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Today on Forge Facts we’re taking a Behind the Scenes look at what went into the newest fan favourite test, Splitting the Bullet with our host Dean Winchester and judge Castiel Novak.
Castiel had been chosen to accompany Dean in this video, partly because the studio knew Dean would get the most natural interview out of him, and partly because they knew the fans liked the dynamic between the two.
Standing on a range with his equipment spread out on a bench, Dean leaned up against it wearing safety glasses and ear muffs. Down range, at a distance of 25 yards is a large black target. Off to his side, also wearing safety gear is Cas. After acknowledging the camera, Dean turned around, loaded a full magazine into his gun, dropped the slide and fired 6 shots into the target. Relaxing his stance, Dean ejected the magazine and racked the slide locking it open before double checking the gun was empty and resting it back on the bench. The entire time Cas was watching Dean’s hands with a smile flitting about his face until he realized he needs to talk.
“Dean, you helped us introduce a brand new test onto Forged in Hellfire which has immediately become a favourite of fans, can you tell us about the test?”
“We’re testing the strength of the blade and the quality of the heat treating by shooting the blade edge on, the aim being to use the cutting edge to split the bullet, and believe me, when I say its harder than it looks, I’m not talking about the steel,”
He folded his arms in front of him, casually leaning against the bench as he spoke. “We also have to be very precise with how the blade itself is positioned. We don’t actually want anyone’s blade to be damaged during the tests and if we angle it and it hits the flat rather than the edge, at best we’ll dint the blade, at worst, we’ll shatter it or even have a bad ricochet that could potentially hurt someone.”
Nodding along, Cas agreed, “we do take safety very seriously in and around the forge, we never forget that we’re surrounded by dangerous machinery and are creating weapons.” He gestured to the bench, “walk me through what you’ve got here.”
Dean turned around to face his equipment, “I’m using my personal pistol, which is a Colt 1911A1, it’s a .45 calibre and ok she’s a little glitzy with the pearl handles and the engraving, but she gets the job done.” His hand moves to touch the ammunition box before taking a round out. “and we’re using a copper plated round. Both the copper and the lead are softer than a blade should be, so as long as the heat treat is good, there shouldn’t be any damage when we shoot it.”
A smirk appeared on Dean’s face, “the only other equipment I need is right here,” he swept his hand down his body, grin growing when Cas sharply inhaled and his pupils dilated, although when Dean heard shuffling and remembered there was a camera crew recording their every move, he dialed back the charm offensive and cleared his throat, waiting a couple of beats before continuing to make it easier to edit.
“The trick is of course, that I have to hit a target a quarter of an inch or maybe less wide. That’s not a lot of room for error,” pointing down range at the target he had been shooting earlier he continued, “in comparison, your standard target has a bullseye of 2 inches”
“So if you normally have a much bigger target how did you train for this?”
Dean picked up a target that was sitting on the bench, on the back of the card was a series of black lines, starting at about an inch in width and graduating down to a quarter inch. “This is all about making sure the sights are absolutely perfect and then its all trigger control. I started by making sure I could place most of the shots in this 1 inch spot. Once I had mastered that, I worked my way down to narrower and narrower lines.” He laughed, “training for this is how I found out my sights were out by half an inch”
“But you can do it.” Cas wore an impressed expression.
“Well yeah, as we saw in the episode. I could probably hit it 8 or 9 times out of 10 now” again they both pause, knowing that this is a good spot for the editors to insert the footage from the Judge Vs Judge episode, which was the episode the test had been introduced in.
In the episode, Dean was resting the gun on a bench for stability, with the 2 competing judges on one side of him and Cas and Meg on the other side. Everyone, with the exception of Castiel, was looking down range to the sword strapped into a vice, and Castiel’s gaze eventually joins the others, but not before dragging it up from where Dean is bending over across the entirety of the shooter’s body.
