Abraham Amery (1786-1872) was born at Stainton, near Tickhill, the son of Abraham and Alice née Radley.   Abraham Sen. was a farmer, but in 1800 he apprenticed his son to knife maker Samuel Hall.  In 1818, Abraham Jun. married Elizabeth Evans.  In that year, he was listed as a pen knife manufacturer at Broad Street.  By the early 1820s, he had moved to Old Street, Park, and was also running the Crown & Cushion public house.  By 1833, he had moved to Bernard Street, Park.  As a typical little mester, he employed four men in 1851 and three men a decade later.   Little would be known about his work, without the encomium of London cutlery wholesalers, J. G. and J. Tidmarsh.  They lavishly praised his unsigned contribution to the Paris Universal Exhibition in a letter to The Sheffield Independent on 28 March 1867:

 We have recently purchased from Mr. Abraham Amory, of Bernard Street, Park, four of the most elaborate show knives that have ever been produced.  He himself is justly proud of being the maker of them.  He is an octogenarian and his order of workmanship is exceptionally high, he having been employed by first-class London houses for many years.  The object Mr. Amory had in making these knives was a desire to show what original thought in design, and patient industry and perseverance in execution, might accomplish.  The time chosen was ‘overtime,’ ‘holidays,’ and seasons usually devoted to recreation.  His self-denial has, however, in no degree impaired his health or faculties.  It is difficult to give an adequate description of these knives, as they need to be seen to be appreciated, but the following may convey an idea of their beauty and merit.  

The ‘Cross’ or ‘Cruciform Knife’ has six branches or hafts, covered with beautifully carved pearl scales, studded with silver, each branch containing twelve blades, making a total of seventy-two blades …

The ‘Star Knife’ is so called from its having eight branches in the form of Ionic pillars, with carved pearl scales and silver rivets, radiating from a circular centre of corresponding design, containing the sockets into which each of the branches fix by a spring; each branch has 14 blades, making 112 blades in all.

The ‘Musical Knife’ has 244 blades, which, when closed, is in the form of a cube, and when the whole of the blades are opened presents a very formidable appearance, having a centre with a cluster of blades surrounding it in every direction.  By an unsuspected arrangement music is enclosed in this knife, which can be produced by a mechanical adjustment at pleasure.

The most beautiful of these knives ...  is the ‘Royal Crown Knife,’ containing 226 blades and instruments.  It is similar in design to the Star Knife, only that it has 10 richly-carved, gold-mounted branches, and has gold bars and rivets.  The centre is minutely wrought into the form of diamonds, in the middle of which is a small gold stud; at the end of each branch a crown of gold, which surmounts the Prince of Wales feathers carved upon the pearl covering; from the centre proceeds a capital formed in like manner, containing surgical instruments.  This knife has been exhibited at Windsor Castle in the presence of the late Prince Consort, who … congratulated the executant on its production.

Mr.  Abraham Amory, the maker of these knives, has not been permitted, by an arbitrary trade rule, to exhibit it in National or other Exhibitions in his own name.  This explains why the knives have not been more generally known, and why we now wish to bring them into notice … As, however, he ceases to manufacture at all, he may now assert his claim to a personal laudation, and receive personally what he has hitherto aided in obtaining for others – ‘honourable mention’, ‘certificates of merit’, and ‘the honour to whom honour is due’.

Abraham Amery died at Bernard Street on 13 November 1872, aged 86.  He was buried at Burngreave Cemetery, leaving effects valued at under £300.