Forging Success
A Florida farrier made the cut for The History Channel’s new series “Forged in Fire”.
Jonathan Porter, of Lakeland, calls the experience “a little surreal,” after he was invited to New York for filming earlier this year.
Porter forges horseshoes for his farrier business, Porter Farrier Service, which caters mostly to dressage clients. He began shoeing in 2008 and is an American Farrier’s Association Certified Farrier.
Three years ago, Porter says he used his blacksmith skills and began making knives when things were slow at a horse show. So why knives? “Everyone has kitchen knives,” Porter says. And as a former line chef and saucier, he says he learned the importance of having the right tools for the right job.
Porter hand forges kitchen cutlery and an outdoor line of knives for his second business DogHouse Forge, with the support of business partners. It is this experience that got Porter tapped by The History Channel for the cutting edge competition.
Christie Gold says not everyone is as lucky as she is to have a celebrity farrier. “Jonathan’s attention to detail is evident, not only in the craftsmanship of the knives he sells…, but in his farrier work as well. He has analyzed my horse’s conformation and watched her go in order to best meet her needs as a dressage horse.”
“Forged in Fire” is touted as the most talented bladesmiths in the world testing their mettle. In each episode, four competitors put their reputations on the line to avoid elimination as they turn raw metal into working versions of classic weapons.
Porter competes against three others on the July 6th episode, that airs at 10 PM EST. Out of the four competing, he says
he is the only bladesmith that also has blacksmith experience. “The actual contest was forging and it’s what both my businesses are based around so I was able to enjoy the experience,” Porter says.
One person from Porter’s show will be eliminated. The others will move forward to the next round. The last man standing with an artistically and functional weapon, that holds up to the judges’ scrutiny, wins $10,000.
Details regarding the show’s winner are top secret. Gold admits she may be biased, but she says she believes Porter is the clear winner.
