Doug Marcaida is aware of learn how to wield a blade. The fan-favorite decide on Historical past’s weapon-making competitors sequence Solid in Hearth, which celebrated 10 years on the air earlier this summer time, is the present’s edged-weapons influence specialist and a talented martial artist. “That is my ardour,” says Marcaida, who conjures up blade artists along with his expertise, honing and designing swords and knives. “It’s what I name my ‘cycle of knife,’ he provides, laughing.
“I discovered the blade arts to recover from my concern of the blade, and I grew to become hooked on it,” Marcaida continues, noting that his zeal for the craft ultimately led to him educating army and regulation enforcement blade combative programs and designing blades alongside knife firms (even some for movie and TV!). “When you actually have a ardour, pursue it to the very best which you could — after which attempt to share it. I’m on the final quarter of my life, the place now, my goal is to share this ardour in order that others can decide up on it and shine. Bladesmithing is an all-around-the-world factor. It’s not only one tradition, it’s in every single place all through historical past. So let’s revive that and get literate with our palms once more.”
Historical past
Whereas Marcaida doesn’t hit the forge on Hearth, he does check every highly effective blade created on the present. It’s a harmful gig, swinging a home made weapon at a dummy or prop. Even with many years of expertise, Marcaida sustained a hand damage as not too long ago as 2022 whereas testing a blade. “It’s at all times scary when the blades break,” he notes.
Within the first of two episodes airing August 27, the 4 competing bladesmiths are tasked with creating Siberian-inspired weapons — in genuine freezing temps! “We really needed to put on our coats,” says Marcaida of the judging panel.
On the flip facet, the second episode of the night time poses a melting danger with what the decide says is an “further layer of hazard.” The opponents should create a five-layer blade with copper, a cloth by no means earlier than used on the present. Copper has a melting level of roughly 1,900 levels, so “in case your welds round it aren’t clear, it’s going to pour out,” Marcaida says. “It’s actually about your consideration to element and understanding the temperatures.” In different phrases: When you can’t learn the temp, get out of the forge!
Nonetheless, Marcaida himself is fast to level out that whereas the sequence is enjoyable to look at, precise bladesmithing doesn’t occur within the span of a TV episode. He explains: “Solid in Hearth is a contest. It’s primarily based on blade-making, however on the similar time, it’s all about your capacity to downside resolve and modify to what’s offered for you, and that’s the great thing about the present.” Forge on!
Solid in Hearth, Wednesdays, 9/8c, Historical past Channel