Stan Shaw the last of Sheffield's "Little Mesters" passed away on 26th February 2020 after almost 80 years of manufacturing the most exquisitely beautiful, hand-made pen and pocket knives for rock stars, royalty and the general public.

Stan started a seven year apprenticeship in 1939 with one of the largest firms in Sheffield and after being made redundant in 1983, he became self-employed on the Government’s £40-a-week Enterprise Allowance scheme.

As his reputation grew, his order book eventually included customers from the USA, Canada, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

Stan was also a huge Elvis Presley fan and he made knives Elvis’ musicians Glen D Hardin and James Burton. It was Glen who received a Gold record for arranging the music on Elvis' hit, ‘The Wonder of You’, one of Stan’s favourites.

He also made knives for Elvis’s band members Jerry Scheff, Ronny Tutt, Gerry Alison, JB Maudlin and tour manager George Kimberley and for Sonny Costa from Buddy Holly’s Band The Crickets who visited Stan at home whenever he was in town.

He also made knives for Her majesty The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, President George Bush Snr and several of Sheffield’s Master Cutler’s. In 2003 Stan was made a Freeman of the Company of Cutlers in Sheffield and in 2016 he was awarded the BEM by The Queen.

‘The Stan Shaw Memorial Appeal’ aims to raise funds for a permanent, public memorial to Stan in his home City of Sheffield, England.

Ideas at the moment include a series of plaques and a ‘Stan Shaw Heritage Trail’ around the City ending at his last workshop in the Kelham Island Museum, where visitors could watch the master at work.

If you’d like to make a donation please go to The Stan Shaw Memorial Appeal via Just Giving:

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