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Ok..... What makes this hone so special that it sells for around $500 or more? ( The one in the picture is said to be "UNUSED".
It has NORTON in an oval imprinted on the hone. I understand they do not make these any longer....But really?
Too rich for me....lol
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yep that's what some go for tc
Generally the price was driven up by speed axe user in AUS that swear by this hone. They compete professionally so for them its an investment in a tool, not a collector piece. At one point they were selling for over $1k USD. Then Sham reviewed it over at his site and said something crazy like it gives an edge equivalent to the Gokumyo 20k (I can say if this is true or not true as i've never used either) so people started going nuts over them. Usually the more threads written about them (like this one) when people google the stone then more the demand and price goes up.
Personally I think they are just a good barbers hone and would rather spend the money a nice finisher.
I have one and occasionally use it. When used correctly it can provide an excellent finish, although they were probably intended to be used as touch up hones.
Scag is correct in describing the Norton as a good barber's hone: that's basically true, but they are also one of the best barber hones ever made. Time and technology have outdistanced these little hones to a great extent; modern synthetics like the Shapton and Naniwa 12k hones and more recently, the Suehiro Gokumya 20k, are undoubtedly better hones in every way. That said, the Norton is still a very good hone and should you ever get the opportunity to pass your razor over a well prepared example you will not be disappointed in the result.
BTW it was Modine that reviewed the Norton, not Sham.
Thanks for the reply on these..... I did some follow up reading on these. I wouldn't mind trying one of these out for giggles, but NOT going to pay that kind of money for a hone. I'll use my Thuri for touch ups if needed....Maybe even on a coti......
Since Norton is still an active company, I wonder if this formula to make these is "lost" or if not lost, they could make theses again?
Would be funny as hell if Norton/ Pike was secretly releasing these to the market with Vintage markings and getting BIG dollars for em...... :rofl2:
if curiosity gets too high- just buy it, try it and resell it :pQuote:
Originally Posted by Willisf
Whee, went for $760! Day-um!
Some people would say that price was a great deal on it and others would say that is way too much!
No way I would pay that kind of money for a hone. Nope....not going to happen......lol
I would imagine someone who collected vintage NOS hone would be will to pay that price and add it to their collection.
Only reason I'd get more hones is to use them.....
First of all not Sham reviewed this barber hone , but Mike / Modine / as he reviews a hell lot of barber hones .Quote:
Then Sham reviewed it over at his site and said something crazy like it gives an edge equivalent to the Gokumyo 20k (I can say if this is true or not true as i've never used either) so people started going nuts over them. Usually the more threads written about them (like this one) when people google the stone then more the demand and price goes up.
Mike put a lot of time , money and effort to do something for everybody , so i dont thing this statement is apropriate , sir .
They both and other people , all of them reputable members , make something good for all of us ,lazy users , to see the diference in edge , that diferente hones give .
I can assure you that theyre efforts are not related to sales of advertizing and promoting anything , they do it for the sport . I dont think that the Modines review is raizing the hone prize , maybe many honers respect his opinion for stones and edge , as they go mad for this barber hone . Mike haz a very powerfull microscopes and make his reviews very profetionaly .
He haz experience , more than a 80 % of us here , as he try nany finishers and barber hones . If you read carefuly , he claims that many of them even degrade a 8 K edge significant .
I thing that there is needed a effort to do what they do , so lets respect them for theyre honesty . Doesnt like your statement and i disagree with you .
If you or somebody else think those reviews are incorect , let be free to make , documentate ad post Better reviews for this barber hones . In other words proove that those datas are incorect , but embended with evidences .
The competition axe men pay $$$$$$ for certain hones. Competitors will often pay very high prices for hard to get items that may give them an advantage in a tight competition.
They just sharpen their axes with this stone or what?? I don't get it. Why ...Quote:
Originally Posted by sheajohnw
We have guys here who pay a lot more money for hones than most are willing to pay , this sport could be looked at that way too like why would anyone pay the money for some of the razors out there.
