Thread: Canadian Hones

Originally Posted by A_S

In my Devonshire Oilstone thread I mentioned that there was a book about natural hones that was going to be published this year, and I've recently received a manuscript of the book in question. I don't want to reveal too much about the content as it is a pre release copy that I have, however one area that interested me was a section on stones that were quarried in Canada. All of the stones mentioned are described as minor/ localised production but I wondered if any of our Canadian members were familiar with any of these stones or the areas in which they were obtained. There is a long list of Canadian Hones in the book, but the following types seem to be the most suitable for razor hones:

Whetstone Lake, New Germany, Lunenburg County, Novia Scotia. Trial pits sunk in 1901 gave excellent quality stones. A six foot band of very fine grained, hard green and grey siliceous slates. The valuable portion is the green one, about 3- 6 inches wide.

Pleasant River, Queen's County, Nova Scotia. Good quality whetstones exhibited at Provincial Exhibition 1854.

Ottertail Lake, Algoma County, Ontario. Hones & Whetstones suitable for razor and delicate instrument sharpening made from the siliceous slates about 1860. Massive white quartzites and conglomerates of the Huron series, with layers of fine grained, greenish grey siliceous slates.

Mastine's Farm, 2 miles North of Trenholm, Drummond County, Quebec. Argillacceous mica schists quarried from the East bank of St. Francis River produced good grade hones and razor stones. Small plant erected in 1860 by a Mr. Jackson.

So, is anyone familiar with these types of hone?

Regards,
Alex

Was this book ever published?

Originally Posted by johivera7

I have a guy i winnipeg who supplies to barber shops.

Thank you

Interested to know if he supplies canadian made natural hones?

Interesting thread.

Also interested if the book got published...