Terms and Conditions

Last updated: April 2026

Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before placing an order with Sheffield Knives. By placing an order you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, please do not use this website or place an order.

1. About Us

Sheffield Knives, trading as J. Adams Ltd, is a family business with six generations of knife-making heritage. We are the parent company for three other long-established manufacturers: F.E & J.R. Hopkinson Ltd (established 14 June 1944), John Nowill & Sons Ltd (whose corporate name was granted by the Cutlers Company of Hallamshire on 27 April 1700 AD), and Austin McGillivray & Co. All of our knives are hand-manufactured in Sheffield using traditional methods. As a result, please note that some items are made to order and delivery times may vary accordingly.

2. Age Restriction and Legal Compliance

2.1 Age Verification

• You must be 18 years of age or over to purchase from this website.
• By placing an order you confirm that you are aged 18 or over.
• We reserve the right to carry out identity and age verification checks on any order. You may be asked to provide a valid form of photo identification such as a passport or driving licence.
• We will not dispatch any order where we are unable to verify that the purchaser is aged 18 or over.
• Orders placed by or on behalf of persons under 18 will be cancelled and refunded.

2.2 Delivery Age Verification

• All deliveries containing bladed articles require an adult signature at the point of delivery.
• The recipient must be the same person who placed the order and must be aged 18 or over.
• Valid photo identification may be required at the point of delivery.
• Parcels containing bladed articles will not be left unattended at any delivery address.
• If you are not available to accept delivery, the carrier will make alternative arrangements. If delivery cannot be completed after reasonable attempts, the order will be returned to us and a refund issued minus any delivery charges.

2.3 Lawful Use

• By purchasing from Sheffield Knives you confirm that you are purchasing for lawful use only.
• Our products must not be purchased with the intent to use them as weapons or to cause harm to any person.
• We reserve the right to refuse any order that we believe may be intended for unlawful use.

2.4 Prohibited Items

We do not sell any items that are prohibited under UK law, including but not limited to:

• Flick knives or gravity knives
• Butterfly knives (balisongs)
• Disguised knives
• Zombie knives or ninja swords
• Any other item prohibited under the Criminal Justice Act 1988, the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959, or the Offensive Weapons Act 2019

3. Ordering

3.1 How to Place an Order

Browse our store, add items to your basket and proceed to checkout. You will be asked to provide your details and confirm your age before completing payment. An order confirmation will be sent to your email address once your order has been received.

3.2 Order Acceptance

Receipt of an order confirmation does not constitute acceptance of your order. We reserve the right to decline or cancel any order at our discretion, including but not limited to cases where:

• Age verification cannot be completed
• Payment is declined
• An item is out of stock or cannot be manufactured within a reasonable timeframe
• We suspect the order is intended for unlawful use
• An error in pricing or product description has occurred

3.3 Made to Order Items

Many of our knives are hand-manufactured to order. Delivery times for made-to-order items will vary. We will contact you if there is likely to be a significant delay in fulfilling your order. Goods will not be dispatched until full payment has been received.

4. Pricing and Payment

4.1 Prices

All prices are displayed in pounds sterling (GBP). Value Added Tax (VAT) is included in the price of all products supplied to customers in the United Kingdom. Prices are subject to change without notice, but changes will not affect orders that have already been accepted.

4.2 Payment Methods

We accept payment by PayPal and major credit and debit cards. All payments are processed securely. We do not store your payment card details.

4.3 Payment Security

All transactions are processed using industry-standard secure encryption. Payment processing is handled by our payment providers and is subject to their terms and conditions.

5. Delivery

5.1 Shipping Charges

Shipping charges are calculated at checkout based on your delivery address. All deliveries include an age-verified delivery service as required by UK law.

5.2 Delivery Times

Delivery times depend on whether the item is in stock or needs to be manufactured. We will endeavour to dispatch in-stock items promptly. Made-to-order items will be dispatched as soon as they are completed. We will contact you if there is an unexpected delay.

