Who makes the best lambsfoot knife in sheffield?

BJE

BJE

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Apr 12, 2006
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With all the lambsfoot threads lately, my interest has been sparked by this simple looking knife and I want one :D. Looking online it seems there are several manufacturers that make this knife in sheffield, and of course they all claim to be the best or the oldest, or pay the most attention to detail, so of those of you that have eperience with this pattern, which brand do you recommend?
I could really see this pattern appealing to me, I like simple single blade folders and prefer wood handles, plus that lambsfoot looks like it would be very useful.
Not to mention whenever I go to the pub for fish and chips, and a pint of course, this pattern would make the experience feel more proper ;).

I have seen
Joseph Rogers
Taylor's Eye Witness
Arthur Wrights of Sheffield

Been trying to trade for one on the exchange, but no luck so far, looks like I will have to buy one when the money presents itself, if I can figure out the price, the non-american dollar confuses me, are they british pounds or euros? I don't know the difference or how to tell the characters apart :o.

BTW: do you englishmen ever eat your fish and chips with hot sauce, or is that an american thing?
 
Hi there BJE! :D

Interesting question. Historically, many Sheffield knives were produced by small cutlers, 'little mesters', who were effectively self-employed, and paid for their work by the large cutlers on a 'piece work' basis. The practice is still very much in evidence, and I think the larger existing cutlers buy almost all their work in. I've also long suspected that many of the blades are machine-ground using the same patterns, possibly even in the same place!

Taylor's do some nice up-market Lambsfoot knives, though personally I think they're overpriced. One of their cutlers also produces his own knives at even fancier prices. Their less expensive knives I think are bought in, and are essentially the same as the Rodgers and Arthur Wright knives. I can't speak for the present, but in the past their QC was a bit better than the others, and it's a historic firm, which hasn't just had its name sold on (eg Wostenholm, Rodgers), even if their once great factory is little more than a shell today. Recently Taylors have 'produced' a plastic handled budget line, the provenance of which I find questionable.

The Joseph Rodgers knives are sold by the Eggington Group from another factory that is essentialy no longer a factory (as Taylors). Since they don't make them themselves, you could very well get the same knife with a different stamp. Quality is very variable and QC practically non-existant - about the same as just about every other contemperary Sheffield non-cutom knife unfortunately.

There's Trevor Ablett, an ageing 'little mester', now using his own mark. His knives also vary in quality, the grinds in particular have been criticised here. He uses machine-ground blades much the same as the others, with the knives finished by hand, also much like the others. They're a little bit pricier, but cosmetically nicer than most.

I've had a couple of nice Arthur Wright Lambsfoot knives, but I had to sort through an awful lot of duffs to find them. If you get lucky, they're a nice knife, and with some work the blade will take a good edge. I've never been to the Wright works, but I understand old Mr Wright, who is in his 80's, still works there

Unless you want to spend some big money on one of the fancy Taylors, which will have essentially the same blade as the rest, but perhaps with some file work, I'd be inclined to suggest Trevor Ablett, or failing that, Arthur Wright or Taylors.

Prices will be in £ (Pounds) Sterling I imagine, but I don't know which site you're looking at. Feel free to PM me if I can help.

In Sheffield we have Henderson's Relish on our chips, though I quite like Tony's ;)

Jack
 
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I figured you would chime in jack black, being the resident Sheffield expert and all. Thank you for that info.
I may pm you once I get some money saved to get your opinion on the best place to purchase from.
That is quite odd to me that the knife companies don't make their own knives but I guess it benefit the small local guys doing it that way.

I have eaten relish on fish sandwiches and it was good, but never tried it without the bread. I thought you guys used malt vinegar on your fish and chips (also tasty), glad I asked.
 
Thanks Jack for your most educating review, it is sad how things got in Sheffield, once a world center of cutlery.
If I might add from my modest experience, I had 2 of Trevor Ablett's sheepfoot knives and they were fine with no problems. I had also a Russell White's warenclieffe (sp?) jack which was much better than Ablett, Russell is an ex-cutler at Taylor's (he also sells kits which I have no experience with).
I had A. Wright sheepfoot which was awful knife in terms of grind and f&f. I avoided purchasing one of Taylor's due to their overpriced knives (in terms of pounds!)

Mike
 
BJE said:
I figured you would chime in jack black, being the resident Sheffield expert and all. Thank you for that info.
I may pm you once I get some money saved to get your opinion on the best place to purchase from.
That is quite odd to me that the knife companies don't make their own knives but I guess it benefit the small local guys doing it that way.

I have eaten relish on fish sandwiches and it was good, but never tried it without the bread. I thought you guys used malt vinegar on your fish and chips (also tasty), glad I asked.
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I don't know about 'expert', but I've had some experience with many of the big Sheffield cutlers, and some of the smaller ones too. I'll be happy to send you some links by PM. Yes, salt and malt vinegar are the regular condiments for fish n chips here :)

Woodrow F Call said:
Let me know if you need some more. :D

BTW, Good info. I might look at an upscale one in the future.
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Thanks pal. I actually just had some on some chips! :)

mike Berkovitch said:
Thanks Jack for your most educating review, it is sad how things got in Sheffield, once a world center of cutlery.
If I might add from my modest experience, I had 2 of Trevor Ablett's sheepfoot knives and they were fine with no problems. I had also a Russell White's warenclieffe (sp?) jack which was much better than Ablett, Russell is an ex-cutler at Taylor's (he also sells kits which I have no experience with).
I had A. Wright sheepfoot which was awful knife in terms of grind and f&f. I avoided purchasing one of Taylor's due to their overpriced knives (in terms of pounds!)

