I watched both that have aired. I picked you as winning that episode right up front because I know your work. Congratulations, by the way Matthew. However I consider you fortunate to come out of the game as well as you did, in spite of your fine work, knowing the willingness of the promoters to throw any and all under the bus.

I realize that most of the viewing audience has little to no idea how a knife is made and the issues that can arise. But, I am disappointed in the direction the show took. I understand that they need drama, but what kind of drama? I think they could have steered things a bit more to what actually is "reality". I can not imagine proceeding further in the project with a cracked blade. I would just forge another. I also realize that they may have dictated that you proceed even with the cracked blade to fill the show's content. Again, this is not reality. No knife maker will continue with a "doomed to failure knife". Even when things go right, I have plenty of drama in my shop. I would much prefer a more "real" view to be portrayed. And realistically, no one is going to dictate to me if or when I decide a project needs to be discarded.

I worry as much for the individual smiths on the show who might brand themselves with a negative image when we all know they can do much better if left to themselves and when they call their own shots. It pained me to watch the second show knowing that any or all of these guys have strong points that were passed over and weaknesses brought right up front just for ratings. While forging skill levels differ, the pressure and terms laid upon these guys created an atmosphere where failure was likely.

As for possible good that might come from the show. Yes, there very well may be some exposure to folks who have never before thought about the craft. They may look into it further after the show. I'm hoping in that regard the good outweighs the bad. Knowing the history and debate between the forging side and the stock removal side, my fear is that this will impart inaccurate information as to the reality of forging blades.

Now,.... after all of this, I still will be cheering you on and hoping for the best. Two shows down and willing to watch the rest. I still think there will be some positive things to come from all of this.

I am with Lin Matthew. And a big congratulations for your accomplishment. I feel they are glossing over the good points and focusing on the drama. Have to provide the drama for the tv audience. That being said, at least it is getting the forged blade out before more people, but I am afraid the uneducated may believe we can make a knife in the six hours alloted and have it look and perform great. Like Lin I have enough drama going in my shop from time to time. I find the show interesting and sorry to say, laughable from time to time. However I will continue to watch and root for our ABS members, also I will hope it gets better as it goes along.

Brion

I'd like to add my congratulations. I can appreciate what you had to do under the restraints placed on you.

Good luck.

Gary

First of all, Congrat on the win Matt! While its interesting to see folks I know on the show, in general I think the show will end up doing more harm then good to the custom knife world, which is why I turned down the offer to do it.

Everybody here knows full well that none of us would ever believe that we could produce a quality blade in 3 hours. As its portrayed on the show, thats "strike one" for me. It leaves out that "soul" of any blade....the heat treat, and the amount of work/emphasis that we as Bladesmiths place on this most critical area. Based on what I've seen, I can only assume the only quench media provided is water?

"Strike two" for me is the emphasis the show's testing places on "killing". Personally, it doesn't upset me, as I spent my entire military career being in the business of "killing people and breaking things". But again, it offers a false, and dangerous perception to the general public. In today's world, the one thing we as knifemakers DON'T need is giving the public, or worse, public officials something to point a finger at, or a "cause" to grab on to. There are going to be people/groups/public officials, who will use what they see on the show to further their cause(s) to curtail/stop our "production of weapons".

I've already received a couple of phone calls from folks asking about building them a knife, and then freaking out when I quote them price.... one person even said, "Are you crazy!? I saw that show on the History channel....you can make a knife in less then a day!" Exactly one of the false perceptions that I suspected the show would produce.

I hope I'm dead wrong about my suspicions/concerns about how the show portrays our craft and our Bladesmiths, but so far I'm seeing just the opposite.

Full disclosure I will be in the July 20th show. It will have both positive and negative affect. We can steer which way it will go to an extent. I have already allowed one young teenager into my shop to try his hand at bladesmithing. His father was a well known stock removal maker of tactical knives. He forged the blade and they are finishing the knife together. I also have about 4 people coming to my shop tomorrow who want to know more about the ABS because of this show. 2 have been in contact with me for months about making their own knives. 1 person has asked me to allow them to apprentice, and is a former rock star from the 90's living in Vegas now. 2 people have acts on the strip in Vegas, and are internationally known, that want to try to forge a blade. Most will probably not like it, but will have an appreciation for what we do and possibly become collectors.

I don't have a problem with the production company crew, the judges, but do with how unprofessional some things were handled. I was flat out lied to about the timeline and challenges. Probably because I turned down 2 contracts before I could agree to the third. Some had more knowledge about what was going to happen then others, from the pilot. You can imagine how everyone felt on my episode when one contestant admitted he had already been through the contest and knew what to expect. Of course in the future everyone knows what to expect.

Now from someone who has only peeked under the door of the film industry from making indie films, etc.. I was told if this does well then their will be other show's. I am meeting someone tomorrow about starting a documentary about what it takes to get my JS stamp. By the way is their no longer a show in San Antonio in January I can test for?

Forewarned is forearmed. I am getting ready for lots of phone calls from people thinking I can forge and finish them a blade in a day like on the show I was on. I am getting ready for the haters, and trolls in and out of my industry. I am getting ready for those that think it's kind of cool and want to try it themselves. I am getting ready for the city, state, and federal government to go over my paperwork with a fine tooth comb to see if they missed anything they can extort me on, I mean tax me on. You all should as well.

Good points Jimmy. Yes we probably will have to do some education of our own, but thats not a bad thing. So far I have not been contacted by any potential customers, but I am sure there will be some. I look forward to seeing your episode.

And yes, the San Antonio show is no more. The two places you can test are the Blade show and at the new ICCE joint ABS/GUILD show in Kansas City taking place in September.

Good luck on the projects.

Brion

I have to say last nights episode (crusader sword) was a lot more like how I expected the show to play out. all the contestants did extremely well, David Roader gave My business partner Peter a real run for his money and the first two rounds were tight as well. good job on all fronts hopefully this is more what the show will become as people get comfortable with the format.

MP

Agreed Matthew. The show does seem to be getting better as it goes on. I liked the last episode, of course I like hamons. And congratulations to Dragons Breath Forge on another win. Beautiful sword.

Brion

"It will kill!" <img src=' http://www.americanbladesmith.com/ipboard/public/style_emoticons//sad.gi f' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':(' />

Once again, I am convinced that my decision to NOT watch TV anymore was a good choice.

Matthew, it was fun watching the show. Congratulations for you and your partner, nice job! What I wanted to know is how you did the HT in 3 hours and the steel you used to do this. I'm trying to figure out how to make a good blade in 1 day but it's at least 4-5 hours on HT without forging and grinding.

Chrs

|quoted:

Matthew, it was fun watching the show. Congratulations for you and your partner, nice job! What I wanted to know is how you did the HT in 3 hours and the steel you used to do this. I'm trying to figure out how to make a good blade in 1 day but it's at least 4-5 hours on HT without forging and grinding.

Chrs

sorry to take so long to respond I just noticed this question, to answer you.

every episode was supplied with a different steel. I was given 1084 bar, I normalized in the forge after forging, then cycled a few times when hardening, I boiled off water for a quick temper before grinding. the blades were then all tempered off camera. 400deg for 2 hours if I remember right.

in my own shop I do make many knives that fall with in the less than a day time line, I just stick to easily heat treated steels like 1084, I also don't tend to count temper times in how long a knife takes me, as when a blade is in temper I can be doing other things. for me the it is the finishing that is time consuming, I can easily finish a knife with a machine finish in 4-5hours but to do a hand finish in that time is a struggle.

MP