There’s something magical about people smithing — the fire, the sparks, the steel.
In terms of stakes, Forged In Fire is comparable to the baking shows that people may find themselves bingeing on, but it’s a viewing experience unlike any of them.
The premise is straightforward: each episode features four blacksmiths who create blades of various shapes and sizes in the hopes of winning the cash prize at the end of the episode.
People are wondering, as they do with any other reality show, “Is Forged In Fire Fake?”
We’re here to answer that question.
Is ‘Forged In Fire’ a Scam?
Several public debates have taken place on the subject over the years.
Several netizens debated whether the smithing done on the show was accurate in a 2021 Reddit post. Reddit users specifically asked if it was possible to make swords and knives on such short notice.
One of the most popular responses stated that it was heavily dependent on the initial expectations.
It wasn’t impossible for them to assemble a sword in the few days they were given. It was more a matter of how high the bar was set for making the cut.
The user in question spent “4 months worth of weekends” crafting a “not particularly amazing monosteel sword.”
In the show’s defense, the user lacked power tools and began with a lump of steel rather than a steel plate. They were also not a professional swordsmith.
A Contestant Interjected
On another thread on the same platform, a user stated that the show was great for entertainment value because it was “much more than a high-level overview” with a handful of useful trade secrets.
A user who claimed to be an actual contestant on the show promised to address some of the fans’ concerns.
The alleged contestant revealed that while the first round was tempered, the three-hour clock was “ENTIRELY” real. In reality, there was no way to stop the clock.
“I can’t discuss the production process, but some true information has made its way through the rumor mill,” they explained.
Following the compilation of numerous other sources, it was determined that the Forged in Fire is not free of the sprinkle (perhaps a fistful) of added drama that all reality shows receive.
Overall, the show appears to have real contestants forging real steel and competing for a very real cash prize.
Do Not Attempt To Forge At Home
However, viewers are strongly discouraged from attempting to forge their own weapons.
The Reddit user advised that if you were serious about forging a blade for yourself, you should do the following:
- 1) View the show.
- 2) Select contestants who do work you enjoy and/or exhibit skills or characteristics that you admire.
- 3) Find a way to meet those smiths and learn from THEM, not from the show.
Of course, the message came with a reminder that smithing required a significant amount of effort and time.