Michael Joseph May was born in 1979 at Lytham, Lancashire, but was raised at Stockbridge, near Sheffield.  He received a musical education first, but he had relatives who worked at Taylors Eye Witness at Milton Street.  In 1997, he started in the warehouse, but then worked for three years in the pen and pocket knife department.  He studied history at degree level at Sheffield University and Sheffield Hallam, before returning for another stint at Milton Street between 2007 and 2016.   His mentor at the firm was Keith Moorby.  In 2016, Michael felt experienced enough to start his own business.  He acquired the tools, machinery, and patterns of Trevor Ablett, when the latter retired.  Michael is based in a workshop at Portland Works – the former home of R. F. Mosley – where he makes a range of hand-crafted knives.  These include Barlows and other spring knives, Bowies, and kitchen knives.  With a young apprentice, James Rhodes, he is dedicated to preserving what he considers an endangered craft (Sheffield Star, 28 June 2021).