Our aims: This project sought to elicit the expert knowledge of traditional Sheffield knifemakers and develop learning materials to support a new generation of creative metalworkers whose interests lie in adapting traditional skills to new craft practices.
Sheffield was once the centre of the UK’s knife making industry but this has now declined to the point where only a few master craftsmen remain, although there are people interested in preserving and learning such skills.
Who was involved: Co-researchers were contemporary Sheffield knifemaker
Dr Grace Horne and multimedia designer
Dr Nicola Wood, with the support of
Professor Chris Rust. Several craft experts who specialise in making folding knives participated in the project and we were also granted unique access to two very different folding knife manufacturers. The research was carried out at Sheffield Hallam University and funded by the Arts & Humanities Research Council.
More details: craft experts,
knife manufacturers
What we achieved: Working with a group of enthusiastic amateur knife makers as learners, we developed an online resource to disseminate the skill of making folding knives. The success of the online learning resource is reflected in the knives made by the craft learners during this period. Not only were they able to undertake techniques they had previously been unable to grasp, but the knives they made demonstrated the high level of personal creativity that was also stimulated.
More details: the learners and the knives they made, a public version of the learning materials
This research had an unexpected outcome. It has indicated that well-motivated learners, with access to an online peer support network, can use these learning materials to advance as craftsmen with no traditional instruction at all. This was not anticipated because the working assumption of the research has been that multimedia materials would always be a complement to traditional forms of instruction.
