Thread: Kees Thuringian on ebay?

Originally Posted by Kees

Yes it is mine. I buy them from the Dutch distributor, check them out before I put them on ebay. Just bought a lot of 10 hones, 2 will go back. One has only large pyrite inclusions the other also has small gritty inclusions. The one with the pyrite only inclusions does create a nice edge on a razor as it has a smooth surface but when you move the razor across the pyrite spots, due to increased friction, it feels like the razor is moved along a bumpy road which might make a new owner unhappy. I compared this particular one with my yellow green and could not find a substantial differrence in edge quality. The Y/G has a smoother surface and hones a slower but is not a better hone IMO.

I decided not to sell them through SRP vendor's corner because I did not want to compete with members who are established vendors as well. AFAIK none of the prominent SRP vendors are very active on ebay so I thought it might be "safer" to sell on ebay.

BTW these Thuringers are not MST stones!

Kees,
While our stones come from different suppliers I suspect they are of similar geologic origin. The Thuringen/Hunsrueck local is still debated over there but it makes me wonder just where the pyrite included stones really come from.

People may wonder why my prices are considerably higher that via MST direct and it is because of the very pyrite inclusions you describe. Typically I get a 50% yield of what I feel are acceptable stones for resale and returning them to Germany is prohibitively high so the cost must be absorbed in what is sold here. Add in international shipping, lapping, etc....and the price goes up. On the bright side the indivdual buyer need not worry about getting one of the pyrite filled stones and returning it themselves to Germany and a single stone shipped that far become close to my price anyway. You are fortunate in being much closer to the source than I am!

As to what is better....the "new" stones or a real vintage or NOS? Hard to say. I find both cut with equal fineness but the Hunsrueck are faster than the vintage or NOS stones. I think EL found the same on the stones I sent him for testing.

Any of these makes a fine choice for finish honing.

Best of luck on your auctions and I do appreciate you being so honorable on where you market these. Of course I never expected any less from you but just wanted to say thank you anyway.

Best wishes,
Tony

Originally Posted by Kees

I had the same problem with my Thuringers. They come from a small family-owned company in Germany that are awfully slow in processing orders and will only sell to distributors. It took me about than 2 months to get the 1st shipment.

They are a bit disorganised then? This sounds a little like the TOS hone manufacturers over here who still like to deal in cash or cheque and don't have an online presence. Not that they take that long to send stuff out in my experience.


Do you find these slightly darker hones are a little harder than the lighter ones (i.e. the dearer mst ones)? At least that seemed to be the case with the couple I bought from mst (obviously there musn't be a UK distributor or they decided against trying to make me understand I should use this distributor due to my German. )

@ murph

I have never handled an MST stone so I can't tell you.