Originally Posted by
kevint
From The Woodwright's Companion:(1983) "In his Dictionary of Tools, R.A. Salaman relates the story of a Brixton ironmonger who, when he could not convince carpenters of the value of the new artificial oilstones(This was in 1901), would throw one against the wall. As they would not break, he would sometimes make a sale."
Shapton has the gray and white glass bottoms. On White Steel, the gray closely mimics the finish appearance of fine J's, while the white stone cuts A2, VG10 with greater speed/ per HMS. Naniwa Chosera; the latest and greatest nat-mimic/ per adverts.
In some places smiths would match/try to match their metalurgy with the naturally occuring stones. Today, new synthetic hones are needed to keep pace with the next best steel.......