Layers of Mastery: The Intricate Process of Hada Technique Blade Making | Forged in Fire (Season 1)

For this week's challenge the competitors create their signature blade by using the Hada technique--a traditional process that involves forging multiple layers of steel together. See more in this clip from Season 1, Episode 4, "Katar."

#ForgedInFire

"Forged in Fire" features world-class bladesmiths competing against each other to create some of history's most iconic edged weapons.

[Heuroya]

Contestants should immediately record the parameters given to them on paper. Human memory is volatile.

[stevelewis]

Jimmy looked like he was going to burst into tears all the time.

[kevinnorwood]

Easily one of my favorite episodes from Season 1. When David was laying out his plan to do 21 layers in his Hada technique, I immediately went "Okay, yeah. This is the guy I'm cheering for. He's planning on going the extra mile right out the gate."

[nandinhocunha]

If arnon spend his last ten minutes grinding and checking over this stuff, he would've gone through

[wonderhack]

The japanese guy nailed it with the 21 layers 💪

[denster]

"This is why you lost."

"I understand."

I love the no-drama approach of these series.

[cheesesauce]

Imagine sitting down and taking things easy, when you haven't checked if your blade is within parameters.

[BLaCkKsHeEp]

tbh, Arnon's dagger looked very nice compared to the others.

[Heuroya]

David told his forging style Japanese style, but his forging method was cutting and restacking. It is not the traditional Japanese forging method, but the folding method that Arnon did is the traditional Japanese forging method. However, it is done by constantly pouring water on the anvil and forging on it to remove the oxide film from the steel piece and prevent delamination. It is David's method to achieve this goal without water. David is not just making it look Japanese style. He sees the essence.

[zombiewarrior]

Imagine putting forth one of the best looking blades just to lose because you went over the length parameters

[louel]

What I keep telling my 7yo son during exams in school, always read the instructions twice!

[AC-nigt]

For a Japanese-influenced American, he's amazing. I am still amazed how he does it in the States.

[SirRockXIII]

its so good to see someone make it their own for once

[PhantomFilmAustralia]

Sitting on your hands and running out the clock is a sure sign of overconfidence when you really should be refining your blade and double-checking parameters.

[Blue_Maxxx]

All 4 of these guy should have went on.

[RobertPilla]

Season one was the best. They made some cool stuff.

[Mike__B]

So is there fundamentally any difference between this Hada technique and layered Damascus? I mean other than the Damascus having alternating layers of different steel types to make a pattern pop?

[Creamypie]

Will: I want you to make a blade with 12 layers.
David: alright, time to make a masterpiece.


If David had a bit more time I'm sure he would have hammered that blade down to make it thiner.

[tulkdog]

Should have given the dimensions in metric as well. He probably could have understood that

[hezzi]

Man the work done in this 1st portion was amazing. . .