New Nortons--anybody else seen this?

Got a new Norton 4/8 from SRD this Mon. The sticker on the box said "4k made in Italy; 8k made in US", just like the old ones used to be before they were made in Mexico. The font was the bigger size too, not the smaller type the Mexican ones had.

The 4k lapped up great--really smooth; not pockmarked like the Mexican ones. Feels good to use.

THe 8k lapped up fine, but when I honed a few razors, I noticed a chattering feedback I didn't care for. The razors didn't either. It seemed like they had actually gotten duller. Shave tests confirmed it.

I suspected contamination, so I lapped a bit more off (probably 1/32" or so) & tried the 8k side again. Now it works as designed: the good, old Norton 8k that we've all used! :) Seems like that was it.

Has anyone else had to lap a bit more off their newer Norton 8Ks lately?

Hmm, very interesting. I will buy a Norton 4k/8k from Howard within a few weeks, I will post if I got it. I hope there won't be any problems with it either.

Yes I noticed that the 4k was made in Italy, but no I did not notice any difference in the 8k...

Honestly I stayed away from the Mexican made 4k, I tried like crazy to convince an old member on here, that had bought an American made set of Norton's 4 years ago, that had never used them to sell me that set... I even offered him the full purchase price, plus his original shipping to give them up.. They are still collecting dust in his drawer, and I am still honing his razors :(

Now that the Italian 4k is out there, I officially retract my offer :D,,, I hope he reads this too LMAO

Thanks Glen, that means that I can buy the new norton without hesitation :)

Hmmm, I just looked at my Norton's 220/1k and 4/8k. On the bottom of the blue box, they both say, "Made in Mexico" They've been lapped many times, and the surface is smooth. I haven't noticed any ill effects or any real problems with them. Is there something I should know....?

I just checked my 4k, it's great, no pock mocks or anything like that. It's been a while, but I don't recall their being any pock mocks when I bought it. Maybe I was one of the lucky ones...

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Originally Posted by zib

Hmmm, I just looked at my Norton's 220/1k and 4/8k. On the bottom of the blue box, they both say, "Made in Mexico" They've been lapped many times, and the surface is smooth. I haven't noticed any ill effects or any real problems with them. Is there something I should know....?

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As I have read, you shouldn't have any problems with it if they are good for you. There were problems with grittiness and pock marks in the 4k for a few members, that wouldn't disappear with flattening I think.

I'm sure there were consistency problems. I must be one of the lucky ones....
I didn't know any of this until now. I don't use my Norton's much these days, mostly the Naniwa's or Naturals.

Check out this thread here for more on the topic. I was tempted to merge yours with Utopian's but there are already 3 pages of comments on his. Anyway ...... I've got Nortons .... single grit 8x3, 1&1/2 x 8 and a combo 4/8. Some are from Mexico/USA and some are Italy/USA and all of them work well. :shrug:

The link's not working Jimmy....

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Originally Posted by zib

The link's not working Jimmy....

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I think it is fixed now Rich. :)

I have the Mexican Norton 4/8 and there's no holes in the 4K side and it works like the charmer it is.

You know it very well could have been a first run issue and they sorted it out ?????????
I would like to think a company as large as Norton would fix any issues PDQ when they come up...

Yes. I've got the italy/US Norton combo as well. I had to take a good layer off the 8K after I honed my first razor. Once that top layer was off it was smooth sailing. Since then I've lapped many times, and I've got no issues with the stone. Smooth, and sounds great.

Like I said, I haven't had issues with Nortons no matter where they were made ..... but then again ,....... I don't go looking at them with eye loupes or microscopes. :rofl2:

Sometimes the less you know the better off you are. :)

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Like I said, I haven't had issues with Nortons no matter where they were made ..... but then again ,....... I don't go looking at them with eye loupes or microscopes. :rofl2:

Sometimes the less you know the better off you are. :)

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So true. I would have much more money to spend if this forum didn't exist :rofl2:

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Originally Posted by Maxi

Yes. I've got the italy/US Norton combo as well. I had to take a good layer off the 8K after I honed my first razor. Once that top layer was off it was smooth sailing. Since then I've lapped many times, and I've got no issues with the stone. Smooth, and sounds great.

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Yeah, mine works great now too. Maybe we both got one from the same batch that had a minor issue. Not really a problem if it's only a super-thin top layer, but interesting.

Now I'm wondering if they switched back to Italy/US or if they're making them in both places concurrently... :thinking: