Spoiler Alert: Eagle Mountain resident Devon Chatterley brings home the title of “Forged In Fire Champion” in Episode 18 of Season 8 – Arctic Forge. The episode starts out un-like any other episode. The contestants have to battle a freezing cold forge as well as break the metal they have to forge from a solid block of ice, using an implement they forge. I don’t want to give too much away about the episode, but the first challenge is not to make a blade of your own design, but they are assigned a specific blade to make.
Devon moved from Draper, Utah to Eagle Mountain three years ago this month. Originally from Kanab Utah, Devon and his wife (Gemma), their son Greyson, and their 2 dogs and 3 cats now call Eagle Mountain Home. Gemma is from Australia and recently go her US citizenship last month, “it has been a 5-year process, and couldn’t be happier that we are finally done.”
Forging was something that Devon got his interest in when he was deployed in Baghdad. ” I got into forging more as a hobby, on my deployment in 2011 in Baghdad I saw a man with a coal forge behind the bazaar mart using nothing but car parts for the blades and became fascinated. After about my first year forging, my dad went ahead without telling me and signed me up for an interview through the Forged in Fire webpage. It was when I got an email about my scheduled interview that I had no idea that he did so. you know how proud parents can be I guess.” Devon continues, “My biggest fear about appearing on the show is that I had very little to no actual experience on forging. I have read books and watched as many YouTube videos as I could, but that alone wouldn’t prepare me for what the challenges on the show were like.”
I asked him some questions about being on Forged In Fire and how he felt. It took 8 months from beginning to end to film the 40-minute episode. Season 8 has a few changes from the previous seasons. Wil Willis the host for seasons 1-7 has been replaced by Grady Powell. I asked Devon how he felt about not having Wil on the show anymore. “My reaction at first was probably like everyone else’s at first, I wasn’t too excited about it. However, Grady Powell is seriously the coolest guy, and couldn’t be happier that he replaced Wil Willis. Grady actually sat down and tried to get to know us individually, and to this day we still message each other occasionally.”
Anyone who has watched Forged In Fire knows that the three lines any contestant wants to hear are: “It will cut”, “It will kill”, and their name announced as the Forged In Fire Champion. Doug Marcaida is a legend in his own right. “I freaked out when I met Doug, especially after he said, “it will keel” about my weapon. I actually jumped up and down all excited and the film crew made us reset and shoot the scene a second time.” But Doug is not the only Forged In Fire judge. J. Neilson and David Baker are also regulars on the show. “… meeting J. Nielson and David Baker are super under-appreciated as well. They are knowledgeable and are willing to share that knowledge with you and they talk to the contestants off-camera a lot. Which was a dream come true.”
I asked him what his biggest surprise was about filming for the show. “The biggest surprise was how intense an actual film set is. Especially during the pandemic, so many rules and regulations that you must follow, while having to perform in a room with forges on full blast.” When I asked if he would do it again, he answered, “Absolutely! It was super stressful and intense. But, it did challenge me and what I am capable of doing.” Devon has this advice for anyone who wants to get into bladesmithing. “You are going to make a lot of mistakes, but always try to learn from them. It took me 4 years to get everything I have today; Take your time when acquiring the equipment you need, it’s a pricey hobby to get into, but one you have everything you need, it’ll last for a while. You’re always going to be your worst critic, don’t let that keep you from striving and attempting new and fun ideas.”
Devon did not win this title on his own, he had the support of his wife and son as well. She was the one that suggested that I do a resident spotlight on Devon. In her own words, “I’m very proud of him :)” I asked Gemma if it has been hard having Devon film with the crew and leaving home to film at the Forged In Fire forge. Gemma commented, ” For me, I’m pretty used to him having to leave for chunks at a time due to him being in the national guard so it wasn’t a huge adjustment.” I forgot to mention that not only is Devon a Forged In Fire Champion but he is also currently an active national guardsman full time at Camp Williams.
Devon is a great example of one of the outstanding residents that call Eagle Mountain Home. Thank you for your service in the National Guard, and for making it possible for us to see Eagle Mountain spotlighted on “Forged In Fire”. Devon does not currently have a website, but is in the process of getting one set up. You can follow him on Instagram as well as Facebook.
https://www.instagram.com/fallenforgeutah/
https://www.facebook.com/fallenforgeutah
Arctic Forge
42m | 2021 | TV-PG | CC
Four smiths must brave the frigid cold as they enter the Arctic Forge, where they will have to recreate the trusty Inuit tool, the Ulu, from steel harvested from a giant block of ice. After a round of spine-chilling tests, two smiths return home to forge a blade worthy of the mighty Viking warriors, the Northern Long Seax. These tundra-ready weapons will then be pushed to their limits to determine who will take home the prize of $10,000 and the title of Forged in Fire Champion.
Mike Kieffer is an IT geek by hobby and trade, with a BS in Information Systems & Technology. He is a proud father of 10, a grandpa, an author, a journalist, and internet publisher. His motto is to “Elevate, Inspire and Inform”, and he is politically conservative and a Christian. Mike has a passion for technology, writing, and helping others. With a wealth of experience, he is committed to sharing his knowledge with others to help them reach their full potential. He is known for his jackassery or his form of self-expression that encourages boldness, creativity, and risk-taking. It can be a way to push the boundaries and challenge traditional norms, leading to creative solutions and positive change.