Want to know more about this Japanese razor hone of Unknown origin
I got this stone of unknown origin as it was only $35, the seller said it has been used by a barber in Japan for many many years, until the barber finally passed away. As it had no stamps, nothing is known about it. Upon use, it has given me incredible results so I want to know what it is, in terms of what layer of stone and anything else about it.
Shaving straight off the stone (no stropping) it is superior to my Naniwa 12k and pretty darn close to a strop loaded with the finest abrasives.
Observations:
-it has a tobacco smell
-it has some orange-brown spots, and rust-colored skin
-chiseled sides and back (nice touch)
-does not load up or gauge like my synthetics do
-with slurry it cuts very fast
-with clean water it is very, very fine under the microscope but does have a milky white finish, semi-mirror
-used dry it gives a shiny true mirror polish, this is how I finish my razors (no stropping needed)
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