UK makers of hand tools

[AndyT]

@Andy Kev. 's thread about hand tools you can't buy new - https://www.thewoodhaven2.co.uk/thr...which-you-would-like-to-see-made-again.11481/ - has set me thinking about the handful of companies that we do still have in the UK who make hand tools and I thought we might have a go at listing them.

I suggest we restrict ourselves to just companies who have commercial premises and routinel y make tools in the UK. (So not the hobby/part time/non-commercial makers.) And let's not confuse ourselves with familiar old brands that have been bought up by conglomerates who manufacture everything overseas but use the old names to give an impression of quality (eg Irwin-Record), although it does get complicated when you try to disentangle ownership of brand names and trade marks into the murky international waters of global commerce.

For each company, let's say what they make and link to evidence (eg a video) of their UK manufacturing.

I'll kick off with some easy ones.

Thomas Flinn & Co Ltd.

Company History - Thomas Flinn & Co

www.flinn-garlick-saws.co.uk

They make saws branded as Lynx, Pax and Dorchester, in small batches, at their factory in Sheffield, where they also make Clifton planes.

The online shop at their website lists products made by several other Sheffield companies, including:

Robert Sorby Limited

Home - Robert Sorby Ltd

Manufacturer of the highest quality woodturning tools and accessories. Proudly made in Sheffield, England UK.

robert-sorby.co.uk

They make woodworking tools including chisels, turning tools, chucks and the Pro-edge sharpening system.

Robert Sorby trace their history back to 1624, or 1828 as a manufacturer. After many changes, they were absorbed into the Spear and Jackson group of companies in 1990, which was itself acquired in 2014 by SNH Global Holdings Limited, a huge holding company with its HQ in Hong Kong. They do still manufacture in Sheffield.

Thor Hammer Company Limited

Home - Thor Hammer Company Limited

The UK's number 1 soft-faced hammers and mallets. Founded in 1923, one of the last remaining hammer manufacturers in Britain today.

www.thorhammer.com

Makers of soft faced mallets for a variety of trades. A family owned and run company for over 100 years, based in Shirley, West Midlands.

Monument Tools Limited

Home - Monument Tools

monument-tools.com

Makers of tools for the plumbing trade, including pipe cutters and benders alongside innovations suggested by their loyal customers. A family owned and run company whose history goes back to Colliers of Brixton, a general tool dealer in the 1880s.

Manufacturing base is at Hackbridge, Surrey.

Over to you - there are quite a few more!

 

[Lurker]

I think philly’s planes would fall into your definition .
Skelton saws.
A plane maker on the same industrial estate as Richard Arnold. Can’t remember his name.

I accept all are niche companies.

 

[MattS]

I did not know Thor hammers were made in the UK! Very interesting, hoep there's some more that pop up which I didn't know about.

 

[MattS]

Benchdogs

Here's a slightly different one, Benchdogs started making tools for modern joinery, benchdogs, and tools related to MFT usage. They've expanded their range greatly in recent years and do some lovely looking measuring tools. Link is their about page, I think I am right in saying it's all made in the UK, albeit I'm sure the extrusions are made abroad before being machined and made into products here which I think counts.

 

[spb]

Another easy one: Ashley Iles Edge Tools Ltd

Woodworking tools by Ashley Iles (Edge Tools) Ltd

British manufacturers of carving tools, wood turning and bench chisels. Forged, ground and tempered by craftsmen using traditional methods for better quality woodworking tools.

ashleyiles.co.uk

As the name suggests: chisels and gouges. Originally made in Sheffield from 1948, and since 1967 in Lincolnshire.

 

[Woodbloke]

I'll add one; UJK stuff made by Axminster in Devon. In addition Ax still make their range of turning chucks and accessories - Rob

 

[Cabinetman]

I was going to say Garlick hand saws, then realised they’re from Flinn and co, bought one from Axi ? A couple of years ago and it works really well.

 

[Blackswanwood]

Henry Taylor Tools

Henry Taylor woodturning and woodworking tools

Manufacturers of craftsman forged woodturning and woodworking tools in Sheffield for 3 centuries

henrytaylortools.co.uk

 

[Doug71]

A couple of modern ones here, you know these days it's important to have all your tools colour coordinated when on site........

https://www.kinetic-customs.com/

They did used to make a lot of different styles of hammers but seem to have gone down a different route these days, here is one of their older videos

TrigJig make some nice looking squares etc, again available in every colour under the sun for your fashion conscious chippie.

