British made kitchen knives, cutlery, scissors, pewter-ware and silverware

The United Kingdom and in particular Sheffield, England is world famous for its steel products and contrary to popular belief many fine quality steel products are still manufactured in Sheffield.  There is a wide choice of quality British made kitchen knives, cutlery, pocket knives and scissors available at reasonable prices.  British made kitchen knives, cutlery, scissors and silverware:-

John Lewis / Waitrose sometimes sell kitchen knives and cutlery that is made in Sheffield, for example the John Lewis branded knives pictured below. Some Waitrose (John Lewis) kitchen knives are finished off but not not made in the UK. For example the Waitrose Cooking all purpose knife says on the front on the packaging “precision ground in Sheffield, England” and on the back of the packaging it says “Finished in Sheffield, England” – http://www.johnlewis.com

John Lewis Classic Cleaver, 15cm. Made in Sheffield.

John Lewis Classic 3 Piece Knife Set. Made in Sheffield.

Waitrose Cooking all purpose. It says on it “WAITROSE precision ground in Sheffield”. Whilst this knife is “Finished in Sheffield, England, the knife itself is foreign made. This is though a very good knife. Photograph by author.

Samuel Stainforth – http://www.s-staniforth.co.uk – have been making knives in Sheffield since 1864 and do a very large range of kitchen knives, chef knives, specialist knives, butcher equipment, survival knives, tactical knives, sheafs, knife wallets for chefs, sharpening tools, box sets, knife blocks, kitchen tools, scissors, accessories and a double handled cheese/chopping knife.  Samuel Staniforth Ltd. of Sheffield, England are manufacturers of The Smithfield range of knives.  They are all made in Sheffield.  We have a Samuel Staniforth Smithfield 6 inch Cook’s Knife.  It’s a good weight, very sharp and cuts well.  A thing of beauty and function.

David Mellor – http://www.davidmellordesign.com – David Mellor cutlery is manufactured in a purpose-designed modern factory in the Peak District National Park.  You can visit their factory.  The founder, David Mellor, now retired, is a designer and entrepreneur responsible amongst other things for a redesigned UK national traffic light system. Mellor’s design is still in use. He developed a controversial new square post box, and designed minimalist stainless steel cutlery produced in huge quantities for government canteens and NHS hospitals.  David Mellor have a shop in Sloane Square in London and another in Derbyshire.  They sell lots of stuff but I think only the David Mellor cutlery is manufactured in the Peak District National Park and that lots of the other things they sell are made abroad.  However, I think all David Mellor own brand kitchen knives are UK made (please check), as is their silverwear, and their weighing scales.  Their cutlery is beautiful.  It is not always clear from their website what items are made in the UK so it will be best to ask.

Taylor’s Eye Witness – http://taylors-eye-witness.co.uk – Taylor’s Eye Witness have been making knives for over 150 years in its Sheffield factory and continue to manufacture kitchen knives, scissors and pocket knives in Sheffield.  However, it is just their “made in Sheffield” range that is made in the UK.  The rest of their range is made abroad, so please select carefully.  Taylor’s Eye Witness also have a variety of sharpening steels and sharpening devices in their “made in Sheffield” range.  The Taylor’s Eye Witness company was called Harrison Fisher & Co Ltd up until 1st June 2007 when the company was re-named.  Have a look at any search engine to buy or go to www.premiercutlery.co.uk. The Sheffield Eye Witness catalogue clearly states which knives are made in England and they do a good range of kitchen knives, professional knives, and trade knives including colour coded knives and specialist tools, as well as a British made magnetic knife rack, British made scissors and shears, some British made sharpening steels and sharpening machines, and a great range of British made pocket knives – http://taylors-eye-witness.co.uk

Taylors Eye Witness, the Sharpest Knife, 13cm Cooks Knife, made in England.

