Stan Shaw -Sheffield Cutler and 'Little Mester' An Illustrated Talk by Andy Kershaw

Stan Shaw died at the age 94 in 2021 was Sheffield’s pre-eminent pocket-knife maker, and his career spanned almost 80 years.
He was the last of the so called ‘Little Mesters’ (self-employed master craftsmen who made Sheffield famous for handmade or finished cutlery, saws, edge tools, scythes and instruments)
Following work at a number of large Sheffield cutlery companies and unwilling to retire at 57, he rented an old workshop and, helped by his wife Rosemary, he became an independent cutler (or “Little Mester”). With no co-workers, Stan had to master the gamut of traditional pocket-knife making skills himself, including grinding, hardening and tempering, fashioning the handles in pearl, ivory, horn, or wood, and assembling the parts into a a smoothly functioning end product.
His exhibition knives – entirely handmade in silver, gold, or platinum – are astonishing creations, though he was as happy making everyday pocket knives. His order book eventually became very full, which was fine, because he had a fierce work ethic. Throughout his career Stan made knives for customers around the world and made special knives for HM the late Queen Elizabeth II, HMS Sheffield, a number of Master Cutlers and celebrities such as Elvis Presley’s Tour Manager and Band Members along with Richard Hawley and Buddy Holly’s backing band In 2003 he became a Freeman of the Company of Cutlers in South Yorkshire and he was awarded the BEM in 2017. Some of Stan's knives will be on show at this talk.

Timings & Tours

Wednesday 17 September:

7.30pm to 8.45pm

Location & directions

Kenwood Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S7 1NQ

Directions:

Kenwood Hall is now a hotel and it is the home of the former Sheffield Master Cutler George Wolstenhom

Contact on day:

Chris Venables

Telephone number:

+447950432487

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

Additional information

This is organised by the Nether Edge Local History Group.

Max no of people per tour:

60

Est. tour duration:

1 hour(s) 45 minute(s)

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