The Littlemester  'nest'.
Littlemesters of Sheffield 

Traditional English Pocketknives 
& Large Bowies

By definition, a little mester is a master cutler working on his own, but in a rented room in a factory, paying his own rent and dealing through a factor (wholesale or manufacturer), the system on which  the Sheffield cutlery industry was built up.    Reference:  A Glossary of Words & Dialect Formerly Used in the Sheffield Trades. 

By good fortune, in 2004 we uncovered two Littlemesters still operating in an upstairs room of an old decaying brick building, a surviving relic surrounded by new generation Sheffield. Trevor Ablett, an old Sheffieldian pen & pocketknife manufacturer and Reg Cooper, Sheffield bowie maker. 

T.W.Ablett & R.Cooper.
Mr T.W.Ablett, 
specializes in pocketknives
T.W. Ablett 
Before becoming a Littlemester of Sheffield, T.W. Ablett initially learned his unique trade by working for his uncle, the cutler Emil Berek, then with cutthroat razor maker Bill Myers and finally spent 8 years at Joseph Elliot & Sons. Founded in 1795, Elliot’s were cutlery manufacturers specializing in pocketknives, kitchen knives and scissors. Trevor Ablett specializes in hand-crafting practical/collectable pocketknives.

Reg Cooper
Littlemester of Sheffield R.Cooper served his many years learning the cutling trade, which included a long term with John Clarke & Son. One of the most influential ‘fine cutlery merchants’ of the 19th & 20th centuries. In addition to producing cutthroat razors, table knives, trade knives, pocketknives and sportsman's knives, Clarke’s also manufactured large numbers of Bowie knives. Reg Cooper specializes in building big traditionally styled Bowie knives. 

Mr Reg. Cooper, 
specializes in Bowie knives
One-of-a-kind knives with an individual fingerprint, hand-made by living craftsmen of yesteryear.

For users and collectors who appreciate the look and feel of quality

T.W.Ablett Stag-handled Pocketknives
R.Cooper Large English Bowies

AKC Mail-order:  PO Box 149 Chidlow WA 6556  Australia
akc@knivesaustralia.com.au

TEL: (08) 9572 7255    International - + 61 8 9572 7255 
FAX : (08) 9572 7266  International - + 61 8 9572 7266

 How to Order: Email, phone, fax or post - but we recommend you contact us first before mailing to place your order 'on hold ' until your payment arrives. 
Payment Options: Australia: credit card (Visa or Mastercard) emailed , phoned or faxed, money orders, and cheques, or on-line banking/direct deposit (bank details provided upon request.)   International: credit card or bank draft - in Australian dollars only.
Littlemesters of Sheffield

 
 
 LittleMester T.Ablett
 
Practical-collectable 
18th century style pocketknives
by a genuine Littlemester of Sheffield, 
Mr Trevor W.Ablett
First class hand-crafted pocketknives in the ‘olde worlde’ style and fabulously functional. Mirror-polished high traditionally-shaped blades of high carbon steel and genuine stag handle scales with polished brass furnishings. Excellent mechanisms. Practical/collectable investment knives. 

Each knife is packaged in a presentation box and includes  a certificate of authenticity signed by T.W. Ablett – Littlemester of Sheffield.

The Ettrick 
Pocketknife

Ettrick 2 -blade 

Ettrick 2 -blade 

Ettrick blade 

Ettrick-style Pruner
Extended range 
of  pocketknives
for 2009

ABS-1-Bunny

ABS2 Farmworker

ABS3 Stock ‘n’ Station

ABS4 Roustabout

ABS5 Orchardist

ABS6 Farrier

ABS7 Sheepshearer

ABS8 Rodeo Rider

ABS9 Campdrafter

The Irresistible Ettrick Pocketknife. 

The Ettrick pocket knife concept may have originated in the Ettrick District of Scotland, near the English-Scottish border, a location made popular by the ‘Ettrick Shepherd’, who wrote poetry about the area in the time of Sir Walter Scott. 
Easily recognized by the distinctly different blade style and the serpentine flow of the of the handle-blade combination, the Ettrick functions as comfortably in a reverse grip as it does in the regular grip. It's the combination of special features that makes the Ettrick pocketknife such a treat to use... that also makes it a popular collectable. Mr. Ablett understands the ethos of the Ettrick pocketknife concept and it is the flagship of his extensive repertoire of practical pocketknives. 
 
AEB: 2-blade Ettrick & pruner blades 
with buffalo horn scales. 10-cm closed 

Our original model, the Ettrick 2-blade model with buffalo horn scales (underpriced at $99.00) has continued to spiral upwards in popularity since its introduction two years ago.  The distinct serpentine shaped handle and Ettrick blade - curved like a pruner, but with a straight edge - is accompanied by a peach pruner as a second blade option. 

$99.00 + $8.00 post in Australia

Click here for a closer look

AES: 2-blade Ettrick & pruner blades
with genuine stag scales.  10-cm closed 

The same 2-bladed model as the AEB with the traditional Ettrick blade and accompanied by a peach pruner as a second blade option, but with genuine stag antler scales. 

