Thread: ID Hone-pics enclosed

My barber gave me his old stone and I'm interested in any information I can get. I have not yet tried to use this or any other hone but he started teaching me. He taught me how to strop and is fantastic teacher. He started as a barber's apprentice in Italy 1940's when he was about 9 years old. The pic in my Avatar is him shaving me.

That is an "Old Rock" and a rare and beautiful Belgian Coticule. Some of the Old Rocks were glued to a Belgian Blue (BBW) and others were the one piece 'naturals' that were hewn out of the vein in one piece. Whichever it is that is a first class hone.

Interesting that the label is still on the blue side. Proving once more that the old timers didn't know the bbw was a valid whetstone too. I would soak the label off and put it aside for safe keeping. That way you can use both sides.

Nice hone! What a great gift...!

It looks like the yellow side is a coticule and the dark side is either a Belgian blue or a piece of unusable slate. From the pics I'd guess BBW, but the slurry will tell you. BBW slurry is kinda purply and the slate is greyish white.

Even if it's a coti alone, they're great hones and put really great edges on a razor.

Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks for the feedback, nice to know. I'm not surprised Frank had great stuff. As I've never honed before and am fairly new to this I'm wondering if this can be my only stone. I recognize I will not be able to restore an old beat up razor but after a pro honing is this enough to keep my blades sharp?
Potentially stupid question-I'm planning on getting a old beater razor to practice honing before unleashing myself on the good stuff. Can my initial poor technique and rusty blade hurt the stone?
Thanks.

Originally Posted by dslazar9

Thanks for the feedback, nice to know. I'm not surprised Frank had great stuff. As I've never honed before and am fairly new to this I'm wondering if this can be my only stone. I recognize I will not be able to restore an old beat up razor but after a pro honing is this enough to keep my blades sharp?
Potentially stupid question-I'm planning on getting a old beater razor to practice honing before unleashing myself on the good stuff. Can my initial poor technique and rusty blade hurt the stone?
Thanks.

Yes is can be used as a stone to maintain shave ready blades. It could also be used from start to finish if you were an expert with a coticule. If I had that stone I would suggest getting a 1k bevel setter to avoid wearing the coticule too much. A 4/8 combo or the equivalent might be a good idea as well. Until you are well versed in honing reserve that coticule for finishing only. Go to the SRP Wiki here and check out some of Bart's old tutorials on honing with the coticule.

When I turned 55, my barber stopped even giving me lollipops. Seeing this makes me want to kick his butt.

That's a thick natural combo, I like it.

Originally Posted by Stubear

It looks like the yellow side is a coticule and the dark side is either a Belgian blue or a piece of unusable slate.

Were slates ever used as backing for vintage coticules whether glued or naturally bonded? I don't think I have seen any vintage Coticule with an original backing other than a BBW as of yet.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

That is an "Old Rock" and a rare and beautiful Belgian Coticule. Some of the Old Rocks were glued to a Belgian Blue (BBW) and others were the one piece 'naturals' that were hewn out of the vein in one piece. Whichever it is that is a first class hone.

Interesting that the label is still on the blue side. Proving once more that the old timers didn't know the bbw was a valid whetstone too. I would soak the label off and put it aside for safe keeping. That way you can use both sides.

Jimmy, Are you sure that's a BBW...Hard to tell in that pic, I'm not so sure....

Originally Posted by stimpy52

When I turned 55, my barber stopped even giving me lollipops. Seeing this makes me want to kick his butt.

That's great. LMAO!

Originally Posted by zib

Jimmy, Are you sure that's a BBW...Hard to tell in that pic, I'm not so sure....

It is hard to tell Rich. I am going by the two labeled Old Rocks I've had. One I sold and I still have the other, a natural. Both were yellow/bbw. In the 1980s I got three coticules from thriee different barbers in North Newark. Two were yellow/slate glued and one was a natural yellow/bbw combo. Twenty bucks each back then.