Thread: Is this a Translucent Arkansas?

Found this in an antique shop. It was blackened by oil, extremely hard and difficult to lap. Is it a translucent Arkansas?

Place a powerful flashlight against it in a dark room after soaking in water and simple green for a week or so.short of handling it myself that is a start.

It's a washita stone, probably on the finer side, but it will still be quite a bit more aggressive than a trans ark.

The finer washita stones will have some translucence at the corners.

Looked up pictures of vintage washita oil stones, looks identical.
Thanks Dave.

Still a cool stone

Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER

Still a cool stone

It is absolutely a cool stone. You can finish a razor on them with some skill, but if it's found to be not suitable for razors, absolutely 100% keep it to sharpen scissors, knives, tools, anything, even utility knife blades. They are fantastic stones, maybe overall the best natural stone that has ever existed.

Originally Posted by DaveW

It is absolutely a cool stone. You can finish a razor on them with some skill, but if it's found to be not suitable for razors, absolutely 100% keep it to sharpen scissors, knives, tools, anything, even utility knife blades. They are fantastic stones, maybe overall the best natural stone that has ever existed.

Nothing to add...i really love them...

Originally Posted by doorsch

Nothing to add...i really love them...

Those are really my favorite types, the butterscotch ones that are not as pure as the lilywhites. My favorite is one that looks very much like yours, but that's in a box that is carved with a carver's initials from a furniture factory in indianapolis. It has that same coloration, but more wear(that I removed), and when I use it, I can tell why the original professional owner and user of the stone loved it so much.

Originally Posted by DaveW

It is absolutely a cool stone. You can finish a razor on them with some skill, but if it's found to be not suitable for razors, absolutely 100% keep it to sharpen scissors, knives, tools, anything, even utility knife blades. They are fantastic stones, maybe overall the best natural stone that has ever existed.

I never used one. What makes them so great?

They cut pretty darn fast but still leave a pretty refined edge. The better ones can easily shave arm hair right from the stone with no stropping. They are great for chisels - quickly sharpen them and give a few licks on leather with CrOx and you're good to go.