That thread on MyTT may be 7 years old, but the information is still pretty accurate.
I think the grain that is smooth and looks "chippy" that Jeff (ATTC) was referring to must be what people these days call the "fish scale grain" and what I first heard referred to as a "3-D pattern". The quarter sawn top ply.
Interesting how he described the fish scale top ply has harder. When I have heard other people describe the fish scale blades as softer.
I still think it is a placebo effect. Although here is a quote about quarter sawn wood:
"Quarter-sawn boards have greater stability of form and size with less cupping, shrinkage across the width, shake and splitting, and other good qualities."
And that quote may indicate that Jeff (ATTC)'s description is the accurate one. That quartersawn (fish scale pattern) may make the top ply a little harder and more durable.
Still, my TB ZLF has the fish scale top ply and it feels pretty similar to ones without the fish scale pattern.
Sent from The Subterranean Workshop by Telepathy