think I definitely made a blade
that can intimidate anyone.
WIL WILLIS: Well, Trevor, the judges all
agree you made a damn near perfect war scythe, which
has earned you the title of "Forged in Fire"
champion and a check for $10,000.
Good job, brother.
Come on forward and shake our hands.
TREVOR: I won!
Woo!
I think the biggest thing I learned was to keep on trying.
If something doesn't go your way, don't get upset about it.
Just keep moving forward.
This was a perfect Halloween experience.
I feel like I just went trick-or-treating,
and I got a pillowcase full of candy.
[theme music]
[spooky laughter, scream]