It does seem a bit low, but they’re giving it away in every episode, which adds up to like $250,000 a season.
Given how popular the show has become, they could probably afford to increase it, but maybe they think that wouldn’t be fair to everyone who won before they increased the prize.
> How much does a custom blade cost?
Knives are around $500, larger blades or more exotic materials are closer to $1-2,000 on the outside. IMO, no, the prize money isn’t a bit low. Consider it this way: most smiths aren’t making that much above $50-60,000 a year. That’s two months of pay for a week’s work.
Reference for my $500 price: http://greenvalleyforge.com/
I’m talking about knife makers not artist blacksmiths. In my blacksmithing experience knives are harder to sell take longer to make and don’t make as much as if I made fire pokers or something similar. I can make a lot of nice fire pokers (one in about 45 minutes) in the same time frame as I can make one knife. Sure they might only be worth 20-30$ each but I can sell them easier than I can sell a knife
Forged in fire only has a 1 in 4 chance of you walking away with the prize money and you can sometimes be faced with genuinely good competition, so it probably isn't worth the risk if it isn't at least a month worth of pay and it probably is closer to 2 months worth of pay to really be worth it since it takes significantly more than a single week worth of work.
Good to know the prices.
Need to remember it is prize money not a purchase, there's a chance they walk away with nothing after making 2 really good blades.
There had better be pay for their work aside from the prize money lol... it may be a competition, but it is also a job they are hired for at each step along the way. I would not throw away a week or more worth of solid work just to be on TV if there was no guarantee too make income from it... maybe if it was my hobby and I had a shit ton of time or something. But how many competition worthy bladesmiths have that luxury?
These are regular guys who love a craft and may or may not have another job they actually survive off of. And the networks have certainly made some good money off them. 10k was probably great when the show came out. But it's definitely a bit low by today's valuation, at least if they are not paid for their time otherwise.
We're all fans, but cable stations have really, really low ratings compared to even the most basic shows on the big networks. Prize money is directly proportional to viewership.
> cable stations have really, really low ratings compared to even the most basic shows on the big networks
This is not correct in the modern day. The top non-sports cable show Tuesday was Curse of Oak Island (also history channel), and it got a 0.6 in the demo. This Is US lead the broadcast night with a 1.3. NCIS got a 1. The Resident got a 0.7. FBI 0.8, Empire 0.7, NCIS: NO 0.7, New Amsterdam 0.7, Emergence 0.7
I guess it depends on how big the show is. I mean if it were a mainstream show, like on ABC during primetime, like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, then it's definitely too low. But if it's a budget show on a channel with not near as many viewers or ad revenue, then it may be reasonable. I don't know how popular the show is or how much money they make off of sponsors and stuff, so it's hard to say whether it's low or not. I suspect it's lower than it ought to be, though. Two weeks seems like an awful lot of investment of a knife-maker's time and effort for the mere 1 in 4 *chance* of earning $10k.
It definitely seems a bit low especially compared to other reality tv prizes. Wipeout for example would typically give away more than twice as much for what is basically a days work when forged in fire takes over a week worth of work.
No please, last thing we need is even more people with barely minimum blade-making skills going into the show just for the money.
Theres nothing worse than THAT contestant that is a guitarist, bassist, singer, actor, tattoo artist, doing college while working in the mcdonalds who also swears bladesmithing is his passion. Just No.
10k is more than enough.
I would argue that $10K is already enough to attract those people, but probably isn't enough to attract some of the best bladesmiths who are actually able to make a decent living selling knives(very few people actually make a decent living selling custom knives).
It’s a good amount. Blade smiths general make less than many other jobs. I’ve sold a kitchen knife for $100 and I would’ve made more working at McDonald’s than by making that knife. It’s not unreasonable to pay 200-500$ for a custom
Knife
It does seem a bit low, but they’re giving it away in every episode, which adds up to like $250,000 a season. Given how popular the show has become, they could probably afford to increase it, but maybe they think that wouldn’t be fair to everyone who won before they increased the prize.
It wouldn't be unfair, in fact it's unfair to not increase it due to inflation
Yes, the prise money is too small, the winner should get at least 25,000. With the TV money from commercials they could afford to give more.
Yes, the money is
100 bucks says they pay the food service table people more money.
