Thread: First hones: used

Hey all,

I've been reading around and have learned that I shouldn't really use antique hones. However I came across a couple of hones and figured for the ten bucks it cost for both of them that I didn't do too bad. What do you reckon?

By the way, I can't figure out the grit rating. With Escher do they go by colour?

I reckon your a lucky man, seach Escher and you will find all kinds of info.

They're the best finishers out there pretty much. They will polish around 12k but add more keeness at 12k also. How did you find those!? Also eschers can go up to 400$ on ebay sometimes, ten dollars, really?

I do reckon I'm a lucky man then.

I found them in a antique barn barn/museum. The owner told me he sold hones for 5 bones apiece, so that's what I paid. I've also bought about 5 razors there: 2 Bokers, 1 Korn , 1 and a Joseph Smith & Son. It's a decent gem of a place.

I've been looking around now at reviews and threads. But I can't find any difference in colours other than preference.

Thank you for the help.

I really hate it when people luck onto hones that I want.




The Escher is a great natural hone, is an excellent finisher, and a rather good investment considering what you paid for it.

BTW, make sure you protect the label of the Escher. A lot of its re-sale value is tied up in that piece of paper.

The Barber's Delight is a synthetic barber hone that is perfectly good as well.

LOL lucky man,,,

oh BTW we all hate you now !!!!!!


















Well not really but yer off the Christmas list cause you already got a present...

Haha okay, I'll just keep my finds to myself now.

Thanks Utopian. Excuse my ignorance a little longer; what makes the barber's deluxe synthetic? The stone itself looks real.

With that kinda luck I'd be buying a lottery ticket

Samuel, I'm assuming that neither has a small label on the end with the color designated ? I have a 'Barber's Delight', same box and the stone is end labeled yellow green. I have a 'Barber's Choice' in a box and the end label on that stone reads light green. Finally I have a Blue Green with end label in another type box. It seems, IME anyhow, that there is a relationship between the color of the bottom part of the box and the color of the stone.

My Blue/green is in a medium blue box while I have seen dark blue Eschers in darker blue boxes. My light green is in a box with the bottom portion a light green and my barber's choice yellow/green has a yellowish look to the bottom of the box. The top is identical to yours.

As far as the stones, they are all a gray color with nuances between them. It takes a trained and experienced eye to recognize one color from the other if there is no end label. The exception is the dark blue, it being much darker than it's cousins. The good news is they are all great finishers so it really doesn't matter which you have. If you want to double your money shoot me a PM.

Just to give you an idea of what a lucky dog you are Samuel, I purchased 2 eschers some 20 years ago or so now. I spent 15 dollars on one and 20 on the other. About a year ago I sold one to a member here for about 225 dollars. bought it back from him a couple of months later and am certain that I can fetch 300 plus now if I were to sell them.


You lucky bastard you.