Specifically, what is sad is that old tools are often much better than new tools.
I've bought many files on flea markets, for the purpose of using them as knife stock.
Some time ago I sorted them in 2 piles: ones that still cut, and ones that don't.
This weekend I've forged a couple of knives, and I started shaping the blanks with my small belt sander. Frustrated with the slow progress and the fact that I was running out of belts, I turned to the files. Most of them are old nicholson files. Most of them are rusty. And yet they eat carbon steel faster than anything I've ever tried, excepting only my angle grinder. They make m Bahco files turn red with shame. And it's nice that they are solid tool steel. So if they ever lose their edge, I can use them for stock. My bahcos aren't good for that either.
I was so impressed in fact that I decided that I would buy a set of new nicholson files. Because if these old ones with rusty spots and slightly worn teeth did this, a new file would be even better... yet from what I've read on various sites, the truth is different. Nicholson has moved their production facility and are now turning out files that reviewers have strong reservations about.
I'll have to keep looking. Perhaps there are still file makers that make solid tool steel files that are durable.