Big Blu Breakdown and the Rock-Throwing Crossbow | Forged in Fire (S7, E4) | Full Episode

The Big Blu Challenge Begins

• 💡 Four bladesmiths, Colton Arias, Bryce Perez, Grant Saxman, and Craig Miller, compete for a $10,000 prize in a timed edged-weapon-making competition.
• 🎯 The first challenge involves disassembling the legendary Big Blu power hammer to extract its high-carbon piston.
• 🛠️ Contestants must transform the W2 steel piston into competition choppers between 11 and 13 inches long within three hours.

Forging and First Elimination

• ⚡ Bladesmiths faced various issues during the forging process, including uneven steel thickness, warps in the blade, and bulky handles.
• ⚠️ Grant Saxman was eliminated in the first round due to a pronounced warp, divot on the spine, and a less-than-desirable handle design on his chopper.
• 👏 The remaining bladesmiths proceeded to the second round to attach handles and prepare for testing.

Handle Attachment and Testing

• 🎨 In the second round, bladesmiths had two hours to attach handles, incorporating blue handle material as an homage to Big Blu.
• ✅ Blades were tested for strength and durability in a bamboo chop and for edge retention in a rope bridge slice.
• ✂️ All blades performed well in the tests, but Bryce Perez was eliminated because his handle was larger and less refined compared to the others.

The Rock-Throwing Crossbow Finale

• 🏹 The final challenge required Colton and Craig to return to their home forges for four days to build a rock-throwing crossbow, also known as a stone bow.
• ⚙️ The crossbows needed specific components: a prod, a pocketed string, a trigger-release mechanism, a stock, and a pommel.
• 🔬 Colton used mild steel and 5160 for his prod, while Craig opted for 80CRV2 for his prod and white oak/mahogany for the stock.

Final Testing and Champion Crowned

• 🎯 Crossbows underwent a KEAL test (ballistics gel for penetration) and an impact test (shattering tempered glass).
• 💥 Craig's crossbow, while powerful, suffered an accidental discharge due to a hair trigger, making it unsafe and leading to its disqualification.
• 🏆 Colton Arias was declared the Forged in Fire champion, winning $10,000, as his crossbow demonstrated superior safety and functionality.