Who is the Metal Monkey?

Tobi is a secondary school teacher turned knifemaker living and working in Tasmania's beautiful Huon Valley. He found his passion for kitchen knives through a growing interest in cooking, preserving and baking. There was just one problem: The knives he had at home just didn’t cut it. So he started restoring old carbon steel knives, got hooked and moved quickly on to making my own.

Fast forward from 2015, he now is full time knife maker specialising in high-end custom knives. He enjoys the dialogue with customers from all over the world and the opportunity to create their dream kitchen tools. He thrives on innovation and constantly challenging himself in the craft, seeing the joy and hearing the stories that come with using a Metal Monkey Knife.  

He is a committed member of the Australian Knife Makers Guild and the Knife Art Association. He was awarded 2nd Best Chef Knife in 2018, Best Chef Knife 2019, became 2nd Best Chef Knife again in 2020 at the Sydney Knife Show.

He uses a range of special cutlery steels from Germany, Japan and the US and also makes his own Damascus steel and San Mai with individual organic patterns. He uses ethically sourced handle materials with predominantly Australian timbers.

The appreciation of high quality hand made products is something he is passionate about and likes to bring back to people’s homes and kitchens. It feels great knowing that his knives will stay with his customers and their families for generations to come; representing a humble counterweight to today’s throw away society.