Breathing easily, Dean was the picture of concentration, everything focused on the front sight and the slender target 10 yards away. The only movement the camera picked up was the gradual squeezing of the trigger and the light breeze through Dean’s hair. When the shot broke, the picture slowed down to show the action of the pistol but quickly cut to the target, where 2 holes appeared on the paper backing card either side of the sword. Evidence that not only did the blade not break, but that Dean made the shot and split the bullet in half.
The judges applauded his effort and the shot was replayed from a few different angles.
Still impressed, Cas nods, “8 out of 10 is pretty good. We have a sword set up. Do you want to show us how its done again?”
To the side of the target is a vice stand and behind it a large sheet of cardboard, in the vice is strapped a shining single edged sword. Dean shrugged, “we can give it a go.”
Pulling his earmuffs on properly, Dean faced down range, he picked up the partially empty magazine he had used earlier and inserted it back into the gun, making sure he had a good grip before dropping the slide and thumbing off the safety.
As he was bending over the bench to rest the gun on it, he looked over his shoulder at Cas with a grin, “you going to stand somewhere you can see what I’m doing?”
“Oh, I’m in the perfect spot, thank you.” Dean hummed at that as he set himself up to take the shot. Castiel had moved to the rear of Dean so a second camera could fit the whole of Dean’s profile into shot, allowing Cas to see easily down range, while still watching Dean.
Everything was calm as Dean sighted, smoothly squeezing the trigger. As the shot went off the gun was the only thing that moved, Dean holding his posture for an extra couple of seconds before smiling and standing up to once again unload the gun and make it safe.
Looking down range, Cas clapped at the small holes that appeared either side of the sword, “That’s an excellent shot and as for the blade itself… it will cut.”
Dean laughed, not having expected Cas to wheel out one of his own phrases. Cas returned his smile.
“Cut!” The sudden call from behind the camera made them both jump, having temporarily forgotten the crew behind them. Everyone milled around, waiting for the quick playbacks of footage to be gone through.
“Thanks guys, I think we’ve got more than enough.” At that, the camera guys started to pull apart their rigs to put back in the protective cases.
With the call that no more filming was to be done, the first thing Dean did was to double check his pistol was empty before putting it back in its storage case, allowing the couple of crew members they had to go down range to pack up the targets.
“So, you gonna help me clean up this brass?”
Cas raised one eyebrow, “no I don’t think I will. I can keep a close eye on you while you’re bent over picking it up though.”
Dean snorted as he looked around for the empty cases, “Oh I’m sure you will. You know they’re probably going to insert that footage of you ogling my ass on national television into the video right? Right next to whatever they caught today while you were standing in the perfect spot.”
Completely unrepentant, Cas responded with a haughty air, “I remember that the fans were 100% on my side for that. You showed me many social media comments to that effect. I also know that you’re just as bad when I’m the one doing testing, so I think this makes us even.”
Dean stood, counting the empty cases in his hand, only one missing, not bad. He started putting them back in the ammo box, “you keep telling yourself that sweetheart, but I’ve never been that blatant on camera.”
Two arms wound around Dean’s waist from behind and Cas buried his face in Dean’s neck. “Seriously, what is your obsession with smelling me when I’ve been shooting?” Dean covered
Cas’ hand with his own as he asked the question. He felt Cas shrug.
“I like the smell of burnt gunpowder on you. It’s a reminder of how good look when you’re handling a gun. For a piece of equipment you don’t use often, you have a lot of confidence handling it and you’ve obviously got the skills to back it up. You definitely look more competent than most of the action movie stars you’ve shown me and that’s sexy to me.”
“Not more sexy than Keanu though right?” He felt a kiss pressed to his shoulder, “Keanu in Bill and Ted? Absolutely sexier. In Speed or John Wick… well it’s a close call.”
Dean sighed dramatically, “I guess I can’t ask for more than that, come on then. If we get packed up, you can come home and watch me strip and clean this girl.”
Stepping back, Cas snorted, but couldn’t help but respond, “that is not worded like an offer I ever thought I’d accept, but yes, lets do that.”
Throwing all his gear in a bag, They waved goodbye to the crew still packing up and headed back to the car hand in hand.