I did not say that Suitas are stamped awasedo, just that from the pic of your stone it looks like suita. It could be nashiji as well but the patterning is more consistent with suita. What does the side look like?
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It looks like suita to me, too. Maybe it is a nearby strata, but it looks like suita.
When it comes to Jnats, I think we all know what something looks like may not be what it actually is.
Side and end faces of the stone are covered with varnish.
Side face:
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End face:
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magnified fragment of work surface:
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I can take more detailed images of the surface with microscope...
I bought an unknown mine stone from Takeshi that was possible nakayama iromono, it had su and goma. Im not looking for what I would call it but suita makes sense as it has "su".
It seems to me that small holes ( AKA Su / 巣 ) are typical for some types of toishi including iromono and number of other Awasedo from Tomae strata.
Not just for SUITA only.
Here it is the example of iromono with su: https://www.flickr.com/photos/109151...7637827771915/
More info on that iromono:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...-identify.html
So presence of "Su" is not a distinctive trait of SUITA toishi.
And the absence of "Su" does not mean that the stone is definetely not SUITA because there are so called Sunashi Suita ( 巣無し巣板 ) stones that are SUITA, but have no Su at all.
Looks like su to me. I'd be guessing on that stone if I didn't think it was a suita stone, but a fine suita would work fine as a finisher so I don't know why guess anything else? Usually when su-like stuff shows up on asagi stones (that I've seen), less than great things happen.
I can imagine maybe the stone might be from another strata, because it doesn't look like the classic color suita like shinden (more creamy) or okudo (creamy white), but if it was from another strata, it would be nice if the miner would've identified it or we won't figure it out by looking at it and guessing.
Attachment 167976I also have an Iromono and noticed one day under magnification that it had Su. It's a fantastic stone. Dead easy to get excellent edges off of it, but not quite as keen as what I get with Nakayami Asagi I own. Here's a pic of it along with some Nagura and an old arkie.
Yes, nothing is guaranteed. To me, though, because of that - I always feel like there's a small chance that even when I get a stone from a reputable dealer, somewhere along the line someone has stamped something or claimed something that is not true. Either because it's not known or because they feel like it.
At this point, I only care how stones are in use, so the markings on the stone the OP is describing are something i'd disregard as soon as I was satisfied with the stone.
That is not a good way to go for someone who likes to buy and resell stones, because an unmarked stone is always monstrously harder to sell.
I still think that stone is some strata close to suita, and/or may just be a funny colored tomae, but I wouldn't care what it was if it was nice to use.
I'd be happy if this stone has become a true SUITA. Preferably something like Okudo Suita from Alx :)
Nothing is bad with it.
But I am sure that it is not :(
It's just an Awase-do.
Thank you anyway!
BTW, here it is couple images of the stone with 200x magnification:
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The stick in the center is the hair from my head for scale.
It looks excellent and uniform. Have you honed anything with it yet? It's a stone I'd be glad to have regardless of what it says on the surface.
Be sure to share it. I am no good at buying valuable hones because I can't wait to lap the skin off of them and see how good they are.
I lap them right after they come out of the packaging and pics were taken for proof of origin.
Spent part of the weekend getting to know my first Jnat (a lot of fun!!). Its an Okudo, asagi, tomae I received from Alex - The Japan Stone. Thanks for all your help Alex - I couldn't have picked a better first stone without your help!! I absolutely love the the feedback when using this stone, it is a great finisher and beautiful to look at - love the earthy smell of the stone - instead of the chalky smell of the synthetics I have. My first attempt using my new Okudo was to refresh my Dubl Duck Goldedge - I used a diamond nagura to generate a light slurry - and did 21 passes 3x - stropping between sets and then one set with just water. I will try the nagura's from Alex next. The shave with the DD was excellent - very smooth/close and comfortable. I have a bad feeling I just acquired a new acquisition disorder!! I'm already looking at pre-finishers and coarser stones!!!
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There's no turning back!
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I thought one stone and some naguras would do me forever... I seem to have grown a small quarry!
So this is the Jnats corner, where are the others ;-)
We all have problem , i think . I have stones for sharpening my 50 razors for 5 lifetimes and i cant stop thinking abbout Nakyama kiitaQuote:
I gotta a problem....
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My Jnats as im finaly in the Jnat club with my 6 humble stones and i will post 2 more soon
Leftside from up to bottom Nakyama iromono nashiji tomae level 4
unknoun kiita nashijilevel 4 and unknown karasu level 4.5
right row from up to bettom Ozuku kiita asagi level 4.5
Maruoyama kiita asagi nashiji level 5 and last on the bottom
Nakyama kiita asagi level 5 +++
Dlong with my knife from O1 carbon steel on top and my skiner from D2 on the bottom and a Solingenrazor for size comparition
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The cawa from Nakyama and Maruoyama look pretty much the same to me
Nice stones, but the skinning knife has 'high quality' written all over it!
Ha thanks it is my favourite a i got many frends here custom knifemakers . It is a some kind of D2 steel - and i bought it on a very good prize - a guy that makes them isnt greedy
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Finally! Got one!
Well i have 2 new Kiitas with nashiji , and they are absolutely fine , hard and pure stones . They were vintage Jnat and are thin stones but the quality is oustanding . The speed is ridiculously fast and theare ultra smooth .
Thruely Kiitas are the kigs of Jnats
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140 x85 very hard level 5 and very fine stone . Very pure , with suble nashiji patern
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200x60 - level 4.5 or 5 hardness and ultra fine . The slurry darkens in seconds . Thruely amazing stone
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I think that padled Kiita is softer butas i compared it to a Metalmaster level 4 stome is much harder - so it is at least a 4.5
The sourse is an unknown seller in Japan
Great looking addition.
Will have to pick up a hard Kiita for my collection - one day.
I have 1 new Jnat and 2 naguras , unstamped micawas - Botan and Mejiro , or the seller say so .
The biggest koppa is assagi from tomae i think level4 ,14.5 x 8.5 x 2 sm , very fine and a fast stone
The smalest barber hone size is 14.5 x 6.5 x 1 sm is ultra fine and fast stone levell 5 with nashiji and it has cawa on the back
The naguras are softer , fast and smoooth as the 2 koppas are smooth also
Enjoy
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