The Eggington Group – http://www.eggintongroup.co.uk – offers high quality Sheffield made knives and sharpening steels.  Under the brand name Simply Sheffield make military knives (including the famous British Army Knife), safety locking knives and promotional knives.  Whilst under the William Rogers name they made a commando knife (and presentation box).  Under the George Wostenholm name they make pocket knives, bowie knives and trade knives.  Under the Ibberson name they make yachting knives and kits, action knives, military knives, safety locking knives, trade knives and letter openers.  Under the Joseph Rogers brand they make traditional pocket knives, smoker’s knives, letter openers, yachting knives and kits, military knives, British army pocket knives, safety locking knives, and letter openers.  Under the Eggingtonbrand they make sharpening steels, cook’s forks and butcher’s saws (and blades).

Many of the above manufacturer’s products are available direct from their websites and a selection of their products may be available at The Famous Sheffield Shop – http://www.sheffield-made.com

A vintage Geo. Wostenholm & Son stainless steel Sheffield made table knife. George (or Geo.) Wostenholm were also famous for making cut throat razors as well as cutlery (including I.XL cutlery) and pocket knives. The name is now part of the Egginton Group (see above).

For a nice OILSTONE AND BOX made in Leicestershire, England try Proops Brothers Ltd on ebay – http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350626324112?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649.

For an electric knife sharpener try – http://www.catra.org//pages/products/sharpening/MODELEHONE.HTM.

A.Wright and Son Limited – http://www.penknives-and-scissors.co.uk – make scissors, cutlery, kitchen knives, pocket knives (they make fab penknives), hunting knives, bushcraft and survival knives.  Started in 1947, Arthur Wrights is a traditional Sheffield Pen and Pocket knife manufacturer. Everything is done in-house in Sheffield.  The quality of their products is excellent.

All of the above manufacturer’s products are available direct from their websites and a selection of their products are available at The Famous Sheffield Shop – http://www.sheffield-made.com

Arthur Price – http://www.arthurprice.com – Arthur price hold 2 Royal Warrants and sell cutlery, tableware and gifts.  Their factory is now in Lichfield, Staffordshire and I think also at the old A.Deeley cutlery factory in Handsworth, Sheffield.  Much of what they sell is now produced in the Far East, but I think some of their products are still made in the UK. It is not clear from their website, so you would have to check before buying.

R. F. Mosley & Co. Ltd of Sheffield were a manufacturer of cutlery and silverware and is sometimes claimed to be the first firm in the world to produce stainless steel cutlery. They used the brand name “RUSNORSTAIN”. R. F. Mosley & Co continued to operate on their Portland Works site until the late 1950s. After this the company must have closed down. Various other companies were also based at this site. Their old building is now a business centre for small companies.

Firth Stainless and “Staybrite” Steel produced by Firth-Vickers Stainless Steel Ltd., Sheffield is perhaps the best know Sheffield cutlery and one of their founding companies, Firth Brown Steels, also lays claim to having invented stainless steel. Sheffield Forgemasters is the successor to such famous Sheffield names such as Vickers, English Steel, Firth Brown and British Steel and are still going strong today, specialising in the production of large bespoke steel castings and forgings, as well as standard rolls, ingots and bars but seemingly not cutlery.  The complexities of merging companies and what happened to their famous cutlery are beyond what I have discovered so far in my meagre research into this.

British Silverware Limited of Sheffield – http://www.britishsilverware.co.uk – make bespoke silverware such as trophies, table top ware, cutlery and models and also specialise in silverware for yachts.

Chimo Holdings – http://www.chimoholdings.co.uk – trade but available directly to the public from their website http://www.chimodirect.co.uk – Based in Sheffield and they have a factory in Sheffield, Chimo Holdings manufacture cutlery, gallery trays, silver and giftware and promotional merchandise.  The company was established in the 1980s, uniting a number of independent Sheffield manufacturers – William Yates (Sterling Silver Cutlery and giftware), Rose White Silverware (cutlery in silverplate & stainless steel plus a range of popular cream handled knives), Tricketts of Sheffield (cutlery and related products for the trade and hospitality industries in silverplate and stainless steel), WRS Cutlerymate (cutlery storage system; made in Germany by ALBEC I understand), Westplate Tray Company (silverware trays, cake stands, tableware punch bowls and cups, candelabra and candlesticks and coasters – http://www.westplate.com – trade only) and they also do cutlery repairs, refurbishment and replacement matching. As always, ask where what you are interested in is made before buying. Sheffield Cutler/Chimo Holdings also have an eBay shop with all the products being made in their factory in Sheffield and these are end of lines, samples or one offs – they have great things on here at great prices such as detachable belt key holders, key ring bottle openers, signs, cufflink blanks, shackle key keyrings, combined knife and forks, magnetic button holders, money clips, dog tags, a Lord’s Prayer Silver Plated Cross Bookmark, coasters, ornate trays, metal rulers, etc.

