Marples · M444 · 1968–2000s (Sheffield-made until about 2008)
Marples brought out the Blue Chip bevel-edge chisel, catalog number 444, in 1968, and added a square-edged firmer, the 333, in 1971. The polypropylene handle is square in section with a broad, rounded striking face, and Record's 1984 catalog sold it to professionals as a chisel designed for the mallet that would put up with the odd hammer blow. Plenty of them got exactly that, so many survivors are scuffed and grubby. The line outlived the Marples family firm. C. & J. Hampton, the Record toolmaker, and William Ridgway bought Marples in 1962, the American Tool Companies took over Record in 1998, and the brand passed to Irwin. Irwin kept making the M444 in Sheffield until about 2008, then moved production abroad. So the etching on the blade matters more than the color of the handle.
Identify and date it
Blue Chip is the blue, square-section polypropylene handle. The Splitproof range sold alongside it had an oval amber or red-and-yellow handle, and the boxwood No. 377 was the wooden choice in the same catalogs. Look for SHEFFIELD ENGLAND or MADE IN SHEFFIELD etched on the top of the blade and a MARPLES mark on the handle. Record-era handles can read Record Marples, and late Irwin sets came with black, open-toed edge guards.
If you’ll use it
Buy a Sheffield-etched set for site work and rough joinery, where a tough handle matters more than balance. The Marples historian behind williammarplesandsons.com calls them everyday trade chisels with little feel, not fine-woodwork tools.
Most Blue Chips were used as site chisels, so expect scuffed, grubby handles and edges knocked about by hammer work. The Marples historian also warns that some later Chinese-made Irwin chisels carry only a light etched name that can be rubbed off to pass as older Sheffield work.
Buying guide
Buy a Sheffield-etched set. Five chisels titled Sheffield England ask $90 delivered here, and most of the 23 or so sets listed ask $80–150 delivered, with boxed sets of six at the top. The etch matters more than the blue handle, because Irwin made the M444 in Sheffield only until about 2008, so read SHEFFIELD ENGLAND or MADE IN SHEFFIELD on the top of each blade in the photos and ask about any Irwin-titled set. Check that the handle marks and etching match across the set and that no striking face is cracked, since these were sold as mallet chisels and plenty got hammered. For a set nobody has used, the boxed NOS set asks $175 delivered, and the $242 boxed six asks about $95 more than a similar boxed six here.
$52.98est. delivered
Three Blue Chips, 1/2, 3/4 and 1 inch, titled great users, for about $53 delivered, the lowest set here. The title doesn't say Sheffield, so check the blade etch in the photos.
Vintage MARPLES Blue Chip Chisels, 1/2” 3/4” 1”, Early Thin Bevels, Great Users
$89.83est. delivered
Five chisels titled Sheffield England, early 90s, for about $90 delivered, around $18 a chisel near the bottom of the band. It ships from Canada, so check that every blade carries the Sheffield etch before you pay the shipping.
Marples Sheffield England Blue Chip Set of 5 Chisels early 90s
$175.00delivered
Titled NOS, a Sheffield set in its wooden box, at $175 with free shipping, about $25 over the band top. Count the chisels in the photos, since the title doesn't say how many.
Marples Blue Chip Chisel Set Sheffield England Record Tool Wood Box - NOS
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$52.98est. delivered
$39.99 + $12.99 shipping
Buy It Now$39.99
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Good buy
Three chisels, 1/2 to 1 inch. No Sheffield claim in the title.
Seller: castle_rock_mercantile
100% positive
Used$89.83est. delivered
$66.63 + $23.20 shipping
Buy It Now$66.63
Good buy
Five chisels, titled Sheffield England, early 90s. Ships from Canada.
Seller: cdns-4866
99.8% positive
New old stock$175.00delivered
$175.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$175.00
Good buy
Titled NOS, Sheffield, in a wooden box. Chisel count not given.
Seller: wilkie_1
100% positive
Used$93.99delivered
$93.99 · free shipping
Buy It Now$93.99
Our take
Five M444s with no country in the title. Check the etch.
Seller: pepe1024fhu
100% positive
Used$135.00est. delivered
$125.00 + $10.00 shipping
Buy It Now$125.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Our take
Six chisels from the Irwin era. Irwin moved production out of Sheffield around 2008, so check the etch.
Seller: taig505
100% positive
Used$147.00est. delivered
$135.00 + $12.00 shipping
Buy It Now$135.00
Our take
Six Sheffield chisels in a Record wooden box.
Seller: toolsandgearmn
100% positive
Used$82.09est. delivered
$75.00 + $7.09 shipping
Buy It Now$75.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Check the seller
Seller at 96.7% feedback. Three chisels in a wooden box.
Seller: carli-1085
96.7% positive
Used$241.98est. delivered
$225.00 + $16.98 shipping
Buy It Now$225.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
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Priced high
Six in a wooden box, about $95 more than the similar boxed six.
Seller: jennywa168
99.9% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 11, 2026.
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