Arno 467870 Solid Steel French Timber Framing Slick Chisel 30 mm (1-1/8 Inch) Wide x 14 Inches Long RC 58-60 PVC Dipped Handles

I got this because I need a long chisel to reach down into a wall cavity to carve out some of the Bond/Rim joist on my house to open it up to run a duct. Its an old house and it is made from timbers. This Bond/Rim is actually a very large timber of approx 8x8. I think its a recycled barn beam or post.So, Here are the Pros- Its a great price. for 40$ I think you would be hard pressed to find a better deal, and thats if you can find a retail establishment that would even carry something like these timber chisels. I also really like that its essentially a "full tang" chisel that is all steel the entire length rather than being like all the others I saw which have wood handle that holds a rat tail. The wood can split and if you are really needing to hammer on this thing, the wood is much more likely to split or deform. Its plenty long, its got great heft and the steel seems to be of good quality and the edge comes from the factory pretty sharp and should be functional for most. I ended up putting a new hone on it, which didnt take too long but that leads into my complaints.Now, the Cons. I liked the edge but I wanted to get some practice sharping a chisel edge so I wont ruin my really nice woodworking chisels that I have been meaning to put as razor sharp an edge on as I can. with a series of diamond stones and a chisel sharpening jig/honing guide. So, lets give it a shot on a utility type chisel. Well, the actual grind on these ended up being not so hot. The leading bevel was not square to the actual body of the blade. To fix that in the manner I am going about it with hand honing would take a lifetime. I just ran with it and it will work fine for a utility work horse. The flat side, or the back side of the grind also has a bit of belly, thats also something that would take forever to work out. The beck bevel was also quite a bit excessive, that I was able to get out of it, at least mostly. Once complete, I was able to shave hairs off the back of my hand, so it does sharpen quite well.In the end, it took a really nice edge and it took about as long as I would expect from some tool steel, so the hardness seems per advertised. Its obvious these things are hammer forged at a pretty industrial scale, Gringing and honing happens quickly and with a production quota in mind, which means quickly and attention to fine craftsmanship isn't there, BUT, it fits with the price-point. I think, all in all, this is a fine purchase, its a utility chisel that is meant to take some abuse, it appears it will take it and its a good purchase for what it is and what its intentions are. I will likely pick up a couple more in different widths just for the fact they are good bang for the buck and will last a good long while, most likely my lifetime and then some if not allowed to rust. If I end up finding that the steel does not hold up and does not hold and edge as expected, I will update the review, but it all appears as it should. AND, its made in France and not China, so hopefully that means something. (they are not English, or German, or Swedish or Danish.....which all would mean much more $$)Pictures are of my honed edge, the surfaces with grind marks, that pretty much how the whole thing comes from the factory.

I'm notching a wall sill plate located deep inside a very tight floor cavity area making it impossible to reach with power tools and short length hand tools with fat handles just won't work. The flat handle and long length of this chisel will make the job much easier and is exactly what I was searching for. It's a bit pricey but well worth it.