Thread: Flea market hone find - Can anyone put a name to it?

We picked this up Sunday at a local flea market. The label is very hard to read but I was hoping someone can match it to a hone they have w/ same label that is readable. The size is roughly 7 x 1.5 x .75.Can anyone help? Sorry for the crappy pic of the hone surface. I took several pics and this is the best I can get.

Congrats! That's an Escher, no doubt about it.

The label has 'The Celebrated Water Hone' and the remnants of a scutcheon logo in the middle. The original would have shown a cup with E & Co in it and two crossed hammers below. No time now, but I'll find a picture of it and post it later.

This is a great find!

Great catch congratulations. they are very handy to use too. Just please know when to use very important.

Now you need to decide if you want to try to preserve the label from further damage. There have been recent discussions about strategies for doing this. Clear nail polish is one option but there are others you can find in the threads about it.

Nice catch!

Originally Posted by Oldengaerde

No time now, but I'll find a picture of it and post it later.

In this thread you can find lots of Escher labels. Part of your label appears in Jimbo's third picture, and the E & SonCo cup can also be seen in his first link, and in Makar's third post. There's also this thread about the relation E & Co/Escher.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Great catch congratulations. they are very handy to use too. Just please know when to use very important.

So only as final polisher and with very few very light strokes. Your razor needs to be razor sharp already before use of an Escher. Hi_bud_gl always stresses this, not just because it is best for your razor's keenness and life span, but also because that way you don't unnecessarily wear out these precious and rare hones.

He and JimmyHAD are our active resident experts on Escher and Charnley Forest use I think, and both very nice and helpful - don't hesitate to ask them!

Don't listen to the others, they don't know what they're talking about. It's really a terrible stone, and you should get rid of it as soon as possible......

But seriously now, that's a great looking stone you have there. I have a couple Celebrated Water Razor Hones, one with a label stuck on the back just like that one. Different colour, but sure to be amazing none-the-less.

I've gone to flea markets and antique stores and I've yet to find ANY hones at all, let alone a nice natural one....someday.....someday.....

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

Don't listen to the others, they don't know what they're talking about. It's really a terrible stone, and you should get rid of it as soon as possible......

But seriously now, that's a great looking stone you have there. I have a couple Celebrated Water Razor Hones, one with a label stuck on the back just like that one. Different colour, but sure to be amazing none-the-less.

I've gone to flea markets and antique stores and I've yet to find ANY hones at all, let alone a nice natural one....someday.....someday.....

I thought the same thing for a long while then they started showing up. Ya never know what you will find or where. I am lucky to have CarrieM and my son helping me hunt. CarrieM found the Escher, 2 coticules and a small yellow green hone I have yet to identify as well as a bunch of barber hones. I won't get into how much I paid for any of them but I will say I couldn't pass them up.

Good luck in your hunting and be patient and persistant.

Originally Posted by Joed

We picked this up Sunday at a local flea market. The label is very hard to read but I was hoping someone can match it to a hone they have w/ same label that is readable. The size is roughly 7 x 1.5 x .75.Can anyone help? Sorry for the crappy pic of the hone surface. I took several pics and this is the best I can get.

You're kidding, right? You know what that chalice and shield means, don't you?


If it was under a hundred, you gots a great deal!

Originally Posted by joke1176

You're kidding, right? You know what that chalice and shield means, don't you?


If it was under a hundred, you gots a great deal!

I had thought it to be an Escher but haven't study up a lot on them thinking they were out of my price range for some time to come so I asked for some expert evaluation, you guys.

Thank you all for your response to this thread. With some luck I may be able to run some blades over it this weekend.

Alright how good of a deal did you get? It kills me that everybody else finds these in the dollar bin.