A Rare Washita Hone

Rare to me, at least. I have never seen a vintage Pike/Norton Washita that wasn’t used at all so when I saw this one I had to have it. If you have any in your collection please show me a picture!

The problem is, as most people know, when you use these stones they quickly discolor so I am now stuck with a stone that I love but can’t hone on unless I want a “slightly used” Washita which just isn’t the same! Now I have plenty of other pike/norton Washita stones to hone on but still. It seems like a waste of money but then again it is beautiful ....... dilemma indeed.

Either way I wanted to share it with everyone here that cares to look.

Attachment 301623

Beautiful, Dilemma indeed!!!! Wow I haven't seen one NOS like this, lightly used yes but this is perfection!!

Matt...

Thanks!
I have an Escher that is new in box.
I understand your dilemma.

wow! all i can say,, dont want that dilema

No matter what... That's Cool!

Pete <:-}

Very white. By not using it, you have definitely entered the collector realm, if you haven't done so already. Probably best to leave it like that for posterity in any case as my labelled Pike lily white is seriously yellowed like my teeth.

Hone on them! No Dillema!

Im going to go beyond the call of duty for ya Steel. Since that is the next stone i need to add to my collection (Washita), send it to me and i will break it in for ya. No charge!

When your done with it, Jerry. Slide it my way for comparison to my butterscotch Washita.

I'm white with envy, Steel.

I guess when I first saw it I thought it would answer the many questions I had in the past. What did a Washita cut like brand new? How close are my stones to “new” when I refresh them? Were they just as versatile “range wise” or maybe more so? Then when I got it, I couldn’t bring myself to find out.....yet.

Around fifteen years ago, Norton released a limited run of Lily White Washitas for group of woodworkers. There is an article about it somewhere on the 'Net. Pictures of the newly cut stones were also included and they were white like yours too.

Edit: I think this was it: http://www.norsewoodsmith.com/?q=con...-are-long-gone.

Damn! That is a find!
I have been on the lookout for one of those late release washitas by norton but have never seen one for sale.

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Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

Around fifteen years ago, Norton released a limited run of Lily White Washitas for group of woodworkers. There is an article about it somewhere on the 'Net. Pictures of the newly cut stones were also included and they were white like yours too.

Edit: I think this was it: Lily Whites are Long Gone | Norse Woodsmith.

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The box/label seem to be from an older period and I think the re-release had norton printed on the side without the stick in label. . Although I can’t find it now, I used to have a table of pike/norton label changes to date them. So just going off poor memory here.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steel

The box/label seem to be from an older period and I think the re-release had norton printed on the side without the stick in label. . Although I can’t find it now, I used to have a table of pike/norton label changes to date them. So just going off poor memory here.

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Yes, that's correct. Yours is from an a mid 20th century period, with the recent ones being stamped. I just thought it might be interesting to you as they are new as shown, although they seem slightly streaked, like the soft Arkansas.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

Yes, that's correct. Yours is from an a mid 20th century period, with the recent ones being stamped. I just thought it might be interesting to you as they are new as shown, although they seem slightly streaked, like the soft Arkansas.

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I would love to find one of those (newer release) too for comparison. Do you have that table of norton tradmark changes over the years?

You got it Mike. As soon as I talk Steel out of it I will let ya know.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Steel

I would love to find one of those (newer release) too for comparison. Do you have that table of norton tradmark changes over the years?

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No, but I'd love to see it if there is one. But I think the Behr-Manning name on the label would place it to the mid-1950s or later, as that is when B-M was fully absorbed by Norton (who in turn, are now owned by the French company, Saint-Gobain abrasives).

Also, about my earlier streaked comment about the later-marked lily whites, I looked at the picture again and the resolution is not all that good. So what I took for soft-Arkansas like marking might just be digitally-enhanced chatter, with the stones themselves possibly being uniformly white. I don't remember that streaking from when I looked at the pictures around six-seven years ago.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

No, but I'd love to see it if there is one. But I think the Behr-Manning name on the label would place it to the mid-1950s or later, as that is when B-M was fully absorbed by Norton (who in turn, are now owned by the French company, Saint-Gobain abrasives).

Also, about my earlier streaked comment about the later-marked lily whites, I looked at the picture again and the resolution is not all that good. So what I took for soft-Arkansas like marking might just be digitally-enhanced chatter, with the stones themselves possibly being uniformly white. I don't remember that streaking from when I looked at the pictures around six-seven years ago.

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I used to have a table but lost it when I switched phones. You are right about the time frame. I went back and looked at your link above and I didn’t see any streaks either. All white.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gasman

You got it Mike. As soon as I talk Steel out of it I will let ya know.

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You two are at the front of the line or maybe back of the bus. Hard to tell some days. :rofl2:

Attachment 301730 Here you go.

That’s the one!! Thank you!!

Attachment 301860Attachment 301861Attachment 301862Attachment 301863Very nice find! Here’s a few NOS arks that I have collected over the years.

I actually saw those two NOS stones in an old post of yours and was hoping you would re-post them. Thank you. Maybe others are out there too.

Love the literature that came with them!!

The literature is neat. I sent in for my free Barney doll but have not received it yet.

Doh! The crooked pic got me! Lol.

Can't you use one side and leave the face side pretty?:angel:

I find Arks interesting so I would love to find a Lily White someday.

Those Washitas are beautiful! Here is mine - I wasn't sure if it was truly a "Lily White" But having seen these pics it sure looks the same to me - Well, the label is the same anyway. My stone had some good oil build up when I purchased it from its previous owner. I have used this stone to finish a few wedges, with lots of time spent on linen before final stropping, and the result was smooth and enjoyable to me.
Attachment 302060
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Thats a nice one! I see your rock collection is going on very nicely. Rock On! From the looks and the description, it sounds like a lily white.
Could you post a picture of the lables please.

The label is the exact same as the one in the first post. Just missing the corner and nearly transparent from resting on an oily stone for decades. I can post a pic later when I get home.

O.K I got you. That looks like a lily white as it is very pure with a small amount of light modleing. With your description that you can shave with it goes along with it too. Good chances it is one. I love mine! I hope you do to.

I got my hands on a Pike Lilywhite. Its been well cared for over the years. The label is on the top of the box and the stone is loose from the box. But the broken glue and wood splinters proves it is the original stone to the box.

Its dished about 1mm so its going to need lapped. Im sick today so not going to be doing anything with it until next week.

Here are a couple pictures, plus i found a pic on the www that matches the label perfectly so you can see it better. The one on the box is a bit hard to read but its in one piece.

Attachment 302184Attachment 302185Attachment 302186Attachment 302187

Guessing early 1930s as it doesnt say Norton anywhere. 1 7/8 x 5 3/4 x 1.