Thread: Help IDing a hone

Won a random antique pack online which arrived today. I bought it for the potential straights and strops restoration projects. The seller added some bonus items that he'd not pictured in the listing including a pocket logarithmic slide rule...and a decent-sized coticule! More interested in the stone to be honest. It's certainly seen better days and is very dished, but I think there's still a few viable millimetres left on it. I was hoping you guys might help identify it.

Of course you'll need photos, but I've not done this before so wonder what you'd like me to focus on?

Here are some preliminary photos of the stone pre-lapped.
I concede the images are rubbish but it's nighttime here so once I have your guidance I'll set up some better lit shots tomorrow morning.

Size is 7"x2"

Side view



Bottom : dark half


Top: light half


Close-up

It appears to be a natural coticule. Here is a link: http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...e-bb-hone.html

Originally Posted by WW243

It appears to be a natural coticule. Here is a link: http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...e-bb-hone.html

Thanks WW243. A bonus too as I was only expecting the synthetic "Hone Your Own: Perforated Razor Hone" which also arrived in the collection. Not quite sure if I'll use that one much. But this natural coticule will get lapped tomorrow and might have a first date with some Sheffield steel, before its outing with harder Solingens.

Any ideas on the layer...or what more information I'll need to gather to ID the layer?

Before I hit the hay, a couple more images of the stone wet.





In comparison to my only other coticule - La Dressente - this stone is a paler yellow. No pink/red tints or black (manganese?) spots. However, this stone has a greyish 'grain' (seriously looks like a wood grain). Also my La Dressente is clearly glued to dark slate, this does not appear glued but a natural non-uniform layer and the dark stone is lighter with a more reddish tint.

Would a photo of the slurry help....she'll be well slurried noting I need to take almost half the top off to remove the dish

Originally Posted by stillshunter

Thanks WW243. A bonus too as I was only expecting the synthetic "Hone Your Own: Perforated Razor Hone" which also arrived in the collection. Not quite sure if I'll use that one much. But this natural coticule will get lapped tomorrow and might have a first date with some Sheffield steel, before its outing with harder Solingens.

Any ideas on the layer...or what more information I'll need to gather to ID the layer?

That info would be above my pay grade. There are some Coticuliers hereabouts so one of them might weigh in...

Just for giggles, don't lap it yet. Try honing a razor on it as is. Clearly someone else was using it in that condition in order for it to get to that condition so see if you can replicate their stroke.

I have a coticule dished much worse than that. Rather than lapping it away, I use the high ends as rubbing stones. I'll have that sucker flat in another 30-40 years!

Did Bill just say Coticuliers?

Yes, don’t lap flat. Just yet…

As long as it is smooth, it will work just fine.

Also try the Belgium Blue side, that side you may want to lap lightly.
Sounds like your other coticule is backed with slate.

Your pictures look as vintage as your coticule

Lots of pictures and details of the various veins here:

http://bosq.home.xs4all.nl/info%2020...whetstones.pdf