Our Story, About Us
Hephais is a Brisbane-based kitchen knife brand and an official sponsor of the Australian Culinary Federation. We design knives for professional chefs and serious home cooks who want tools that perform reliably, day in and day out.
Our story
Hephais was founded by Jack, a professional chef with years of kitchen experience across fine dining and high-volume service. Jack built the brand around a straightforward idea: the knives available to most cooks were either overpriced for what they delivered, or underbuilt for the demands of real kitchen work.
He set out to design something different — knives with the right steel, the right geometry, and honest construction, at a price point that reflects what the knife actually is rather than what the marketing says it should be.
Every Hephais knife is designed with that background in mind. The steel choices, the handle materials, the balance points — these come from someone who has used professional knives in professional kitchens and knows what holds up under real conditions.
The knife lines
Perseus is our practical premium line — 440C stainless steel with a stone-washed, hand-hammered finish and an olive wood handle with black ebony spacer. It’s built to handle the demands of daily use without requiring the careful maintenance that more premium steels demand. A reliable, well-made knife for cooks who want something that works without fuss.
Aurora is our Damascus line designed for versatility. VG10 core steel at 60–62 HRC, a polished Damascus pattern, and a stabilised maple burl handle with black resin. It’s the knife for cooks who want a premium everyday performer — one that handles the full range of kitchen tasks with strong edge retention and strong aesthetics.
Knox is our precision-focused Damascus line. The same VG10 core as Aurora, with a darker matte Damascus finish and an ebony handle with turquoise inlays. The 240mm blade is optimised for controlled, fine cutting work — thin slicing, precision prep, and cooks who want more reach and a more specialised tool.
Why Hephais
There are a lot of knife brands. Most of them are not designed by people who cook for a living.
Hephais is built on the knowledge that a knife has to perform over years of real use — not just look good in a product photo. That means choosing steel that holds an edge properly, handles that are comfortable through extended prep sessions, and construction that doesn’t compromise on the things that actually matter.
As a sponsor of the Australian Culinary Federation, Hephais works with professional chefs across Australia. That relationship keeps us honest about what professional cooks actually need from their tools.
From the founder
“I built Hephais because I couldn’t find what I was looking for. As a chef, I knew what a good knife should feel like — the balance, the steel hardness, the way the handle sits in a pinch grip over a long service. What I kept finding in the market was either expensive for the sake of being expensive, or cheap in ways that mattered.
So I designed the knives I actually wanted to use. The Perseus for cooks who want something reliable and practical. The Aurora for those who want a premium edge and a knife that looks the part without paying a premium for the name. The Knox for precision — longer blade, finer work, a knife that suits the way serious cooks think about cutting.
Hephais is Brisbane-built and chef-designed. Every product we make has to earn its place in a working kitchen before it earns a place on the website.”
Jack, Founder of Hephais
Hephais is an official sponsor of the Australian Culinary Federation. Brisbane, Australia. Free shipping on orders over $100. 30-day returns.