Thread: Help identifying these American hones

Good afternoon, everyone. Can you please help me identify these stones? These were sent to me by a Barber who inherited the profession from his father.

He told me that these are very old stones and he doesn't use them very often (due to lack of proper performance). He asked me to lap them, which I just did (pics at the end, they look much cleaner now). But before I sharpen a few razors on them I'd like to gather some info.

Apparently, these were imported from the USA into Mexico quite a long time ago. Thanks



















This last one reads "EXIDE" right there.

Many thanks

Man, I cannot make out what is written on the side of one. No oil, I expect. Nice looking bunch.
Bet Randydance could shed some light.

An user told me these are American Hone Co Frictionite hones and that they're more designed for fast touch up while on the job.

I'd like to know if they're natural or artificial. The owner told me he has the understanding of these being natural but he's unsure. The person who told me about the company says these are artificial...

More than likely synthetic hones ( man made ) Only naturals I can think of from US would be slates, or Arks and Washitas.

Both are manmade hones. The Fricionite is a 2 grit hone. The light-colored side is the fine side. The abrasive used came from Zimbabwe/Rhodesia.
Frictionite is the name of the mineral quarried from the deposit. They probably stopped mining it in 1965-1970 when they had a civil war.
It is approximately 8k grit and aggressive since the mineral is a quartz that has been fused with another mineral by a natural process. I have my grandfather's Frictionite 00, it was my first hone.
The dark side is coarser.

The Exide was also made by the American Hone company and not as fine a grit.
In the old days both would have been regarded as adequate tools for a good shave.

Frictionite 00. I had forgotten. Thanks, Randy.

A member here once snagged a NOS case of those at a garage sale as I recall.
Would not part with any of them.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Both are manmade hones. The Fricionite is a 2 grit hone. The light-colored side is the fine side. The abrasive used came from Zimbabwe/Rhodesia.
Frictionite is the name of the mineral quarried from the deposit. They probably stopped mining it in 1965-1970 when they had a civil war.
It is approximately 8k grit and aggressive since the mineral is a quartz that has been fused with another mineral by a natural process. I have my grandfather's Frictionite 00, it was my first hone.
The dark side is coarser.

The Exide was also made by the American Hone company and not as fine a grit.
In the old days both would have been regarded as adequate tools for a good shave.

Thank you very much!