James Helm Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 New season starts this week. And on the 18th: 4 James Helm - Helm Enterprises, Forging Division Come see me at the Blade Show! Table 26R. Proud to be a Neo-Tribal Metalsmith scavenging the wreckage of civilization. My blog dedicated to the metalwork I make and sell: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian_newberry Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 Looking forward to it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wesley Alberson Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 Cool! "Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man" -The Dude, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rougemont_forge/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Abbott Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 Who's that guy at the third anvil? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Helm Posted April 12, 2017 Author Share Posted April 12, 2017 Don - Whoever he is, he needed a haircut before he went on international TV. Thanks, guys! They're now showing commercials for my episode (next Tuesday, 8:00 CST), and it's interesting to see myself on the TV screen. The cuts are edited so quickly, that by the time I realize I'm looking at myself, I'm already off the screen. It should be an entertaining episode. James Helm - Helm Enterprises, Forging Division Come see me at the Blade Show! Table 26R. Proud to be a Neo-Tribal Metalsmith scavenging the wreckage of civilization. My blog dedicated to the metalwork I make and sell: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hewitt Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 I'll watch out for it when it hits the UK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Helm Posted April 18, 2017 Author Share Posted April 18, 2017 (edited) Tomorrow night! (Tuesday, April 18, 8:00 CST) Here's the episode description: "For the first time ever, the competitors are challenged with creating not one, but two blades in the first round. With double the pressure and double the work, the bladesmiths are pushed to their limits, which leads to another first–a hospital trip. After a grueling second round, the two remaining smiths have just five days to create an iconic 15th century combat sword–the Katzbalger. Which bladesmith has what it takes to burn through the obstacles in their way and become the next Forged in Fire champion?" Edited April 18, 2017 by James Helm James Helm - Helm Enterprises, Forging Division Come see me at the Blade Show! Table 26R. Proud to be a Neo-Tribal Metalsmith scavenging the wreckage of civilization. My blog dedicated to the metalwork I make and sell: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Helm Posted April 18, 2017 Author Share Posted April 18, 2017 2 James Helm - Helm Enterprises, Forging Division Come see me at the Blade Show! Table 26R. Proud to be a Neo-Tribal Metalsmith scavenging the wreckage of civilization. My blog dedicated to the metalwork I make and sell: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Harris Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 I'm surprised this forum hasn't started a betting topic on who'll win these by now 1 Trying to make each knife just a little better than the last Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Helm Posted April 18, 2017 Author Share Posted April 18, 2017 Caleb- Knifemakers have a love/hate relationship with this show. I agree to an extent with both sides. Overall it's a positive thing for our craft, I think, otherwise I wouldn't have competed on the show. James Helm - Helm Enterprises, Forging Division Come see me at the Blade Show! Table 26R. Proud to be a Neo-Tribal Metalsmith scavenging the wreckage of civilization. My blog dedicated to the metalwork I make and sell: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caleb Harris Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 I've seen . It's got it's problems but I have absolutely no problem with more attention in the bladesmithing sector. I think it was Liam Hoffman that had a pretty big jumpstart after winning his episode. When do we find out who won? Trying to make each knife just a little better than the last Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Helm Posted April 18, 2017 Author Share Posted April 18, 2017 Watch the episode tonight and you'll see who won! A show that was perfect for knifemakers would not necessarily be as perfect for the average viewer. Within that limitation and the even bigger limitation of their 43 minute run time, they do a pretty good job. It at least gives a taste of bladesmithing to the general public, and we knifemakers can sit there and appreciate the ingenuity and nitpick over the mistakes each contestant shows. James Helm - Helm Enterprises, Forging Division Come see me at the Blade Show! Table 26R. Proud to be a Neo-Tribal Metalsmith scavenging the wreckage of civilization. My blog dedicated to the metalwork I make and sell: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles dP Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 I have to admit that I like the show. I agree with the flaws and concerns pointed out but FiF was the catalyst that finally got me started down this road and for that I am grateful. "The way we win matters" (Ender Wiggins) Orson Scott Card Nos, qui libertate donati sumus, nes cimus quid constet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason McEntee Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 (edited) ***SPOILER ALERT*** I enjoy the show, especially with me being a beginner and all. That said, this was an interesting episode, and