TrigJig Handtools | UK online store

Official TrigJig Tools Online Store - We design and make high quality British tools such as Angle Finders, Rafter Squares, Carpenter Squares and more for a variety of trades. Using only the best materials for quality tools you can depend on.

trigjig.co.uk

 

[AndyT]

I think philly’s planes would fall into your definition .
Skelton saws.

I think philly’s planes would fall into your definition .
Skelton saws.
A plane maker on the same industrial estate as Richard Arnold. Can’t remember his name.

I accept all are niche companies.

Great makers, but yes I was thinking about companies with staff on the payroll.

I think you are remembering Ollie Sparkes, but he's a single hander too. Also, I think someone told me he's not making planes any more.

 

[AndyT]

Great stuff, I'm learning too.
How do I decide what colour hammer I need? Should it match my hair or my eyes or just the colour of my money?

 

[Eric the Viking]

Are Crown Tools still going?

I've bought at least three of their items down the years: a dowel-trimming saw (like a Gent's saw, but teeth set only on one side), a burnisher for scrapers, and a set of rosewood handles for my early 1980s No.5, which replaced horrible glass-filled-plastic monstrosities, and make it look and feel like a proper item.

I hope they are!

 

[Trevanion]

Footprint Tools in Sheffield.

I could’ve sworn Alec Steele did a factory tour but I can’t seem to find it now.

 

[MattS]

Green wood working has quite a lot of UK makers, but pretty much all one man bands. There is Wood tools though, started by the very appropriately named Robin Wood, now a lot of their tools are partly made abroad. For example their economical axes are drop forged abroad but finished in Sheffield. They have however brought out a fully UK made axe which is lovely

Wood tools

 

[Cabinetman]

Are Crown Tools still going?

I've bought at least three of their items down the years: a dowel-trimming saw (like a Gent's saw, but teeth set only on one side), a burnisher for scrapers, and a set of rosewood handles for my early 1980s No.5, which replaced horrible glass-filled-plastic monstrosities, and make it look and feel like a proper item.

I hope they are!

I was trying to remember the name, I have cabinetmaker screwdrivers which are super of theirs.
Online it says they are made in Sheffield except for the gardening and power tools ranges.

 

[AndyT]

Another easy one: Ashley Iles Edge Tools Ltd

Woodworking tools by Ashley Iles (Edge Tools) Ltd

British manufacturers of carving tools, wood turning and bench chisels. Forged, ground and tempered by craftsmen using traditional methods for better quality woodworking tools.

ashleyiles.co.uk

As the name suggests: chisels and gouges. Originally made in Sheffield from 1948, and since 1967 in Lincolnshire.

I'm glad someone filled in that gap in the list!

There are a some videos showing how the tools are made (short, old, but worth watching) from their US distributor, Tools for Working Wood in Brooklyn, NY.

(I also recommend the blog by the TFWW proprietor, Joel Moskowitz.)

Joel's Blog

Joel Moskowitz is the owner of Tools for Working wood and he writes about tools - old and new, woodworking history, and various woodworking techniques that are

toolsforworkingwood.com

 

[AndyT]

I was trying to remember the name, I have cabinetmaker screwdrivers which are super of theirs.
Online it says they are made in Sheffield except for the gardening and power tools ranges.

Yes, "Our Master Craftsmen hand forge, temper and grind our tools as our ancestors did, whilst also using modern processes and materials, such as Cryogenics and Powder Metallurgy."

 

[AndyT]

Footprint Tools in Sheffield.

I could’ve sworn Alec Steele did a factory tour but I can’t seem to find it now.

I'm not sure about this one.
Here's a video from a prolific tool collector, showing us round their Sheffield manufacturing base, 11 months ago:

But here's a more recent video saying that they have ceased trading. I'm not sure who's behind this one and I suspect at least some of it is AI generated, so it would be nice if anyone can confirm or deny what they are saying:

I can see that there is still a Footprint Tools website which says this in the Company History section:

"2009
Footprint undertakes a major restructuring due to the global economic crisis.
Following the restructure and rationalisation, work starts to re-build the business under the name Footprint Sheffield Limited, the successor to a long tradition of manufacturing quality tools in Sheffield."

So perhaps the old company did get wound up and the new one is still ok?

 

[Cabinetman]

I wish Footprint well, but certainly the last thing I bought from them ( Multitool blades for rigid insulation) were terrible and the weld on both of them came apart after a minutes use. Shame really as the concept was a good one.