In the Collingwood suburb of Melbourne, Australia, American-born craftsman Bud Heyser has built a niche forging custom knives from a modest workshop located at 25 Easey Street. Originally from Shelbyville, Kentucky, Heyser blends a family tradition of metalwork with his own modern techniques to create hand-forged knives that have earned recognition both locally and beyond.

Heyser, who is 38 years old, studied architecture at the University of Kentucky before embarking on a three-month solo motorcycle trip around the United States. After the trip, he and his partner, Kirsten Hengen, chose to settle in Melbourne over Cape Town, drawn in part by the city’s vibrant culture and local radio. The couple arrived in Australia in May 2015 and have since become Australian citizens.

Initially working at a furniture store in Melbourne, Heyser seized an opportunity to rent a studio above the shop, which he transformed into his knife-making workshop named 13 Knives in 2017. The name references a childhood nickname and marks the beginning of a business founded on a longstanding family interest in metalwork. Heyser’s father, Dwayne, was a machinist in Kentucky, and their conversations about knife-making served as a meaningful connection until his father’s death a few years ago.

The 30-square-meter studio is situated among a mix of creative businesses in an area known for its street art and cultural energy. Heyser’s knives start with in-depth consultations with customers to determine the blade’s intended use and preferred aesthetics, including choices of handle materials such as nickel, brass, or copper. Prices for his custom knives begin around 2,200 Australian dollars (approximately $1,550), with complexity and craftsmanship influencing the final cost.

Heyser’s production process involves about 20 precise steps, ranging from initial drawings to forging the blade at temperatures nearing 1,300 degrees Celsius in a custom-built forge. He fabricates many of his own tools and jigs to maintain a high level of precision. The knife handles are assembled carefully, with attention to the alignment of multiple materials, before the blade is sharpened using a belt grinder that produces a characteristic shower of sparks.

Beyond custom pieces, Heyser offers small batches of chef’s knives and oyster shuckers, as well as other metal and wood-crafted housewares such as vases and chess sets. He also designs specialized items, including custom throwing knives for performers. His craftsmanship has attracted a dedicated clientele, with some customers collecting different models or commissioning unique items like a champagne saber meant for an annual birthday tradition.

The knife-making community in Australia is relatively close-knit, with the Australian Knifemakers Guild—founded in Melbourne in the early 1980s—serving as a hub. The guild’s president, Kevin Room, noted that many makers operate outside formal organizations, and that social media and online platforms have significantly broadened interest in the craft in recent years.

Heyser credits his mother, Brenda Heyser, for instilling a strong work ethic through her example of balancing family and career as a CPA. He says his business has provided him with a meaningful focus and connection to his community in Melbourne, where he strives to produce sustainable, high-quality products that bring value and satisfaction to his customers.