Ish, if that's the case, it seems like a QC issue. How far down would the localized annealing reach on an improperly ground blade?

I'm most intrigued by this theory, but again, it would seem to be a theory at this point, although the one that makes the most sense so far. It would explain why some blades function well beyond my expectations while others have underwhelmed. The designs I've held have all been fantastic--clearly designed for use--but I'd hope for the cash that they'd all be GTG out of the box. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />