Help ID new hones and advise

Hello everyone. I first posted on the hones forum on the workshop, but I realise this is the right forum instead.

I bought these new hones today at a local fleemarket. The little one, is a black Escher hone. The dimension is 12,5 cm x 2,5 cm and 1,2 cm thick.

As shown on the pictures, the case is broken on the side. I think it is a easy repair, but what do you think? Should I leave it as it is?

The big stone is remarkable. It has to natural colours. A dark grey and a greenish colour. It a naturel combination stone.

The dimensions are 21 cm x 4,6 cm and 2,2 cm thick.

I think this is a thüringen hone to, possible a Escher. But I have never seen anything like it. Can anyone give a opinion?

Finally and last I would like to hear your opinion on what hone I should use as a finisher? Or are the grid the same?

I applied pictures of hones dry and dampened.

I bought the hones fore 36 $ I guess that was a good bargain? :-)

The boxed one definitely Thuringian/Escher, the other is very interesting and I've never seen one like it either!! Hopefully someone can tell you more about it

I think in the box there's a Thuringian.....the other one no idea...
You can use the Thuri as a finisher, build some light slurry on it, and dilute it. At the and complete aprox. 20-50 laps only on clean water. You can also refresh your edge on pure water.(20-50 laps). GL

I been reading on this forum and I can see that there are discussions elsewhere on green Eschers and two-tone Eschers. I think this stone looks just like them. And living so close to Germany it seems natural that the stone comes from there.

Anyway I think the only way to test the theory must be to use it. So I'll try it later and post the results.

Thanks..

OK I just testet the big one. I took a shaveready razor and gave it 20 laps on a light slurry. The slurry is light grey and behaved just like a green Esher I borrowed from a friend. The hone don't soak in water but the hone tend to "grip" the razor close to the surface.

The honing gives me full control and I can feel the hone making progress.

After honing I took the razor on a leather strop, with no compound and gave it 30 laps.

The testshave was awsome! Really close and nice. I have a black Escher, but it is much harder. - This hone feels soft.

I don't know if this really is a two-tone Escher, but it is a great finisher and I guess that is what matters. :-)

I still have to try the little Escher and also the dark-grey side of the large hone.

I wounder if they perform the same way. This is so cool. I wounder if anyone else thinks hones are as fascinating as I do? :-)

Awesome score, congrats. The big one is probably a thuringian, two-tones are somewhat common for thuringians/Eschers.

The large one could very well be an Escher based on the appearance, the size, (typical dimensions for some of the Eschers) and from what you've described the performance. Whether it is or not, the important thing is that it delivers the goods when you hone your razor. Very nice score.

Thanks Jimmy. You are right of cause. And I never sell a stone, they are for keeping and personal use, so the fabricant is not important, just the performance.

It's clearly a thüringian hone, so now I know how and when to use it.

I really like straight razors, but I love the hones :-)

Nice score. They are both thuringian, the bigger one is maybe a Y/G , like the Barbers Delight, they are two tone most of them.
the small one is a common mostly in UK. Keep the bigger one, you'll be very happy with the edges from this stone.

Wauv its the first time I hear about Barbers Delight, but it's sure a catchy name. Was it considered a top class hone? And can you tell a bit more about it?

The next step for me is to make a stand for it. Probably with a lit to protect the hone.

Hmm. It does look that you were very lucky.

The trophy cup on the label is an Escher trademark. As Thuringian hones are natural stones they occasionally consist of different layers with different colours.

The labelled Escher stone is clear, the other one could be a natural combo thuringian. The blue side looks very dark when wet, which is unusual. Can you post a picture showing the stone wet on a dark background? Thanks hatzicho

I'll post a picture of the stone on a black background Sunday. I'm on holiday at the moment :-)

Ok I took a few pictures of the big hone dampened with water, next to my black Thüringian hone. I hope this help with ID :-)

Looks pretty well like a Thuringian combination stone! :rock:

How does it perform?
Congrats to the score !

It's really a great hone with lots of feedback. It does fell much softer then my black thüringian/Escher hone on the picture. It's also faster. I only used it on 1 razor this far, but I will try it out on some other razors the next days :-)

In my opinion as also mentioned by Hatzicho a double layered thuringian....

Sawmarks on the endings of both sides do fit to other thuringians i own....
http://up.picr.de/17387122ux.jpg

More about Thuringian Double Hones here:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...le-whammy.html

And here started by Hatzicho:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/showthread.php?t=99036


Great score have fun with them :-)

I have one that is barely used as I have so many hones to experiment with, technique is still king

@dtgirl1971:
Do you think it makes any sense to post in 4 threads that you do not use any natural stone but you think the king is technique ? Would be great if you would give something useful to these threads, sorry thats my thinking on this....