Thread: Three Line Hone

Picked this up for $20 off the bay, always love them complete with papers and boxes.

Very cool find. Woohoo!

I have that same one. I do not like it though I haven't really tested it out much. Its a little rougher around the edges and doesn't have the box or papers.

Barber hones are very useful at times. Example: yesterday I refreshed a Dovo Astrale 6 laps on an Aloxite B H, then 20 on Gokumyo 20k. Beautiful shave.

As a point of interest ...... maybe ..... I knew old barbers in the 1980s and talked hones, razors etcetera with them. One in particular, 70 years old and cutting hair 50 years, told me that the best barber hone was the Swaty and that the one with the "three lines" was the Swaty you wanted. IMHO the reason American Hone Co came out with a barber hone imprinted 3 line hone, was to capitalize on the reputation of the 3 line Swaty.

Swaty moved from one location in Austria to another, and when they did, they began producing hones with two lines. Hence the word of mouth to the barber suppliers that the 3 line was the one to get. From what I've since learned, I would say the 2 line is just as good. IMHO.

Dennis, have you tried it out yet?

Not yet no, ive picked up 3 or 4 new hones in the last week and have been playing with the 14.5" thuri lately lol

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

As a point of interest ...... maybe ..... I knew old barbers in the 1980s and talked hones, razors etcetera with them. One in particular, 70 years old and cutting hair 50 years, told me that the best barber hone was the Swaty and that the one with the "three lines" was the Swaty you wanted. IMHO the reason American Hone Co came out with a barber hone imprinted 3 line hone, was to capitalize on the reputation of the 3 line Swaty.
Swaty moved from one location in Austria to another, and when they did, they began producing hones with two lines. Hence the word of mouth to the barber suppliers that the 3 line was the one to get. From what I've since learned, I would say the 2 line is just as good. IMHO.

And, then the owners of company moved to Olean NJ. in the early 1900s and then the company went to Moravia IA. as the American Hone Company. The hone business is now defunct. The Euro hones were among the best but they also made other styles for carvers and some longer ones for cooks and home use on knives.
And, sad to say many of the same molds were used in the Iowa location with some quality control problems toward the end.
~Richard

I have a Franz Swaty that I use when my razor starts to pull a little. Works great!

I've got a 3-line Swaty myself. I should use it more.