Filling Knives and Putty Knives in the United Kingdom

Buck & Hickman, Ltd. 1958 catalogue

The filling knife has a flexible blade to apply plaster, mastic, or a paste as a filler. The traditional filling knife, as made since the 19th century, has a forged steel blade that is ground to a taper, and a bolster that is integral with the blade or pewter, and a hardwood handle.

The clipt point putty knife, for glazing windows, has one curved side and the other has an angled straight edge. It is made the same way as the filling knife, with less of a taper grind.

It is likely that many cutlery makers in Sheffield and elsewhere made filling and putty knives, including R. Mather & Son and Clarkson & Co.  Footprint Tools still makes traditional wood-handled filling knives and putty knives in Sheffield.

Filling knives, Clarkson & Co. (second from right)

Filling knife, clipt point putty knife by Harris 

Filling knife by H. & S.L., Sheffield