Mike
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Thanks Mike. Looks like you've had a thorough turn of Sheffield cutlers yourself. Yes, it's a shame the way things have gone in Sheffield.

I shall be visiting the Kelham Island Industrial Museum in Sheffield this week, so hopefully I can take a few pics :)
 
I think the Ablett lambsfoot is a nice knife for the money. These older A Wright and Sons knives are decent quality IMO. I don't know about the recently made knives. I hope the photos are of interest.

ablett009-3.jpg

27-07015-1.jpg

14-10-07007.jpg
 
Trying to get a sense of the lambsfoot shape, I guess I would describe it to myself as a tapered sheepsfoot. It sounds like I don't want to buy one unless I can find an old one.
Maybe I can find a regular jack to modify.
Should the blade back be in a straight line with the backspring when open, or does it drop some?
 
scrteened porch said:
Trying to get a sense of the lambsfoot shape, I guess I would describe it to myself as a tapered sheepsfoot. It sounds like I don't want to buy one unless I can find an old one.
Maybe I can find a regular jack to modify.
Should the blade back be in a straight line with the backspring when open, or does it drop some?
Click to expand...

 
smiling-knife said:
I think the Ablett lambsfoot is a nice knife for the money. These older A Wright and Sons knives are decent quality IMO. I don't know about the recently made knives. I hope the photos are of interest.

ablett009-3.jpg

27-07015-1.jpg

14-10-07007.jpg
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These are decent lookers s-k !

I have an Ablett, single blade Barlow in stag. It needed work on arrival...e.g. load of brass shards in the liners, very stiff W&T probably related to the brass shards and poor edge. After a through rubbing in the liners with emery, lots of oil and a good sharpening this has turned into a very likeable decent knife that gets used. I'm sure his Lambsfoot is well worth considering.

Enviable stag on that older Wright. The horn one I got a couple of years ago is a foul knife, abysmal quality and it's a replacement for a knife that was actually marginally better! Weird krinked single blade...gaps you should mind...horn peeling and pins protruding enough to need filing, spring that makes GEC look wimpish! Can honestly say this is the worst quality knife I've ever had, which is a pity looking at the older ones.
 
willgoy said:
Enviable stag on that older Wright. The horn one I got a couple of years ago is a foul knife, abysmal quality and it's a replacement for a knife that was actually marginally better! Weird krinked single blade...gaps you should mind...horn peeling and pins protruding enough to need filing, spring that makes GEC look wimpish! Can honestly say this is the worst quality knife I've ever had, which is a pity looking at the older ones.
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A pity indeed. I've not seen a recently-made Wright in horn that WASN'T a mess. The bone seems to be better, but as with the rosewood, I'd only want to buy these knives over the counter. I was very lucky, I think, to get a decent Wright Lambsfoot in rosewood, but they're rare. Not that I think the other Sheffield cutlers turn out better work, sadly for the most part, they don't. A crying shame.
 
Trevor Ablett

Lovely knives and great users
But
I found the F&F to be very hit and miss

The Sheepsfoot was good
The Barlow, Ettrick & Pruner, and the 'Spear & Lambsfoot' were all off, too off for the price.
But given these are the work of a man in his setting years from an industry that has set, I am pleased to have them for their 'sentimental' value
 
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It is very unfortunate to hear of the poor QC, makes me apprehensive about ordering one online. I really want one like the one in jack blacks last pic, it sure is one beautiful knife.

I prefer the wood to the horn I think, I like the warmth and tact of wood over bone or horn, and I don't like carrying bone handled folders to work, I am a mechanic and the shop floor is concrete, greasy hands and concrete floor means lots of possibility for dropped folders and cracked bone. I have dropped my opinel countless times on the floor but no damage done, makes me leery to buy knives with fancier bolsters or covers.
 
BJE said:
It is very unfortunate to hear of the poor QC, makes me apprehensive about ordering one online. I really want one like the one in jack blacks last pic, it sure is one beautiful knife.

I prefer the wood to the horn I think, I like the warmth and tact of wood over bone or horn, and I don't like carrying bone handled folders to work, I am a mechanic and the shop floor is concrete, greasy hands and concrete floor means lots of possibility for dropped folders and cracked bone. I have dropped my opinel countless times on the floor but no damage done, makes me leery to buy knives with fancier bolsters or covers.
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I was very lucky to find that one I think, despite a lot of searching I don't think I've come across one quite as nice since. There's a shop in Sheffield that does mail order, both ScruffUK and I have had good experience with them. I can VM you a link if you'd like?

I also like wood for this pattern.

scrteened porch said:
Jack's swayback pic has convinced me to convert a surplus hawksbill.
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Look forward to seeing the result Jer :thumbup:

Few more open shots:





 
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