European tool steels *LINK*

I know a little about Peugeot

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond, CA

>They were pretty much pushed out by bigger tool makers. They stoped deversying and stuck with what made the most $ for them... Cars

Info is hard to find

Frank D. in Montreal

>Hi Tom,

I know next to nothing, although I do have some chisels and planes from Peugeot, Goldenberg, as well as from some smaller makers such as Couleaux. I've tried several times to find out more about the history of French tools, but there is very little info anywhere. In France tools have never enjoyed the prestige they have in England, so little effort has been made to document the history. I've never even gotten any definitive info on the exact steels they used for their blades, and I know some collecors with thousands of French tools. As a rule, the older ones are more desireable than the newer ones (doh!). I don't think French (nor moany European) manufacturers readily shared that info, or else people (users) just left it up to the manufacturers and didn't really care about the exact specs as long as the tools worked well. I also have several big French reference books on tools and not a word is mentioned about the steel (other than the fact that artisans and small-sized tool companies often used old rasps and files to make their tools).

And then...

Dean Lapinel

>Then you have misinformation that can become historical fact. For instance, the reputation of Spanish steel was terrible as viewed by the US because the exported shotgun steel had specs (and problems)of a lower level than their own traditional steel.

That collection of tool sure looks nice though.

Trivia on French gun steel

Frank D. in Montreal

>Apparently the gun steel produced in France between the two world wars has the reputation of being the best France has ever produced, surpassing the high-tech steel being produced now. High-end gunsmiths buy guns produced during this period, remill/refurbish them, and sell them for top-dollar.