The likeliest maker of this knife was Albin Darwin (1901-1983).  His brother was William Darwin (1897-1957).  They were the sons of Albin Darwin (a table blade grinder) and his wife, Emma.  The brothers formed W. & A. Darwin Ltd, table blade grinders.  It was registered in 1929 (capital £200) at 72 Arundel Street.  It issued £100 in debentures to tide it over the Depression until 1933, when it was located at Smith's Works, Sidney Street.

The firm ground all its blades by hand (Sheffield Daily Independent, 8 April 1933).  In the following year, Darwin's published a grovelling apology to Messrs. Firth & John Brown Ltd for supplying stainless ground butter knives, invoiced as Firth's, when the stainless steel had been manufactured elsewhere.  The 'Apology' was signed by the brothers and 'late director', P. W. Crapper (Sheffield Daily Independent, 6 November).  Perhaps the 'A. Darwin' name on the Hawley Trust Collection knife was an attempt to distance the firm from this debacle. 

Albin was a skilled cutler.  In 1939, the local newspaper featured a miniature 'pocket' canteen of cutlery, which Albin had made in his spare time.  It was cased and on legs (four inches high) and contained fifty pieces (with the cutlery items weighing no more than an ounce).  The carving knife was two-inches long (The Star, 27 January 1939).

After the War, the firm was listed at Arundel Street.  William Darwin died on 19 August 1957, leaving £7,044; Albin on 10 July 1983, leaving about £40,000.  The firm was struck off the register in 1970.