Forged in Fire: Season 5
Season 5 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Forged in Fire Season 4.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 5 Progress Shield
Rookies Edition (The War Golok)
Mar 13, 2018
Five novice smiths must earn their way into the competition because one smith will be sent home before the forge lights up; the two left standing must re-create a 16th-century weap
The Schiavona
Mar 20, 2018
The bladesmiths begin on a farm where they must harvest steel from farming tools, then use coal forges to make their signature blades with a hidden lanyard hole; the two remaining
The Sica
Mar 27, 2018
The smiths must forge a signature blade out of a 50-caliber flintlock pistol; despite giving it their best shot, it becomes a struggle to turn a gun into a blade and after two grue
The Jumonji Yari
Apr 3, 2018
Smiths must forge functional friction folders and find the critical junction where skill meets resiliency; two finalists must recreate a Japanese trident called the Jumonji Yari, a
The Kabyle Flyssa
Apr 10, 2018
Parts from a salvaged cannon are used to make signature blades, and in the end, two smiths re-create the North African Kabyle flyssa in a final round, which will determine whose bl
Ultimate Team Challenge (The Chinese Dao)
Apr 17, 2018
Four master smiths compete alongside their apprentices to forge an iconic weapon of warfare: the trench knife; each team must work together, tagging in and out every half hour, wit
The Karabela
Apr 24, 2018
Four bladesmiths must kick their skills into gear when they’re tasked with forging blades out of steel from a chain and a sprocket, but only two will secure a spot in the final rou
The Zande Spear
May 1, 2018
Four blade smiths find the devil is in the details when they must combine two or more steels to forge J. Nielson's favorite blade, a Damascus European dagger. In a challenge where
The Navaja
May 8, 2018
Four bladesmiths test their mettle in a rock quarry, where they're tasked with making blades using only harvested steel and coal forges. Over the course of two intense rounds, the
The German Halberd
May 15, 2018
The pressure is on as the Smiths are tasked with forging Dave Baker’s favorite blade, the Scottish Dirk. Can they master the difficult design of this weapon, and live up to the hig
The Two-Handed Sword
May 22, 2018
The smiths are forced to harvest steel from motorcycles to forge blades in their signature style, but things don't go according to plan; and after an intense race to the finish, th
Military History Tribute (Naval Cutlass)
May 28, 2018
In a special military themed episode, four bladesmiths, all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, dive into the fray when they are tasked with forging a combat knife from an anti-tank
Horseman's Axe
May 29, 2018
Four bladesmiths are pushed to their limits when they each must forge a signature blade from small springs of steel. Wonky welds and broken billets cause major setbacks that must b
Lion Spear
Jun 5, 2018
Four bladesmiths must figure out how to hack it when they are tasked with crafting a hatchet from pieces of odd shaped steel. After several forging failures, parameter mishaps, and
Kelewang
Jun 12, 2018
The bladesmiths must make their signature blades out of only drill bits and a chunk of mild steel, but untwisting the bits and combining the two steels proves almost impossible. Af
Bagh Nakh
Jun 19, 2018
The bladesmiths are forced to make canister Damascus using nuts and bolts, and the twists and turns of the challenge may be more than they can handle. Ultimately, two smiths avoid
Glaive Guisarme
Jun 26, 2018
Four blade smiths must forge a Marine K-Bar all-purpose knife from multiple small blocks of steel. Ultimately, two smiths manage to reach the final round where they must recreate t
Pioneer Sword
Jul 3, 2018
Four smiths must forge a multipurpose weapon from old rescue tools; after narrowly escaping elimination, two smiths head back to their home forges to recreate a unique utilitarian
Wind and Fire Wheels
Jul 17, 2018
Four bladesmiths are tasked with forging a signature blade from a bicycle. After major setbacks and time-consuming failures, each smith is pushed to their limit as they race to the
Smallsword
Jul 24, 2018
