Thread: Old Swaty, what exactly have I got here?

Boy, been a long time since I've been to this site... Adapting to married life, and recently our first child has sapped some of the time I used to enjoy with a straight razor but recently started getting back to them.

Anyway, over the summer I picked up this old Swaty hone, but don't know much about it. Any thoughts? when and how should I use this?

Thanks!

It is a three line Franz Swaty barbers hone. They are of a good reputation. Typically if your razor is in need of a quick touch up you would put a dab of lather on it and give four to six passes and then test shave, if required you could give a few more passes. They tend to cut fairly quick so have the potential to overdone easily, which is why such few passes. Some people also use them after the 8K in their progression to finish the edge.

I've got a similar one and it does a good job of maintaining a good edge. BTW: gssixgun has very good videos on youtube about how to use barber hones.

+1 to what RezDog said.

Great info, thanks everyone!

May need a light lapping before use.

Originally Posted by Sunbird

May need a light lapping before use.

Possible but I doubt it.

Originally Posted by AlanII

Possible but I doubt it.

It appears perfectly flat and very smooth, though I could give it a few passes on my glass and see what it looks like. I almost always lap my Norton when using it.

You can also use the Swaty dry. I've been doing it that way for years. Works fine...

Nice one....works good to maintain the edge