Other than the el cheapo files, Nicholson, Aurio?? ( the handmade expensive French ones), Iwasaki, what other brands are out there??? Those are the only ones I ever hear about usually?? What are some of the Swiss and German brands?? I like the Nicholson, but am curious as to other nice brands!
Simonds is another American brand; sadly, they also outsource (the company's name is Simonds International). IIRC, I have some newer ones that say made in Spain. But from my experience, they seem to work OK for the price.
The German files with which I have expewrience were made by Friedrich Dick (or F. Dick) and those are small files, specifically needle files.
These are good files, and use the "number" system for cut patterns. But the German numbering system is slightly different than the Swiss. For instance, a German No.4 will not be the same as a Swiss No.4.
I have heard that F. Dick was acquired by Contenti, a company that specializes in jewelry supplies.
For true Swiss files, Grobet/Vallorbe is where it's at. Very good quality; more expensive.
The Italians are in it, too, with Corradi being in business for a hundred years or more. Extremely high quality, but probably the most expensive brand I own.
By the way, to the best of my knowledge Auriou (pronounced "are-you") doesn't make files. Their specialty is hand-stitched rasps and rifflers, although they also offer chisels, adzes, drawknives, etc.
The same family has basically ran the company since sometime around the 1850's.
They cater mainly to an "artist" (sculptors) market, meaning those who work with stone, plaster, wood, etc.
Their products are made 100% inhouse from the steel blank to the final product.
Pricey, but they are at the top of their game. The true professional will be hard-pressed to find a rasp that removes material as quickly while still providing a smooth finish.
Speaking of quality, when it comes to these types of cutting tools (files, rasps, etc.) quality doesn't necessarily mean longest tool life (although that's part of the package).
Other considerations for "quality" are what has come to mean "the right tool for the job".
Which tool removes material quickly while still providing the best finish for that type of cut.
Quality control regarding pattern/cut, meaning that when you wear out your No.2 file, you can expect the same performance from its replacement.
Rob