Thread: SWITZERLAND HONE?

i bought this long time ago. From picture i thought you know what i thought .But it comes out to be interesting stone. It acts like fast cutting 4-5k level. seems like has cracks (tree roots) on the side and bottom of the stone.
dimensions are 9 inch long 1.5wide,and 5/8 thickness.
there is a small label left.
has anyone had one of those?

I am sorry can anyone move this to hones section please.

Hi Sham,

I can't tell you much about your stone I'm afraid, but Switzerland had at least 3 hone producing mines in the late 1800's; these particular mines however were counted as being profitable or even successful so there are very few records that still exist.

Kindest regards,
Alex

I would consider glueing or epoxying that stone to a piece of hardwood before it cracks all the way. My Nakayama came glued to wood and seems to work well that way.................

Having gone through some of the very many archaic geology texts in my collection amassed during my fruitless search for the Devonshire oilstone, I've found some more references to whetstones and honestones coming from Switzerland.

At the Swiss National Exhibition held in Zurich in 1833, mention is made of five localities producing whetstones, 3 in Schwytz canton and 2 in Friborg. Three of these were quarries, which were the three I alluded to in my first post, and two are recorded as being small deposits, (although no mention is made of which is which).

Heller's Description of the Swiss Alps makes several mentions of various deposits of whetstone found in the area. These include Blue Whetstone from Bern, (which had the peculiar habit of absorbing water which rendered it into the form of a powder meaning that the stone could not come into contact with the earth and remain intact); a red whetstone found in the principal valley of Aigle and various small outcrops of suitable rock found in the vicinities of Lustry and Burgdorf.

Finally, Patrin makes mention of honestone found in the mountains of Jura. I don't have the original, but the deposit is mentioned in an 1811 mineralogy I have. The island of Jura off of the West coast of Scotland is mentioned as having a deposit of reportedly excellent honestone , as this was never exploited commercially however, and given the author's nationality, I would assume that Patrin means Jura in Switzerland.

FYI, in my first post it should have read these particular mines however weren't counted as being profitable or even successful, as opposed to these particular mines however were counted as being profitable or even successful. I really should start proof-reading my posts properly.

Kindest regards,
Alex

That is a neat looking stone!