Stan Shaw, Steven Cocker, and the Kelham Island Museum

[herder]

Great news for those of us who have a passion or even mild interest for Sheffield knives. While Stan Shaw’s work area will remain a permanent display at the Kelham Island Museum in Sheffield, England, another young and very talented knife maker will be setting up shop also in the museum. That fellow is Steven Cocker who was a friend of Stan’s and will be making both folding and fixed blade knives entirely by hand as Stan did. And to put some icing on that cake, some of those knives will bear the Joseph Rodgers and George Wostenholm stamps. I was quite fortunate to have visited the Kelham Island Museum some years ago and was given a wonderful tour by Jack Black. I hope to return in the near future and would highly recommend a visit to anyone considering it. We had a great chat with Steven Cocker on the latest “Catch Bit Show” podcast. Check it out for some very interesting Sheffield cutlery information.

 

[Jack Black]

Well, that is good news I can see files I gave Stan in that pile, and there's an old Pruner blade that Stan was fitting to a knife for Duncan Campbellclanman The best of luck to Steve, and I hope the flagstones of the floor outside don't cause him the same problems as Stan as he gets older. I hope he'll be at Kelham Island a long time

 

[Campbellclanman]

My knife!!! ( Thank you Jack) In a way- how cool is it that a Pruner Stan was halfway through - that was going to land in my hands one day, is still sitting on Stan's Bench, you know... maybe one day someone will use that knife in the future- honestly is a fascinating feeling for me, which brings back fantastic memories of Sue, myself and Jack spending the morning with Stan - what a lovely guy Stan was, it really stuck with the three of us, and the friendship that Jack and Stan had.

Steven Cocker on the CATCH BIT PODCAST was a great listen, and it must be just awesome for Steve to be able to be in the surroundings.

What a neat Thread Neal, Thank you for sharing this great news, the tradition goes on!

 

[BrotherJim]

That really is great news, both for preserving Sheffield’s legendary cutlery tradition and for those who appreciate fine craftsmanship.
The fact that Stan Shaw's work area will remain a permanent display is already a meaningful tribute to his legacy.
Now with Steven Cocker continuing the craft within the same space and having been a friend of Stan’s, it creates a rare kind of living heritage.
Having Steven there is a fitting way to honor the past while keeping it alive in the present. The bar is set high for Steven.

That workshop at Kelham Island Industrial Museum has a history of renowned and respected occupants.
Graham Clayton was just such a man. He entered the trade in 1959, aged 15, as an apprentice spring-knife cutler at George Wostenholm.
During the latter stages of his career his workshop was at Kelham Island Industrial Museum, where he worked alongside one of the last grinders, Rowland Swinden.
However, by the early 1990s Swinden had retired and Graham Clayton had abandoned knifemaking.
His workshop at Kelham Island Museum was later occupied by Stan Shaw. Graham Clayton passed away on 16 November 2020, aged 76.

I have a Pearl-handled Gunboat Canoe on the way to me, produced by Graham Clayton's House of Coutel and in excellent to mint condition.
Maybe one of these days if the stars are aligned, I'll have a Stan Shaw piece. I've seen a couple available but not pull trigger worthy (to me) ... yet.
Their work, in a Sheffield league of its own: precision, heritage, and a kind of soulful craftsmanship that’s hard to replicate.

BIG Canoe from Graham Clayton: Size closed 4 7/8 inches, open 7 3/4 inches
Age: Circa Pre 1985
Shipping right now says will be in my hands by Jun 23rd.

 

[herder]

Thanks Jack and neat to see your gifted files on Stan's bench. I hope Steven is light on his feet while on those flagstones.

Duncan, while it would have been nice to have received that finished pruner, it's almost better that it remains a part of Stan's exhibit.

BrotherJim, thanks for the added information, and that is a beautiful knife produced by Graham Clayton on its way to you.

Here is a nice picture of Stan examining the Rodgers Year knife.
And a second picture shows the incredible work that Steven Cocker is capable of, a fantastic horseman model.

 

[Campbellclanman]

I agree Herder, I stated that a while ago that it was kind of cool that the Knife will (hopefully) stay on that bench, unfortunately someone one day with the uncaring and no knowledge will end up sweeping it all up into a bin, it has happened more than once, so having Steven in there who knows the significance of every small detail in that shop is kind of special- everything is safe and in good hands - for now!

 

[waynorth]

It's great that there is someone to take up the reins from Stan!!

 

[btb01]

Good to hear that there will be a cutler working at the museum again! I was fortunate enough to tour Kelham Island Museum with Jack Black back around Christmas 2018. Definitely worth a visit! Unfortunately Stan wasn’t in the day we were there, so I didn’t get a chance to meet him or watch him work, but it was cool to see his workshop, along with everything else at the museum.

 

[waynorth]

Good to hear that there will be a cutler working at the museum again! I was fortunate enough to tour Kelham Island Museum with Jack Black back around Christmas 2018. Definitely worth a visit! Unfortunately Stan wasn’t in the day we were there, so I didn’t get a chance to meet him or watch him work, but it was cool to see his workshop, along with everything else at the museum.

Nice pics, Barrett!! Sorry you missed meeting Stan Shaw!!

To celebrate the good news about the keeping of history, here is an Ibberson knife with pre-ban handles, made by Stan Shaw, in 1974 when he worked for Ibberson!!!!
Note Stan's initials, and the year stamped into the liner!! The artist signs his work!!
(scratches on the scanner, not the knife!!)

 

[btb01]

Nice pics, Barrett!! Sorry you missed meeting Stan Shaw!!

To celebrate the good news about the keeping of history, here is an Ibberson knife with pre-ban handles, made by Stan Shaw, in 1974 when he worked for Ibberson!!!!View attachment 2902187View attachment 2902188View attachment 2902189View attachment 2902190
Note Stan's initials, and the year stamped into the liner!! The artist signs his work!!
(scratches on the scanner, not the knife!!)

Thanks, Charlie!

I borrowed a different pic of the liner stamp on your Stan Shaw Ibberson to send to Eric Albers last year as an example for the stamp I asked him to do on the 2024 Guardians Lambsfoot.

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks Jack and neat to see your gifted files on Stan's bench. I hope Steven is light on his feet while on those flagstones.

I sure hope so!

Here is a nice picture of Stan examining the Rodgers Year knife.
And a second picture shows the incredible work that Steven Cocker is capable of, a fantastic horseman model.

View attachment 2900614

That's a great photo In addition to fitting a few extra blades, Stan took that knife apart TWICE for cleaning. He said he had never cut himself so much, every blade was razor-sharp!

View attachment 2900628

Lovely work

Good to hear that there will be a cutler working at the museum again! I was fortunate enough to tour Kelham Island Museum with Jack Black back around Christmas 2018. Definitely worth a visit! Unfortunately Stan wasn’t in the day we were there, so I didn’t get a chance to meet him or watch him work, but it was cool to see his workshop, along with everything else at the museum.

A great day Barrett

 

[SteveC]

Great news indeed !

 

[herder]

Campbellclanman and waynorth, I couldn't agree more.

btb01, wonderful pictures that brings back great memories of touring Sheffield with Jack!!!

waynorth, that's a stunning Ibberson example made by Stan. Beautiful knife with equally beautiful filework.

btb01, nice way to pay a little tribute to Stan with your Lambfoot markings.

Jack, it just amazes me that Stan not only worked on the Year knife, but also had it apart (twice)
It made me chuckle to hear that Stan had cut himself on that knife more than any other knife.
But really not surprising considering all those blades...

SteveC, yes.

Another picture of Stan (This may have been from Jack?)
I love seeing all the tools and knife parts.