Thread: FRANZ SWATY HONES

Austria was formerly called Austrian/Hungarian empire and some parts of Hungary as well as Slovenia, Czech republic was part of Austrian empire before WW-I. That explains "formerly of .." part and why some of the stones are marked with Yugoslavia. In fact, I found that there is still a Swaty company in Slovenia (a former Yugoslavian republic).

Curious. Do they still manufacture sharpening stones?

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Never heard of a 4 line Swaty. Just use it and see what happens. It is probably 6000 grit or finer.

The 4 line Swaty's are the Yugo Swaty's. They're about 2x as long as your 3 line Swaty. I like the 4 lines because you get a much longer stroke on your blade.

Originally Posted by Dave_D

Swatys have an interesting history, would make for an interesting research project. Ive had 2 of the 3 line Swatys, one was a NOS in the box double textured combination hone that read:

THE SWATY
THREE LINE
DIAMOND HONE

The other one that I still have is a nice used single texture hone that reads:

FRANZ SWATY
WAHRING BEI WIEN
(AUSTRIA)

Are they both 3 line hones? I suppose. Ive also read of knock off Swatys that may (or may not be) fairly decent.

fwiw.


Dave

So you too got a dual grit Swaty Three Line Diamond hone as well? Some time ago there was a discussion here and I seemed to be the only one with a dual grit, which elicited the comment that mine might be a fake one.

BARBER hones characteristics - Page 4 - Straight Razor Place Forums

Originally Posted by Kees

So you too got a dual grit Swaty Three Line Diamond hone as well? Some time ago there was a discussion here and I seemed to be the only one with a dual grit, which elicited the comment that mine might be a fake one.

BARBER hones characteristics - Page 4 - Straight Razor Place Forums

I missed that thread or that post anyway. That is a really cool hone. I don't think it is imitation FWIW. It seems that a guy could have a collection of Swaty variants in stampings, length and grit types. Really interesting IMO.

Here is another old Swaty thread with some stamping variants in a couple of long ones as well as a variant set of instructions.

Yes, but not for straight razors, their stones are meant for industrial use and I have not found any higher grit than 400 on their web site. Check it out yourself: www.swaty.si

Originally Posted by kemerd

Yes, but not for straight razors, their stones are meant for industrial use and I have not found any higher grit than 400 on their web site. Check it out yourself: www.swaty.si

Vintage Swatys are barber hones.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I wonder if there are many Swatys to be found in Vienna where they were manufactured for so long ?

I believe only the father Franz manufactured the hones in Vienna. After his death, the manufacturing must have been moved to Slovenia as the junior Franz was living there. Nonetheless, I'll hunt for them in antique stores and the flea market here in Vienna.

Oh man! So many comments and I have so little time...

First, there was a reference to a one line Swaty. Is there such a thing???

Second, does anyone have any evidence that a hone imprinted with the phrase "three line hone" was actually made by Swaty? I have always considered them to be clones ripping off the popularity of the Swaty? I know one was made by Pike and one was made by the American Hone Company, as I have some of each of them, so those are obviously clones not made by Swaty. Which "three line hone" was made by Swaty?

just came across this thread and was very interested. So I am posting so I can subscribe and keep updated on it's progress.