Fletcher Robinson Ltd (C.W. Fletcher (Silversmiths) Ltd, as was) – http://www.fletcher-robinson.co.uk – exclusive quality flatware (cutlery) hand forged in Sheffield, England.

Francis Howard Silversmiths – http://francishoward.co.uk – trade only – photo frames, christening gifts, barware, tableware, gifts and desk items – made in Sheffield since 1870.

Carrs Silver – http://www.carrs-silver.co.uk – trade only – British-made silverware and cutlery – Silver giftware, table top ware, photo frames, children’s gifts, wooden picture frame backs and cutlery storage boxes, silver plated products and cutlery available in department stores and small shops.  They area a volume manufacturer and also produce for others.  They also own Osbourne Cutlery.  Carrs silverware and Osbourne Cutlery is made in Sheffield, England.

J.Adams Ltd (Sheffield Knives) is a family business which has been making good quality knives for six generations.  They are also the parent company for three other long established brands F.E. and J.R. Hopkinson Ltd, established 14 June 1944; John Nowill and Sons Ltd, whose corporate name was granted by the Cutlers Company of Hallamshire on 27 April 1700 and Austin McGillivray and Co – http://www.sheffieldknives.co.uk – they make pocket knives, kitchen knives, cook’s knives, butcher’s knives, trade knives, scissors, hunting knives, survival knives, bushcraft knives and specialist knives.

Granton Knives – http://www.granton-knives.co.uk – manufacture all their knives in Sheffield, England.  They make kitchen knives including their famous Granton Edge knives, plain edged knives, serrated edge knives, palette knives and colour handled knives for the professional and the home – trade only.

Granton Medical – http://www.granton-medical.co.uk/special_needs.html – make a range of Sheffield made special needs cutlery designed to help individuals with disabilities with eating.

Kutrite/Ernest Wright & Son – http://www.ernestwright.co.uk – British made scissors – Ernest Wright and Son Limited is a family company hand-making scissors and shears in Sheffield, England since 1902. Their scissors and shears come with a life-time guarantee.  They produce scissors for art and craft, gift, ceremonial and gold plated scissors, dressmaking, tailor and clothwork scissors, embroidery and fine craft scissors, garden and floral art scissors, kitchen scissors, nail and personal care scissors, office, general and left-handed scissors, and professional and trade scissors. Ernest Wright and Son went bankrupt towards the end of 2018 and since then a pair of Dutch entrepreneurs bought the company and have re-launched it in the hope of keeping it going, albeit with the prices considerably inflated.

Please see this article, mostly about Ernest Wright and Son Limited, on the BBC website –http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sheffield/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8534000/8534091.stm and another at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28581597

 

These vintage nail scissors are marked “Made in England”. Not sure who made them. Photograph by author 1 October 2017.

These vintage nail scissors are marked “Empire Forged”. Not sure who made them. Photograph by author 1 October 2017. Presumably they were made somewhere in the British Empire, but not the in the UK.  A few years ago, perhaps up to the 60s or even 70s, some products such as cutlery and china, were marked England (meaning made in England), Empire (meaning made in one of the countries that were part of the British Empire) or Foreign (meaning made abroad, but not within the Empire). At least that is what I assume these markings on some cutlery and other goods mean.

W.Wright Silverware – http://www.wwrightsilverware.com – trade only – manufacture silverware in Sheffield, England supplying hotels, restaurants and catering companies and are a major supplier of E.P.N.S. cutlery (used for silver service) in Sheffield, including branded cutlery, as well as supplying products made by others in the UK and abroad.  As far as I can gather their cutlery, silverware and some of their china is made in the UK, but it is not clear from their website so please check the items you want are made in the UK.