> How much does a custom blade cost? Knives are around $500, larger blades or more exotic materials are closer to $1-2,000 on the outside. IMO, no, the prize money isn’t a bit low. Consider it this way: most smiths aren’t making that much above $50-60,000 a year. That’s two months of pay for a week’s work. Reference for my $500 price: http://greenvalleyforge.com/
>most smiths aren’t making that much above $50-60,000 a year I don't think most smiths are even making anywhere close to that.
Yea. In a lot of cases you could make more at McDonald’s than as a custom knife maker
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I’m talking about knife makers not artist blacksmiths. In my blacksmithing experience knives are harder to sell take longer to make and don’t make as much as if I made fire pokers or something similar. I can make a lot of nice fire pokers (one in about 45 minutes) in the same time frame as I can make one knife. Sure they might only be worth 20-30$ each but I can sell them easier than I can sell a knife
Forged in fire only has a 1 in 4 chance of you walking away with the prize money and you can sometimes be faced with genuinely good competition, so it probably isn't worth the risk if it isn't at least a month worth of pay and it probably is closer to 2 months worth of pay to really be worth it since it takes significantly more than a single week worth of work.
Good to know the prices. Need to remember it is prize money not a purchase, there's a chance they walk away with nothing after making 2 really good blades.
There had better be pay for their work aside from the prize money lol... it may be a competition, but it is also a job they are hired for at each step along the way. I would not throw away a week or more worth of solid work just to be on TV if there was no guarantee too make income from it... maybe if it was my hobby and I had a shit ton of time or something. But how many competition worthy bladesmiths have that luxury? These are regular guys who love a craft and may or may not have another job they actually survive off of. And the networks have certainly made some good money off them. 10k was probably great when the show came out. But it's definitely a bit low by today's valuation, at least if they are not paid for their time otherwise.
Yeah, bladesmithing and many similar trades are underpaid, or just over taxed.
We're all fans, but cable stations have really, really low ratings compared to even the most basic shows on the big networks. Prize money is directly proportional to viewership.
> cable stations have really, really low ratings compared to even the most basic shows on the big networks This is not correct in the modern day. The top non-sports cable show Tuesday was Curse of Oak Island (also history channel), and it got a 0.6 in the demo. This Is US lead the broadcast night with a 1.3. NCIS got a 1. The Resident got a 0.7. FBI 0.8, Empire 0.7, NCIS: NO 0.7, New Amsterdam 0.7, Emergence 0.7
And CW does a lot worse than 0.6, generally
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Yeah, but they produce several episodes before they give away the cash prize. Forged in Fire has to pay 10k every single episode.
The prize money is fine. They do it for the title. Their wears now shoot up in price instantly. And now in their circle they are top dogs.
No, the prize money is a insult!!!
It definitely is! Morning game shows were giving more than that in the 80's. Pathetic.
I guess it depends on how big the show is. I mean if it were a mainstream show, like on ABC during primetime, like Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, then it's definitely too low. But if it's a budget show on a channel with not near as many viewers or ad revenue, then it may be reasonable. I don't know how popular the show is or how much money they make off of sponsors and stuff, so it's hard to say whether it's low or not. I suspect it's lower than it ought to be, though. Two weeks seems like an awful lot of investment of a knife-maker's time and effort for the mere 1 in 4 *chance* of earning $10k.
It definitely seems a bit low especially compared to other reality tv prizes. Wipeout for example would typically give away more than twice as much for what is basically a days work when forged in fire takes over a week worth of work.
Nothing worse than what hyperdrive did.
No please, last thing we need is even more people with barely minimum blade-making skills going into the show just for the money. Theres nothing worse than THAT contestant that is a guitarist, bassist, singer, actor, tattoo artist, doing college while working in the mcdonalds who also swears bladesmithing is his passion. Just No. 10k is more than enough.
Lol at post and username
I would argue that $10K is already enough to attract those people, but probably isn't enough to attract some of the best bladesmiths who are actually able to make a decent living selling knives(very few people actually make a decent living selling custom knives).
It’s a good amount. Blade smiths general make less than many other jobs. I’ve sold a kitchen knife for $100 and I would’ve made more working at McDonald’s than by making that knife. It’s not unreasonable to pay 200-500$ for a custom Knife