By Cody Morris
Keeping secrets seems to be the new trend in Bates County, and Matthew Wells has been holding onto a whopper.
The local bladesmith was selected years ago to compete on the world-renowned television show Forged in Fire. Tailgate TV caught up with our buddy Matt to talk a little about his bladesmithing career and his journey to national television, as his episode is set to air Wednesday, July 1, on the History Channel.
While Matt was born in Butler, he was raised in the small town of Tuscumbia. Matt recalls spending many of his summers on the family farm in Butler with his grandparents, Jim and Alvina Wells (or, as he calls them, Mamaw and Papaw). Matt shared that his family “has lived on this farm since 1865.” Talk about a legacy. Many folks around Butler may know the farm as Devil’s Hollow, which inspired the name of his forge, Devils Hollow Forge.
Spending summers on the farm, Matt always had a knack for building things and recalls that “forging was a medium that really resonated with me.” Matt first delved into the craft when his supportive wife, Chelsea, gifted him a small single-burner forge for his birthday after hearing him talk about wanting to try bladesmithing. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a passion. Matt says, “Things snowballed from there.”
Inside Devils Hollow Forge today, you won’t just find that single-burner forge or a bunch of blades—you’ll also find pieces of history. One that holds special meaning to Matt is an inherited anvil. This nearly century-old anvil belonged to his grandfather, and Matt remembers hearing stories about how it once belonged to a farrier in Wyoming before being passed down through the family and eventually finding a home in his shop. “It’s a cool feeling knowing that the anvil I use in my craft has a history stretching back almost a century,” he said.
When asked about the show, Matt says he almost didn’t even apply. About two and a half years into bladesmithing, Shawn Vanzandt came across a casting call on Facebook and told him, “If you don’t apply, I’m going to do it for you.” That was all the push Matt needed. After making it through several rounds of interviews, he received the call that he had been selected to compete.
While most viewers likely assume reality television includes plenty of scripting, Wells says that’s far from the truth. “It’s as real as it gets,” he said. “It’s hot, intense, and that time limit is your judge, jury, and executioner. It doesn’t stop for anything.” Despite the pressure, Wells says the experience was an adrenaline rush from start to finish.
Today, Matt creates custom knives, cutlery, and other forged pieces through Devils Hollow Forge. While every blade is fully functional, many are built to become family heirlooms.
“My favorite part is creating something I know could be here long after I’m gone,” Wells said. “A lot of the blades I’ve made are heirlooms and art pieces. Still functional—but who wants to go mudding in a Ferrari?” he joked.
Wells’ episode of Forged in Fire is scheduled to air at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, on the History Channel.
To see more of Matt’s work, visit Devils Hollow Forge on Facebook.
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