Thanks, gales.
My problem is that I have an ancestor who worked most of his life as a farm bailiff, but turns up (if it is him; the age is right and there's no other likely lads around) in 1881 as "former edge tool maker".
I have the marriage cert in 1864 of his son (my gt-grandfather) and on that he is described as a "cutter", which sounds as though it could be connected. But you'd have thought (well, I'd have thought) that he'd refer to himself in old age as a "former farm bailiff", given it's a more impressive job.
Regards, Gareth