A. Wright & Son, Sheffield, still open for business?

[Carboniferous]

Many of the European sites I've browsed are just terrible to navigate, and the shipping is often $20 or $30, which makes most knives not worth the price. And if you have an issue it's a much bigger hassle and wait and cost to ship it back.

 

[draggat]

Many of the European sites I've browsed are just terrible to navigate, and the shipping is often $20 or $30, which makes most knives not worth the price. And if you have an issue it's a much bigger hassle and wait and cost to ship it back.

Yes, you are correct that it is a hassle if something has to go back. I've sent a couple back but it's very rare. Once I sent one directly to a resident modder to repair, rather than send it back. For me, the risk is worth it. As for shipping costs, I usually will order several knives at the same time..... I just factor it into the cost of getting something unique and value is a very subjective thing.

Knife content

 

[Jack Black]

Right there with you in regards to the Ettrick. What a great pattern, I missed it as well.

I don't understand why so many people here in the US won't order knives from overseas. Since GEC went crazy, Queen and Canal Street closing, I shifted my focus to primarily European pocket knives. I've had US Customs open a couple shipments, but everything has always arrived safely. Honestly, my shipments tend to arrive in the same time frame, or faster, than they did from the few times I tried World Knives. Better selection too.

Wow, this one never fails to impress me.... An outstanding SFO Jack! Wish I had been participating in the Guardians thread when you had those made!

As for Wrights knives that I have, only Jack Black 's SFO's are ones approaching perfect fit and finish. The rest of mine seem to be made primarily as working tools and there's nothing wrong with that..... Of course, I wouldn't mind better fit and finish!

Two of my favorites:View attachment 1904915


That end cap....View attachment 1904916

Thanks Steve, sorry you missed out on that one my friend There were only 27 ACs made, as that was all the vintage Sambar that there was. That's a beautiful Capped Pruner, does it have the worked-back too? Nice Peach Pruner too I have to say, I have sent hundreds of knives across The Pond over the past decade, and not had a single one go missing

Many of the European sites I've browsed are just terrible to navigate, and the shipping is often $20 or $30, which makes most knives not worth the price. And if you have an issue it's a much bigger hassle and wait and cost to ship it back.

You should try ordering from the US! There are terrible import duties here, so you end up paying nearly double for anything you buy, and the British Pound has been in the toilet for ages now

Yes, you are correct that it is a hassle if something has to go back. I've sent a couple back but it's very rare. Once I sent one directly to a resident modder to repair, rather than send it back. For me, the risk is worth it. As for shipping costs, I usually will order several knives at the same time..... I just factor it into the cost of getting something unique and value is a very subjective thing.

Knife contentView attachment 1904929

It's great to see that one Steve

 

[Johnnythefox]

its way easier/cheaper for us in England to send to the US than it is the other way.

 

[Jack Black]

its way easier/cheaper for us in England to send to the US than it is the other way.

I don't know, it used to be pretty straightforward, but overseas postage has doubled in the past couple of years, the customs forms have got more complicated, and you get the third degree at the post office - I got it over a catapult frame the other week! You seem to have a good set-up with your postie though. I like those flat-rate shipping boxes that are available in the US, we don't have anything like that here, you struggle to get hold of a decent quality cardboard box! I send a lot of them across The Pond, and I generally recycle the ones that come the other way, they're of better quality!

 

[draggat]

Thanks Steve, sorry you missed out on that one my friend There were only 27 ACs made, as that was all the vintage Sambar that there was. That's a beautiful Capped Pruner, does it have the worked-back too? Nice Peach Pruner too I have to say, I have sent hundreds of knives across The Pond over the past decade, and not had a single one go missing

You should try ordering from the US! There are terrible import duties here, so you end up paying nearly double for anything you buy, and the British Pound has been in the toilet for ages now

It's great to see that one Steve

Thanks Jack Black ! No, this pruner is a plain Jane, wish the spring was stout like all of my other Wright's, but I like it anyway.

its way easier/cheaper for us in England to send to the US than it is the other way.

I don't know, it used to be pretty straightforward, but overseas postage has doubled in the past couple of years, the customs forms have got more complicated, and you get the third degree at the post office - I got it over a catapult frame the other week! You seem to have a good set-up with your postie though. I like those flat-rate shipping boxes that are available in the US, we don't have anything like that here, you struggle to get hold of a decent quality cardboard box! I send a lot of them across The Pond, and I generally recycle the ones that come the other way, they're of better quality!

Really sorry to hear about the crummy shipping and tax policies you guys have to put up with. There should be exceptions for small items. I think the limit here is a package with total value under $800 doesn't require import tax.

I haven't ordered from the UK for a while, but from other parts of Europe, it's gotten a bit less expensive due to the € value dropping a bit. Not sure if that's really a good thing for everyone though.

One of the drawbacks of having a lot of knives is that some get neglected for a while. I always come back around though.

Another really special SFO from Jack Black . Thanks again Mr. Jack!

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks Jack Black ! No, this pruner is a plain Jane, wish the spring was stout like all of my other Wright's, but I like it anyway.

Anything but! That"s a shame about the pull

Really sorry to hear about the crummy shipping and tax policies you guys have to put up with. There should be exceptions for small items. I think the limit here is a package with total value under $800 doesn't require import tax.

It's about $25 here I think! There's import duty, sales tax, and an admin charge

I haven't ordered from the UK for a while, but from other parts of Europe, it's gotten a bit less expensive due to the € value dropping a bit. Not sure if that's really a good thing for everyone though.

