Thread: mystery Arkansas

Sometimes in life things get lost. In this case for 25 years. In recent years I thought about this hone from time to time- in my memory it was a surgical black. Then out of the blue on 4th July my wife says 'hey I just found a stone in a cedar case'.

I immediately cleaned it up and measured it, and surprised at how light it is I measured the density.
It is 6x2x0.5 inches and density is 1.82 g/cm^3.

This density falls way below the 'hard' ark range- logically it must be a 'soft black' or synthetic. The texture seems fairly course, but I didn't know about lapping back then so the surface may change when I work it more although I can already tell it is more dull than glassy.

Nothing like this is in Basspro catalog now that I can see, I suppose its a long shot that anyone could remember a stone from 25 years ago but maybe someone has one ??

Surgical Black Ark ?

I want to think those were an india stone, possibly made by Norton.
But it has been a long time since I saw or held one.

If you can take another photo like photo # 1,,, keep it at 500 KB or more also a side shot,,, then we can give you a better "guess".

Sure looks like a black Arkansas stone to me.

Looks like a black Ark to me as well. As for determining density, maybe your method differs from density as determined by a specific gravity test (which is how I believe Arks are rated, Dan's for instance)?

Ummmm maybe a quick run of a blade across it would speak volumes ? What does it do to the stria, what does it feel like, does it slurry?

At 1.82 specific density that is very light and airy. Even for a soft. More closer to a Washita stone. Your measurements may be off. Smith's supplied the stones for bass pro shops. My best guess would be either a black Arkansas if the density measurements are off or an oil stained black & grey soft Arkansas if the measurements are true. It's really hard to tell without it in hand. Then again, like you stated, maybe someone here has one and can comment further.

Density of my stones:
ark trans (milk) 2,6306
ark trans (Grobet) 2,6282
ark trans (Grobet) 2,5909
washita lily soft 2,3289
washita woodworkers delight 2,3333
rozsutec 2,6795
washita noname 2,4250
washita noname 2,1000

Could be a Crystolon-like stone. India stones are red-orange.

I think it wouldn't so difficult to understand what it is if you look on it closely.
Sigma 120
https://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4112..._d2376d3f_orig


Norton Crystolon Coarse


Norton Crystolon Medium
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/59572..._283c92d5_orig

Norton Crystolon Fine

(synth stones https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/beaver...m/486072/?&p=2 )

Washita (vintage noname)


Arkansas Soft (NWS)


Arkansas Soft (vintage)


Arkansas black hard (Pike)


Arkansas black hard (NWS)

(arkansas-washita - https://fotki.yandex.ru/users/beavers-net/album/357790/)

I just re measured more carefully than first rough one with ruler. Using a 6 inch dial caliper with resolution to 0.001" I got
5.952 in (15.1181 cm) long by
1.975 in (5.0165 cm) wide by
0.485 in (5.0165 cm)
= 93.425 cm cubed.
I put a calibration mass on a 200x0.01 g digital balance, then measured the stone at 179.99 g.
This amounts to 1.926 g / cm^3. Way below what a hard ark would be.

Its been a long time but I remember it was black when I got it and its dull black now. Is there such a critter as black soft - black Washita ?
The 1st pick is in sink next to BBW. The 2nd pick is in sunlight with a couple drops of Smith's on it.