Originally Posted by
JimmyHAD
Just out of curiosity, who said they are better ? I've read that the best Arkansas stones were mined years ago but I haven't read that about coticules. IME, having 12 coticules that I would say are an appropriate size to hone razors, and 2 that are a little too small ,that they are all good. Of all of my coticules three are recent production that came from Ardennes and one of those is my 'best' one. An 8x3 natural.
I have a 'Deep Rock', an 'Old Rock' and a Salamander, all with labels. The 'Old Rock' is my 2nd best and IIRC that came out of Ardennes back in the old days. My impression from my own experience is that they are all good. Reading Bart's comparisons he says that they are close and that some cut faster, are harder or softer. I haven't had the amount of experience with them that Bart has had but in my limited experience I have drawn the same conclusion.
Bottom line is if you get a coticule and hone razors with it and if it delivers the goods you will stick with it and if it doesn't you will move on until you find something that does. The guy I got my best one from, TheTopher, used to be a member here and is an expert honer. He had bought his 8x3 natural from Howard and it wasn't doing it for him.
He told me that it would sharpen a razor satisfactorily to shave but not to the 'scary sharp' level that he looked for. He sold the coticule to me for what he had in it and I love the edges it produces but I'm not crazy about 'scary sharp'.
Talking about vintage, AFAIC Eschers are the best natural hone for finishing. They are not as versatile as a coticule on the lower end but, for me, they produce a finer edge on the top end. I also think that vintage Eschers are better than the Thuringans that came later. Mullers and such as that. Just IMHO. That said sometimes I like to hone a razor on a coticule for the feel of the edge that it produces and I do think it is a unique and characteristic feel. YMMV. :) I have yet to try the legendary Nakayamas or any other J-nats... from what I've read they are quite the finisher too. Nice to have so many choices of hones to experience.