2023 Winner
The Worshipful Company of Cutlers is delighted to announce that the recipient of the Cutlers’ Award 2023 is Matt Beggs of Beggs Forgeworks.
This award has been established to offer help and support to knife makers and bladesmiths in the UK, with a particular focus on culinary knives.
The Cutlers’ Award has grown from a passionate desire to revisit the roots of the Worshipful Company which historically focused on the artisan bladesmith. We have become aware that over the past decade, despite renewed interest in the craft, there are many obstacles: lack of training opportunities, apprenticeships and mentoring schemes, not to mention the very high costs of tools, materials and equipment. This annual award includes a grant of £2,500 of which £500 must be spent on mentoring.
Matt Beggs of Beggs Forgeworks was selected by a judging panel of industry experts; Swordsmith Owen Bush, Culinary Bladesmiths Blenheim Forge, and representatives of the Company.
The panel was very impressed by the clarity of Matt’s carefully considered and very-well presented, proposal for technical development and equipment upgrades. They were also particularly impressed by his enthusiasm for being an ambassador for the Award.
With support from the Worshipful Company of Cutlers, Matt will invest in a Manchester Grinder and a new camera to assist with his online presence. He will study both with Blenheim Forge, and will travel to Poland to learn from Martin Pham of Orion Knifeworks to learn about utilising CNC and manual milling in knifemaking.
Matt Beggs
of Beggs Forgeworks
