*EXTRA SHARP* Ancient Japanese Weapons | Forged in Fire
Forged in Fire: Katana and Greatsword Championship Final Analysis
Discover how bladesmiths handled the extreme pressures of forging historical Japanese weapons, and determine what factors—from heat treating ingenuity to edge retention—led to the final championship victories.
Short Summary
- Matthew Parkinson secured the first $10,000 by optimizing a katana for strength, successfully splitting a bullet without edge damage.
- Ian Zimmerman won the second final with a Japanese greatsword, demonstrating superior edge retention after smashing his blade against steel chimes.
- Competition analysis highlights the fatal flaw in Rich Greenwood's katana (quenching cracks) and Austin Frakes' greatsword (dulling during destructive testing).
- This compilation details the final challenges for two separate competitions, focusing on the demanding requirements of historical accuracy, lethality, and structural integrity. The outcomes emphasize that while a blade must cut deeply, it must first survive the inherent stress of specialized tests.
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Top Comments (10)
Splitting a bullet is a crazy test
12:30 Hey that’s me!! 😜
"I don't like to lose" and yet he took it like a champ. True craftsmen are cool.
Everyone always glorifies the katana, but nobody ever gives love to its predecessor, the tachi.
When they said Japanese greatsword it made me question David's credibility as a "historical weapons expert" because the word they were looking for was Nodachi. Any blade over 36 inches was considered Nodachi.
These bladesmiths did awesome jobs with limited resources. Mad respect to all!
Cuts through a few water bottles.... " this is a really good sword."
Watch all new episodes Wednesdays at 10/9c.Watch full episodes and stay up to date on all of your favorite shows on The HISTORY Channel website at http://history.com/schedule.Love watching Forged in Fire? Check out this playlist for more Forged in Fire videos https://histv.co/3lxh9lx
now the final test: fight each other with your blades, the winner is the one that still alive
Its weird to hear medieval weapons being called ancient.
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Top Comments (10)
Splitting a bullet is a crazy test
12:30 Hey that’s me!! 😜
"I don't like to lose" and yet he took it like a champ. True craftsmen are cool.
Everyone always glorifies the katana, but nobody ever gives love to its predecessor, the tachi.
When they said Japanese greatsword it made me question David's credibility as a "historical weapons expert" because the word they were looking for was Nodachi. Any blade over 36 inches was considered Nodachi.
These bladesmiths did awesome jobs with limited resources. Mad respect to all!
Cuts through a few water bottles.... " this is a really good sword."
Watch all new episodes Wednesdays at 10/9c.Watch full episodes and stay up to date on all of your favorite shows on The HISTORY Channel website at http://history.com/schedule.Love watching Forged in Fire? Check out this playlist for more Forged in Fire videos https://histv.co/3lxh9lx
now the final test: fight each other with your blades, the winner is the one that still alive
Its weird to hear medieval weapons being called ancient.