Thread: Help with stone identification required

Hard to say, what for a long time was dubbed BBW (Belgian Blue Whetstone) and regarded as just a garden variety, backing stone for cuticles, in the last few years has come into question.

Some have found the “Purple” stones, to be very fine honing stones for razors. Because they were for a long time regarded as second string, backing stones, not much was written about them or documented with photos. Also now we are finding these and other European stones were processed and marketed by others than, from where they were mined, confusing identification further. Because comparing stones visually, in many cases the “Known” stone is of questionable provenance, because of labeling and marketing.

So while it is all interesting, all that matters is how it performs. Compare the finish to a known finisher, to find where it will fit in a progression.

There is much written here in SRP and Razor & Stone on the Purple or French stones. Here is a good thread with many links and good photos.

Nice find, hope it’s a finisher, enjoy.

Slate backed German yellow razor stones?