Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 18
  1. #1
    Senior Member dslazar9's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Chicago area
    Posts
    250
    Thanked: 367

    Default 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.






  2. #2
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    32,564
    Thanked: 11042

    Default

    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.
    Attached Images Attached Images  
    Last edited by JimmyHAD; 09-03-2010 at 07:55 PM. Reason: add pic
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

  3. #3
    They call me Mr Bear. Stubear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Alton, UK
    Posts
    5,715
    Thanked: 1683
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default

    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!
    Last edited by Stubear; 09-03-2010 at 07:56 PM. Reason: Changed my mind! :-)

  4. #4
    Senior Member dslazar9's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Chicago area
    Posts
    250
    Thanked: 367

    Default

    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.

  5. #5
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    32,564
    Thanked: 11042

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dslazar9 View Post
    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.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

  6. #6
    Irrelevant stimpy52's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Irondequoit, NY
    Posts
    1,229
    Thanked: 249

    Default my barber

    When I turned 55, my barber stopped even giving me lollipops. Seeing this makes me want to kick his butt.
    Don't get hung up on hanging hairs.

  7. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to stimpy52 For This Useful Post:

    avatar1999 (09-13-2010), nun2sharp (09-04-2010)

  8. #7
    Chat room is open Piet's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Rotterdam
    Posts
    937
    Thanked: 229

    Default

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

    Quote Originally Posted by Stubear View Post
    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.

  9. #8
    zib
    zib is offline
    Hell Razor zib's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Jacksonville, Fl.
    Posts
    5,348
    Thanked: 1217
    Blog Entries
    4

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JimmyHAD View Post
    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....
    We have assumed control !

  10. #9
    Senior Member dslazar9's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Chicago area
    Posts
    250
    Thanked: 367

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by stimpy52 View Post
    When I turned 55, my barber stopped even giving me lollipops. Seeing this makes me want to kick his butt.

    That's great. LMAO!

  11. #10
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    32,564
    Thanked: 11042

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by zib View Post
    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.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •