This is the RUBY Razor hone Thomas Manufacturing Co – Dayton, OH. If anyone has additional information please feel free to respond, they offered razors as well. Dimensions are 6”L x 2”Wx 7/16”H. This is an interesting brick red single grit barber hone. Instructions attached.
Two identical King Midas razors were chosen to test this barber hone. Both razors were taken to a 1K-3K-8K Norton level. One of the razors was then progressed to the approx. 15k level. The edges were visually inspected at 100X magnification.
8 X-laps, strokes or passes were made on the RUBY barber hone with lather to see if it would improve the razor with the 8K Norton edge and the razor with the approx. 15K edge. The edge was observed again under 100X magnification.
Conclusion: The hone maintained the 8K Norton edge. The hone maintained approx. 15K edge. Depending on what level your razors edge was taken to, this hone will maintain that edge. Consistent uniform abrasion patterns with a slightly toothy edge were present. The shave test confirmed what was observed under the scope. Stropping with a properly pasted strop or leather only will smooth the edge. This is a fast and light cutting barber hone and 4 to 8 laps should suffice. 16 laps will not create a wire edge. The Ruby hone did exactly what it was designed to do. Refresh the edge to its former state.
MIke
https://i.imgur.com/bY0Xk4k.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/Tl7edYd.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/YIUFqYK.jpg
Outstanding hone
https://i.imgur.com/EFdMxlQ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/wMyLfNb.jpg
