Thread: Barber Hones

They were designed for quick touch-ups, ie fast cutting (five or so strokes) to bring the razor back to optimum or near. A grit value wasn't so relevant, they can be similar to many other finishers, similar being the operative term. They're no longer made, presumably because their market (barbers giving straight razor shaves) has all but disappeared. The answer to your third question is really subjective and comes down to a quest for ever better edges. You can get by (touch-ups) with an 8k Norton, Barber's hone, coticule etc alone, but where's the fun in that?