Four bladesmiths must transform the barrel of a gun into a lethal knife; after a round of testing, the final two smiths return home where they have five days to forge one of the most legendary blades in combat history, the cavalry saber; enhanced.

The competitors must forge two blades in the first round, pushing them to their limits and leading to a hospital trip; after the second round, the two remaining smiths have five days to create a 15th-century combat sword, the Katzbalger; enhanced.

The judges pick past bladesmiths to represent them; first, the smiths must use steel from N.Y.C. streets to forge signature blades; in the final round, the competitors have five days to forge a sword that originated in West Africa, the Ida; enhanced.