Iron & Fire

Iron & Fire is an American reality television series on The History Channel that portrays the lives of Daniel Casey's family & friends, who became successful from their family-operated business, Casey Arms. The Romance, Arkansas business makes a variety of historic weapons for "highly discerning collectors and enthusiasts",^[1] using "raw steel and ancient timber".^[2] Daniel Casey is one of the most skilled blacksmiths in America, producing museum quality pieces including the "Poor Boy" rifle, the "Pipe Tomahawk", and a replica of the original Bowie knife. Daniel Casey and his cast of bearded men are known for their flawless workmanship, and wild adventures.

Bios

Daniel Casey

Born and raised in the foothills of the Ozarks, Daniel Casey grew up obsessed with becoming a blacksmith. Daniel built his first forge and began making knives at the age of 12. At age 14, he apprenticed with world-renowned blacksmith Hershel House learning the skills required to become a professional blacksmith.

Today, Daniel is one of very few blacksmiths whose full-time job is forging knives, rifles, guns and other instruments using only traditional methods.

Daniel’s dedication to his craft and his unrivaled perfectionism make his creations among the most sought after by collectors around the world. Daniel lives on top of a mountain in Romance, Arkansas, with his wife Chelsey, his four-year-old son Wesley, and a variety of hound dogs, cats and chickens.

Charlie Casey

At the age of 23, Charlie Casey said goodbye to his family and left Arkansas to travel the U.S. and seek his fortune vowing never to become beholden to “the man.” His journey took him around the country, from Bremerton, Washington, to Blasdell, New York, to Arlington, Texas. During this time, he worked various jobs, including a vacuum cleaner salesman, a customer service representative and a machinist.

Charlie’s restless spirit would not allow him to stay in one place for more than six months at a time. After five years of adventurous wanderings, he finally returned home to the welcoming arms of his family. Today, Charlie works with his older brother Daniel and is learning the blacksmithing trade. In his continuing effort to avoid “the man,” Charlie tries to go fishing at least once a day.

Jonathan Kulik

Jonathan joined the U.S. Army at the age of 18 and served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a paratrooper. After receiving his honorable discharge, Jonathan returned to Arkansas to pursue his lifelong dream: working with his uncle Daniel at the blacksmith shop. While Jonathan is interested in all elements of the craft, he is particularly fond of woodworking and takes great pride in shaping the rifle stocks and knife handles for Daniel’s creations.

Jonathan also creates flutes, penny whistles and other instruments by hand. He and his wife Emily have one daughter.

Joe Casey

The patriarch of the Casey family, Joe served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including two tours in Vietnam and several years as a Drill Instructor. Joe and his wife, Janie, raised their eight children in the family cabin nestled in the foothills of the Ozarks. Joe’s unique blend of education, discipline, self-reliance and faith has been instilled in his children (and 24 grandchildren), and he looks forward to weekly family picnics at their home.

Bob Thatcher

A jack-of-all-trades and a self-proclaimed Renaissance man, Bob Thatcher is far more than just a good ol’ boy. Nobody knows the back roads, highways and byways of rural Arkansas better than Bob. Known to his friends as the “Ozarks MacGyver,” Bob seems to know anybody and everybody and there is nothing Daniel needs that Bob cannot find.

Bob’s proclivity to spin yarns and tell tall tales often lead him to making promises he may not be able to keep, but somehow he always manages to come through in the end for Daniel and his friends.

References