I don't want to nag,and offer unsolicited advice,but,just in case you'd find this useful:
File-testing is best done not as you'd normally use a file.Especially when testing an un-tempered hardened alloy,a file stroke will knock off/roll over all the tips of the file-teeth that come into contact,you'll effectively trash your file.
Best way is one of the top sharp corners,use it as a scratcher.Use each corner only once.That will give you a consistent analog base,relative more/less scale(using a known sample,if you wish,also),
A fresh forging is normally heavily oxidised also.Remember that oxides are Way harder than steel,and will ruin your file as well.Try to get rid of oxides before using files in earnest.
File-testing is best done not as you'd normally use a file.Especially when testing an un-tempered hardened alloy,a file stroke will knock off/roll over all the tips of the file-teeth that come into contact,you'll effectively trash your file.
Best way is one of the top sharp corners,use it as a scratcher.Use each corner only once.That will give you a consistent analog base,relative more/less scale(using a known sample,if you wish,also),
A fresh forging is normally heavily oxidised also.Remember that oxides are Way harder than steel,and will ruin your file as well.Try to get rid of oxides before using files in earnest.