Thread: Rating mystery stones

Washita stone, nice and fast, but the one I got isn't a finisher although it has some Translucency





Agree with Sebastian on the grit level although my stone is closer to 5k

Someone told my that this type of Washita stone called Turkey skin, but haven't found much in the internet in this regard.

Originally Posted by AljuwaiedAK

Washita stone, nice and fast, but the one I got isn't a finisher although it has some Translucency





Agree with Sebastian on the grit level although my stone is closer to 5k

Someone told my that this type of Washita stone called Turkey skin, but haven't found much in the internet in this regard.

They were referred to by some people over here as "turkey stones". I've seen antiques dealers (who are knowledgeable, but not necessarily specializing in stones) call them turkey stones many times. That creates confusion with the mediterranean black novaculite stones that are friable and finer, and mentioned in holtzapffel's volumes as being favored for their friability.

Figure if you hear an english speaking person say something is a "turkey stone", you'll probably see and washita pop out.

You can finish a razor with them, but not the same way you would an escher, and I'd consider them a spare tire type razor finisher. You can use them if you need to, but conditions apply (most notably, you can't just hone an edge off of a razor).

Originally Posted by DaveW

They were referred to by some people over here as "turkey stones". I've seen antiques dealers (who are knowledgeable, but not necessarily specializing in stones) call them turkey stones many times. That creates confusion with the mediterranean black novaculite stones that are friable and finer, and mentioned in holtzapffel's volumes as being favored for their friability.

Figure if you hear an english speaking person say something is a "turkey stone", you'll probably see and washita pop out.

You can finish a razor with them, but not the same way you would an escher, and I'd consider them a spare tire type razor finisher. You can use them if you need to, but conditions apply (most notably, you can't just hone an edge off of a razor).

Hello Dave,

Yes, sometimes people like me whom aren't native speakers get confused a little bit over local names, especially if you tried to convince an old time seller that it ain't a Turkey stone

About finishing a razor on this particular Washita stone (my stone) if you mean by finishing a razor that it will cut hier ? yes, it will. Is it going to be a geart shave? No. Good shave? Maybe.... the edge it leaves similar to a normal bbw (the black stuff).

However, I got another Washita stone that You can finish razors on it every day a week, very hard very fine and compared to Arkies very Fast. Although it is porous It's still shiny and reflective.





Note the difference between the two stones while they both received the same treatment.

This is one of the best Arkansas stones that I have seen in my life, lapping it was hard work, the turkey one was not that difficult.

Originally Posted by AljuwaiedAK

However, I got another Washita stone that You can finish razors on it every day a week, very hard very fine and compared to Arkies very Fast. Although it is porous It's still shiny and reflective.

Yep, there are some fine ones. The coarsest seem to be the old labeled ones (which would've gotten good money from carpenters). The finer ones seem to have been viewed as less favorable, but they do pop up in razor or carvers boxes from time to time.

I've got one that's a little more brownish, mostly smooth but with a few interruptions and it can almost finish a razor as nicely as a true hard ark. The last person who used it (however many decades ago) had carefully allowed the surface to load until it was almost perfectly slick. I cleaned it off, but it is still a very fine washita after that.

They are my favorite type of natural stones (washitas and arkansas), maybe only to be tied by Okudo suita, but they have more range than okudo suita does and they are much cheaper.

Originally Posted by DaveW

it can almost finish a razor as nicely as a true hard ark.

100% agree.

I knew that you will like this I shall call this stone "Dave teaser" from now on .

Super stone can take any blade not only razors to shave ready sharpness in no time.

The perfect one stone.


Take care,