I used to order from other parts of Europe, but the charged apply even with them now, prices have increased significantly, and some firms won't ship because they don't want the extra hassle and paperwork

One of the drawbacks of having a lot of knives is that some get neglected for a while. I always come back around though.

Another really special SFO from Jack Black . Thanks again Mr. Jack!

View attachment 1905374

I know what you mean my friend It's nice to see your 2019 Guardians SFO again Great pic too

 

[mrknife]

last time i did a purchase, this one wasnt terrible... but that was back in 2017

 

[Jack Black]

last time i did a purchase, this one wasnt terrible... but that was back in 2018

Long time ago. What's underneath it Jack?

 

[mrknife]

Long time ago. What's underneath it Jack?

those are my wax sculpting tools for working on rings!

 

[Jack Black]

They look really interesting Jack, but I meant in the box directly beneath the knife

 

[Johnnythefox]

I don't know, it used to be pretty straightforward, but overseas postage has doubled in the past couple of years, the customs forms have got more complicated, and you get the third degree at the post office - I got it over a catapult frame the other week! You seem to have a good set-up with your postie though. I like those flat-rate shipping boxes that are available in the US, we don't have anything like that here, you struggle to get hold of a decent quality cardboard box! I send a lot of them across The Pond, and I generally recycle the ones that come the other way, they're of better quality!

yes this time I had to put a code and couldnt find the exact one,didnt know where to look.

 

[mrknife]

They look really interesting Jack, but I meant in the box directly beneath the knife

oh its nothing just a "Certificate of Authenticity" its the box the knife came in

 

[Jack Black]

yes this time I had to put a code and couldnt find the exact one,didnt know where to look.

They're always changing something aren't they? There's 2 different customs declaration forms now

oh its nothing just a "Certificate of Authenticity" its the box the knife came in

LOL! I wondered if that was the case! They are so typical of Malcolm! I've got one somewhere The whole of Sheffield was laughing about them. "John Maleham, Sheffield's Finest Cutler". John is a nice bloke, and a good manager, but he was never a cutler, except in the sense that he owned the business. I don't know why John signed the silly things, the cutlers never stopped ribbing him about it. The last time I happened to see Malcolm's site, someone else had been given the accolade!

 

[calm]

I used to order knives from UK businesses but since the UK left the EU the import taxes and additional handling cost and paperwork makes it too much of a pain. Shame as one of the 2 GEC dealers out of the US is in the UK, as well as, naturally, the Sheffield makers/shops. I try to get what I want within the EU these days or using friends in the US or the UK.

 

[Jack Black]

I used to order knives from UK businesses but since the UK left the EU the import taxes and additional handling cost and paperwork makes it too much of a pain. Shame as one of the 2 GEC dealers out of the US is in the UK, as well as, naturally, the Sheffield makers/shops. I try to get what I want within the EU these days or using friends in the US or the UK.

I don't blame you. It's a shame though

 

[mrknife]

They're always changing something aren't they? There's 2 different customs declaration forms now

LOL! I wondered if that was the case! They are so typical of Malcolm! I've got one somewhere The whole of Sheffield was laughing about them. "John Maleham, Sheffield's Finest Cutler". John is a nice bloke, and a good manager, but he was never a cutler, except in the sense that he owned the business. I don't know why John signed the silly things, the cutlers never stopped ribbing him about it. The last time I happened to see Malcolm's site, someone else had been given the accolade!

A tremendous honor I'm sure! complete with the pomp and circumstance he deserves of his station. I daresay if someone had been so kind to telegram the queen, an OBE would be in order

its not even signed, its a computer generated signature. Although im sure it would be even more amusing if he took the time out to do that

 

[btb01]

Knife content

Beautiful HHB, Steve!

I like those flat-rate shipping boxes that are available in the US, we don't have anything like that here, you struggle to get hold of a decent quality cardboard box! I send a lot of them across The Pond, and I generally recycle the ones that come the other way, they're of better quality!

The flat-rate boxes are nice in theory, but the prices — in my opinion, at least — make them less appealing, especially for international shipping. A small flat-rate box (which is about the size of a trade paperback book) costs $42.45 to send from the US to the UK. For the same price ($0.20 less, actually), you can send a package up to 3 lbs and 36” combined height/length/depth. 2 lbs and under is $27.15, and 8 oz or less (basically one knife by itself) is $17.85 (used to be $13 or $14).

I forgot to check the weight of the most recent package I sent you as I was adding stuff to it, and ended up going 2 ounces over 2 lbs. Oops.

LOL! I wondered if that was the case! They are so typical of Malcolm! I've got one somewhere The whole of Sheffield was laughing about them. "John Maleham, Sheffield's Finest Cutler". John is a nice bloke, and a good manager, but he was never a cutler, except in the sense that he owned the business. I don't know why John signed the silly things, the cutlers never stopped ribbing him about it. The last time I happened to see Malcolm's site, someone else had been given the accolade!

That’s great!

 

[Jack Black]

I forgot to check the weight of the most recent package I sent you as I was adding stuff to it, and ended up going 2 ounces over 2 lbs. Oops.

Oh no! That's just the sort of thing I do too! Here, both size and weight matters. To be classed as a 'large letter' the package has to pass through a slot, about an inch wide. A single knife with a couple of layers of bubble wrap, and a single jiffy bag will go through. Add an extra layer of bubble wrap, and it won't. Sometimes, the contents shift in the package, and it won't go through! It's a minefield!

 

[draggat]

Beautiful HHB, Steve!

Thanks Barrett!