Working at the heart of the UK’s steel and toolmaking industry since 1828, Robert Sorby has developed a truly global reputation for producing the finest edge tools in the world.
A world away from the ‘off-the-shelf’ items you’ll find on the high street, every Robert Sorby tool is unique, hand-finished with care and attention to detail, and guaranteed to last a lifetime. You’ll feel the difference as soon as you pick one up. Some of the techniques we use to craft our tools have remained unchanged for centuries. We’re proud to continue this manufacturing tradition from our base in the historic city of Sheffield, where we are one of the oldest hand tool manufacturers.
From the 14th to the 17th centuries, Sheffield was most famous for its knife production. In 1740, Benjamin Huntsman invented crucible steel, which quickly became the material that set Sheffield manufacturing apart. In the space of 100 years, the city went from producing 200 tonnes of steel per year to 80,000 tonnes.
In 1856, Henry Bessemer created a converter process which enabled the mass production of hard, durable steel, which was perfect for hand-crafted tools.
The move came alongside investment in new machinery and an improved working environment for our team. These exciting changes demonstrate our commitment to growth, continued innovation and a long future for Robert Sorby.