Peter Cadman (1734-1812) was the son of Luke and Alice Cadman, who were farmers and maltsters in Eckington (see Thomas R. Cadman).   By 1781, Peter had founded Peter Cadman & Co, which was based in Norfolk Street and initially specialised in table knives.  The trade mark – a pistol motif – appeared in the directory of 1787.   Luke Cadman (probably Peter’s son) was also active as a cutler in Norfolk Street in 1787.  Peter Cadman Sen. also briefly partnered his brother Solomon (see Ellis & Cadman).  This partnership (which also included Peter Cadman Jun.) was dissolved in 1790.  

In the Sheffield directory (1797), Peter Cadman & Son was listed as a merchant and factor and table knife manufacturer in Norfolk Street.  A directory in 1811 listed Peter Cadman, Son & Smith, table knife manufacturer, Norfolk Street.  Peter Cadman, merchant of Norfolk Street, died on 13 April 1812, aged 77.  The subsequent fate of the firm is unclear, though by 1817 Peter Cadman, Son, & Broadhurst had appeared in Norfolk Street and the Wicker.   The senior partner was Probably Peter’s son, Peter Cadman (1765-1833), who was listed as steel converter in Norfolk Street (1822) and merchant at Handsworth Grange (1828).   ‘Broadhurst’ was probably William Broadhurst.   This partnership was dissolved in 1828, though a new business arrangement between Cadman, William Burgon, Thomas Green, and George Deakin took its place.  This was dissolved in 1830.  

By 1833, Peter Cadman & Sons was in Norfolk Street as a merchant and manufacturer of table knives and tools, and in the Wicker as steel converter.  Peter Cadman, however, died on 11 October 1833, aged 68.  The business was listed in 1837, with Peter’s son – Peter Cadman (1807-1887) – as the senior partner.  By 1850, he had apparently retired and was listed as a ‘gentleman’ in Surrey Street, with a residence at Ballifield Hall, Handsworth.  He died on 11 November 1887, aged 80, leaving £7,725.  The firm had not been listed since the 1840s.