Thread: Yet another mystery hone

Fellow rockhounds and honers and honists alike, I have a new mystery hone. It was pitch black and covered with years of grime when I got it, and for all I knew it could have been anything. After lapping with 80 grit on all sides to remove the grime, I lapped with a 325, then 800.

I tested it on 2 razors, one off 8k which it improved, and another off a Charnley which as far as I can see, did not harm. Both after 40 laps. I believe it cuts more quickly than a Charnley but not quite as fast as an Escher. I have not shave tested yet, but it passed the HHT very nicely.

8 inches by 1.75'' by 0.8'' thick.

I believe this is of UK origin, though not a Tam. I have pictured it next to a White Tam as it has a similar swirl pattern towards the centre.

There are a number of potentials it may be, but I'd like to see if anyone recognises this stone. I have a very similar looking one that is no where near as fine a cutter or as fast. Piet had a similar one also, but it is definitely different to that variety.

Looks like the translucent Arkansas family to me. If it was a Tam there would be speckles all through it. I've seen some of the UK antique tool vendors selling arkies on a fairly regular basis. I think they were frequently imported into the UK in olden times.

My guess is the same as Jimmy's. Translucent Arkansas is the first thing that sprang to mind.

Aren't Charnley Forests also in the same family as Transcluscent Arks, being comprised of novaculite? I have a pure green Chanrnley that it looks very similar to, and apart from those swirls is quite alike.

Here is a comparison. I thought those Arks were more of a single white colour. Are they also high end finishers?

I've seen a pic of a translucent arky & it looked a little like a darker shaded version of quartz. I know there are different veins w/ different hues though.

that charnley looks real nice too.

I think they give a good finish, provided you can do enough laps before you get frustrated. They have a reputation of being slow.

This is a slow hone, but not as slow as a Charnley. I have also used slower Tams and coticules.

Been experimenting with it some more. It improves a Nani 8k edge by a fair bit, but an Escher will give a shinier, sharper and smoother edge.

Originally Posted by Scipio

I thought those Arks were more of a single white colour. Are they also high end finishers?

There is the white hard Arkansas and than there is the translucent. The translucent vary in being white or multi colored. They have the reputation of being great for knives and tools but a bit slow and maybe a bit too coarse for really fine finishing on razors. I have one but I've not tried it on a razor. Maybe I will one day.

Here are 3 stones of mine which I believe to be Tam O Shanter stones. Yours look a bit like the bottom two.

That stone looks EXACTLY like "The Douglas" oilstone that I have yet to lap here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...-identify.html . I did take it to some 220 to do some cleaning up on it. The color and the "vein" of darker spots in the third picture you took are like those on the corner of mine as you will see below. I'll get better photos once I get it lapped, waiting on the poly to dry/cure on the label.

I do have to agree that it seems to cut a little faster than my CF(I say this only by feedback), but under 60x it appears like the same scratches/hazing. I have yet to shave test, planning on it this evening to compare. After I get it lapped I plan on trying it with just water.