Although we no longer run to the blacksmith every time we need a kitchen knife or order every piece of metal in our homes, the art of blacksmithing is far from gone. There’s an undying fascination with weapons of old, and it’s something the History Channel realized could be an asset to their network; this is how “Forged in Fire” was born. Ben Abbott initially competed against other blacksmiths on the show, but rose to the position of judge in recognition of his prowess. Mostly self-taught, Abbott usually had to indulge his desire to forge blades by creating kitchen knives, but despite being an expert in this field, he relished the opportunity to create weapons of historical significance.
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Early life and family
Although his exact date of birth is unknown, Ben is believed to be in his mid to late 40s. Abbott was born in England, but his family moved to California, USA in 1975. He has one brother, Rich. Abbott recounted how periodic visits to his family in the UK exposed him to ancient castles and weapons, and sparked his interest in what would one day become a career.
When he was 12, Abbott attempted to make his own sword out of a leaf spring (a simplistic type of spring used for vehicle suspension) that he found lying around.
There wasn’t exactly a local forge he could try his hand at, so Ben created his own, consisting of Kingsford Lighters, a hair dryer and a galvanized steel buck. Unsurprisingly, his attempts failed, but he had found his passion.
Around the same time, Abbott tried making riveted chainmail, after researching everything he could in the local library. Again he struggled with limited resources and eventually landed a meeting with the curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The curator was also lost, but provided him with other research material.
Education
Ben Abbot is primarily a self-taught blacksmith, spending hours researching and studying.
In the days before the Internet, he had to gather every scrap of information he could get. Once the Internet became available, he was able to tap into almost endless resources, contact masters, observe others at work, and attend classes. Ben said he took several blacksmithing courses, but never took one in blacksmithing. He claims this has given him an edge in the field, as he can craft tools as a blacksmith that allow him to do his job as a blacksmith with greater efficiency.
Ben is also very intelligent and is qualified as an electrical engineer. He also studied at Binghamton University from 1989 to 1993, where he earned a degree in anthropology.
He also attended Virginia Commonwealth University from 1997 to 2000, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
Career
Before “Forged in Fire”
Ben wasn’t always able to spend his time refining blades and knives, and for many years he had to settle for making just about anything that came his way. Tools, furniture, ornamental ironwork, jewelry, these are just some of the things he makes to satisfy his need to create.
Electrical Engineer
Ben Abbott worked as an electrical engineer at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) from 2000. Ben was also part of a group of scientists working on LIGO – a highly technical device built to detect the effects of gravity and associated waves .
In 2012, a group of students began pushing for a forge to be built on the site after student Tom Harris completed research into the device behind “Greek Fire”. Already having two decades of experience, Ben volunteered to teach metalworking once the blacksmith arrived, which was accepted – a LIGO report in 2018 reveals that he left LIGO to pursue his career on ” Forged in Fire”.
“Forged in Fire”
“Forged in Fire” is an elimination contest that airs on the History Channel. Four candidates are put through a series of tests to check their ability as blacksmiths. The final round ends with the contestants manufacturing historically themed weapons which are then tested on ballistic dummies. The show premiered on June 22, 2015 and is now in its seventh season.
Competitor
Ben Abbot first appeared in episode nine of the second season on April 12, 2016. Although this was his first time making the sword, he had long dreamed of doing so and won the episode with his recreation of a Khanda sword, and walked away with $10,000. His performance on the show was so outstanding that he was invited for the “Champion of Champions” episode on August 23 of the same year, and again won with his Scottish Claymore, claiming additional prizes.
Judge
As the judges took time off from the show to devote time to other passions and their lives, Ben Abbott was asked to fill in one of the empty spaces on the show.
He made his first appearance as a judge at 21st episode of the fourth series, and continued to make guest appearances in subsequent episodes.
Ashgrove Forge
Ben now operates his own forge where he creates just about anything you can imagine. The Forge does not necessarily stock a huge amount of products, focusing primarily on custom orders. Ben reinvested his earnings from the show directly into his business, upgrading and progressing until he had a working forge. He combines woodworking with blacksmithing, which also allows him to create beautiful knife handles, jewelry, and more. His wife credits him with everything in their kitchen, from carving knives to pots and pans. His creativity also extends to the food industry, where chefs praise his knives for their efficiency and functionality.
Private life
Although Ben is currently in a relationship, he was previously married. Although the length and details of his marriage to Mandy are unknown, he still referred to her as his wife in 2017. In 2019, choreographer Heather Rabu came into his life and the two became incredibly close, and are apparently in a romantic relationship. The two are expecting a child, which Ben announced in an endearing Instagram post on May 8, 2020, captioned “I’m getting tired of doing things on my own, so Heather and I decided to do this one together ! It won’t be ready until October 25, however. We are thrilled! “.
Appearance
Ben Abbot has an open, friendly face and black hair.
Posted by Ben Abbott on Wednesday, January 27, 2016
He currently wears his hair neatly combed, with a substantial but well-groomed beard. He has brown eyes, a bit of gray in his beard, and a strong build – likely due to his hours spent in the forge. His measurements are unknown, but he certainly displays a neat figure in any photographs, no doubt the result of his work on his forge.
Net Worth and Salary
Ben has had an interesting career, crossing the line between electrical engineer and blacksmith. His income consists of his show salary, earnings, and the money he earns for his creations. His net worth is currently estimated to be over $500,000 as of mid-2020, cumulated from his senior career and television appearances.
