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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

George Barnsley and Sons

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George Barnsley and Sons

George Barnsley and Sons specialise in the manufacture of knives and tools for shoemaking and repair, leather working and the associated industries.

29/05/2026

French Pattern Hammers

Handmade in Sheffield by George Barnsley

Finally back in stock on our website

27/05/2026

We recently did a Q&A with Katy Warriner of Warriner Leather about her journey into leatherwork, traditional training, and the thinking behind her craft.

From a childhood ambition to become a master saddler, through to qualifying under Master Saddler Mark Romain at The Saddlery Training Centre, Katy’s path back into the trade has been anything but linear, but deeply rooted in traditional skills.

What comes through most strongly is her respect for process. Hand stitching, edge work, material choice, all treated with patience and discipline, learned through traditional saddlery and carried into everything she makes today.

That foundation runs through her work at Warriner Leather, whether she’s making belts, cases, harness work or bespoke commissions. It’s a way of working that values longevity over speed, and understanding over shortcuts.

The full Q&A will be live on our website soon, where Katy talks in more depth about her training, influences, use of oak bark tanned leather from J&FJ Baker, and her current work on the limited R33 Stradale commission with Pristine Panel Works.

22/05/2026

Today I had the pleasure of visiting the Leather Conservation Centre, formerly of Northampton now settled in to their new home in Leicester.

We’ve previously supplied them with some of our tools and this morning I was dropping off a batch of our stitching clams.

An incredible facility, so light and spacious and kitted out with a very enviable extraction system!

I was given the full tour by Rosie Bolton, head of the centre. She has extensive experience of working with leather both historic and modern for a catalogue of clients including both renowned heritage institutions and private clients of all backgrounds, and a strong craft background, having trained in traditional fine bookbinding.

The team at the centre undertakes some incredible projects, with their work centred around the restoration and repair of incredible leatherwork. Even driving cars into the studio space to work on!

Couple that with an extensive library of books detailing all aspects of leatherwork it really is a place that any leather enthusiast should check out, they run a series of courses and even offer tours of their studio space.

We are truly honoured to have our tools put to use in this incredible facility and hope to continue to work with and support Rosie and the centre for years to come.

20/05/2026

Just had a great meeting with Simon from

After a quick chat via instagram on Sunday night regarding whether we take on any bespoke work, Simon sent over some images of his prized possession, critical to their work at Mackenzie Leather in Edinburgh.

He’s been trying for years to source another Dixon No. 4 adjustable creaser for his workshop with no success so Simon has asked if we would be able to replicate and supply him with some working replacements.

The big differences between our current Screw Crease and the No. 4 Dixon is the size, not just the overall length but the size of the head also.

First step from our end is a little Frankenstein piece, we’re putting our standard crease into a much larger handle and shipping it to him to test whether he needs the larger head, along with some samples of other handles we produce.

We will also be looking into the possibility of manufacturing a larger version of our Screw Crease should the test piece not be suitable for Simon’s requirements.

Should be interesting to see where this end up.

15/05/2026

May Giveaway time!

This month, it’s another experiment that will be available to purchase in the near future…

We’ve taken our stitching clam and given it a very classy finish with a dark oak stain.

To enter this giveaway and be in with a chance of winning

1. Make sure you’re following

2. Like this post

3. Share the post to your story and tag us in it, use the hashtag

4. Comment which upcoming project you will use your new clam with

Winner will be picked at random 31st May

Good luck everyone!

13/05/2026

One of the best parts of what we do is seeing where our tools end up and hearing the stories behind the people using them.

Masood shared this with us recently alongside images of his work and workshop, and we felt it deserved sharing.

“Thirty-five years in global manufacturing taught me how things are made. It also taught me how much is made without care.

After a lifetime in a demanding corporate world, I stepped away to build something for myself — not to slow down, but to change direction.

Beneath it all, I was always a maker.

Leather became the turning point. In making a simple notebook cover, I recognised something I had been missing all along: care, intention, purpose.

I taught myself from the ground up and continue to learn from master craftsmen, returning to the roots of the craft using traditional tools and time-proven methods.

Because this matters. Where something is made. How it is made. And who makes it.

I believe in making fewer things, but making them properly. Objects that last, that age, and that carry a life rather than become waste.

Every piece I create is cut by hand and stitched by hand. No machines. No shortcuts. It is slower work, but it is honest work.

Today, this is both my craft and my business, built on the same principles: patience, precision, and purpose.

Thirty-five years in global manufacturing taught me how things are made. Now, I choose what is worth making.”

— M.

#

08/05/2026

Our April competition winner grew up around making.

Her mum was always sewing, quilting, and finding creative things to do, like making Halloween costumes! 🎃

Her dad spent his spare time woodworking, so making things by hand was just part of life from the beginning.

Later, while working in ER, trauma and operating rooms, she found herself turning back to craft as a way to switch off.

Painting, quilting, sewing, anything that kept the hands busy.

But it was competitive shooting that really changed the direction of things.

After getting into trap shooting with her dad, she began combining her sewing skills with leatherwork, designing shooting gear based on what she actually wanted to use herself on the line. That practical understanding shows in the work.

Alongside bags and wallets, her main focus now is leather gear for long gun shooting sports, a very traditional world where people don’t always welcome change. So there’s a balance between improving things and respecting what people already know.

Most of her customers aren’t on social media, which is why Instagram has become more of a place to share the unusual commissions, experiments, and workbench moments instead.

A one woman workshop built around early mornings, late nights, family life, and consistently turning up to make good work.

A very worthy winner of our April competition.

Thanks for sharing your story Stephanie!

The stunning acid etched half head in polished ebony is heading your way alongside a little gift for our new fellow lefty friend, the boss is a lefty!

06/05/2026

Another great day at HQ

Finally got the belt over the line and absolutely loving how it turned out. Who knew getting a needle through the keep could be so difficult, I think it may be time for glasses!

Took one of the team with me to get a closer look at how our tools are used and how critical they are to a leatherworker, and also to begin planning the next tools in the Better Together range

Address

47 Mowbray Street
Sheffield
S38EN

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.georgebarnsleyandsons.co.uk/

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