Four contestants are run through a series of tests to ascertain their ability as bladesmiths. “ Forged in Fire” is an elimination competition that airs on History Channel. Already having two decades of experience, Ben volunteered to teach metalwork once the smith arrived, which was accepted – an LIGO report in 2018 reveals that he did leave LIGO to pursue his career on “Forged in Fire”. In 2012, a group of students began lobbying for a smithy to be built on the premises after student Tom Harris completed his research on the apparatus behind “Greek Fire”. Ben was also part of a group of scientists working on LIGO – a highly technical apparatus constructed to detect the effects of gravity and related waves. Tools, furniture, ornamental ironwork, jewelry – these are just a few of the things he made to satisfy his need to create.īen Abbott worked as an electrical engineer at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) from 2000. He also studied at Virginia Commonwealth University from 1997 until 2000, from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering.īen has not always been able to spend his time fine-tuning blades and knives, and for many years he had to make do with making practically anything that came his way. He also studied at Binghamton University from 1989 to 1993, where he graduated with a degree in anthropology. He claims that this has given him an edge in the field, as he can craft tools as a blacksmith that enables him to do his work as a bladesmith with greater efficiency.īen is also highly intelligent and is qualified as an electrical engineer.
Ben has professed to take several blacksmithing classes, but has never actually taken one in bladesmithing. After the internet became available, he was able to tap into the almost endless resources, contact masters, observe others at work, and take classes. In the days before the internet, he would have to cobble together any scraps of information he could get. The curator was also at a loss, but provided him with further materials to research.īen Abbot is predominantly a self-taught bladesmith, spending hours researching and studying. Again, he struggled with the limited resources, and eventually landed a meeting with the curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
Unsurprisingly his attempts were unsuccessful, but he’d found his passion.Īround the same time, Abbott tried to make riveted chain mail, after researching all he could in the local library. There wasn’t exactly a local forge at which he could make his attempt, and so Ben created his own, consisting of Kingsford Briquets, a hairdryer, and a galvanized steel buck. When he was 12, Abbott attempted to make is own sword with some leaf spring (a type of simplistic spring used for suspension in vehicles) that he found lying around. Abbott related how periodic visits to family in the UK exposed him to castles and ancient weaponry, and sparked his interest in what would one day become a career. Abbott was born in England, but his family moved to California, USA in 1975. Original source: Īlthough his exact birthdate is unknown, Ben is believed to be in his mid- to late-40s. Article cannot be re-published in any other pages or documents. Just a simple reminder that article is created and owned only by. Predominantly self-taught, Abbott usually has to sate his desire for forging blades by creating kitchen knives, but while he is an expert in this field, he relished the opportunity to create historically significant weaponry. Ben Abbott started by competing with other bladesmiths on the show, but rose to the position of judge in recognition of his prowess.
There is an undying fascination with weaponry of old, and this is something that History Channel realised could be an asset to their network thus “Forged in Fire” was born. Although we no longer run to the blacksmith every time we need a kitchen knife, or commission every bit of metalware in our homes, the art of the bladesmith is far from gone.
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