congratulations James. Any word on how the gentleman who fell ill fared? Edited April 19, 2017 by Jason McEntee www.facebook.com/appleseedcustoms/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Helm Posted April 19, 2017 Author Share Posted April 19, 2017 Thanks! #snackbreak Jesse is ok. It wasn't just heat exhaustion that knocked him down, it was also a heart condition he didn't know he had and a lack of sleep. It's a good thing he stopped and sat down when he did! 1 James Helm - Helm Enterprises, Forging Division Come see me at the Blade Show! Table 26R. Proud to be a Neo-Tribal Metalsmith scavenging the wreckage of civilization. My blog dedicated to the metalwork I make and sell: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEzell Posted April 19, 2017 Share Posted April 19, 2017 I missed the first few minutes, so missed hearing the full names, but I kept thinking that guy looks a lot like someone I know...:) Congratulations! George Ezell, bladesmith" How much useful knowledge is lost by the scattered forms in which it is ushered to the world! How many solitary students spend half their lives in making discoveries which had been perfected a century before their time, for want of a condensed exhibition of what is known."Buffonview some of my work RelicForge on facebook Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabriel James Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 Congrats on the W stormcrow! Not to be a negative nancy but am i the only one that sighs when they see the bullet test? I saw a butter knife do the same thing if it wasnt a phony video =\ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wes Detrick Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 Awesome! Congrats to you James (but I am not really surprised either...) “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer." -Albert Camus http://www.krakenforge.net/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Keyes Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 (edited) Congrats James. I have a question, if it doesn't reveal things you're not supposed to tell us. Were you told not to make a two piece construction? I didn't hear them say that the handle had to be integral, and it's seems to me that a two piece construction would have been way simpler. Thanks Geoff Edited April 20, 2017 by Geoff Keyes "The worst day smithing is better than the best day working for someone else." I said that. If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly. - - -G. K. Chesterton So, just for the record: the fact that it does work still should not be taken as definitive proof that you are not crazy. Grant Sarver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Helm Posted April 20, 2017 Author Share Posted April 20, 2017 Thanks, guys! This is seriously the best part of the episode. I laugh to the point of tears every time. I had forgotten I did this until I saw it on international television. What got left out was after I took a bite of watermelon and said this, I followed up with, "...and sharpening oil." Geoff - It may just be because it's 1:00 a.m., but I'm not following what you mean. Could you explain? Are you talking about the push knife challenge or the katzbalger? James Helm - Helm Enterprises, Forging Division Come see me at the Blade Show! Table 26R. Proud to be a Neo-Tribal Metalsmith scavenging the wreckage of civilization. My blog dedicated to the metalwork I make and sell: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Keyes Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 The push knife. You could have (and I'm not saying that the way you did it was bad, it worked just fine) made a blade with a stubby tang, cut a slot, like in a guard, through the handle, fitted it and pinned it through, you probably cold have hot punched it, but drill and file would have worked, a mill would make short work of it. Geoff "The worst day smithing is better than the best day working for someone else." I said that. If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly. - - -G. K. Chesterton So, just for the record: the fact that it does work still should not be taken as definitive proof that you are not crazy. Grant Sarver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason McEntee Posted April 20, 2017 Share Posted April 20, 2017 Glad to hear Jesse turned out ok. You're right James, good thing he sat down when he did! Any plans for your winnings? www.facebook.com/appleseedcustoms/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Helm Posted April 21, 2017 Author Share Posted April 21, 2017 Geoff - Gotcha. Part of the design parameters we were given was that the tang had to be a full tang and we had to use scale handles. Jason - Catch up on bills and shop upgrades so I can make more knives. Looking at a second, purely stock removal line for higher production while keeping the forging creative. 1 James Helm - Helm Enterprises, Forging Division Come see me at the Blade Show! Table 26R. Proud to be a Neo-Tribal Metalsmith scavenging the wreckage of civilization. My blog dedicated to the metalwork I make and sell: http://helmforge.blogspot.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Pierce Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 James you looked like you were having a good time, while under all that stress, congratulations you definitely deserved it!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris C-S Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 Congrats James. Just got through watching it on YouTube. So what's the big plans? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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