The Archer is semi-chisel, no? I know they make both full and semi in ripping chain, but that sure looks completely like semi in comparison to the WP. They say all the right things in their advertising about using a quality Japanese steel alloy, which is one of the most important things for any Chinese production to produce decent quality, is to not use Chinese steel. My guess is their chromium plating might not be as great as quality brands resulting in edges not holding sharpness as long, but otherwise chain factories are chain factories, the production methods are the same everywhere. Differences in chain design seem to make an enormous amount more difference than the quality differences between most chains these days.
Used the chain a few times the past couple days. It seems to hold an edge just as long as WP. And when sharpening it definitely seems like it is a hard alloy. the semi-chisel profile makes a smoother mill finish on the boards. Im going to order a roll of it.
I lucked into a free 25’ roll of tiny 3/8LP .043 chain thru an Archer website error. Might mess with that a little for 8-12" board resawing with my small log mill and MS251 (free saw cheaply rebuilt so not worried about a little bit of milling with it). I thought it was crosscut chain but actually it's ripping chain, which is strange in that small a size. As Mad Professor says, hard to beat 63PMX Stihl for milling results but costs about 3x what Archer 3/8LP ripping chain does and I find Archer's 3/8LP chain works great. Stihl's is the only 3/8LP on the market rated up to 36" bars, but I've only snapped any Archer 36" loops so far pushing too hard thru the hardest of 30" hardwoods. Has held an edge great considering the stuff I've run it through (mesquite, live oak, white oak, pecan, etc, hardest of US hardwoods). The first is the .050 the second is the .043
