Thread: Arkansas

Mainly what I do with arks is sets of 10 back and forth for about 200-300 then forward only for another 100. If I do a progression it's usually just back and forth sets of 100-200 depending until finishing then 200-300 and maybe 200 or more back and forth and then forward only for another 100 lightening pressure in the final 100. I just finished a Wade and Butcher Special the other night like this and it rivalled the smoothest edges I've ever gotten... Oh! I also do some short push and pull strokes between every century set to smooth it out.

I have just been looking through old threads aout Washitas.

One of the posters say's that he always has a few Arks soaking.

I didn't think Arks needed to be soaked, Washita right through to surgical black. Am I misunderstanding?

On a different vein (pun intended), I have seen blacks for a very good price, very good. Just so I am clear, are blacks surgical black or is that an entirely different beast.

Originally Posted by STF

I have just been looking through old threads aout Washitas.

One of the posters say's that he always has a few Arks soaking.

I didn't think Arks needed to be soaked, Washita right through to surgical black. Am I misunderstanding?

On a different vein (pun intended), I have seen blacks for a very good price, very good. Just so I am clear, are blacks surgical black or is that an entirely different beast.

Blacks, in the context, probably means Surgical Blacks, which is a nickname. Hard Black or True Hard Black is more proper.

Soaking probably means in some detergent to remove old oil. Arkansas novaculite does not need soaking to hone on.

Originally Posted by Longhaultanker

Blacks, in the context, probably means Surgical Blacks, which is a nickname. Hard Black or True Hard Black is more proper.

Soaking probably means in some detergent to remove old oil. Arkansas novaculite does not need soaking to hone on.

6" x 2" x 1/2" Black Arkansas Whetstone Sharpener in Wooden Box

This 1/2" THICK Black Novaculite Sharpening Stone is the REAL McCoy! This is the Genuine Arkansas Black Novaculite Whetstone mined ONLY from the Ouachita Mountain region of Central Arkansas. This is the finest knife sharpening material in the World. This rare bench stone can put a surgical quality edge on any blade. It measures 6" x 2" x 1/2" and comes in a BEAUTIFUL Hand Crafted Hardwood Box. If you are looking for the Rolls Royce of sharpening stones that will last a LIFETIME, this is it! Makes for a GREAT GIFT!



Tell me this is a surgical black/true black/ or true hard black and I'm getting it. $49.99 reduced to $27.99

He's talking about soaking them in degreaser, Steve.

Like my recent Washita, find. Wasn't sure what it was when I first bought it.


Then after several days of soaking and scrubbing.


Still has oil coming to the surface, weeks later.


Almost a perfect match to one found online.

I am confused about these, I am in the market for Arks.

this is Soft Novaculite Whetstone Knife Sharpener in Box



This is Soft AR Whetstone Knife Sharpener / Box


Both of these are on the same site for sale right now.

Is there a difference between the two?

They are both geniune Arks for sure.

This is another at the same site

Genuine Arkansas Soft Novaculite Sharpening Stone



I am so confused now, 3 different soft Arkansas for sale at he same site. They can't all be the same can they?

These stones are for sale separately with different product numbers so they aren't just one stone and the colour may vary sort of thing

The answer is yes and no. They are different stones with different mineral makeup but are all soft in comparison to the translucent or the surgical black. However, they all come from that same group of mountain ranges in Central /Southern North America. They all originate from either in or near Arkansas proper so they are all classified as Arkansas stones. Just like any other rock the flow of either sediment or volcanic material is not uniform or the same in any one spot of the vein. I'm not incredibly versed in the geology of it but the Ouachitas cover a huge area and so there is a lot of different mineral deposits in the form of this hard rock there. The same is true of the Appalachians and the Rockies. It just so happens that the rock from the ranges in Arkansas are very very good for sharpening stones.

Hey Mike, have you ever tried heating the detergent while you're soaking it, sort of simmering or maybe even boiling the stones? It seems like that would work the oil out faster / more thoroughly or something. It doesn't seem like you could damage the stone doing it that way. I have a small one that is sort of yellowish which may have been a hard white I thought about doing that with. I just haven't done it yet. Mainly I didn't want to stink up the kitchen with boiling detergent. My wife gets migraines from certain smells.

Originally Posted by PaulFLUS

The answer is yes and no. They are different stones with different mineral makeup but are all soft in comparison to the translucent or the surgical black. However, they all come from that same group of mountain ranges in Central /Southern North America. They all originate from either in or near Arkansas proper so they are all classified as Arkansas stones. Just like any other rock the flow of either sediment or volcanic material is not uniform or the same in any one spot of the vein. I'm not incredibly versed in the geology of it but the Ouachitas and the Ozarks cover a huge area and so there is a lot of different mineral deposits in the form of this hard rock there. The same is true of the Appalachians and the Rockies. It just so happens that the rock from the ranges in Arkansas and Missouri are very very good for sharpening stones.

I understand what you're saying Paul but I am having trouble with the concept that these 3 totally different looking stones are all the same because they are all sold seperately, not just a single 3 stones sold seperately but a stock of each of the three different looking stones.

I would be more easily convinced that they all all just the same soft Ark if they were all the same price at least. Should I just get the cheapest?

Is their any possibility that one might be Washita?

They all come from the same place.

Natural Whetstone Company Home Page

If you do go to the site I would be grateful if you looked at the cheap black arks and let me know if they are just black or the surgical black.

One last confusion for me.

Dan's call the soft "soft(medium)".

Natural Wetstone sells Soft medium and hard as well as the true hards.

Does soft and medium exist seperately or is actual soft Washita.

Can you tell I want a Washita