For me this is a difficult talk!
It is so difficult to advice on this, since it's so much feeling at the end.
I love vintage, and would at any day give away a new set of factory made chisels at any brand, for an old beautiful vintage quality set. But I do understand that some love to buy new, it's like with cars, some love a brand new, and some love a vintage car. When it comes to performance it's a matter of use first of all. A2 steel will hold a edge for a long time on a high angel grind so excellent for fieldwork and building, A1 steel will be preferable for a cabinetmakers chisels, and so. Some people like the look of a set of blue handle Irwin, some like a old worn vintage full of life, some like a new 'old school' wood handle that shines, some really don't give a s… for nothing but performance. At the end it's personal, and so it should not be a matter for discussion, but I see again and again people claiming that the plastic handle Irwin are no good, and this is wrong! I see again and again people claim that LN is the best, and this is wrong. I see again and again people saying that you can't find old chisels in a good quality and this is wrong. And so on.
So when people ask what chisels they should buy they have to bring some info; price range, use and taste.
Me was one of those idiots who did not ask and just fly out to buy what I read was the best, so I bought a set of Bahco 434 and these are really wonderful chisels, but just not what I was looking for! So next step was to slowly build knowledge and try to find answers.
My personal answer for now:
A set of old English firmer chisels with their old original handles in box wood, these cut so wonderful and reminds me in use of the Japanese, they are excellent for paring. I guess due to the steel that are hard but not brittle. And they make me smile and think of 'the old days'.
A set of rebuild and rehandled old English chisels, that I changed into a dovetail set, fishtail, skewed and paring with short rounded handles for grip and control with the hand. These again are hard but able to have a low angel grind and be razor sharp.
A set of old French mortise chisels made from their old military sword maker, I have just rehandled them in old style, and they are nothing less than wonderful.
A set of Bacho 434, these are a set of wonderful chisels in excellent quality, but not for the workshop, they are for construction work, so they are rounded, much too hard steel for my taste, and made for site purpose, where they will hold a edge long (I prefer a sharp edge easy set, than a slowly more dull).
My sister are in Korea and are looking for a set of Japanese or Korean for me, I don't really have a relation to these, but since so many cabinetmakers love them, I will like to try and figure out why, and also I like the design.
So the ultimate set…
For me the; Ashley Iles Mk 2 Bevel Edged Cabinetmakers Chisels are the closest to perfection you can buy new today. They are handmade from the old Sheffield traditions and with A1 steel, so I plan on buying a set of six as soon as my budget allows. To me they hold more than quality, they are extremely flat, made of the best of steel, classic English handles, handmade by some of the best makers in the world. For me they have this touch of the hand that makes me smile, this I can't find in the Kirchen or LN versions, they look and feel machine made to me. But yes if someone has a full set of old 750 for the same price I'm in.
And if I win the lottery I will buy the big Iles set. (I just wrote them yesterday to hear if I could buy one alone first to test the quality and feel before buying the set).
(When you buy old chisels you will some knowledge and patience, you need to wait for the right price, the right type and at times you will have a bad boy in the class; either too hard and brittle or too soft with no hardening, but so what if you get them at a fair price and you know how to judge them. But if you are a beginner and don't want to spend time, buy a fair set of factory made like Kirchen, Bahco or Irwin, but choose the models that suits your needs not just the brand).
Best thoughts,
Mads