Everkeen Oilstone, information required please

Hi Guy's,
I've picked up an 'Everkeen' oilstone from eBay for next to nothing, now I'm looking for some information about it!
It's very dense for it's size, dark blue-grey to black. I can't tell for certain if it is natural, but it has saw marks and could be some form of slate I guess.
It's probably '30's to '50's vintage, and retains some original packaging. There is a logo that looks like a fox or lynx perhaps. It proudly proclaims it's British Made origins.
I have now lapped it to 1200grit, and it has a smooth, matt finish, with no imperfections visible.

Please see photos below;
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...2ebeb11acc.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...eb57f2ede4.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...d79b581fdc.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...607ee21faf.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...79d7bb7672.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...7235c73bbf.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...1127d3836a.jpg

cont...

...cont

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...28f2441d5b.jpg

After lapping and chamfering at 180grit
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...1a83393943.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...ccc9428b4e.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...0d003b0d1c.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...649fde191f.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...0e2cc3d832.jpg

Final surface at 1200grit
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y56...e931a9109e.jpg

Any and all information would be appreciated, even if it is just things you can rule out about it!

Thanks in advance,
Paddy

I think it's probably Welsh slate. It can be a useful tool in your honing progression.

Reminds me of the Gordon razor hone which I won. I showed it to Adrspach (Stepan) at the last UK razorcon and he told me he did not think it was a Yellow Lake, but another kind of slate. This has a very similar look and box. Mine looks little different after lapping. It closely resembles a BBW and has purple slurry. Has a few faint lines and a blue inclusion. A nice finisher, improves a Nani 8K and delivers a smooth shave.

EDIT: I went and had a look at my hone. It has the same very faint large streaks as yours.

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Originally Posted by Scipio

Reminds me of the Gordon razor hone which I won. I showed it to Adrspach (Stepan) at the last UK razorcon and he told me he did not think it was a Yellow Lake, but another kind of slate. This has a very similar look and box. Mine looks little different after lapping. It closely resembles a BBW and has purple slurry. Has a few faint lines and a blue inclusion. A nice finisher, improves a Nani 8K and delivers a smooth shave.

EDIT: I went and had a look at my hone. It has the same very faint large streaks as yours.

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I think I saw you showing Adrspach that Gordon hone in London, and yes it does look really similar to that.
If I come along to Stu's mini-meet next month I'll bring it along with me.

Cool, I'll bring mine to compare. Have you used yours yet?

Looking forward to see them again. However I have little Q. How does it fit into the box? Reason i am asking is that I have seen Everkeen oilstone before but it was man made of barber hone size.

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Q. How does it fit into the box?

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The box is badly damaged, so I can't say 100% yes, but it does seem the box is the same dimensions as the stone.
I'll bring both ;)

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Have you used yours yet?

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I have, but I can't really give any useful feedback - I'm too inexperienced!
I don't really have any frames of reference if you know what I mean, and I'm not sure how well any of my previous steps in the progression are going!
It is very hard, sounds slightly 'scrapey', but is polishing the edge. No slurry is forming in normal use, I haven't tried it with slurry yet.
I would say it seems slightly finer than the DT I have, but like I say, it is difficult for me to judge

It will be interesting to see it in flesh.

Vasilis has one. And i am about to get one. Started to like the UK hones and the YSLs needed a buddy.
Vasilis you like yours? How is comparison to your yellow lake stone?

What are YSLs?

Sorry ment YLS. Yellow lake Stones

Who got the one from bay today?

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Originally Posted by adrspach

Who got the one from bay today?

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I have a suspicion it was Frameback.

Not me, I had an eye on it though.

I have one of those. And many more people around here I'm sure. It's like a vintage yellow lake. In speed and grit. Around 10k. They are somewhat rare. The one I have, I like it a lot. It's a finisher and can be used with oil.

Its very nice indeed
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1262/dsc0537h.th.jpg

An update; I have two everkeen oilstones, one with the box, and another one, much larger, without a box. I recently found out it was an everkeen. I never used them on my razors, I thought they were in the yellow lake category as I previously said. So I thought it doesn't worth testing it.
I talked about this stone with one of the most knowledgeable members here (I don't know if he wants to say his name), who said that it's much finer than a yellow lake stone. And, I agree. I tested it the last couple of weeks, It's in the category of the Thuringians with water. With oil they're even finer. I shave since then with a few razors honed on them, without stropping, and I really like them. And I bought both of them for 20GBP or so, each. So, I'm sorry for the previous post, it's much much finer than a Yellow Lake.

