Thread: Made in China but not 12k so let's stop calling it 12k

Originally Posted by Utopian

Actually, it's from the Guangxi region, but until another one is found, I'd rather stick with "Chinese."

That's reasonable enough. Weren't Thuringian hones referred to as "German Water Hones" and coticules as "Belgian Hones"? So referring to the stone by the country it came from certainly makes sense. I honestly have no idea how the "12k" got tacked on at the end...

This (12000 Grit) was probably coming from an eBay auction where these hones came up first.
I used to write "12k" but Guangxi would be better.

being able to type C12K for those of us with typing deficits is a big plus.

How about Guangxi natural water stone (since the box says "natural water stone").

I could learn to type GNWS, I suppose.

But sellers continue to sell it as a 12,000 grit stone:
Buy Natural Polishing Water Stone, Water Stones, Sharpening - Woodcraft.com

So, I really don't see where it makes a hill of beans.

This issue I'd take with changing the name at this point is that it would take me 4 extra keystrokes to spell out Guangxi rather than type 12k.

Chris L

The bell has been rung, I am going to hone with my Chinese 12K this evening.

Charlie

Maybe 12k is not meant to represent a grit rating.

Maybe 12k is the communist version of the karat rating for gold

Maybe 12k represents the number of dogs that are cooked up each year to feed the peasant workers who hew these from solid rock

Let's not be hasty. Let's give our comrades in China the benefit of the doubt

Lee, I don't think it's considered PC to rip on communist China. I say I don't think, because I'm ignorant to virtually all things "PC".

Chris L

Well let's think of it from a newbie point of view.... if you were new to straight razors and you googled "Chinese 12k" vs. "guanxi" or similar..... which one is going to yield the best results?

I am completely a fan of disrupting our entire measurement system and converting everything over to SI units (base-10 just makes TOO much SENSE!!), but I think leaving the "chinese 12k" alone is a good idea.

I love my C12K.

I don't know if a G-stone would thrill me the same way

Originally Posted by Pyment

I don't know if a G-stone would thrill me the same way

Believe me, a G-stone would do it.

But, I am in favor of letting sleeping dogs lie. For me, C12K it has been and will always be.