I know this is an old post but I have to say I have recently fell in love with my old Norton hard ark, which happens to be a grey/translucent variation 2x4x1inch. It is funny considering I have had this stone sitting around before I started honing razors and after being discouraged due to the majority of posts I seen at the time where all against arks as a razor hone. Well I chased after everything from a y/g Escher to a La Veinette coticule and everything in between! Now I'm not saying that my ark is better than my y/g or Lv but I am saying I love it just as much! The edges thus far I have achieved where very nice, it mowed through effortlessly and with how sharp it surprised me that there was no irration! I now am on a mission to get a complete line up of arks, well just got a vintage smiths soft so I'm looking to complete with a hard and washita. Another thing I wanted to say is about the speed, I don't understand why anyone complains about that? I mean if you're like me then you enjoy the zen like feeling of focusing in on your honing! To be honest I get a displeasent feeling when I'm finished and I have nothing to hone LOL Anyway if you're in a hurry grab your synthetics. Well that's all I got. Thanks for all the great info guys