Thread: Barber hones characteristics

I have an NOS Swaty with different grit on either side.

Huh now that I have never seen. A double sided Swaty has to be rare!

Here you go: picture to prove it exists: a dual grit Swaty. Looks like one side is painted with a coarse grit substance.

On the hone it reads: THE SWATY THREE LINE DIAMOND HONE.

Kees, can you post another shot where the text on the hone is more visable or type up the text. Maybe it's just me, but I can't clearly read it from this angle. Is that "THE SWATY" "THREE LINE" "DIAMOND HONE"? If so, I'm thinking that might be one of the imitation Swaty's? I think I read somewhere that all the "legit" ones say "Franz Swaty" and something about where they are made but that there are imitations that say "Three Line" or "Two Line". Anyone with any more knowledge have any ideas?

Here's your requested picture. This is a Swaty sold by Droescher, a reputable company AFAIK.

Hm, well whether or not that is a real Swaty (I really don't know enough to say), the directions and packaging are radically different from Jimmy's. That makes me think that, while yours (Kees) certainly appears to be a dual grit hone, there must be one that looks a bit more "traditional" and is dual grit (or at least Swaty advertises that there is one).

at first thank you for picture KEES i have three line swaty similar to your but it is not double side. i am fixing this computer as soon as i am done will post picture. Kees this swaty really course right? i mean cuts 10x times faster then regular one.?

It is mint and I am keeping it that way for the time being. So I honestly do not know.

I would place these in roughly the same category, shaving "results-wise", maybe 11k-12k. I use these 3 the most.

• The Carborundum Co. pocket hone (no #, 1.5" x 4")
• No. 00 Frictionite combination
• Apart

My 3-line Swaty is close, maybe 10.5k-11k.

Several Dubl Duck combinations. Hard to rate as the fine sides vary, while the coarse sides seem identical. The finest one has a side closely equal to the Swaty.

I use them all wet, never dry. Usually just water, sometimes lather.

There are many that I haven't tried yet. I'm pretty happy with my finishing results on the first 4 listed, so haven't really done any fair tests on the other barber hones that I have.

per the TS request, this is a Swift & Sure double sided hone

4" x 2" x 1/2"

Bought it lapped and chamfered. Brought my Crown and Sword from a 4/10 to a 10/10. I love this hone but sold it just now to fund another hone purchase!

Pics!