Inkerman Silver (Samuel Eales Silverware Ltd) – http://www.inkermansilver.co.uk – Made in Sheffield, UK – Suppliers to the catering industry of cutlery and hotelware manufactured in Sheffield – sterling silver cutlery, silver plate cutlery, stainless steel cutlery, cutlery canteens and cabinets and tableware.  All their cutlery and cabinets are made in the UK and marked Made in Sheffield.  Inkerman also manufacture cutlery for others, including cutlery branded with their clients name.

William Whiteley & Sons (Sheffield) Ltd (incorporating Thomas Wilkinson & Son, Manufacturers of Tailors Shears and Scissors) – http://www.whiteley.co.uk – British made scissors – Founded in 1760 William Whitley produce scissors for advanced composite materials, carpets, upholstery, gift, ceremonial and gold plated scissors, hairdressing, household, general purpose and DIY scissors, nail scissors, industrial scissors, lightweight plastic handled scissors, rubber cutting scissors, safety scissors, surgical scissors, nursers scissors, textile scissors, dressmaking scissors and tailors shears.

Merchant and Mills – http://merchantandmills.com – sell a range of Merchant and Mills branded Sheffield made scissors and tailor’s shears.

Slater Knives (Herbert M. Slater (1853) Ltd.) – http://www.slaterknives.co.uk – are still made in Sheffield (some goods are marked as imported on their website, so obviously not these ones – for example their Machette is imported, as is their tramontina range, some cutlery, knives and bread knives but everything else from Slater is made in the UK) – makers of kitchen knives, butchers knives, cooks knives, steels, choppers, forks, s-hooks, skewers, needles, scrapers, scissors, saws, palette knives, fish trade knives, trade knives, pocket knives, sheaf knives, scout knives, Skien Dhu and cutlery.  Prices are very reasonable (you need to add VAT and postage to the prices shown on their website).  I own a Herbert M Slater butchers knife, butter knife and a pair of their kitchen scissors and the quality is excellent.

Hiram Wild (and United Cutlers) (J & C Products) – http://www.hiramwild.com – Stainless Steel, silver plated and silver cutlery made in Sheffield, England. Trade only. Hiram Wild is the UK’s largest volume cutlery manufacturer.

William Turner – http://www.williamturnersheffield.com – Stainless Steel, silver plated and silver cutlery wholly made in Sheffield, England.

Abbeyhorn – http://www.abbeyhorn.co.uk – Slightly off track this but Abbeyhorn make gifts, tableware, kitchenware, silverware, homeware, and the like in Lancashire all using natural horn.

B.D.G. Manufacturing Ltd – http://www.bdgmfg.com – Producers of awards, trophies, cutlery, flatware and hotelware for the trade. Factory in Birmingham.

Pinder Brothers (inc. Warriss & Co.) – http://www.pinder.co.uk – Cutlery and silver holloware plus a full range of pewterware, almost all made in Sheffield.  Trade only.

Lancaster and Gibbings produce a modern range of cast pewterware handmade in their Devon workshop. On their website it says “Every piece we sell is designed and produced in our own workshop in the South West of England.” Products include photo frames, jewellery boxes, key rings, money boxes, greetings cards with detachable pewter keepsakes, keepsakes, trinket boxes and card and photo holders – https://www.lancasterandgibbings.com

A.E. Williams pewter is all made in the UK (except their watch innards which I assume are foreign made). A.E. Williams are the oldest family run Pewtersmiths in the world. They produce traditional pieces for palaces, cathedrals, stately homes, film, TV and theatre companies, as well as domestic Pewterware. Tankards, goblets, candlesticks, letter openers, pewter gifts, etc – http://www.pewtergiftware.com – http://www.aewilliamspewter.com

Hoardersworld is a website selling Gifts and Jewellery and they say on their website “most of our products are hand made here in the United Kingdom.’ On their site today, 13th January 2017, I found beautiful, reasonably priced English made pewter cat and dog phone charms, bookmarks, key rings, earrings, necklaces, rings, kilt pins, cap badges, badges, cravat pins, paper knives, letter openers, scarf rings, tie-pins, tie clips, tie slides. They also sell British made fob watches by A.E. Williams, although I assume the mechanisms in these are foreign made. They also sell mugs and t-shirts but regrettably these are foreign made – http://www.hoardersworld.co.uk

British Bulldog Cufflinks in Fine English Pewter at Hoardersworld. Made in England.

