Richard Cooper forges chef's knives from other people's rubbish. Working from a backyard studio in Brompton, he hand-forges high carbon steel reclaimed from old files, saws and mower blades, then fits handles shaped from Australian hardwood offcuts salvaged from local sawmills and furniture makers, pinned in brass or copper. The range runs from paring and steak knives to pattern-welded Damascus and laminated Sanmai. Tasting Australia commissions his blades each year as gifts for its visiting chefs.