For Rob. We exchanged comments earlier about the new hand planes that I had purchased from Dictum in Germany. I have found out that they are marketed in the UK under the factory name 'Quangsheng' in case you are interested. Here is a short video from Workshop Heaven which shows one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXUVzviBjCs. I have only taken a few shavings with my #4 so far with the blade as it came from the factory. It cut like a dream.
I'll check those out Mike, I've just got back from 3 days "glamping" with the kids....bit knackered right now :-)