Thread: Is this a norton oil filled stone?

I purchased this many moons ago and have not brought it out in a while. Does anyone have an idea of the age and type/maker? I have had for 10plus years and bought from someone that said it was old 25 years ago when he got it. It looks to me just like the norton oilstone I see on eBay for lots of $$$ but not sure. Someone told me before it was worth $75 (I paid much more)

More pictures

I don't know what you have there, but someone who does may be along.

The Nortons that sell for high money on eBay are not oilstones. They are Norton barber hones with an oval imprint on the darker side.

The ones that people seem to be paying high dollars for are the barber hones, but that one has similar colors. I am curious if it is the same type only larger. I am still fascinated by barber hones in the fact that so many of them were made by so many different companies, but for all intents and purposes almost everything of how and what was used to make them seems to have vanished over time. Atleast I haven't been able to find any in depth information.

Not with a slurry stone.

Looks purple in the photo. Is the slurry stone the same color as the stone?

It could be a Belgian Blue or Vosegine, though BBW have more of a pattern to them.

Vosegine are fine finishers, Escher or fine Thüringen quality.

Vosegine will slurry, thick sticky, dark purple or brown almost like chocolate. Vosegine also commonly have small blue green dots, inspect with a loupe. Dry Vosegine looks like a chocolate bar.

It could also be a man made, early synthetic stone, but the slurry stone and a custom box would lead me to think high grade natural.

What size is it?

Put a razor on it and look at the finish.

Just saw the other photo.

It’s a 2 sided man made stone. The guy you want, is Wolfpac34 he is a synthetic stone collector expert.

PM him.

I have a bit of experience with barber hones too.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I have a bit of experience with barber hones too.

I have owned the norton stone with the oval name branded into the stone and this one feels and looks 100% the same. Same colors and same feel to it. That being said I am not even close to an expert. Just a layman stating what I see...

Originally Posted by Mikeinri

That being said I am not even close to an expert. Just a layman stating what I see...

I have a lot of barber hones and have played with most of them. However, given how many exist and how diverse they are, I too consider myself to be a layman regarding barber hones.

Originally Posted by Mikeinri

I have owned the norton stone with the oval name branded into the stone and this one feels and looks 100% the same. Same colors and same feel to it.

You are one up on me for this. I have never owned or used that Norton hone. If I did have one, I would sell it fairly quickly after trying it out!

I know that the Norton hone is well regarded and of high demand. If your current hone is comparable, then of course you have a good hone but without the stamp it lacks commercial appeal. This is the same issue regarding the relative appeal of high quality Thuringians vs labeled Eschers.