Stephen Shepphard has discussed laid steel blades on his blog (several
times I think). I have no experience with them, but found it interesting
reading.... so thought I'd mention it.

http://www.fullchisel.com/blog/?cat Bill Taggart wrote:
> I dunno that I would characterize such a thing "A much better type of
> blade"... Especially in a woodie.
>
> And the assertion that the reason there was a steel bit forged onto an
> iron back was because "it is easier to grind ha1f-and-half steel and
> iron than to grind a solid steel blade"? I have always understood it
> was because (1) steel was a more precious commodity back then and (2)
> the iron absorbed the shock better, while the steel held an edge
> better, so the combination of the two made a better blade.
>
> And as far as the back being "left rough-forged"? That doesn't always
> have to be the case. I'll have to pull a few irons in some of the
> wooden planes I have at home, but as I recall, they're all pretty well
> smooth and flat.
>
> - Bill T.
> - Age-old questions that remain debatable still, I guess...
>
>
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