Thread: How to buy a barber’s hone?

I would like to get a barber’s hone to freshen the edge on my razors from time to time. I see many refrences on here to a Swaty so I’ve looked for them. The only place I can find them is on auction sites and a lot of them look to be in pretty rough shape—nothing I’d want to use on my razors.

Does anyone have tips on what to look for and how to find a decent barber’s hone? Also, how would I go about making sure the surface is flat before using it?

I guess the other question is if a barber’s hone is necessary if I bought a 12k finishing stone like a Naniwa or Shapton?

Unfortunately there aren't any barber hones in modern production. At least none worth mentioning to the best of my knowledge. The only ones you're going to find are decades old on auction sites, in yard sales, flea markets, antique stores, estate sales, and occasionally the buy/sell/trade section here. So yes, a lot of them will be in rough shape, but don't count them out. My Swaty isn't a looker, but it still puts a respectable shaving edge on a razor. The face of it was more or less fine, I did lap the back side (I don't suggest doing this if avoidable), and the chips around the edges I wrapped some sand paper around a pen and smoothed them out. Good as new.

And if you keep an eye out you can also find them in like new condition. This is a bit trickier, and these ones will usually be a bit more costly.

I haven't used a 12K Naniwa or a Shapton Glass 12k. I do own a Kuromaku (Japanese version of the Pro Series), and as much as I enjoy the hone I haven't had much luck using it in the same manner as I use my barber hones. So in my opinion, I'm going to say that I think barber hones are a tiny bit more versatile and will bring an edge back to form faster than a 12K kuromaku. But most barber hones are also closer to 8K than 12K so I don't think that's a very fair comparison. You can definitely get by with a Naniwa/Shapton 12K as a touch up stone, you just have to be more on top of your razors and touch them up a tiny bit more often.

Buying a barbers hone for refreshing is going to be a used/ vintage item and will have to be bought from someone that has one to part with. Auction sites are one option, another would be to place a want to buy/trade in the BST forum. There are more than a couple members with more than a couple of barbers hones and you may have an opportunity to acquire one that way.
As for comparing it to a 12K or any other finisher for that matter, you will likely wind up in the same place, with a nicely finished edge. Barber hones are faster (require less strokes) than most finishers. It depends a lot on what you can get a barbers hone for. Some sell for a lot while others, not so much. Condition is everything when it comes to these items and you are best off with buying one in mint or near mint condition.

Barber's Hones were a product produced during a point in time for a specific purpose. Specifically, something a barber could use to bring a razor back in shape quickly. Some of them are lower grit and some closer to 8K.

Personally I think the modern crop of full sized specialty hones being produced are overall superior to the barbers hones. Most you'll find on Eboy and you just have to go by the pictures. Most barbers hones don't seem to wear down like naturals and I don't think I heard of anyone flattening one of them. They were cheap and disposable so back in the day they just pitched them and replaced with another.

I know some guys love them. When I started I had quite a collection of them but I gave away most of them.

I believe griffith has some Nos swatys

At the risk of going out on a limb, I'm going to suggest that barber's hones were the synthetic hones of their day. Since then, the binder used to fuse the abrasives may or may not have altered, possibly or possibly not affecting the desired end-result. One quality that remains consistent is that they seem to have been hard-fired, leading to a more durable brittle effect, especially at the tail end.

From this, I am inclined to suggest that the current crop of ceramic synthetic stones may be the barber's hone of our day. The only drawback is that they are cut far larger than straight razors really require. If one was to cut them down to, say, 2" x 5", and market them as such, then perhaps their similarity to barber's hones of old would be more apparent.

Originally Posted by Christian1

I believe griffith has some Nos swatys

I bought one of those, but haven't used it as I want to use it on a cheaper razor that gets a bit dull. Also planning on getting one of the paddle strops from Whipped Dog with the Chromium and Iron Oxide sides to add a step in between the barbers hone and the regular strop. Very new to the maintenance side of this, so hoping that will get me by for a while.

It looks like they are all gone now, but I'm not sure if they were Franz Swaty as they were called "The Swaty" and say three line hone underneath - so it might be one of the knock-offs. It's NOS and in perfect condition with a very slick surface.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...bers-hone.html

One of many reads.

Modine, a member here, has tested many of them. His reviews were posted on razorandstone.com. Unfortunately that site no longer exists. They are on facebook as well. As I do not have FB I cannot tell you whether you can find the reviews there.

The most polyvalent natural honing stone I know is the belgian coticule, still in production by https://www.ardennes-coticule.be/en
Those are not quite so efficient if you compare with the old production, but still a very good investment. The grit is variable, from 4 K used with a thick mud to 8 K and even more with just pure water. Progressive dilution of the mud gives a panel of intermediate grits. After the coticule you can step to stroping with chromium dioxyde pasta.