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Files have the highest carbon content of about any steel you are going to pick up, This is for maximum hardness so they can cut other metals including steel that has been hardened (for example an axe bit). This hardness also can get in the way of ductility (pry bar strength), files can be brittle. You can temper a file to reduce some of this hardness while maintaining most of the very good edge holding. Yes they are tougher than wood pecker lips and are damned hard to grind on a "rock" (bench grinding wheel). They sure make some very pretty sparks while your doing it!
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