Samuel Horrabin was first listed in 1817 as a pen and pocket kinife maker in Hawley Croft. By 1822, he was based in Scotland Street. By 1833, Samuel had been joined by his younger brother, William. Besides manufacturing pocket knives and sportsman's knives, they were also merchants. Their address was Red Hill Works, Radford Street.
The trademark was a picture of a Phoenix. In 1840s, the company had a New York office in John Street, through which Horrabin's marketed pocket knives and Bowies. In 1851, the firm employed 45 men - a number that had risen to 60 or 70 men by 1861. The brothers evidently prospered: William lived at Western Villa, Western Bank; Samuel at Arlingon Villa, Broomfield. Samuel died on 9 January 1874, aged 66. William died on 14 January 1878, aged 78.
W. & S. Horrabin was listed at Red Hill Works until the 1880s, when the business moved to Argyle Works in nearby Hollis Croft. It was liquidated in 1884, when the owners were Samuel Horrabin (William's son, born c.1830) and Maurice Bocking. The Phoenix mark was then used by John Baker in Wheeldon Street
William & Samuel Horrabin, Sheffield.