Narex 815075 1 inch Richter Extra Unhandled Bevel Edge Chisel Blank

Years ago, it was common practice to sell unhandled tools. Craftsmen bought chisel blades and then fashioned their own handles to meet their specific needs, as who is better suited to make wood chisel handles than craftsmen themselves. This made perfect sense, as craftsmen could create handles that better fit their hands, were designed for the task at hand, and used whatever wood was readily available. A custom handle can be turned on a lathe from a favorite wood in a few minutes, and even without a lathe, a handle can be quickly shaped using a rasp, chisel, drawknife, or spokeshave.

These unhandled chisel blades are produced in the Narex factory, located in the small Czech village of Bystrice. The Narex factory was founded in 1919 by Mr. Vaclav Richter, a local blacksmith who began manufacturing chisels and gimlets. To this day, Narex is renowned for creating an extensive range of high-quality, reasonably-priced bench chisels. Although the factory has modernized significantly over the past century, it still retains many traditional manufacturing methods.

Richter chisel blades are crafted from the finest Chrome Manganese (Cr-V) steel using traditional drop-forging techniques. These blades undergo a rigorous process of hardening, cryogenic treatment, and tempering to achieve a minimum hardness of 62 HRc. The cryogenic treatment, which cools the steel to -190°C (-310°F) using liquid nitrogen, alters the steel's mechanical properties at the molecular level, significantly enhancing its strength, toughness, and wear resistance.

Subsequent fine-grinding and polishing ensure a mirror-like surface with ultra-thin sides (0.5mm), allowing the chisel to reach into the tightest of spaces, making it the perfect tool for cleaning out dovetails. The front bevel is ground at a 24-degree angle.

The chisel blanks come with square, untapered tangs. Stainless steel ferrules, with an outer diameter of 0.750 inch, an inner diameter of 0.670 inch, and a height of 0.710 inch, are used. These ferrules have inside bevels for easy insertion and are properly annealed (hardened) to prevent splitting when the tangs are driven into the handle. Each ferrule features a lasered Richter logo.

To commemorate its 100th anniversary, Narex has developed a new line of Richter Extra premium bench chisels, named after their founder. This line of chisels is crafted from the finest materials available, has undergone superior heat treatment, and been manufactured using the most stringent processes. The Richter Extra chisels are the finest chisels Narex has produced in its 100-year history and will rival any premium chisel on the market today.

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