Brass Files

[Eric Smith]

I purchased some Nicolson files fro MSC a couple weeks ago to use on brass. When they arrived, I noticed that one was made in Bolivia, one in Mexico, and one in Columbia. Should I be concerned?

[marcusb]

I got suckered into a colomiban rasp branded as a Nicholson and it was very dissappointing. I buy all the old USA stock I can find at stores, Have over hundred files and dont plan on stopping. Its a real shame.

[flehto]

Country of origin isn't important, but each file should be scrutunized as to how sharp it is and if it clogs up due to roughness. Bought a mill bastard file from a store that sells a lot of farm supplies and it wouldn't "grab" brass...just slid over. Took it back and talked to the store manger  and he didn't seem concerned and just kept on selling them. I'm still using Nicholson and Grob files that were supplied to me during my tool and diemaker apprenticeship in the later 50's and most still work fine. .....Fred

[JCKelly]

The Asian Nicholson I looked at last year was less expensive (dare I say cheaper?) than the same style marked USA. I examined both closely, side by side. The teeth were not cut as well on the Indian bargain. I paid more for USA.

In My Not-at-all-Humble Opinion, country of origin matters greatly.
US, Europe and, I suppose, Japan are about it. 

[eddillon]

I have been buying English made files that show up now and then at gun shows.  They are fantastic!.  I have a couple of 12 inch Nichloson single cut lathe files that I have been using for almost 40 years.  Don't know what I'd do without them.

[Curtis]

I was at a swap meet today and picked up two dozen files, a mixture of Nicolson USA, Grobet USA and 2/3 Oberg made in Sweden.  Government surplus, and I had to pick through the bin a bit but the files ranged from new to barely used..... paid 25 cents apiece.  Just call me a happy guy!   

Curtis

[JCKelly]

About 1980 Nicholson had to drop the carbon content of their files from 1.3%, large files, and 1.4%, small files, down to about 1%. Specifically, they are now 1095. Best I know of it, Republic steel stopped making the very high carbon steel they used to use.

Then some time later, maybe during the 1980's, Our Government said they could no longer protect the files with a fairly harmless mix of potassium ferrocyanide (not the deadly form of cyanide, though consumption is not recommended), flour and I suspect soot. Similar to Kasenit. That "cyanide loaf" protected the very sharp cutting edge from loosing any carbon whilst being heated 1440F prior to salt water quench.

Old, pre-1980 Black Diamond files with FORGED, NOT SHEARED, tangs are the best steel. Best for files, that is, being the highest in carbon content & protected from decarburization during heat treatment.

I am personally unfamiliar with how Simonds files were made, but I suspect they were good.