Bladesmiths, welcome to another strength test.
Today we're going to do the horn chop.
What I'm going to do is take your blades
and test both edges in vertical and horizontal chops
on these horns.
Now what happens to your horns, I really don't care.
I want to see what the horns are going to do to your knives.
You ready, Matt?
No.
We're going to do it anyway.
MATT: I am extremely nervous about this test
because horn is really, really tough on blades,
and J. is going to beat the crap out
of those horns with our knives.
I just-- I don't know.
I'm scared.
[groans]
[grunting]
[music playing]
J. Nice job, Matt.
Your handle's comfortable.
It's a good size.
The only problem is it's spinny.
Striking the horn, it turned on me.
I had to readjust a couple times.
But overall, very good job.
Thank you.
So after seeing that, how do you feel, Chris?
Let's get this over with.
The shock that that horn is going to send up the knife,
if anything's loose, it's going to come flying off.
I really wouldn't want to be the one
swinging my knife right now.
[grunting]
[music playing]
J.: [breathing heavy]
You OK?
I'll be fine.
Well, Chris, I cannot hold it comfortably like this at all,
and it put a ton of strain on my wrist,
you know, like a fireball going off on my wrist right there.
But your edge held up.
Good work on that.
Thank you.
How are the nerves doing, Aaron?
Not too good, sir.
All right, let's do it.
[grunting]
[music playing]
Oh, Aaron, your blade edge survived the horn.
Good job on your heat treat.
You don't have any deformation on the edge.
So good job.
Thank you.
All right, bladesmiths, this is the rib-rack slice.
A sharp edge should cut easily through this rib rack.
Matt, you're up first.
You ready for this?
I got to be.
[inaudible].
[music playing]
Good job, Matt.
Thanks.
All right, Matt, this is a very sharp edge.
Not only did it cut the muscles in between the ribs,
it cut the bone.
Your handle construction is smooth.
Over all, sir, your jambiya will cut.
Thank you.
All right, Chris, you're up next.
You ready? - Yes, please.
Let's do this.
I want to apologize to Doug for how bad this handle is,
but his hands are a little smaller than J.'s Maybe
it'll fit a little better.
I'm hoping he can work around the deficiencies my knife has
and make a good cut.
[music playing]
All right, Chris, let's talk about your jambiya here.
Your blade is sharp enough to cut through ribs,
but [inaudible] your handle.
When you hold it this way, it's just too wide to be
comfortable in holding onto it.
But overall, sir, your jambiya, it will cut.
Thank you.
Aaron, your turn.
You ready for this?
Yes, sir.
DOUG: Let's do this.
[music playing]
All right, Aaron, let's talk about your blade here.
Your edge on the outer curve right
here is sharp to cut through bone.
Now your inward curve right here,
it's sharp enough to cut but not cut completely
all the way into the rib rack.
I can index well and grab onto it, and your jambiya,
it will cut.
Thank you.
Ultimately, I think it's going to come
down to Chris's handle or my knife not
cutting on the second swipe.
I'm pretty nervous about it.
I'd really like to move forward.
I would really like to redeem myself here,
but it's still anyone's game.
Fifth bladesmith leaving this redemption competition
is Chris.
Winning or losing this competition
isn't going to shake me from my path.
I'm going to keep making knives and doing blacksmithing
and teaching classes.
I'm not going to burn down my shop and take up crochet.
The first thing I'm going to do when I get home is hug
my family, tell them I love them,
thank them for their support, then take a really long nap.