Thread: Wondering what vein this coticule is

I found this hone last June at a barn sale and it was my first coticule. Since then I have been learning to use it along with one other I found in August. With some practice and dedication I've been able to produce some terrific edges and I'm really enjoying the mellow, comfortable shaves. So I've come to a point where I'd like to learn more about veins as I feel my HAD waking up and stirring around in there. This one has black lines in it so I'm wondering if that helps identify, or at least narrow down, which vein it might be from. It's a wonderful hone, thanks for any guesses and info...

Always a good starting point: Belgian Whetstones

The varicose vein I think ........ Kidding aside, if it is an Ardennes coticule someone might be able to say, but if it is from the old, long since shut down quarries, I don't think you'll ever know for sure.

The quarries give veins a name so that they can keep track of what they are digging up, and where their employees are assigned to work. Not to identify any particular characteristic of the honing quality.

Some experts say that there can be varying characteristics within the same vein, depending on what dust and sediment was blowing in the wind over the millennia that the veins were formed. Nice looking stone. Hope it delivers the goods.

Ok, thanks for the info, it does look like varicose veins on there!! I thought it might be impossible to tell but thought maybe the black lines in it could offer a clue. I believe it is an older hone judging by where I found it, in a barn sale along side other dusty old stuff. It does give a very nice edge to shave with and has enjoyable feedback while honing.

Might find a match here: http://www.coticule.be/

Guess is the correct word, because if it's a vintage stone, it would most probably never fit into any of the more recent classifications. If it is a newer stone, one guy's guess is as good as the next guy's!

All that really matters is that it produces pleasing edges for you!

BTW, from the photos, it appears to be a natural combo, glued to ???

Is the bottom blue layer BBW or slate?

Yes, it's a natural combo and glued to BBW I believe. Again, I don't have any prior experience with coticules, in fact this one and another I found in August are the only two I've ever seen and handled in person. So, I think both are glued to BBW, it doesn't look like slate to me, and it's purplish with a pattern sort of reflecting like tiny fish scales. Hard to describe, I'll add photos of that side a little later.

Originally Posted by xiaotuzi

Yes, it's a natural combo and glued to BBW I believe. Again, I don't have any prior experience with coticules, in fact this one and another I found in August are the only two I've ever seen and handled in person. So, I think both are glued to BBW, it doesn't look like slate to me, and it's purplish with a pattern sort of reflecting like tiny fish scales. Hard to describe, I'll add photos of that side a little later.

If it's purplish with a kind of "holographic" pattern, that sounds like BBW..

I looks like a beautiful stone, BTW..

Here are a couple more pictures and I've included both hones this time.