Marlborough World hip flasks are all made in England. Aside from their great British made hip flags they also make rather nice bags, desk accessories and technology cases in England – http://www.marlboroughworld.com

4oz hip flask by Marlborough World. Made in England. Photograph from the Tweed Pig.

4oz hip flask by Marlborough World. Made in England (base view). Photograph from the Tweed Pig.

Wentworth Pewter was founded in 1946 and make all their stunning pewter products in Sheffield, England. They make traditional tankards, hip/pocket flasks and goblets, vases, napkin rings, giftware, tableware, children’s gifts, coasters, certificate holders, money clips, sports tankards, sport trophies, and such. Retail via their website or trade – http://www.wentworth-pewter.com

6oz Kidney Hip Flask in Sheffield Pewter. Made by Wentworth for Lissom & Muster. Made in Sheffield, England.

William Abdy – http://www.williamabdy.co.uk/ – have a range of Sheffield made cutlery and knives.   The rest of their products are made outside of the UK.

R & R Sheffield Cutlery (R & R Polishing) – http://www.randrsheffieldcutlery.com – manufacture (or have manufactured for them) made in Sheffield cutlery, giftware, sharpening steels, hunting knives and pen knives, in stainless steel, silver plate and silver in Sheffield, England.

SheffieldCutlery.com (Yates Brothers) – http://www.sheffieldcutlery.com – trade only – manufacture cutlery components and are one of Sheffield’s major suppliers to cutlery manufacturers.

William Yates – http://www.williamyates1750.co.uk – manufacture sterling silver table cutlery in Sheffield, England.

Thessco Limited – http://www.thessco.co.uk – manufactures silver brazing alloys, metal joining products and industrial silver alloys in Sheffield, England.  They have their own silver refinery.

Blok Knives (Ben Edmonds) – http://www.blok-knives.co.uk – premium hand made kitchen knives made in Derbyshire.

You may also find British made scissors on e-bay, for example from a company called “medical experts” – http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290827701229?var=590092434059&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 and

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STITCH-SCISSORS-WITH-TWO-POINTED-BLADES-BRITISH-MADE-/360166964206?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET&hash=item53db9fbbee

Another seller on eBay is “motornutter2011” – http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRIMMERS-NASAL-EAR-EYEBROW-BLOKES-SCISSORS-FOR-MEN-AT-LAST-MADE-IN-UK-/190866518683?pt=Shaving&hash=item2c7087f29b – UK made “blokes” flat-ended scissors.

and http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Nurses-Pocket-Scissor-on-chain-Blunt-Sharp-points-Made-in-UK-best-there-is-/181171204170?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Medical_Equipment_Instruments_ET&hash=item2a2ea5304a – UK made nurses scissors with chain.

Another seller on eBay is “brandcentre” – http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Taylors-Eye-Witness-Stainless-Steel-Poultry-Shears-Kitchen-Scissors-Made-in-UK-/360601172033?pt=UK_Kitchen_Accessories&hash=item53f5813841 – Taylor’s Eye Witness British made poultry shears.

Don’t buy Richardson Sheffield; their knives are no longer made in the UK.  The company retains ‘Sheffield’ in its name which is an outright deception of British consumers and should not be allowed.

Viners were bought out several years ago by Oneida (http://www.oneida.co.uk/), a US company. I believe all their cutlery is now made in China.

Town Talk Polishing Co. Ltd. make cutlery storage rolls in England.

Town Talk Cutlery Storage Roll. Made in England

Please see my separate article on British made pocket knives, survival knives, bushcraft knives and safety knives – there is some crossover with this article.  For some information on Knife Law please see that article too.

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Samuel Staniforth Smithfield Range 6 inch Cooks Knife