Thread: La Petite Blanche

Howdy all,

I've been looking at coticules far and wide from when I first started straight razor shaving.

One thing that impressed me was that there was so much info available about them and the layering of them.

Recently I just purchased a coti combo that is from La Petite Blanche layer.

Does anyone have any info about this layer? Or info about the layers in general?


While I don't think I feel HAD coming on you just never know what might happen lol.

I know the names of some of the layers from reading the same stuff you've read on the forums. One thing to take into consideration is that all of the different mines where the coticule was being harvested had their own names for the various veins and layers that they were digging them out of.

So these names you are reading of apply to Ardennes Coticule's mine and have nothing to do with stones that came from different long closed down mines. AFAIK those names are lost forever. Knowing what the nick of a layer your stone came out of is interesting but I just try and assess the characteristics of the stone regardless of which layer it came from. Different strokes for different folks.

From what I have heard, those are supposed to be some of the finest Coticule finishers. How true is that and how much your particular stone matches the description I do not know.

I have not actually received this stone yet so I'm very exited to see how it turns out.

It is my first coti combo stone so I'm corious to try it out. Lol now I just have to find a practise razor to hone.

Hey Basil, I'm not trying to rain on your parade. Like Stefan, I've heard a lot of good things about stones from that vein.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Hey Basil, I'm not trying to rain on your parade. Like Stefan, I've heard a lot of good things about stones from that vein.

Haha I know Jimmy no worries.

I understand your just tyin to point out how with natural stones there's a big difference in how they perform.

Lol I also understand that once I get the stone you'll be one of the first people to ask for pics

Lol as a tease I do have pics of the stone. But I can't put them up because I am on my phone at the moment.

The following is from the Coticule Vault of Bart's sight with performance characteristics of a bout from this layer:

Coticule023 - home of the famous Belgian Coticule Whetstone

I own a Coticule of La petite blanche. Here I have written a little review about it.
I specificly ordered this layer from the Ardennes. I was looking for a selected one. Unfortunately there was only one of normal grade in stock. However the stone is of lovely appearance and high quality. I was able to compare it to a green coticule of La Verte/ La Grise, a vintage selected Coticule (La Veinette, mayhap?) and several Japanese and other finishers.

My LPB leaves a very nice, smooth and toothless finish. However I must say mine is rather quick and agressive.
More than 20-40 strokes after a good 8-16k finish can lead to small microchips, at least for me.
The shaves are very good and a high quality polish is not deminished by any scratches from this coticule of mine.

With slurry, I use this stone as bevelsetter before a Shapton Glass 1k or something in the 2k range to be sure all scratches are erased.
If scratches or a mate finish is desired dilucot can be applied easily.

Like any Coticule I have tried so far: very nice finisher, and good bevelsetter with slurry but I prefer intermediate stones i.e.:

Slurry Coticule
Shapton Pro 2k
Shapton Pro 5k
Naniwa Super 8k (for a perfect mirror)
Shapton Pro 12k (20 strokes, max)
LPB Coticule (20 Strokes water only)

But that´s only my way. You will have to find out for yourself how to get the best out of your coticule. As finishers these are rather easy to use.
La Petite Blanche makes no exception of that.
Would you like to show your beauty with a little bit of information in the "belgian brotherhood"-thread?
I simply can´t get enough picutres of naturals (or synthetics, that is)