COLORADO SPRINGS — After competing in three rounds on the History Channel's "Forged in Fire," a Colorado Springs bladesmith tested his skill and brought home the champion title.
Local owner Weston Paas went up against three other bladesmiths from around the U.S. in an episode that aired earlier this month for the title and the $10,000 prize.
The four competitors had to forge Japanese Natas using a traditional Japanese technique. For two rounds, they are tested by a panel of judges to see who will move on to the final round to recreate the Zulu War Axe.
"It was a great honor to have these experts in weapons use and history recognize me and my forged creation," Paas said on his forge's website.
Paas owns Heart's Fire Forge in Black Forest. They create indoor/outdoor handrails, fireplace surrounds, bar backs/frames, decorative lighting, chef's knives, outdoor/hunting/camping knives, damascas or high carbon steel knives.
Although his forge is in Colorado Springs, he often works in Aspen since that is where he was born and raised.
