Marking/Striking Knives – William Marples and Sons, Ltd.

These knives have been part of Carpenter’s tools since before 1862, when I can first find a MARPLES reference. They commonly appear in the catalogues by an un-handled Marking Awl, which is like a smaller version of the Striking knife.
It was not until the 1965 Cat. that the name ‘Marking Knife’ was applied by MARPLES, although I remember that they were called that back in 1957. Up until the 1938 Cat. the wooden scales were of Rosewood but ‘Hardwood’ is the description given thereafter. The item #1879 is still described as having Hardwood handles in the 1972 Cat. but by 1983 [Record Ridgeway Group] the tool came with an Orange rubber coating over the handle.

Here are the listings:
1862…..