Steven Cocker (b. 1985) is a current Sheffield cutler who uses traditional techniques to craft bespoke knives.  In his own words:

"My dad rented a workshop at Joseph Elliot & Sons on Sylvester Street, where I spent school holidays watching the old Cutlers who still worked in the old workshops.  I was fascinated with watching craftsmen turn a piece of steel into beautiful knives.  My dad was a French polisher and I enjoyed helping him but I fell in love with hand making folding knives.

"I made my 1st knife when I was 9 years old with my dad from parts given to me by the cutlers at Joseph Elliots.  As my interest grew I spent more time watching these old cutlers work and learning the various ways they worked, a handforger, a grinder, cutlers, and a scissor maker along with other trades. 

"Trevor Ablett, who was a friend of my dad, also worked at the Sylvester Works and where I later worked on Egerton Lane, behind Beehive Works, as a Saturday job learning all traditional aspects of the Job while i was at school.,  I spent many hours with Reg Cooper, who worked upstairs from Trevor, chatting and learning what I could.  I was also friends with Stan Shaw and used to pop over to see him in his workshop on Garden Street and enjoyed listening to stories and watching Stan work.

"I set up my own workshop to practise and make old Sheffield patterns.

"When I was 16 and left school in 2002 I went to work at George Ibberson, Sheffield knife makers on Garden Street (part of the Egginton group).  I left in 2008 and went to work for Taylors Eye Witness making pocket knives.  I was asked by Eggintons if I would consider returning to Ibbersons, which I did.  I was made Supervisor of the pen and pocket department in 2015 which I was for 7 years until I was made Production Manager.

"In my workshop I focus on recreating traditional Sheffield patterns which are no longer made in Sheffield and using traditional methods and tools making multi-bladed exhibition pieces - the more parts the better."

Steven can be found at https://linktr.ee/stevencockersheffield

He can also be seen on the Sheffield Museums YouTube channel (part of their Sheffield Makes series), making pocket knives using traditional methods.