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Originally Posted by Vasilis

An update; I have two everkeen oilstones, one with the box, and another one, much larger, without a box. I recently found out it was an everkeen. I never used them on my razors, I thought they were in the yellow lake category as I previously said. So I thought it doesn't worth testing it.
I talked about this stone with one of the most knowledgeable members here (I don't know if he wants to say his name), who said that it's much finer than a yellow lake stone. And, I agree. I tested it the last couple of weeks, It's in the category of the Thuringians with water. With oil they're even finer. I shave since then with a few razors honed on them, without stropping, and I really like them. And I bought both of them for 20GBP or so, each. So, I'm sorry for the previous post, it's much much finer than a Yellow Lake.

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Good to know! i passed on a few of them not knowing!

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Originally Posted by Vasilis

...and another one, much larger, without a box. I recently found out it was an everkeen.

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I have 4 boxed YLs that seem to be of the same type. And I agree that my boxed Everkeen is finer then the YLs.
I have tried the everkeen on 2 razors lately (with water only) but without knowing better I used it before going to a vintage thuringian. Ill try to only finish on the everkeen next time. Dry with finger touch it feels like vintage thurigian is still a bit finer though..

I have a question Vasilis. How did you find out that your larger one without box actually turned out to be a everkeen?
The reason for asking is that I also have a larger wooden boxed stone that I bough from UK but its finer the my YLs and and I dont know that type of stone it is. Maybe its a everkeen but maybe something else. They are soo many stones from UK area and I cant differentiate them all, especially the black and grey ones.
What is the characteristics for a Everkeen and a Silk stone if you dont have a paper box to it with a stamped brand?

They look exactly the same and shave the same. I haven't tested them with microscopes or other methods. I can't afford HAD and paying for testing each stone. Hardness, the slurry color, shaving with slurry, then with water, and finally with oil (with oil it feels very nice). Each stone has different feeling, and those two I have, feel and look the same. Of course there is a possibility that they could be different stones, but for now, I think they are the same.

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Originally Posted by Vasilis

They look exactly the same and shave the same. I haven't tested them with microscopes or other methods. I can't afford HAD and paying for testing each stone. Hardness, the slurry color, shaving with slurry, then with water, and finally with oil (with oil it feels very nice). Each stone has different feeling, and those two I have, feel and look the same. Of course there is a possibility that they could be different stones, but for now, I think they are the same.

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I know that feeling. Many stones but no camera or microscope.

Perhaps try to post some pics with usual data. Somebody could try to help you.

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Originally Posted by Frameback

I have 4 boxed YLs that seem to be of the same type. And I agree that my boxed Everkeen is finer then the YLs.
I have tried the everkeen on 2 razors lately (with water only) but without knowing better I used it before going to a vintage thuringian. Ill try to only finish on the everkeen next time. Dry with finger touch it feels like vintage thurigian is still a bit finer though..

I have a question Vasilis. How did you find out that your larger one without box actually turned out to be a everkeen?
The reason for asking is that I also have a larger wooden boxed stone that I bough from UK but its finer the my YLs and and I dont know that type of stone it is. Maybe its a everkeen but maybe something else. They are soo many stones from UK area and I cant differentiate them all, especially the black and grey ones.
What is the characteristics for a Everkeen and a Silk stone if you dont have a paper box to it with a stamped brand?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by adrspach

Perhaps try to post some pics with usual data. Somebody could try to help you.

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I can post detailed photographs of the boxed stone I have if it would help? Saw marks, surface, inclusions if there are any....

It is up to you. More people can see what you have will be able to chip in with their information. Or to come to one of the SRP meetings which hopefully soon will happen. Stubear where are you?

Any new everkeen oilstone owners out there?

Not me, but have a Big Long Yellow Lake that I will post in classifieds if anyone needs a decent finisher as I don't need it with the hones I now have. I'd venture it puts out a 10K edge and is easy to freshen up razors on.

No one really????!
You guys are missing out a fantastic stone

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Frameback

No one really????!
You guys are missing out a fantastic stone

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I've already got more than I know what to do with, otherwise I'd be all about that. Better for it to go to someone just starting to hone or look into naturals.

I have a similar rock. It came in a sleeve like yours but the printing was gone. It also has a strange end with some uneven grinding.

Side saw marks look similar, mine has been flattened to reduce them a bit.

Attachment 238655

Attachment 238656

Attachment 238657

It's only a finisher without slurry and using oil. Anything else it's pretty harsh and leaves an ugly edge when compared to my other rocks. Pretty typical of slate types from what I can garner.

I use it from time to time but not as often as I should. I'm going to run a 1K diamond plate over mine in a bit and see if it closes some of the pores. I've not given it enough attention to give any real feedback for it.

Attachment 350143

My new to me Everkeen British made. Improves my edges between 5 and 12000 shapton pro. Sat next to a tam o shanter on one of the photos

Attachment 350144Attachment 350145Attachment 350146

Nice size stone. I read through the posts and did a search (not much information readily available) but I didn't see conclusively, is this indeed a natural? Has anyone confirmed it to be? It definitely looks like one.

Yeah it's 100% natural and it's definitely above my tam o shanter..

Owwwwww!!!! My HAD is flaring up!