Durham-Duplex are delighted to announce the acquisition of the hand knife division of Egginton Brothers Ltd including the Joseph Rodgers, George Wolstenholm, William Rodgers and George Ibberson trademarks. An important part of the acquisition is the 9 person manufacturing team who have now joined the company to ensure that the skills required to produce these hand knives are preserved. As a former Master Cutler the Managing Director, Charles Turner, said “I am delighted to expand our hand knife manufacturing here in Sheffield and grow our business within this new market sector. Some of these brands date back to the 17th and 18th Century and all share our ethos of quality products. Whilst the manufacturing routes for penknives, Bowie knives, Fairburn-Sykes Commando daggers and other hand knives is different to our normal industrial blade and machine knife processes there is a lot of overlap in techniques, so it is important that we assimilate the products, maximise the reach of these heritage brands and grow this business to the benefit of all.”
The acquired trademarks represent many of the greatest knife makers from Sheffield’s history and the oldest, Joseph Rodgers, was granted by the Company of Cutlers in 1682. This adds another layer of history onto the story of Durham-Duplex who started manufacturing in Sheffield in 1910 so understands the quality association behind these heritage brands. Products will be added to the website shortly and more details will be made available as we finalise the absorption.
For more information on Acquisition of a heritage hand knife business talk to Durham-Duplex