Thread: Identify natural hone

I have a natural hone I bought online some time ago (many 2 years) and I don't know what kind it is.
It is a fine hone, I have used it as a finisher even though it is so small... It gives a wonderful edge! and the size is perfect to travel with...
It is hard, not as hard to lap as a Tam O'Shanter, but it feels har. And it absorbs a little bit of water, but very little compared to other naturals I have experienced.

The pic has a razor to compare the size to...


When I got it, it was glued to a small paddle strop, but that was old and broke quickly.

Any ideas what it might be?

Thanks,
Jacke

Size wise, it is reminiscent of a Thuringian, but it is quite thin. It might just be worn down, but also, they don't really absorb water.

I dont think it is that much worn down, I think it was mounted on a small "paddle strop" to support it and make up for the thinness.

About the water, I might be misstaken... I had a feeling it absorbed thiny amounts of water, but on more closer observations it might not.

It could be a Swedenstein... the hone on a paddle in one picture here looks like mine used to do, before the paddle broke. But mine is darker than these appear to be...
http://http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones/121683-origin-so-called-schwedenstein-hones.html

The previous mounting was a common one for Swedenstine hones. I have one that I love in that format. They are a thin layer when quarried and usually a lighter gray with some streaking and perhaps a slight blush of pink.
Do a search for the name and see if is what you have.
~Richard

Great minds!?!?
~Richard

There is a hone that looks like that you can find for sale in NY from time to time. Always in a pile of other ancient stuff. I have a few at this point.

They're not thuris whatever they are. They don't feel like uk or vermont slates either.

I loathe giving k ratings to naturals but if you put a gun to my head I would say 10ish give or take. Probably take on water alone and a little better on something not water

Mine does polish out N8K and C12K scratches.
~Richard