Thread: The X-Hones

You see what confuses me… I understand the slate they put on the back the Coticule is “useless” for honing… but this one cuts like the a demon… if didn’t know better I would say it’s Carborundum (ok, that may be an exaggeration but it does cut razor steel).
But the Coticule side does nothing… it’s like the opposite… the “useless” side cuts quite well but the “useful” side cuts nothing.

Maybe I am jumping to conclusions because I haven’t spent much time with the hone… However I have a vintage natural combo Coticule, I would say it is medium hard, it cuts very fast and puts a great edge an any razor… but I am not sure about this one (counterfeit?) lololol.

IME if the slurry is gray it is slate and if it is purple it is a bbw. In the photo it looks like slate but maybe your cell phone photos don't have enough resolution. As far as the dark side cutting, if it works than it works regardless of what it is. I don't know what to say about the yellow not cutting.

The slate on the back of the newer coticules is not really useless,
it just often has impurities.
One vendor in germany sells it on its own.
It does hone. you just never know what kind of grain comes next.
Yours looks very uniform, so you could be lucky!

Thanks Jimmy.
Yup, the photos from my aging Nikon really does suck, and it doesn’t help when I reduce the photo width to 700 pixels as per forum upload rules… lololol.

The slurry does look more Gray than purple. The BBW side of my natural combo Coticule is unmistakably Purple, and I don’t have to make slurry to see the Purple, even has the layering stripes typical of Coticules.

This one is Gray with only a very faint hint of Purple when the slurry is on a white background, nothing like the BBW side of my “confirmed” Coticule… so I suppose it is slate… slate that cuts.

Yup the yellow does not seem to cut, even using some pressure, maybe it’s just a slooooow cutter.

I figured since there is such variation in natural stones this would be just one type... but still confused about how show this one cuts.

There has to be someone out there who has one like this... maybe we can compare notes.

Originally Posted by 0livia

The slate on the back of the newer coticules is not really useless,
it just often has impurities.
One vendor in germany sells it on its own.
It does hone. you just never know what kind of grain comes next.
Yours looks very uniform, so you could be lucky!

Aha! So some slates do cut… I guess now you know my knowledge of stones is just passing… I look at a stone as it relates to how it cuts steel (tunnel vision?).
In fact I lapped the slate surface smooth and it polish the bevel so maybe this is a cutter.

Sure thing. Just look at the dragon's tongue. Perfectly slate.

I have one for you!

I found this in a drawer; evidently my uncle used it for knives, and it came to him through a long family handing down in Massachusetts. I think it just might work for a razor- it was exceptionally smooth when glazed, and it got smoother after lapping!

Here are some pictures; I know nothing about natural hones, so ask whatever questions you have and I'll give you the info!

Slurry:

Looks like a Thuringian to me, Benjamin!

Originally Posted by 0livia

Looks like a Thuringian to me, Benjamin!

ooh! That is what I was hoping! I can't WAIT for classes to be over today! I think this needs a shave test...

nice find.