Thread: FRANZ SWATY HONES

I've been reading about 1, 2 and 3 Line SWATY Hones, but dont know the significance of the number of lines. I have a 4 Line stone. Can someone tell me if that means it's special, a reject, top grade, no grade, or what? Thanks.

Pretty sure the 1, 2 or 3 line designation refers only to the number of lines printed on the hone, e.g. a 2 line might read :
Franz Swaty
Marburg, Austria
couldn't tell you if yours was particularly rare, or what its equivalent grit might be.
sounds interesting though.
John P.

I have a swaty thats called a "3 Line' Randydance maybe able to help you with that he is a rock nut...lol

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

What are the specs on the 3 lines? i have one of them.

Originally Posted by matt

What are the specs on the 3 lines? i have one of them.

Not real sure on the specs... the 2-line were made by the father, the third line was added after he died. if you are lacking directions for use here they are... they are aboutthe only barber hone instructions that tell you basically to repeat as needed until sharp... no wonder they sold 3+ million of them

i cannot rember where i snagged them from, probably some place on the forum though

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

I'm searching for info about a Wahring Bei Wien Swaty, too. Nothing yet.


Regards

These two links provide info about Swaty (the company; first link for early history), and original era usage instructions in Englsih for the stones:


http://www.swaty.si/index.php?id=18&L=1


http://www.oldtoolsshop.com/z_pdf/1S...orHones-ne.pdf

What I found interesting in reading some of the vintage advertising in the back of the book of Razors 3rd Edition was that 3 line Swatys were included/given away as part of a promotion for another unrelated product (some sort of strop dressing IIRC).

I also find it's interesting that the Swaty instructions talk of basically honing until sharp. All other references to barber hones I've seen stress 4-6 laps to avoid overhoning. So far, 4-6 laps does not work for me with barber hones. As a matter of fact, just this morning I did 6 laps with one of my razors on a "Perfect" hone which is high grit like the Swaty with 75 passes on the strop. Weight of the blade only and the edge is not close to shave ready (it was in need of a touch up prior to taking it to that hone, but definitely was a comfortably shaving razor prior to needing the touch up).

Now, I'm going to try using the Perfect hone and my 3 line Swaty and hone like I would on a high grit natural and see what happens.

Chris L