Thread: Inherited hones

I recently acquired 2 hones that my Late Great Uncle used to sharpen his razors.

1. "The old canyon soft stone" H.N. Platts, Boulder Colo. Red orange in color rounded edges.

2. Norton Hard Arkansas Oilstone. I know that this isn't usually a preferred hone, but it is what he used.

Any ideas on these, or how I might use these to sharpen a razor? Sorry I don't have a camera right now to take pics with.

I don't know about the Platts hone but I do know they were associated and maybe part of the Case family tree of cutlery makers. IIRC Platts evolved into the Western Cutlery Co. If the Platts stone is a 4 or 5 x 2" it may be a barber hone typically used to touch up sharrp razors. The rounded edges sound like to me.

The Norton Arkansas is no doubt a good knife sharpener. Not sure if it would be ideal for razors though I've heard that some guys use them and they are slow cutters from what I've read.

Edit; I did remember correctly, here is a bit of history on Platts.