GRADY POWELL: Bladesmiths, congratulations.
You're moving forward in the third and final round
of our competition where we're sending you
back to your home forges to build
an iconic weapon from history.
Now I'm going to apologize in advance because I
didn't choose this blade.
That was up to J.
[uptempo music]
Bladesmiths, you didn't think I was going to start taking
it easy on you now, did you?
No.
I want you to build this.
Mindanao Kris.
[sighs]
The Mindanao Kris traces its origin back to the 14th century
Mindanao, the second largest island in the Philippines.
This double-edged sword is defined
by its distinct waves designed to inflict
wide, deadly slashes in combat.
[splattering]
The amount of waves in the warrior's weapon
also indicates their status within the tribe.
The more waves, the higher the rank.
The Kris was the most common moro sword
and many can be seen today in museums across the world,
including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
GRADY POWELL: You'll have four days at your home
forge to build your blades.
Good luck, gentlemen, when we see you then.
All right.
Good luck.
[uptempo music]
JOHN BLANKMAN: I'm John Blankman from Avon, Utah.
I'm a fire sprinkler contractor.
I like bladesmithing because, at this point in my life,
I'm stuck behind a desk most of the time and this
allows me to get back out and do things with my hands
and it's just fulfilling.
And they're throwing curves at us.
Curves are not my thing.
I haven't done them, but I am pretty confident I
can get this thing done.
So we're going to start getting the curves
into the blade itself, then taking a lot of weight
off of it.
For now I set up some jigs to get these curves bent
into the blade.
So at any given moment when you're
putting these radical of a bend in it,
your steel could rip and have a tear in it.
You got to kind of cross your fingers
that you're doing it right.
That should work.
So the blade's come along really nice.
It's in pretty good shape where I want it to be.
Oh, crap.
Got a little bit of a crack here.
Seriously?
If I can't get this crack ground out, then this is junk.
OK.
Finally, I get to the bottom of it and it is still saveable
and I don't have to start over.
Things are going along pretty good.
Trying to get the blade polished up a little bit,
get the handle put onto it, got to get it etched,
and finish it up.
Looking good.
All right, got it all sharpened up.
Let's go out and give her a quick test.
I'm feeling great about what I've accomplished.
I do you believe that's all I can do.
DALE BRANNIGAN: I'm Dale Brannigan
from Shelby, North Carolina.
I design technology systems for banks
and financial institutions.
I like forging for the escape.
I get to hit things with hammers and play with fire.
[laughs]
Steel's moving slow.
Press is a little weak.
Keeps bending it all over the place,
so I have to keep straightening it out.
We're getting there.
That's starting to look like a Kris.
Handle material is pretty close to shape already.
All right.
The handle is glued up, the epoxy is set.
Doesn't look bad.
Now I'm going to wrap the handle with hemp.
It's not a requirement, but it'll give a good grip
and it looks kind of cool.
I have a completed weapon.
Just to turn in something complete at the end
of these rounds is kind of a feat,
so I'm super happy that I'm done.
Bladesmiths, welcome to the kill test.
To find out what kind of lethal damage your weapon will do,
I will take your Kris and deliver some lethal blows
on this pig carcass.
John, you're first.
Are you ready for this?
You bet.
All right, let's do this.
[building music]
[thudding]
Sweet.
All right, John.
Let's talk about your Mindanao Kris here.
I really appreciate that you have this large flare
because it's a very forward heavy blade,
but because of that weight and a very sharp edge you have here,
these are very, very deep cuts on this pig carcass.
It'll kill.
[laughs]
Cool.
Dale, your turn, so are you ready?
That's what I'm here for.
DOUG MARCAIDA: All right, let's do this.
[heavy metal music]
[thudding]
Neat, man.
Good job.
[suspenseful music]
DOUG MARCAIDA: All right, Dale, let's talk
about your Mindanao Kris.
First up, it's a lot lighter.
Now that allows me to use velocity
to cut down a pig like this with the same amount of strikes.
The edge will cut deeply and, overall sir, your weapon it
will kill.
Awesome.
Bladesmiths, welcome to our strength test.
One of my personal favorites, the ice block chop.
I'm going to take your Kris swords
and try to free those masks.
We're going to have some fun.
John, you're up first.
You ready to go?
I am.
Go make snow cones.
Well, we could do that.
[heavy metal music]
[grunting]
[laughs]
Damn.
[suspenseful music]
Nice work, John.
Love the Damascus.
Very heavy.
It tears through the eyes, but if the ice block was any bigger
it'd be tearing through me, too.
And you got a bit of a warp, but still razor sharp.
Good job.
Thanks.
Dale, you ready to go?
If anybody's going to break my sword it might as well be you.
Good. I appreciate that.
Let's do it.
[heavy metal music]
[grunting]
[suspenseful music]
Dale, nice job.
The only complaint I have is your wrap here is loose,
but everything's still tight, your edge is good.
Nice job.
Thanks, J.
DOUG MARCAIDA: All right, bladesmiths.
This is the sharpness test, the palm slice.
To find out how sharp your weapons are,
I'm going to take your Mindanao Krises
and try to cut through these palms.
John you are first.
You ready for this?
I am.
[suspenseful music]
[heavy metal music]
Nice.
DOUG MARCAIDA: All right, John, let's talk
about your weapon here.
First up, your edge is still very sharp.
It's just that the weight of this has me holding on to it
because I don't want this to be flying around.
But for this particular test, it will cut.
Thank you.
Dale, your turn, so are you ready?
Slice it up.
All right, will do.
[suspenseful music]
[heavy metal music]
All right, Dale, let's talk about your Mindanao Kris here.
It's thin and razor sharp.
Definitely the type of edge you want in cutting these brushes.
And overall, sir, your edge, it will cut.
Thanks, Doug.
GRADY POWELL: Well, bladesmiths, before we
get into the hard part, I want to say it's been a pleasure
watching both of you guys work.
There's been a lot of twists and turns and J's challenge,
but this is a competition and there's only one champion.
The "Forged in Fire" champion today is--
[suspenseful music]
--Dale.
Congratulations.
John, you did a fantastic job, but, unfortunately, your Kris
isn't going to end up on the wall.
Your time in this competition has ended.
I'm going to have to ask you to please
step off the forge floor.
All right.
It's been a great experience, man.
GRADY POWELL: Thank you, John. J. NEILSON: Thank you, John.
DOUG MARCAIDA: Thank you, John. - Appreciate it.
Great job, John.
JOHN BLANKMAN: This whole journey with "Forged in Fire"
has been incredible.
[laughs]
GRADY POWELL: Well, Dale, congratulations, man.
That means you are the newest "Forged in Fire"
champion you just won yourself a check for $10,000.
Well done.
[applause]
I'm blown away.
Super proud.
Literally the day before I started
that was five years to the day that I lit my first forge--
No kidding. DALE BRANNIGAN: --so--
DOUG MARCAIDA: Who knew five years later you'd
be a "Forged in Fire" champ?
Everybody who knows that you make knives asks,
when are you going to be on "Forged in Fire?"
Now I can tell them, not only have
I been on "Forged in Fire," but I won a J. Nielsen challenge.
[uptempo music]