Hi,
I have a question regarding Japanese chisels for sale on EBay. Is it my imagination, or does the steel on many of them look either fake, or just very odd? I am comparing them to a few I have, and it's not all, but many of the "used" chisels up for sale seem to be made from inferior steel, at least from the pics I see of them. If you look at what are supposed to be the revered chisels of a venerable retired carpenter or woodworker you can see where the steel has this mottled gray look. I am just concerned that these chisels are either fake, or of very low quality.
I anticipate that anyone responding might ask for an example, but I am not sure the board here wants me posting that kind of thing. If you look at any more than a couple of "used" chisels you will see what I mean. Zoom in on a pic that has a good view of the steel. It looks gray and mottled and just odd. It isn't an age thing, or signs of hard use. I would love to be wrong, but I don't think these are "kosher". What do you think? Same goes for many of the second hand Kanna there as well. Seems fishy to me. Just want to get other opinions. Thanks
JB