Four bladesmiths go back to basics when they're tasked with creating a signature Damascus blade out of three different steels of different thicknesses. In the first round, welding problems arise, and a parameter failure sends one smith packing. After a grueling round of tests, the two final competitors return home to recreate one of the most intricate weapons in Forged in Fire history: the Steel Crossbow.

In the first ever Forged in Fire Tournament, four different classes of metalsmithing professionals will compete over five weeks for the chance to win the biggest Forged in Fire prize ever – $50,000. In this first week, four farriers are tasked with creating a San Mai blade from familiar tools: horseshoes and hoof rasps. After a strenuous round of testing, the remaining two farriers return to their home forges to create a famed weapon of the English Civil War: the Mortuary Sword. The winner will return in the final Tournament of Champions for a chance to prevail over the other metalsmithing classes and win the $50,000 grand prize.