Thread: The X-Hones

Originally Posted by 0livia

Looks like a Thuringian to me, Benjamin!

+1
But what an extraordinary shape! What's the size?

Love the shape as well. I'm a sucker for "in the rough" stones

Look forward to the testing

Got this from a guy I used to work with. It belonged to his wife's grandfather. it's a fantastic bevel-setter. It was used with oil, but I cleaned it & now use water. I have no clue what it is.

This stone is between 3/4 and 1/2 " thick, 1.25-1" wide, and the useable face is maybe 6 inches long. No two sides are parallel- it shows many, many decades- perhaps centuries of use.

I'm no pro honer, nor am I super experienced, but this thing did amazing things for my razor. I did 20 laps with water and a little soap (it is a very hydrophobic surface) with the Keen Kutter I just restored. I had shave tested it last night and had a fine shave, but tonight! Ach! So smooth and comfortable! I thought I missed the stubble my first pass, it was so smooth and quiet!

I will hence be caught rubbing this stone, whispering sweet nothings in its chips, and referring to it as "Mein Schatz".

Benjamin very interesting stone . Sorry to say i may go against Olivia hate to do so. it seems like this is something else what is it i have no idea. thuringian surface is a little different (may be just picture making me think that way.) Please test it and let us know what is it.

thuringian is a mica schist, is that right?

Actually there were many hones quarried in Mass. back in the day, as you say it was in the family so long...could be native

Oil slate actually, Kevin!
Sham I was thinking of it as a thuringian by its slurry.
I don't think I'm 100% on that but thats why.

Johnny J, yours looks like the first one I posted.
I'm not sure what it is.

Originally Posted by Johnny J

Got this from a guy I used to work with. It belonged to his wife's grandfather. it's a fantastic bevel-setter. It was used with oil, but I cleaned it & now use water. I have no clue what it is.

I'm going to guess a dirty oily Wash.i.t.a stone. The bevel setting capability you mention fits in with the coarse grit rating of that stone.

Chris L

Originally Posted by ChrisL

I'm going to guess a dirty oily Wash.i.t.a stone. The bevel setting capability you mention fits in with the coarse grit rating of that stone.

Chris L

Looks like mine as well, still haven't had time to clean mine out...

I went to an antiques fair today and I came back with some old hones. The first one is obviously a bbw/coticle. The next one I have no idea and I haven't had much of a chance to clean and play with it. That will have to wait until I get home from my little holiday.

The next hone I think is a man made hone and may be bound for ebay or the classifieds.

Once I get a chance to clean and play with them I will post some more pictures.