$119.00 + post $8.00 post in Australia

Click here for a closer look

AESE : The Ettrick Pocketknife
with genuine stag scales, 10-cm closed.

Superbly made single-bladed pocket knives with stag handle scales - the Ettrick pocketknife. Handsome mirror polished ready-to-use blades of high carbon European steel. Beautifully finished brass bolsters, linings and pinned handle scales. Magnificent ‘slip-lock’ mechanisms – a genuine blast from the past when Sheffield pocketknife cutlers ruled supreme!

$89.00 + $8.00 post in Australia.

Click here for a closer look

AESP : Ettrick Style Pocketknife 
with Pruner blade & genuine stag scales
10-cm closed.

This ettrick-style superbly made single-bladed pocket knife with stag handle scales carries the pruner blade.   Handsome mirror polished ready-to-use blades of high carbon European steel. Beautifully finished brass bolsters, linings and pinned handle scales. Magnificent ‘slip-lock’ mechanisms – a genuine blast from the past when Sheffield pocketknife cutlers ruled supreme!

$89.00 + $800 post in Australia.

Click here for a closer look

Extended Range of Ablett-Littlemester pocketknives 
exclusive to the AKC in Australia.

First class hand-crafted pocketknives in the ‘olde worlde’ style and fabulously functional. Mirror-polished high traditionally-shaped blades of high carbon steel and genuine stag handle scales with polished brass furnishings. Excellent mechanisms. Practical/collectable investment knives. 
ABS1 Barlow Bunny: 
Clip blade. 9-cm closed. 

$99.00 + $8.00 postage


Click here for a closer look
ABS2 Farmworker: 
Clip & Castrator. 9-cm closed. 

$139.00 + $8.00 postage


Click here for a closer look
ABS3 Stock ‘n’ Station: 
Clip & Spear. 9-cm closed. 

$139.00 + $8.00 postage


Click here for a closer look
ABS4 Roustabout: 
Clip & Lambfoot. 9-cm closed. 

$139.00 + $8.00 postage


Click here for a closer look
ABS5 Orchardist: 
4-inch Pruner. 10-cm closed. 

$119.00 + $8.00 postage


Click here for a closer look
ABS6 Farrier: 
Sheepfoot & Pruner. 9-cm closed. 

$139.00 + $8.00 postage


Click here for a closer look
ABS7 Sheepshearer: 
Sheepfoot. 9-cm closed. 

$119.00 + $8.00 postage


Click here for a closer look
ABS8 Rodeo Rider: 
Lambfoot. 8.5-cm closed. 

$109.00 + $8.00 postage


Click here for a closer look
ABS9 Campdrafter: 
Lambfoot. 9-cm closed. 

$109.00 + $8.00 postage. 


Click here for a closer look


 
 

Littlemester Reg Cooper
Practical-collectable 

Traditional English-Style Bowies

hand-made by a genuine Littlemester of Sheffield, Mr Reg. Cooper 

Littlemester of Sheffield R.Cooper served his many years learning the cutling trade, which included a long term with John Clarke & Son, one of the most influential ‘fine cutlery merchants’ of the 19th & 20th centuries. In addition to producing cutthroat razors, table knives, trade knives, pocketknives and sportsman's knives, Clarke’s also manufactured large numbers of Bowie knives. Reg Cooper specializes in building big traditionally styled Bowie knives. 
 
Each perfectly balanced massive Bowie knife is hosued in its heavy-duty high-quaity cowhide belt sheath and wighs more than 1 kilogram; a sheath-full of steel and a fist-full of grip!
LRC2: Stag scales
$679.00 + $15.00 registered post Aust.

International: shipping/postal quotes provided upon request. 


Ornate featiures include a superbly goround and mirror-polished 'back worked' blade with 'fancy-filed' tang and brass furnishings - cross guard, butt-bolster plus brass spacers and retaining pins; artistic and practical bladeware.

Limited stocks only of these stylish and faithful replications of a popular 19th century olde worlde Bowie pattern that was exported to America and throughout the British Empire. Still handmade in its country of origin ...by one of the last of the Littlemesters of Sheffield.


 
 
 
AKC Mailorder Knives 
Specialist Importers of FACTORY-MADE KNIVES, 
AUSTRALIAN KNIVES  and REGIONAL BLADEWARE.

Australasian Knife Collectors (reg 1990) - AKC Mailorder Knives
A division of Matrose Agencies Pty Ltd : ABN 31889808304

akc@knivesaustralia.com.au

AKC Mail-order:  PO Box 149 Chidlow WA 6556  Australia
TEL: (08) 9572 7255    International - + 61 8 9572 7255 
FAX : (08) 9572 7266  International - + 61 8 9572 7266

 How to Order: Email, phone, fax or post - but we recommend you contact us first before mailing to place your order 'on hold ' until your payment arrives. 
Payment Options: Australia: credit card (Visa or Mastercard) emailed , phoned or faxed, money orders, and cheques, or on-line banking/direct deposit (bank details provided upon request.)   International: credit card or bank draft - in Australian dollars only.
AKC Mailorder Knives
A.K.C. Club Home Page
AKC's Australian Knifemaking Supplies
 
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