Thread: Dad's Hone

I remember my dad showed me this hone when I was a young boy.
He explained how he honed a razor. Told me about the "rough" side that you used first and the "smooth" side that you used last, and that you needed to use oil. Fond memories for sure.







The rust colored side is the rough and the black is the smooth.

I'd sure like input from anyone that might be able to identify this hone.
My best guess is black Arkansas with another type of stone bonded to it??

Pete <:-}

IF it is black Arkansas my best guess would be a fine India stone on the "rough"side. That was a common combination for a time.

Last photo, right side, the join line is not perfectly straight, leading me to think about synetics where the two sides were made together in the press, like a Norton barbers hone. Just an impression I got from the pictures. I do not know of any of those that were used with oil though.

Rez, It's a little bigger and thicker than a typical barbers hone but being a Norton stone makes perfect sense. A lot of the Norton abrasives were made in Worcester, Ma.. That is where I was born and raised and my uncle worked at Norton's his whole life.

Pete <:-}

I'm going to guess the black side is some kind of alumina or carborundum (but fine). The green side of a super punjab hone is that, but it cuts finely. The tan side is, of course, frictionites rhodolite.

Presume the fine side of yours is some kind of fine alumina because it's the typical vitrified alumina stone color.

(oops, I see I got those backwards in terms of fineness). I'd bet it's synthetic, though. super fine abrasives "flours", etc, have been available for hundreds of years, even though they apparently weren't used in most barber hones.)

Nothing really to add...

Do you have a razor you maintain with that hone? That'd be pretty cool....

Originally Posted by dinnermint

Nothing really to add...

Do you have a razor you maintain with that hone? That'd be pretty cool....

Nothing that I have used it on yet.
It was recently dug out of the depths of the family heirlooms.
It would need to be cleaned and lapped first.

Pete <:-}