Bahco vs Narex Chisels: Which Set is Worth It?

Two names keep coming up when UK woodworkers debate bevel edge chisels: Bahco and Narex. One is a Swedish toolmaker with 130 years of forging history. The other is a Czech brand that's built a loyal following by offering serious steel at half the price. The question isn't which is good - both are - but which one makes sense for your workshop and your wallet.

We compared the Bahco 434-S6 (6-piece, around £100) against the Narex Bevel Edge set (4-piece, around £44) across steel quality, handle comfort, edge retention and long-term value. Here's what we found.

Steel Quality: Swedish High-Carbon vs Chrome Manganese

The blade steel is where these two sets diverge most clearly. Bahco uses Swedish high-carbon steel, forged and precision-ground to a fine edge. The steel scores around 60-62 on the Rockwell hardness scale, which means it takes a very keen edge and holds it through extended sessions. Owners frequently report being able to pare end-grain hardwood with minimal resistance - the kind of clean cut that leaves a surface barely needing sanding.

Narex goes with chrome manganese (Cr-Mn) steel, heat-treated to roughly 59-61 HRC. It's a touch softer than the Bahco, which has a practical upside: Cr-Mn steel is tougher and less prone to chipping if you accidentally twist the blade or hit a knot. For someone still learning control, that forgiveness matters. The trade-off is that Narex chisels need sharpening more often - every few hours of heavy use rather than lasting through a full day.

Both steels resist rust better than plain carbon steel, but neither is stainless. Keep them dry and wipe them after use, especially in humid UK workshops.

Handles: ERGO Synthetic vs Traditional Beechwood

Bahco's ERGO two-component handles are designed for extended use. The hard acetate core absorbs mallet strikes without splitting, while the soft-grip overmould reduces vibration and hand fatigue. They're chunky in the hand - closer to a screwdriver grip than a traditional chisel shape. If you're doing a lot of chopping or paring for hours at a stretch, the ergonomic design genuinely helps.

Narex fits traditional oiled beechwood handles with brass ferrules. They look like the chisels your grandfather used, and they feel that way too - slimmer, lighter, and more tactile. The wood absorbs sweat and develops a patina over time. The brass ferrule stops the handle splitting at the mouth when you strike with a mallet. For joinery work where you're using hand pressure more than heavy mallet blows, the Narex handles give better feedback on what the blade is doing in the wood.

Neither handle is easily replaceable. Bahco's are press-fitted and essentially permanent. Narex uses a traditional tang-and-ferrule system that a competent woodworker could re-handle, but most people just buy a new chisel when the handle eventually gives out.

What's in the Box

The Bahco 434-S6 includes six chisels: 6mm, 10mm, 12mm, 18mm, 25mm and 32mm. That's a solid range covering everything from fine dovetail work to broad paring. Each chisel comes with a protective edge guard and the set arrives in a branded wooden case. The blades are fully honed out of the box - you can start cutting immediately.

The Narex set comes with four chisels: 6mm, 12mm, 18mm and 25mm. It covers the most-used sizes but misses the 10mm and 32mm that Bahco includes. The smaller 10mm is handy for detailed work, and the 32mm is useful for wide paring and cleaning out large mortises. Narex chisels arrive reasonably sharp but benefit from a quick strop before first use.

At face value, you're paying roughly double for two extra chisels and a case. The real cost difference per chisel is smaller than it looks - about £17 per Narex chisel versus £17 per Bahco chisel if you count per piece. The premium is really about steel quality and handle engineering, not quantity.

Edge Retention and Sharpening

This is where the Bahco justifies its price for serious users. In side-by-side comparisons across oak, walnut and pine, the Bahco chisels consistently held a working edge roughly twice as long as the Narex. After a full afternoon of cutting dovetails in oak, the Bahco still sliced cleanly while the Narex had started to drag - not blunt, but no longer shaving-sharp.

