Like many others who have recently posted, I'm in the market for new chisels. I wasn't too thrilled by the performance of my Costco specials--a set made by Mastergrip (tried searching on Google but couldn't get much detail)--while taking a class on cutting dovetails by hand. I sharpened them but they really didn't hold an edge. From my reading here, the ones that people recommend and that run in the range of what I want to spend are Hirsch, Two Cherries, and Ashley Iles. But I notice that the shape of the Hirsch look different since the edges come straight up rather than beveled--I gather that's referred to as a firmer chisel. Does that matter, and if so how?
Also wondering about the 3 different sizes of Ashley Iles--the middle-sized ones (so called "English Pattern", scroll down here) seem to have hexagonal handles rather than the round ones seen on the shorter or longer ones. Do people like the feel of those? Also wondering about the feel of the shortest ones--would they be too short for general use (particularly dovetail work)?
Thanks.
Rob