About us – introduction

Heather and Kevin Harvey.

Heavin is a combination of our first names: HEAther and KeVIN.

Heavin loving the country life!
Photo Simon O'Callaghan.

American Bladesmith Society Instructor Badge

We are both :

• award-winning Master Bladesmiths with the American Bladesmith Society
• members of the Knifemakers' Guild of Southern Africa
• founder members of the Southern African Bladesmiths Association.
• We were the only married couple Mastersmiths, when we attained our M.S stamps in 2003.
• Heather became the second lady Master Bladesmith. There are now four ladies and one other married couple Mastersmiths, worldwide.
• We are two of three ABS Master Bladesmiths on the African continent.
• We are both accredited instructors with the American Bladesmith Society and our facility is accredited to teach ABS courses.  There are only 30 of us in the world!  https://www.americanbladesmith.org/master-bladesmith-instructors/

Their work has been published in many knifemaking books and publications.

Heavin Forge.

At Heavin Forge:

• we make knives
• we teach bladesmithing
• we forge our own damascus
• we write books on bladesmithing
• we make damascus rings
• and we love all our animals

Heavin teaching at Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing

Both Kevin and Heather are authorised instructors in Bladesmithing with the American Bladesmith Society.  Regular classes are presented at their Heavin Forge Bladesmithing Studio and School in South Africa. The two have also taught at the Bill Moran School of Bladesmithing in Old Washington, Arkansas, U.S.A.

Heavin Forge, our bladesmithing school, is one of nine ABS recognised schools in the world with seven of them being in the U.S.A, one in Belgium, and Heavin Forge in South Africa.

"Gold Crocodile" - Kevin Harvey.

Kevin specializes in collector-grade Bowies with an old-style flavour using
predominantly natural handle materials and made from his own Damascus steel.
He also makes daggers and fighters regularly.  More recently he is
embellishing work with his own engraving and his sheaths are distinctive, often using exotic leather inlays.  Among his most remarkable awards are the BR Hughes award for best knife submitted for review by a new Mastersmith applicant and the Historic Bowie Knife Association award for best Bowie by a Master Bladesmith at the Atlanta Blade Show.  In South Africa, he has e won Best Knifemaker on Show four times and numerous awards of excellence for knives in Fighter, Dagger, and Historical categories.  On one occasion even Best Art Folder - an unusual entry for Kevin.

"Ribbons and Bows" Dagger - Heather Harvey.

Heather particularly enjoyed making traditional African weapons which included spears, sickle swords, and axes in her own Damascus steel.  One of her assegais (Zulu spears) was used on the cover of renowned author, Wilbur Smith's book "Assegai".  Wilbur Smith also used one of her African Swords on the cover of the reprint of his first book "When the Lion Feeds".  She also
made primitive "Mountain Man Folders" usually with an old coin on the handle.  She also made wedding bands and other jewellery from her Damascus. "Made and enjoyed" in the past tense as she is no longer able to work in the forge due to permanent injuries to both hands. Livestock-related accidents, not workshop related.  She assists with bladesmithing instruction and does all the administration, maintains the website and writes books.