Forged in Fire: Knife or Death Season 1: Episode Guide & Ratings

The competition includes an age-old Samurai technique and the ancient Kopis sword.

Bladesmiths, martial arts experts, and even a butcher must use their custom made, historical weapons to slice, stab, and chop their way through a series of punishing challenges built to test weapons and competitors alike. Can an elite knife thrower hold onto his Nepalese Kukri and out wield his competition? Will the course overwhelm a 100-year-old Barong? Or will the hand-forged Falcata come out on top? The top two competitors will advance to face the ultimate final course — "Dead Run." Only one will have a chance to win the $20,000 grand prize and be crowned Knife or Death Champion.

Expert bladesmiths, martial artists, and a competition cutting champion bring their best edged-weapons to chop, stab, and slice through an exhausting set of challenges built to push blades and blade-wielding skills to the limit. Can the curved Egyptian Khopesh take a competitor straight to victory? Or will the Viking Seax put the other blades to shame? And whose weapon will fail before they can even take their first swing? Only the top two competitors will face off on the grueling final course – "Dead Run." The last blade left standing will have a chance to be crowned Knife or Death Champion and win the $20,000 grand prize.

Experienced blade smiths, martial artists, and weapons experts bring their custom built blades to a series of grueling challenges that push their skills and their weapons to the limit. Does the Celtiberian Ring Pommel Knife stand a chance against the course? Or will the Medieval Bastard Sword prove its mettle? And can an underdog finally surpass his longtime blade-sport opponent? The top two competitors advance to take on the punishing final course — "Dead Run." Only one will earn a spot in the grand finale with a chance to be crowned Knife or Death Champion and take home the $20,000 prize.

The bladesmiths, martial artists, and knife thrower who survived the course are back to prove their skills in the final showdown; the final two will go head to head on the Dead Run course; only one will take home the $20,000 grand prize.