Dave Mount, northern MN
>Charles--

Whatever hand tools you get, sharpening is, in my opinion, more important than anything else, including who's tools you buy or what techniques you focus on. Having a truly sharp set of inexpensive Blue Chip chisels is better than having the most expensive chisels there are if they aren't sharp. I think Leonard Lee's book is really excellent because it not only tells you how to sharpen, but it gives you a lot on why sharpening works as it does, and why different tools call for different types of sharpening. Dunbar's book that Adam mentions is good, addresses sharpening, and is helpful for selecting hand tools to buy (particularly vintage tools), but I think Leonard Lee's book is better overall on sharpening specifically.

Best,

Dave