Thread: NOS Strop back barber hones and lithide De hone ?

The more I look at all these hones I am wondering if they didn't completely get finished. They all seem rough to me. Like there are bumps I can feel on the honing surface. Maybe I'm wrong but in a day or two I'm gonna sit and play with one and see what happens.

Originally Posted by Utopian

These probably all were made in the American Hone Company in Moravia, Iowa. I was not certain of the Cushioned Strop Back Hones but the Lithides certainly were. Given that she had so many of them to sell and that she is located less than an hour away from Moravia, it's pretty likely that she obtained a stash from there.

That is probably the answer as to why so many without backing.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I have 16 of these hones. I have given a few away over the years, but have managed to hold onto these. A couple of them are from different companies. I do know that on some of these strop back hones, the leather strop and a "mesh-like" cushion is held together by a type of rubber cement adhesive. I have actually had NOS's that separated in my hands, just removing them from the box. I used rubber cement to place them back together.
Point; when they separate, there is hardly a trace of the original adhesive left on the back side of the hone. Most of the time the remaining residue can be rubbed off with your finger. Thus,, it's quite possible the hones you have were never used , but got separated from their leather/mesh backing.

Gotta correct something here; the cushion is "felt like" material & on a couple of mine I used a mesh type material to replace when the original felt deteriorated. Most I re-felted.

Ok bad pics I know but there are almost ripples in the one pic this is after about 25 stroke wet.
This pic shows like a knot that I felt with my finger and knocked down running a pocket knife over it gently.
It feels smooth but not entirely but this is also the first and only barber hone I have ever handled so I might be wrong. Either way I'm not complaining maybe ill just have some neat decoration pieces.

If you decide not to use your razors on them, then they nicely finish out a pocket knife after the 1K.

Sweet thanks. I think I'm gonna keep one for display since they are in good enough shape the other not sure...

Originally Posted by Hirlau

If you decide not to use your razors on them,

That is NOT an option.

Lol [emoji38]

After some research, AM Hone Company Olean, N.Y. i can barely read some of that on the hone. After looking around confirmed this info. So the barber hones are not from good old corn country.

Originally Posted by ejmolitor37

After some research, AM Hone Company Olean, N.Y. i can barely read some of that on the hone. After looking around confirmed this info. So the barber hones are not from good old corn country.

Same company! Earlier location.
~Richard