Thread: OVB No 96 “Our Very Best” Barber hone test

Here is the OVB No 96 “Our Very Best” by the Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett @ Co. barber hone being tested. This is a two-sided barber hone and only the branded side for finishing will be tested. No other instructions came with this green and black hone that measures 5”L x 2”W x ½H+-”. History lesson courtesy of Wullie! http://www.thckk.org/history/hsb.pdf

Two identical King Midas Extra Good razors were chosen to test this Barber hone. Both razors were taken to a 1K-4K-Norton 8K level. One of the razors was then progressed to the approx. 15K level on a much finer stone. The edges were visually inspected at 100X magnification at each interval.

8 X-laps, strokes or passes were made with each razor on the OVB to see if it would improve or degrade the razor taken to the Norton 8K edge and the razor honed to the approx. 15K edge.

Conclusion, the OVB No. 96 H.S.B.& Co barber hone did not improve or degrade the Norton 8K edge. It is an aggressive barber hone that can refresh an edge to the 8K level. The approx. 15K edge was degraded. I highly recommend that only 4 laps be done on this barber hone. Indication of a wire or foil edge were becoming evident at 8 passes. Stropping on leather would smooth the edge.
MIke

Nice review. I don’t think any of the old barber hones are going to improve a 15k edge. If it’s on par with a Norton 8k, I’d say it’s a keeper.

Are you positive the branded side was the finishing side?

Originally Posted by BeJay

Nice review. I don’t think any of the old barber hones are going to improve a 15k edge. If it’s on par with a Norton 8k, I’d say it’s a keeper.

I think if a few strokes did not degrade the 8k edge, does not necessarily say how long it would take to achieve it from a lower level. Just to refresh the edge is the criteria, I think?

Originally Posted by Magpie

Are you positive the branded side was the finishing side?

Is the branded side not usually the finer one?

This is an old thread, I know, but I have one of these OVB No. 96 Barber Hones with the box and the instructions wrapped around the hone in the box. I just cleaned it up and took these pictures. As the instructions say, the branded side is the finishing side and the darker back side is the coarser. It looks mottled because it's still a little damp, but other than some sticky residue before I cleaned it up, it has no chips or other damage on the surfaces or edges. I got this from my daughter's father-in-law along with an old "Blackie" SR that I have here somewhere.