There is a "new" manufactor of high end forged chisels from the north.

[Lasse Hilbrandt]

I won't weigh in on fit, finish or functionality - many, with much better credentials than I have commented.

One question I have: If using Palisander for the handles, which is most certainly a Dalgerbia of one species or another, how do they get around the CITES regulations without a mound of paperwork? Maybe the rationale for the big bucks

Dave B

Isn't it only Brassilian palisander which is on the Cites list?

[Dave Beauchesne]

Isn't it only Brassilian palisander which is on the Cites list?

Lasse: As of Jan. 1/17, ALL Rosewoods, three Bubinga species and others were added to CITES. That is what I take from what I have been able to read. - Dave B

[Lasse Hilbrandt]

Lasse: As of Jan. 1/17, ALL Rosewoods, three Bubinga species and others were added to CITES. That is what I take from what I have been able to read. - Dave B

Thats new to me. Thanks for the info

[Lasse Hilbrandt]

Jesus I regret that I posted this thread!

[Hasin Haroon]

Are there really droves of uninformed woodworkers who are willing to buy a $1200 set of chisels at the drop of a hat based on a marketing description? Somehow I doubt that...or I've been hanging out in less affluent circles!

[Stewie Simpson]

I was planning on eventually getting one LN plane. I'm well stocked for Veritas BU/BD & Custom planes and don't expect the LN would give me anything these planes don't but I wanted one just for the heck of it. I wanted a 4 1/2, but the bronze aesthetic was pushing me towards the 4, so I was hoping they'd offer a bronze 4 1/2. At that price I no longer want a bronze 4 1/2, lol.

Hasin; there are plenty of forum members out there who don't mind spending big money on premium brand tools.

[Hasin Haroon]

Guilty as charged Stewie. In my defence the Lie Nielsen bench planes are proven to perform well, and are fairly priced for what they offer...unlike these chisels.

[Rob Luter]

Some gorgeous stuff. I especially like the framing slicks and the axes. Well out of my price range however.

[Daniel O'Connell]

Are there really droves of uninformed woodworkers who are willing to buy a $1200 set of chisels at the drop of a hat based on a marketing description? Somehow I doubt that...or I've been hanging out in less affluent circles!

Droves? I doubt it.

That said, one of my buddies who is a tool collector has something like a 10k/year budget for tool acquisition. A set of these chisels, if he were to want them, would not be a major problem. I imagine quite a few people could be in the same head space. 10,000 sales is probably a major profit for the maker, of all the woodworkers in the world...yeah, I could imagine 10000 of them not minding spending $1200 on a set of chisels they are intrigued with.

[Dave Anderson NH]

OK folks we have beat this topic to death. Constructive criticism and commentary is within our bounds, but demeaning, sarcastic, and insulting comments are crudities whether they are tongue in cheek or not. I will leave this thread in place unedited because there is too much to edit and it proves the old adage, " no one is useless, they can at least set a bad example."

I would ask that many of you who have posted in this thread go back and reread what you have posted. Please reflect on whether or not you behaved in a appropriate and gentlemanly manner.

[Stewie Simpson]

Jesus I regret that I posted this thread!

I agree with you Lasse. It was a terrible mistake to have started this thread. This forum has done a thorough job of undermining Northmens reputation. Had these been expensive Japanese Chisels, the discussion would have been totally different.

[Roger Nair]

Lasse, you posed a fair question and you should not feel bad on account of others behavior. I do not recall anyone answering with direct experience of having the tools in hand and put to work, which is a more true way to evaluate tools. For those interested in small shop forged socket bench chisels of a comparable size and about 60% less cost, I would be confident in suggesting Barrtools for either a chisel set or single item purchase. I have used Barr framing chisels since 1990. Barr Quarton runs a production shop, that specializes in tools for working timber framers, log builders, chairmakers and woodworkers.

[Warren Mickley]

Some years ago I attended a hand tool fair where a fellow carver was demonstrating. He does 18th century high style work. There was also a vendor there who had just unveiled a new line of carving tools. Toward the end of the day the vendor came over to the carver and my ears pricked up to hear the conversation:

Vendor: Did you see our new carving tools? What did you think of them?
Carver: They are awfully heavy.
V: They are really nice aren't they?
C: They would require a lot of work.
V: Aren't they really great tools?
C: They are unusable.

A reputable dealer and a reputable manufacturer got together to develop a fine line of tools. They probably thought it an improvement to make them 70% heavier than the tools we have used for 250 years or so. The carver tried to be diplomatic, but the vendor was not hearing what he was saying. This happens all the time. I talked to three Lee Valley people when they were designing chisels. It was as if they had never talked to anyone who actually uses chisels for a living.

The Northmen can make any kind of chisel they want. If they want to claim traditional craftsmanship, they should look into history.

[Pat Barry]

I agree with you Lasse. It was a terrible mistake to have started this thread. This forum has done a thorough job of undermining Northmens reputation. Had these been expensive Japanese Chisels, the discussion would have been totally different.

I tend to agree with this statement. All the commentary here has been based purely on preconceived notions, what can be gleaned from a webpage or two, information from other sources about previous tools made by this manufacturer, and no hands on testing or usage. Much of the commentary has been needlessly flame ridden.

[Roger Nair]

Warren, I will respectfully disagree. The dialogue of the vendor and the carver is surely true from the carvers point of view but the carver will not speak for all the various trades. Some of us need chisels to make holes quickly in heavy timber, carving tools for those tasks need to stay in the chest. Northmen appear to be selling mystique of the sub-artic life not really how I have made my living. I made my living for over 25 years timber framing in oak and before that 20 years as a diversified carpenter, your light articulate carving chisels would for me be useless. The particular trade has it own specialized demands, your fine tradition and tools would be a curse on my working life, reality not finger pointing irony in debate.

To me there is no such thing as a perfect chisel, only chisels optimized toward a particular use.

I would not buy the Northmen bench chisel set, simply because it does not address a clear need.