Barr is one of the rare makers still hand-forging timber framing chisels in the USA. Barr Quarton first made his reputation forging custom knives, so he knows how to work steel and how to put an edge on it. In McCall, Idaho, he forges each blade with hammer blows that compress the steel and concentrate carbon at the cutting edge. Carbon is what cuts, and that is why a hand-forged Barr edge takes and holds an edge that machine-made chisels cannot match. After forging, each tool is annealed, quenched, and tempered to the proper hardness for timber work. Because each blade is forged by hand, widths run approximately 1, 1-1/2, and 2 in. The 1-in gets into tight spots, the 1-1/2-in is the do-everything size, and the 2-in clears big mortises fast. The white oak handle seats properly in the deep socket, a shock ring on top keeps it from splitting under repeated mallet blows, and we stock replacement handles for the day you finally wear one out. It arrives sharp, and it will hold that edge through the deepest mortises. Specifications: Options: 1-in Framing Chisel; 1-1/2-in Framing Chisel; 2-in Framing Chisel; Replacement Handle Blade length: 13 in Overall length: 18 in Widths: approximately 1, 1-1/2, and 2 in (hand-forged) Steel: hand-forged high-carbon steel, annealed, quenched, and tempered Handle: white oak, socket fit, shock ring on top Made in: McCall, Idaho, USA by Barr Specialty Tools