Four bladesmiths are tasked with forging friction folders from a huge steel coil; in the final round, the two remaining smiths head back to their home forges to create a blade that
Celtic Anthropomorphic Sword
Jul 31, 2018
The bladesmiths must forge a signature blade from W2 and a giant industrial-sized nut. Then, they face two unforgiving strength tests. Ultimately, only two smiths advance and head
The Kilij
Aug 7, 2018
The bladesmiths are tasked with creating their signature blade out of a massive ball bearing. Ultimately, two smiths return to their home forges to recreate the kilij, a lethal sab
The Sawback Hunting Sword
Aug 14, 2018
Four bladesmiths are taken out of the forge and transported to the great outdoors, where they struggle to forge a blade in the noonday sun. They must forage for outdoor materials a
The Arming Sword
Aug 21, 2018
In a grueling Forged In Fire first, four bladesmiths must forge not just one, but three knives from railroad spikes in only three hours. Time management is essential for hammering
The Sengese
Aug 28, 2018
Four bladesmiths must forge a fully functional serrated knife using steel from hand scissors; the remaining two competitors return to their home forges to create a unique and chall
The Qinglong Ji
Sep 4, 2018
Four bladesmiths take a shot at forging a signature blade from the steel rings of a whiskey barrel. They must quickly adapt when they realize there may not be enough hardenable ste
Hollywood Edition (Hattori Hanzō Katana)
Sep 12, 2018
Four bladesmiths pay homage to Hollywood; a survival knife; the final two smiths return home to re-create one of the most famous swords in cinematic history: Hattori Hanzo's 1,000-
The Steel Crossbow
Sep 19, 2018
The bladesmiths are tasked with creating a signature Damascus blade out of three different steels of different thicknesses; the two final competitors re-create one of the most intr
The Landsknecht Sword
Sep 26, 2018
Four bladesmiths must craft a signature blade from a massive piece of elevator cable; the final two competitors return home to re-create a sword wielded by some of history's fierce
Tournament Round 1 (Farriers) - The Mortuary Sword
Oct 3, 2018
Four bladesmiths are tasked with creating a San Mai blade from horseshoes and hoof rasps; the remaining two bladesmiths return to their home forges to create a famed weapon of the
Tournament Round 2 (Armorers) - The Hooded Katar
Oct 10, 2018
Four bladesmiths must forge a Damascus blade out of something familiar: plate armor; the remaining two bladesmiths head back to their home forges to craft an exotic hybrid of pain
Tournament Round 3 (Blacksmiths) - The Knightly Pole Axe
Oct 17, 2018
Four bladesmiths must forge a signature Damascus blade using steel from tools; the smiths that survive two brutal rounds of testing return to their home forges to recreate a multip
Tournament Round 4 (Modern Metalworkers) - The Flamberge Rapier
Oct 24, 2018
Four bladesmiths must harvest materials from a metal sculpture to forge a needle point Damascus blade; the remaining smiths return to their own home forges to recreate a sword from
Tournament Championship (Nodachi)
Oct 31, 2018
In the final round of the Invitational Tournament, the winning farrier, armorer, blacksmith and modern metal worker face off to forge a wakizashi; the two finalists must then re-cr
Slasher Edition (Grim Reaper's Scythe)
Nov 7, 2018
Four bladesmiths must create signature slasher blades, each using a different type of metal; the two finalists return to their home forges to recreate the Grim Reaper's scythe.
Steel Takedown Bow
Nov 14, 2018
Four bladesmiths are tasked with forging a Crusader's dagger from a thick rod of W1 steel; the final two smiths must create Robin Hood's steel takedown bow.
Bardiche
Nov 21, 2018
Four bladesmiths must build coal forges using materials scavenged from a storage unit and forge signature blades without any power tools; the remaining two smiths return home to re
The Pipe Tomahawks
Dec 12, 2018
Four bladesmiths are challenged with forging a canister Damascus knife using only steel wool and 1095 powder; the final two head home to re-create an important weapon from North Am
The Ring Hilted Sword
Dec 19, 2018
Four bladesmiths must each forge judge Ben Abbott's favorite blade, the Celtic ring knife, using the San Mai technique; the final two competitors return to their home forges to re-