Severe Disappointment&Good News

Will Power · May 7, 2007

Two knives arrived in the post today,talk about chalk and cheese!

I've been looking for an English knife from Sheffield for some time and it's not been easy to find much but I wanted one anyway. I have knives from the US(the majority) Germany, Russia, Finland,Japan,France and China. They are ALL vastly superior to this English offering and it's a disappointment to put it mildly This is a Lamb's Foot blade with buffalo horn scales 4" from Wright of Sheffield.I have not come across poorer finish, the Chinese knives that many sneer at(rather harshly I think)are light years ahead of this in fit and finish. SAK, Opinel, Weidmannsheil and Case all cost the same or less and are very solid keepable knives for EDC. Not this one I regret to say. You hold it up to the light and the gaps are big enough to SEE through! The scales and bolster fit is awful, they stand proud of the bolster and there are huge gaps too

Being bone, this will split or break very quickly indeed and because it is proud it feels rough in the hand.Plenty of blade wobble as well, it's pitiful. I got it through the post from Sheffield and I've complained by e-mail and waiting to see if there is a reaction. It could be just a rough one slipping through.But it's the lowest quality I've ever encountered by a long chalk.What an irony that the Paul Chen Hanwei Sheffield stag folder I have is a top notch product,preety well flawless(OK it costs twice as much but..)

Does anybody else have poor experiences with Sheffield knives? Or better still, good ones? Is there a decent maker left?

The other knife was a CASE mini-copperlock in red bone , pocket worn.I've heard some complain about CASE QC but I have four knives and they are all excellent including the lowly sodbuster jr. All properly finished,well checked and knives you are keen to own (much superior QC to Buck eg in my exp). The mini-copperlock is a Jack Russell of a knife,small but amusing and does the business:thumbup: Really nice fit and finish that you are proud to own or give as a present!

waynorth · May 7, 2007

I have an A. Wright pruner, with horn scales, and it is flawless. I bought it 2-3 years ago from Northwest knives. I am surprised at what you received!

JD Mandrell · May 7, 2007

I recently bought a Hawksbill lockblade for gardening work, it's a "Sheffield" knife, the plastic packeging said "Made in China", but when I opened it, the knife itself just says "Sheffield STAINLESS".

Nowhere on the knife itself does it say it's made in China.

Quality is OK, fit is good and the blade was really sharp, I can live with imports, but I don't like when they skirt the law by not marking them.

freezergeezer · May 8, 2007

Unfortunately the pocket knife makers in the U.K. have pretty much rested on the laurels of previous generations.

You can get excellent knives, but all too often what you get is shocking.

Bartleby · May 8, 2007

TLC, the "Sheffield Knives" brand name used by Home Depot has no connection to the English city of the same name. They are imported by Great Neck tools in NY. I recall that there was a news item on the radio while I was in the UK (I think it was in '95) that expressed strong displeasure at the city government for allowing the use of the city's name on non-English products.

Grebo Guru · May 8, 2007

They used to tell a story when I was growing up (in England, not that far from Sheffield) that the Japanese 'created' a city called Sheffield so they could stamp 'Made in Sheffield' on their products. Only problem, they spelled it Shefield (with just the one 'f').

I've never been able to verify it - it sounds like an urban myth (it has that racist element). The point is, at the time, Japanese products were so poorly made that most people in England would baulk at 'Made in Japan' on a knife and get the Sheffield-made one. Now it's the other way around.

It's interesting - well, horifying actually - that companies can buy the rights to the name of a geographic location (in this case, Sheffield) so it appears the product is something it is not.

Will Power · May 8, 2007

This knife of mine is a Wright, made in Sheffield and distributed by a website called sheffield-made.com and the quality of this knife is abysmal, the poorest I've seen so far....Still waiting for a reply from the distributor.

parkman21 · May 8, 2007

I am English and some might say that I am bound to side with an English
cutler. That would be wrong; I have myself criticised Sheffield UK knives
elsewhere. Fit and finish can be very poor indeed and I have raged at some
of the cr*p I have been sent.