5.3 Delivery Requirements

• All deliveries require an adult signature.
• You must be present at the delivery address to accept and sign for your order.
• Photo identification may be required at the point of delivery.
• Parcels will not be left unattended.

5.4 Tracking

We use carriers with online tracking facilities. If your delivery is delayed for any reason we will endeavour to find out why and keep you informed.

5.5 International Orders

We ship to many countries outside the United Kingdom. However, before placing an international order please check with the receiving country’s customs authority whether you require an import licence or any other documentation. Any customs duties, taxes or import charges will be the responsibility of the recipient. We will not be able to offer a refund if there is any issue with overseas delivery resulting from import restrictions or customs requirements. Please note that due to current regulations we are unable to accept orders for delivery to the USA exceeding $800 USD.

6. Returns and Refunds

6.1 Your Right to Cancel

You have the right to cancel your order and receive a full refund by notifying us within 14 days of receiving your order, in accordance with the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. To exercise this right, please contact us at enquiries@sheffieldknives.com or by telephone on +44 (0) 114 272 3612.

6.2 Returns Conditions

• Goods must be returned to us in perfect, unused condition in their original packaging.
• You are responsible for the cost of returning goods to us unless the item is faulty or incorrectly supplied.
• Please retain proof of postage and ensure adequate insurance cover is in place for the return shipment. We cannot accept responsibility for parcels lost in transit.
• Returns must be sent to: Sheffield Knives, J. Adams Ltd, 124 Scotland Street, Sheffield, S3 7DE.

6.3 Damaged or Incorrect Items

If you receive a damaged or incorrectly supplied item, please contact us within 14 days of receipt. We will arrange a replacement or full refund at our cost, including return postage.

6.4 Refunds

Refunds will be issued within 14 days of receiving the returned goods. Refunds will be made via the original payment method. Delivery charges are non-refundable unless the item is faulty or incorrectly supplied. If goods are returned after 14 days, the price of the product may be refunded but delivery charges are non-refundable.

6.5 Made to Order Items

Please note that made-to-order items may be subject to different cancellation terms. Please contact us before placing an order if you have any concerns.

7. Guarantee and Warranty

We guarantee that all our knives are Sheffield made. Our knives are guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship, provided the knife has not been subject to misuse or abuse. In the unlikely event that manufacturing defects arise, the knife will be repaired or replaced if returned to us. This guarantee does not affect your statutory rights. Some images on our website may differ slightly from the item you receive, as our knives are hand-manufactured and each piece may vary slightly. We are continually updating our product photography.

8. Product Descriptions and Images

We take care to ensure that product descriptions and images are accurate. However, as all our knives are hand-manufactured, there may be minor variations between the product shown and the item delivered. Blade dimensions and weights are approximate. If you require specific dimensions please contact us before ordering.

9. Privacy and Data Protection

We are committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for full details of how we collect, use and store your personal data.

9.1 Age Verification Data

As required by UK law, we may validate your name, address and date of birth against third-party databases for the purposes of age verification. By accepting these terms you consent to such checks being made. This process does not affect your credit rating. Any identity verification data is processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

9.2 Cookies

Our website uses cookies to maintain your shopping basket and to improve your experience. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for full details.

10. Intellectual Property

All content on this website including text, images, logos and product descriptions is the property of J. Adams Ltd or its licensors and is protected by copyright. You may not reproduce, distribute or use any content from this website without our prior written consent.

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, J. Adams Ltd shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage arising from the use of our products or website. Our liability in respect of any claim shall not exceed the price paid for the relevant product. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall limit or exclude our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that cannot be excluded by law.

12. Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes arising from these terms or your use of our website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

13. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to update these Terms and Conditions at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. Your continued use of our website following any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, please contact us:

• Email: accountsoffice@sheffieldknives.co.uk
• Telephone: +44 (0) 114 272 3612
• Post: J. Adams Ltd, 124 Scotland Street, Sheffield, S3 7DE, United Kingdom

These Terms and Conditions were last updated in April 2026. Sheffield Knives recommends that you review these terms periodically for any changes.