If it's something that helps them out in their endeavors , why not pay what it's worth to them, Heck ask some what they,ve paid for some Jnats or rare Eschers. Or even the Goyko 20 k. Tc
There have been threads on this before where it was explained that axe competition is highly competitive and the competitors will pay a lot for certain hard to get hones that are believed to deliver a more competitive edge to their axes.Quote:
Originally Posted by S0LITARYS0LDIER
Thanks man, my usual search topics aren't competitive wood chopping.. So thanks for filling me in.Quote:
Originally Posted by sheajohnw
They (the axe men) use them as touch up hones between races. I don't know if they do more when they have time at home, but they probably need something that will work dry or with little prep and little fanfare between heats.
Anyone who has ever used a frictionite hone on something dry will recognize that that type of stone will work a lot nicer dry than the modern resin bound hones. They're resistant to gouging and can usually be cleaned with a rub stone.
I sold a half dozen frictionites (and super punjabs) for a friend, and every one of them went to australia. I thought the frictionites were nice razor hones, and with tools they have a dreamy feeling on clear water that little else does, but the level of finish was common to many decent stones. If I were using something dry on an axe, though, with little fanfare, they'd be at the top of my list.
That explains it, thanks Dave. Always a pleasure to hear your opinion on topics such as this !
I wonder what a competition axe costs.:thinking:
What I am wondering is why do they need to get them so finely sharp?
Wouldn't the blade be too thin at the edge?
The top prizes must be worth while.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RusenBG
Yeah sure it's accurate if you believe that scratch pattern defines how well an edge shaves. Just because it looks pretty under a microscope doesn't mean it shaves well. The only stone ever proven to be 20k grit level is the coming I. If they could produce those edges back in 1905 then why did they stop? They would still have the technology and materials.
I'm not saying he is right or wrong but I would love to see an IR spec analysis to see if it's just Aloxite or Carborundum that is just nicely bonded.
People who Google these stones see the threads written about them and it absolutely drives up the price. I've had 3 frictionite 00's however and have never felt they did much more for a razor than natural hones or naniwa that people have claimed thwyre better than. I have however sold them for a premium because desire them and their "legendary" status. I haven't used it one way or another but I wouldn't pay that much for a barber hone. Just me personally.
Could you explain what you mean?Quote:
Originally Posted by scag315
Sorry was typing on a mobile at the time. I meant the Gokumyo 20k.Quote:
Originally Posted by Maladroit
I should clarify I'm not insulting the testers findings, instead I'm only pointing out that posts about the stone raise the desirability of the stone as well and with such the price. I'm not saying it does or does not work well simply because I've never personally used it. Frankly there is no measurable way to compare stones outside of subjective opinions of those using them. Many folks feel the Escher (thuringian) hones provide the best shave while others will swear by a maxed out JNAT that some claim can get edges in the 30k range. Unfortunately there is no way to measure this.
I personally doubt a stone that is man made from 1905 could provide edges equal to that of a stone manufactured today. It may very well polish the blade but a mirror finish on an edge doesn't always equal quality shaves. I don't think looking down a microscope to look at an edge tells the whole story. One would think that if the stone was of such high quality that it would be in mass availability and have it's popularity at the time through the roof. The Swaty sure was.
I never insinuated that he purposely did a positive review to raise the price. I'm simply saying that people will read that review and it will by effect drive the price up. Many factors go into quality honing besides simply pushing the edge to mirror finish. Frankly i think the person honing has more effect on the shave than the stone itself. Some people can push excellent edges from Coticules that people will swear by. Again it's all subjective.
Thanks scag, sometimes those predictive text options on mobiles give really strange results:D
I agree with your arguments re the Norton v modern stones - see my post #4 above. Also, as you point out, the "legendary" barber hones like the Frictionite and the Swaty, were excellent in their time but in the light of modern developments in abrasives they may no longer represent the pinnacle of synthetic hone technology. I also agree with your comments regarding the ability of the honer being sometimes as important as the hone itself. I've never got a shaving edge off a Coticule but have no trouble producing decent edges with a Norton 4/8 and Shapton 12k sequence.
The price of the little Norton is still probably governed by demand from the the axe guys. I find it hard to imagine many straight razor honers would be willing to shell out more than twice the value of a Gok 20 for what is actually a rather undersized and inconvenient hone. They're good but they're not that good; i.e. the value of a full set of hones, up to and including the Gokumyo 20k. One of my fellow Aussie SR users suggested I sell mine and buy some decent hones:hmmm: I just might do that one of these days.