But I am amazed to learn that A. Wright sent you a poor knife. They have
sold me some very fine slippies. I hope this was a genuine mistake, maybe
someone sent you a reject in error, and not an indication of where they are
going (i.e.: down the pan like most UK manufacturers.)

Good luck and I hope the matter is resolved to your satisfaction.

Will Power · May 9, 2007

I am originally English too and that's why I fancied a Sheffield knife.I remember having a couple of old knives at home when I was a kid, tortoiseshell scales and bone that were very nice indeed.Those days are long gone I'm afraid,this knife I've got is below any minimum.Still not heard from the supplier:thumbdn:

Yosemite Sam · May 10, 2007

Grebo Guru said:
They used to tell a story when I was growing up (in England, not that far from Sheffield) that the Japanese 'created' a city called Sheffield so they could stamp 'Made in Sheffield' on their products. Only problem, they spelled it Shefield (with just the one 'f').

I've never been able to verify it - it sounds like an urban myth (it has that racist element). The point is, at the time, Japanese products were so poorly made that most people in England would baulk at 'Made in Japan' on a knife and get the Sheffield-made one. Now it's the other way around.

It's interesting - well, horifying actually - that companies can buy the rights to the name of a geographic location (in this case, Sheffield) so it appears the product is something it is not.

I've heard exactly the same thing about "Usa, Japan" (pronounced "Ooossa") after WWII. Turns out that wasn't quite the case, but I could see it happening, especially today with the afore-mentioned "name selling".

-- Sam

A. G. Russell · May 10, 2007

ParaGlock said:
I've heard exactly the same thing about "Usa, Japan" (pronounced "Ooossa") after WWII. Turns out that wasn't quite the case, but I could see it happening, especially today with the afore-mentioned "name selling".

-- Sam

Sheffield has been at the bottom of a deep dark pit for a long time. Today Japan is near the top of the knifemaking heap but is fast losing ground as the young people are leaving for the big city in droves.

How many years before China will be famous for something besides a cheap price?

rebeltf · May 11, 2007

How many years before China will be famous for something besides a cheap price?

IMHO prety soon.
I own a variety of knives , variety of brands made in a variety of countries.
My Marbles Slipjoint is a fine example of what the Chinese can do if they choose to , marvelous F&F , perfect heft and feel , user sharp OOTB and just an all around beautiful knife , toss in the fact that I paid about $25 with shipping and it is one heck of a deal.

I hope my statement is not taken as a knock against any other knife companies or makers because it is not meant that way.

Will Power · May 11, 2007

No it's not!

Just a statement of fact. Are ALL Marbles' knives made in China now? How about those axes, the N0.4, 5 etc?

freezergeezer · May 11, 2007

rebeltf said:
IMHO prety soon.
I own a variety of knives , variety of brands made in a variety of countries.
My Marbles Slipjoint is a fine example of what the Chinese can do if they choose to , marvelous F&F , perfect heft and feel , user sharp OOTB and just an all around beautiful knife , toss in the fact that I paid about $25 with shipping and it is one heck of a deal.

I hope my statement is not taken as a knock against any other knife companies or makers because it is not meant that way.

I just wish most of the (few remaining) British companies would give something approacing that f&f. :C

Will Power · May 16, 2007

Now I received a very pleasant and conciliatory e-mail from the supplier.Expressing shock at my misfortune and surprise but no crap excuses. When you consider the knife sells for about 44 dollars it OUGHT to be acceptable, Case make sodbusters for less. He offered a replacement and compensation! Not bad, but I will be satisfied with a workable knife, I may post some pictures of the replacement.

T. Erdelyi · May 16, 2007

I had a similar experience in Wale I bought an English Jack with the same blade, F&F were terrible but I had to have a Sheffield knife.

Ipaid about 15 pounds back then for it now I sold it for half that on EBay.

Live and learn.