Hunting, Hounding, Hurting for Hones

[Mijbil]

(My apologies if you already read this but I posted it on an old thread andf then decided to give it a wider buckshot So, as my hone addiction is spiking *rapidly*, I'm thinking, how do you guys find all these cool (mostly vintage) hones?! I am in awe. Is it mostly spending months/years scrouning around antique shops that dont know what they have? Is it being willing to spend $100-$500 when something finally becomes available? Did a lot of you build out your collections before the SR community really fluorished in the last 1-3 years?

I find when looking at the antique stones mostly available, it's quite tough as you I?) really can't tell what the stone is, and very few sellers know what they have and so dont provide much helpful information at all. Do you find out the typical appearance and dimensions that particular stones (e.g. Charnley Forest and Escher) were sold at, and use that as an indicator? Do you have to buy lots of stuff and filter through lots of junk to occasionally get a diamond in the rough?

All this makes me marvel at how much greater the demand is than the supply on this stuff - I figure it can't last long. *Sombody* will have to start getting systematic at gathering up all the old stones around and selling them at a price which equalizes demand and supply properly AND/OR various people (besides Ardennes Coticule and so/so Herr Muller) will just *have* to start mining natural hones again. I mean, as I understand it the old mines were generally not exhausted, PLUS we now have modern mining and surveying methods which you would think would allow us to squeeze more out of a quarry and do it more efficiently. I know that the SR resurgence is pretty recent, but it really seems we should be coming up on some pioneers in this respect. Or am I missing something?

[JimmyHAD]

Like gold, hones are where you find them. There are hone collectors who may be willing to cut loose of an extra but they are the worst source because they place the highest value on their little jewels. Hones turn up at antique stores, flea markets, garage sales and the like. Eschers turn up on ebay on a fairly regular basis. Not long ago a member posted a nice labeled stone that he got for $38.00 on a buy it now from a clueless seller. One finished yesterday at $250.00.

There are dealers in antique tools who come up with CFs, Arks, and vintage hones of various types. Howard, at The Perfect Edge has sold some antique hones on consignment and like SRD and many others sells currently harvested coticules. Timbertools sells coticules, Thuringans and was selling a hone at a high price that was claimed to be mined from the old source of Escher hones.

While the straight razor shaving community has grown by leaps and bounds it is still a relatively small market and the number of individuals within it who would want to pay big $ for exotic hones is smaller yet when more affordable options are out there. There are just enough to keep it expensive for those of us nuts enough to be afflicted with HAD. Stay away ..... It's a slippery slope.

[Croaker]

Just remember: red and black double grit hone with the word Norton in an oval.............I will be happy to double your money for you if you can find one and send it to me!
Seriously, do you homework and study the great Wiki photos, so you will recognize these treasures when you find them. It is a serious rush to find a labelled Escher in the original box with the rubbing stone in an antique store for $40. Happened to me a few months ago. Then, another blue green unlabelled one came to me in a lot of junky hones from eBay..you develop an eye after a while. You win some and lose some when you deal on eBay, though, so be warned.

[Mijbil]

Thanks, Jimmy - but you're too late. I've already tumbled *headlong* down that slope...:

And I take your point about the numbers game, but I still think there is a need here not being met, and it just *has* to only be a matter of time...

[JimmyHAD]

Thanks, Jimmy - but you're too late. I've already tumbled *headlong* down that slope...:

And I take your point about the numbers game, but I still think there is a need here not being met, and it just *has* to only be a matter of time...

Sounds to me like you've got a plan developing. Good luck with your pending enterprise.

[A_S]

If you haven't already found a copy elsewhere online, Griswold gives a good account of the various economic factors governing the market for honestones in the Report of the Geological Survey of Arkansas, which can be found here

I've been interested in finding an effective, yet previously unexploited, honestone myself. I have found a source of contact metamorphosed chalk from Northern Ireland, the chalk has a very fine grain and wave action has rendered it very hard and compact (it's a good deal harder than marble). I have a few samples that have gone to a university laboratory for testing, and I've been using one on and off myself. Identifying, and then obtaining samples, plus arranging testing has been a fairly arduous task, but there is a good deal of satisfaction in using something that I've been involved with from the beginning. It was a difficult project, but it can be done for those so motivated.

Kindest regards,
Alex

[Mijbil]

heh just opened up that link, but you didnt mention its from 1890! hah.