this iron is 2 3/8ths, so comparing to the $45 10V iron, about $5 of the difference can be attributed to size. Especially with the cost of magnacut bar stock.
The iron is well finished, it comes with a bevel that's (I didn't check the literature) probably 30-35 degrees. The marks on the back are extremely fine and rotary type. What little out of flatness that it has is handled completely by finger pressure and I had a uniform pattern from a broken in fine india stone within the last bit of the edge (no need to "flatten" and polish the whole iron - that gets done with subsequent sharpenings)
So, translation - it's flat. Is it the same flatness as optical lapping? No, but what was the elapsed time for me to work the back edge on an india stone? less than two minutes.
I also did what I always do and went to the belt grinder to chase the bevel shallower. The way it grinds, it's noticeable that it's got less abrasion resistance than 10V. I would put it dead center about between 10V and O1, and I would guess the abrasion resistance is slightly less than V11 from grinding. The catra tests also say the same thing, but I don't remember them exactly.
The feeling is very fine. The micrographs show fineness, too, but it's nicer to see it for sure in the good you get rather than it being potential that you don't get.
It hones fine on an india stone but is icy on an oilstone - V11 is also that. It doesn't have the "no thanks" attitude toward an india stone like the huge volume of vanadium carbides afford in 10V. If the 10V iron were top end hardness, it would be entertaining on stones, but even at 60, you can feel the greasy feel.
The arm hair test with this one on "regular stones with kicker" is very good without yet going to the all diamond regimen. It does remind me of V11 in that you can hone it on an oilstone, but it feels like maybe you're not really going to get the scratches from the india out of it, but partially burnish them.
Great initial sharpness by perception, though - will be interesting to see how the first honed and then all diamond edges do with the thin shaving test and feel over the same edge as other stones.
...
But I can't help but think "ouch" over the $96 total bill for one plane iron. It's not that the cost is out of line for the cost of the stock and having it made on a small scale, but that I know there's nothing about it that I would like in use - at least so far - better than 80crv2, which is at least as fine or finer.
The iron is well finished, it comes with a bevel that's (I didn't check the literature) probably 30-35 degrees. The marks on the back are extremely fine and rotary type. What little out of flatness that it has is handled completely by finger pressure and I had a uniform pattern from a broken in fine india stone within the last bit of the edge (no need to "flatten" and polish the whole iron - that gets done with subsequent sharpenings)
So, translation - it's flat. Is it the same flatness as optical lapping? No, but what was the elapsed time for me to work the back edge on an india stone? less than two minutes.
I also did what I always do and went to the belt grinder to chase the bevel shallower. The way it grinds, it's noticeable that it's got less abrasion resistance than 10V. I would put it dead center about between 10V and O1, and I would guess the abrasion resistance is slightly less than V11 from grinding. The catra tests also say the same thing, but I don't remember them exactly.
The feeling is very fine. The micrographs show fineness, too, but it's nicer to see it for sure in the good you get rather than it being potential that you don't get.
It hones fine on an india stone but is icy on an oilstone - V11 is also that. It doesn't have the "no thanks" attitude toward an india stone like the huge volume of vanadium carbides afford in 10V. If the 10V iron were top end hardness, it would be entertaining on stones, but even at 60, you can feel the greasy feel.
The arm hair test with this one on "regular stones with kicker" is very good without yet going to the all diamond regimen. It does remind me of V11 in that you can hone it on an oilstone, but it feels like maybe you're not really going to get the scratches from the india out of it, but partially burnish them.
Great initial sharpness by perception, though - will be interesting to see how the first honed and then all diamond edges do with the thin shaving test and feel over the same edge as other stones.
...
But I can't help but think "ouch" over the $96 total bill for one plane iron. It's not that the cost is out of line for the cost of the stock and having it made on a small scale, but that I know there's nothing about it that I would like in use - at least so far - better than 80crv2, which is at least as fine or finer.