Thread: Sheffield knifemaker mester

Wasn't sure where best to post this link, but thought this forum might be most appropriate. Interesting audio slideshow on a fast-disappearing livelihood. I wonder if the term 'Mester' has the same etymology as 'Mastro' in Italy (as in Mastro Livi)?

Disappearing acts: Making a Sheffield pocket knife | Money | guardian.co.uk

Very interesting. Thanks for posting.

I didn't know the term "mester", but being latin myself, I believe that "Maestro" Livi is the same as "Master" Livi, someone who has a great deal of experience and can pass his wisdom.

Originally Posted by majurey

Wasn't sure where best to post this link, but thought this forum might be most appropriate. Interesting audio slideshow on a fast-disappearing livelihood. I wonder if the term 'Mester' has the same etymology as 'Mastro' in Italy (as in Mastro Livi)?

Disappearing acts: Making a Sheffield pocket knife | Money | guardian.co.uk

German meaning "Master". I'm not sure if the etymological differences though, as I've seen Meister used both respectfully and perhaps mocking context.

Interesting article.

Originally Posted by majurey

Wasn't sure where best to post this link, but thought this forum might be most appropriate. Interesting audio slideshow on a fast-disappearing livelihood. I wonder if the term 'Mester' has the same etymology as 'Mastro' in Italy (as in Mastro Livi)?

In Danish, "mester" means master or champion. Surely, it's grounded in the same latin word as in many other languages.

I'm sure the other posters are correct: the word-root is common to many anglo/saxon/teutonic languages. A "little mester" is sheffield dialect word for a master craftsman practising his trade on a small scale though. Just out of interest, here are a few more old sheffield trade words, courtesy of the the sheffieldforum.co.uk


Bull Week – The week before Christmas when cutlers "bulled" at work – worked overtime or made an extra effort at work to earn extra money.

Chavel – To chew or fray a rope or band

Click howd – To catch hold of anything.

Clout – a cloth used for wiping knives clean.

Choil – depart in a great hurry.

Cuckoos – Faulty work. When a man has faulty work returned he is greeted with cries of “cuckoo” from his mates.

Dollop – a lot, large number of articles.

Gobbed-on – Soldered on; The expression is said to arisen because men used to spit (gob) on an article frequently as they soldered it; but it may also be a term of contempt indicating that it may just be stuck together with spit.

Kelt – money.

Knobstick – a blackleg or non-union workman, also a man who hadn’t served an apprenticeship.

Little Mester – a Master Cutler working on his own.

Rammel – refuse of any kind.

Skerrick - a morsel of something.

Regards,
Neil

I would volunteer to be an apprentice in a minute. Thanks for the post.

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Kelt – money.
Regards,
Neil

I'm guessing this has links to the German for money: Geld. Maybe it migrated to Sheffield's cutlery industries as a result of some Sheffield/Solingen work experience/cultural visits amongst artisans?

Are there any U.S. suppliers that sell Trevor Ablett Sheffield's pocket knives? Thanks

Originally Posted by majurey

I'm guessing this has links to the German for money: Geld. Maybe it migrated to Sheffield's cutlery industries as a result of some Sheffield/Solingen work experience/cultural visits amongst artisans?

It probably did come from the German, but a bit earlier in time. Oh, around the saxon invasion would be my guess.

I live in Sheffield and have been to see Trevor a few times and I have a small collection of his knives. He is always very friendly and welcoming when you go to see him. After watching him make his knives I have no idea how he does it for the money after he has paid all his overheads. I talked to him about an apprentice once and he said that he has asked Sheffield City Council if they would pay the apprentice while he was training and they said no. He can’t afford to train and fund an apprentice because the cost would be too high. Once there were hundreds of little mesters in Sheffield I think that Trevor and Bill are the last one’s still working. Bill who works with him makes Bowie Knives and commando daggers. But he is in his eighties and doesn’t make that many knives anymore; saying that Trevor is in his sixties and has partly retired he only works 5 days a week now. That was a comment that he said last time I saw him. With regards buying his knives he doesn’t advertise however there is a web site that sells his knives. I asked Trevor about straight razors last time I went to see him and he said that when he was an apprentice you did every job in the factory and learned your skill that way. If one of the little mesters took a shine to you they would take you under their wing and finish your training. Because of this Trevor only pinned straights not made or ground them.
http://www.sheffield-cutlery.com/pocketknife.html

I hope that I am not braking any rule by putting that web site up if I am I’m sorry and will take it down. I have never bought from this web site and have no idea if they are any good. I just know they sell Trevors knives