What’s going on in Sheffield?

[JTB_5]

Forgive me if this topic has been discussed in another thread; my search didn’t yield any results.

I recently saw that Eggington Group is launching a new website and will be selling traditional knife patterns through it.

I wonder if any of our English friends have any further details about this development? Is there a new joint collaboration going on with the Sheffield companies? Has a large corporation bought them all out? Should we expect improved quality of the kind that made Sheffield famous for their knives?

Any information is greatly appreciated!

 

[mrknife]

paging Jack Black

 

[screened porch]

The Eggington group has owned most of the Sheffield names for a while, is my understanding.

 

[Jack Black]

Eggington bought up a bunch of old Sheffield 'names' (Joseph Rodgers, Ibberson, Wostenholm, etc), when they were going for a song in the early 80's. They previously had a pretty old-fashioned website, and just sold to the trade. The old gaffer, Ron Brookes, retired a few years ago, and his son stepped in, also running his own outfit, Sheffield Collectible Knives (managed to find his business card at the back of my desk drawer). This just sounds like a modernisation, but if they are now selling retail, it means that referencing them or their website puts posters in danger of breaking the sub-forum guidelines, since they do not support BF

 

[Alex.Y.]

For the information purposes. From their newsletter:

In the dark days of the 1980s, it was in our interests to save as many famous “Made in Sheffield” brands as possible, ensuring not just their survival, but their continued manufacture in the city they were born.

Egginton are the indisputable owners and exclusive manufacturers of edge tool brands still made using almost identical craft skills and techniques that were used in 1682, 1787, 1830, 1872 and 1873.

Heritage brands manufactured in Sheffield by Egginton:

 

[Jack Black]

For the information purposes. From their newsletter:

Thanks Alex

In the dark days of the 1980s, it was in our interests to save as many famous “Made in Sheffield” brands as possible, ensuring not just their survival, but their continued manufacture in the city they were born.

True (my emphasis)!

Egginton are the indisputable owners and exclusive manufacturers of edge tool brands still made using almost identical craft skills and techniques that were used in 1682, 1787, 1830, 1872 and 1873.

Absolute codswallop!

View attachment 2314213

They own all those names, and at least one more. Have got them made where they can over the years. There is no direct connection to the companies of old

 

[Jack Black]

Here's the old Eggington factory, when they were a manufacturer (but not of knives)...

They moved here in the 80's, but it's primarily warehousing/offices, with knives made off-site.

 

[SteveC]

Oops wrong thread !

 

[Alex.Y.]

Absolute codswallop!

There is no direct connection to the companies of old

That's what I thought (and maybe already knew) a few years back when I managed to order a couple of Rodgers' directly from them. They sold them to me because models I was after weren't present at any their dealers (I never heard of any of their dealers actually), a Barlow and a jack. Overall they are pretty good, but not fully matching their price, I would say. I got me a simple plain steel handled Rodgers jack from HH, and that one was great for it's price (like 15GBP or less).



Suitable subject for engraving practice too.

Here's the old Eggington factory, when they were a manufacturer (but not of knives)...

They moved here in the 80's, but it's primarily warehousing/offices, with knives made off-site.

Thanks for the pictures!

 

[Jack Black]

That's what I thought (and maybe already knew) a few years back when I managed to order a couple of Rodgers' directly from them. They sold them to me because models I was after weren't present at any their dealers (I never heard of any of their dealers actually), a Barlow and a jack. Overall they are pretty good, but not fully matching their price, I would say. I got me a simple plain steel handled Rodgers jack from HH, and that one was great for it's price (like 15GBP or less).

View attachment 2314302

Suitable subject for engraving practice too.
View attachment 2314304



Thanks for the pictures!

Quality is bound to vary, because they've used so many different jobbing cutlers over the years, and even other firms (eg A. Wright & Son). They have certainly exploited the reputations of the old Sheffield firms, reputations they had absolutely no part in creating, and exploited them rather shamelessly Nice engraving

 

[JTB_5]

Eggington bought up a bunch of old Sheffield 'names' (Joseph Rodgers, Ibberson, Wostenholm, etc), when they were going for a song in the early 80's. They previously had a pretty old-fashioned website, and just sold to the trade. The old gaffer, Ron Brookes, retired a few years ago, and his son stepped in, also running his own outfit, Sheffield Collectible Knives (managed to find his business card at the back of my desk drawer). This just sounds like a modernisation, but if they are now selling retail, it means that referencing them or their website puts posters in danger of breaking the sub-forum guidelines, since they do not support BF

For the information purposes. From their newsletter:

View attachment 2314213

Thanks for the info Jack and Alex. I was hoping it was a revival, but it looks to be a reboot of what it has been. I'll close the thread so we don't end up in the rule breaking territory. Thanks again!