Thread: If you had to do it all over again — would you still have gotten an Escher?

Originally Posted by Grazor

No Eschers. A Boker Barber's Delight.
Absolutely no regrets.The price was right, and the edges just seem to get better and better the more you hone with it.
Cotis and Arks seem to have a steeper learning curve, this just worked straight out of the box.
Thankfully it wasn't immaculate with a label intact, so I actually use it.

Grazor, I've got an Escher Barber's Delight, but never heard of one by Boker. Any chance you could post a pic of that?

Yes they did. I saw one on ebay recently. It was a small stone. I didn't see anything on the label that indicated it was made by Escher.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

If I had to do it all again? I would have ignored the hype and microscopic neuroticism and followed the traditional, tried and tested methods of razor honing.

Many beginners who wish to venture into honing seem to imagine that the more expensive or numerous their hones, the better the edge. Bonus points for a high res mirror finish.

After trying and purchasing a great deal of synthetic and natural hones, I now only use a coticule and a pasted strop for my sharpening needs.

Call it minimalist, romantic or whatever you wish. It works!


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Originally Posted by Grazor

No Eschers. A Boker Barber's Delight.
Absolutely no regrets.The price was right, and the edges just seem to get better and better the more you hone with it.
Cotis and Arks seem to have a steeper learning curve, this just worked straight out of the box.
Thankfully it wasn't immaculate with a label intact, so I actually use it.

Absolutely agree - these stones are South of 50 years old, natural stones that have been used for what, centuries to sharpen razors, medical instruments and other tools? I'll use the synthetics to get to 12k, which is extreme even considering many posters here recall 8k being the highest and an Escher being 10-12k range would provide a luxurious edge. For me, a natural edge is as authentic as you can get, no crox or pastes afterward, just lots of leather, so the final stone that touches my razors is always a natural.

YMMV.

You arrived late to the party -

Sorry but it is the truth..

When many of the opinions and ratings of Razors and Hones took place you have to understand things were different

Norton 4/8 were $65 and the 4k was made in the US and way better then it is now
Eschers were running about $100-$125 depending on size and grades
8x3 Select Grade Coticules, there were no fancy names, they were Standard or Select ie: No black inclusions or with black inclusions were about $75-$100
Stamped Nakayma with Nagura sets you could get for $150

SRP had about 2000 members

#14 Filarmonica were going for $100 NOS
Dubl Ducks were $25 for most to $125 for a Wonderedge
Wade & Butcher were $25 all day long
Other giant Sheffielders were even less


So yes if I had it to do over again I would spend the $100 I spent on my Blue/Green Escher that was sent with a 8x3 Thuringen also


Would I tell you to spend $500 + on one ???? Are you smoking crack ????

Heck, nobody wanted giant rusty Sheffields...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

You arrived late to the party -

Sorry but it is the truth..

When many of the opinions and ratings of Razors and Hones took place you have to understand things were different

Norton 4/8 were $65 and the 4k was made in the US and way better then it is now
Eschers were running about $100-$125 depending on size and grades
8x3 Select Grade Coticules, there were no fancy names, they were Standard or Select ie: No black inclusions or with black inclusions were about $75-$100
Stamped Nakayma with Nagura sets you could get for $150

SRP had about 2000 members

#14 Filarmonica were going for $100 NOS
Dubl Ducks were $25 for most to $125 for a Wonderedge
Wade & Butcher were $25 all day long
Other giant Sheffielders were even less


So yes if I had it to do over again I would spend the $100 I spent on my Blue/Green Escher that was sent with a 8x3 Thuringen also


Would I tell you to spend $500 + on one ???? Are you smoking crack ????

When I joined here in 2009 this was still pretty true, but things are relative. I got an 8/8 W&B chopper off another member for $40. And I felt I had been ripped off, lol. I was seriously upset about it. Can you imagine?! And telling SO at the time that I just got my first select coti off Gary for $100. $100 for a yellow stone!
I still have that stone, however, and I still think it's magic. All the time and effort and frustration and pulling hair out and hope...

Originally Posted by J743

I've been posting a lot lately, but this was just something I'm curious about:

Going 500 a pop now for a 5x3 labelled on the bay.
Arks made a comeback, Jnats have stolen the obsession of many, naniwa 12ks, coticules, even other thuringians.

Is the Escher still worth it in 2016? What can a thuringian do to a maxed out coti? Is any thuringian any different?

Yes. An Escher, which is a high quality graded thuringian can improve most any properly prepared edge. Each natural is different.
Mike

They worth every penny, never see better edge and consistent performer for the same price.

A guy showed up at a meet, with literally a van full of boxed NOS Escher’s, Frictionites, and other like new stones, he’s been buying them for years, with a very unique method.

He does use a few, and knows how…

I’ll let him post if he wants, but he was way… ahead, of his time and now has a nice 401k…