Thread: How Fine is SUPERFINE?

A pretty technical question here. I got a Pike belgian superfine in the summer found it at an antique store (http://straightrazorpalace.com/show-...ian-stone.html)

And about about a month ago got another vintage natural belgian fom a local add posted. The new belgian I got feels muuuuch finer (kind of like glass) compared to the Pike.

So the question is, how fine is superfine? Is this a standard set by the Pike company that doesn't really compare to more vintage coticle?

Anyone have an idea as to what the different grades were from pike and how they compare to other naturals. I know a few (Fine, Superfine, extra choice, barbers special) maybe there are more that I'm unaware of.

If you guys want I can post some pictures of the two side by side later tnight.

Pike was bought out by Norton before WWII I think. So the Pike stone was harvested back then if the box has Pike alone rather than Pike/Norton. This doesn't mean anything relative to the coticule except that these grades and names given to layers of strata varied from one individual mining company to another. There is probably no record of what the long ago closed mine referred to that layer as. Ardennes is the only one operating today. All these named layers we are reading about on the forum are limited to whatever moniker Ardennes gives them. Same with the grades, select, standard, fine etcetera. Those are mostly dependent on the appearance of the stone rather than speed or cutting power.

So the stone is eons old whether it was harvested yesterday or 100 years ago. Fineness, IME, cannot be judged by feeling the stone and comparing it with another. Lapping two or more with the same grit plate or paper and then honing razors on them is the only way I know to judge the performance of the individual stone. I had a couple of vintage Pikes and sold them recently. Both were real good. Whether the grade on the box is meaningful can only be tested by honing on the stone though. Just IMHO.

Originally Posted by narrez

And about about a month ago got another vintage natural belgian fom a local add posted. The new belgian I got feels muuuuch finer (kind of like glass) compared to the Pike.

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This is not the proper way to assess fineness of the stone.
Try hone the razor and check the edge. you may get surprise.