Both respond well to the same sharpening routine: a few strokes on a diamond stone, then a strop with green compound. The Bahco takes a slightly finer polish due to its steel composition, which contributes to that extra edge life. If you sharpen between tasks rather than waiting for the edge to degrade, the difference narrows considerably.

For the majority of UK hobbyists who sharpen regularly, Narex's edge life is perfectly adequate. The Bahco advantage only becomes significant during long sessions or when working abrasive hardwoods like iroko or greenheart.

Head-to-Head Comparison

When to Pick Bahco

Bahco makes sense when you're spending serious time at the bench. If you're cutting joinery several days a week, the edge retention alone saves you time - less pausing to sharpen means more productive hours. The ERGO handles are genuinely comfortable over long sessions, and the 6-piece range means you've got the right width for almost any task without reaching for a separate chisel.

The wooden case is a nice touch if you're transporting chisels to a class or a client's workshop. It keeps the edges protected and everything in one place. For a dedicated workshop where the chisels live in a rack, the case is less important.

Bahco also makes sense if you work primarily in hardwoods. The steel's ability to hold an edge through oak, walnut and ash without going dull halfway through a session is a real productivity advantage. Check our full chisel roundup for how Bahco compares against other premium brands.

When to Pick Narex

Narex is the smarter buy if you're starting out or working weekends. At roughly £44 for a 4-piece set, you get quality Cr-Mn steel that sharpens well and holds a respectable edge. The beechwood handles teach you proper chisel technique - you can't hide behind cushioned grips when the handle is slim and tactile.

The missing 10mm and 32mm sizes aren't dealbreakers for most projects. The four sizes included cover the vast majority of woodworking tasks. You can always buy individual Narex chisels later to fill gaps, and they're affordable enough that building a custom set piece by piece is practical.

For learning sharpening, Narex is ideal. The steel responds predictably to stones and strops, and because the set costs less, you're not anxious about removing metal while you dial in your technique. Once your sharpening skills are solid, the edge life gap between Narex and Bahco narrows because you're maintaining both sets properly.

Budget Alternatives Worth Considering

If the Bahco and Narex are both above your budget, there are cheaper options that still deliver decent performance. The VonHaus 6-piece chisel set costs under £20 and gives you all six common sizes. The steel won't hold an edge as long as either the Bahco or Narex, but for occasional weekend projects, it's a perfectly serviceable starting point. We covered budget options in our best chisels guide.

For woodworkers who want Narex steel but prefer to make their own handles, the Narex 6-piece unhandled set gives you the same Cr-Mn steel blades without handles. At around £90, it's more expensive than the handled set, but the blades are the same quality and you can fit custom handles shaped to your grip.

The Middle Ground: Irwin M750

If neither the Bahco nor the Narex quite fits, the Irwin M750 Splitproof Pro sits between them at around £71 for a 6-piece set. The acetate handles with soft-grip overmould are closer to Bahco's comfort level, and the steel holds an edge better than Narex but not quite as long as Bahco. It's a solid compromise if you want six chisels without spending £100. We covered it in detail in our best chisels guide.

Verdict

Both sets are genuinely good - this isn't a case of one being clearly better. The Bahco 434-S6 is the premium choice: better steel, longer edge life, more sizes, and handles designed for all-day comfort. If you use chisels frequently and value edge retention, the extra £55 pays for itself in time saved sharpening.

The Narex Bevel Edge set is the value champion. At under £45, you get quality steel, beautiful wooden handles, and a set that'll last years with basic care. For hobbyists, beginners and anyone who sharpens regularly, the performance gap is smaller than the price gap suggests.

If you're choosing between the two and budget is tight, start with Narex. If you've been using budget chisels and want a meaningful upgrade that you won't outgrow, the Bahco is worth saving for. Either way, you're getting chisels that will serve your workshop well beyond what any budget set offers.

For more hand tool comparisons and woodworking guides, visit MakerUK.