Swaty lines

I bought a Swaty barberhone just after I started straight shaving, I've been using it both for touch up and as finisher withe pretty good results.

I've seen a lot of people talking about different number of lines regarding the Swaty hones, I really haven't given it much thought, but now I feel it is time to satisfy my curiosity.

What are these lines? Are they the one on the back of the hone like showed in the picures of mine? If so, how many lines is mine? I can count seven, but can't remember reading anything of a seven lined Swaty??

What does the lines mean? Do it have anything to do with the grit of the hone?

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as far as i know, the lines refers to the number of lines of writing on it. some have 2 some 3 some 4....i dont know if there is a difference in performance.

Yeah, it is the number for lines of text. There was a period of time where the old barbers were getting the Swaty from the suppliers and they all had 3 lines of text embossed. Then Swaty changed locations and the embossing went to two lines. Naturally, human nature being what it is the old barbers wanted to know if the supplier had the 3 line hones. AFAIK, the formula for a 3 line, or a two line is the same, as is the performance. Eventually an enterprising supplier made a hone and named it "Three Line Hone" and maybe the Swaty name may have been in there. I used to have one and can't remember for sure. He was trying to capitalize on the reputation of the real Swaty.

Swaty did make other barber hones with different formulas and stampings as well. the 3 lines of text models developed a cult following that continues to this day though.

From what I have heard it is the number of lines of writing. I think the 3 lines are preferred by most.

Yes, like JimmyHAD and the others have said, lines of text is all there is to it.

I have the 3 line version, so on our next meet-up we could compare them, and see what all the hubbub is about:)
Personally I think we'll find them very similar in results though..

There is an actual Marburg/Austria Swaty stamped with the words "Three Line" I have to look on the home computer I bet I still have pics, I have had three of them pass through my hands...

Keep in mind when comparing these hones, unless they have the original factory finish, then the comparison isn't a fair test :(

wiki to the rescue!

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TY Lee, But that may or may not be a "Genuine" Franz Swaty which is what Jimmy was pointing out ... That one could be a Pike Swaty

The ones I have had/seen were stamped specifically

Franz Swaty
Marburg / Austria
Three Line Hone

Hmm. I think I'll add what you said to that image, I did not know that. I look forward to your photo of a genuine stamped "three line"

I wonder if the Pike Swaty was made by Pike or by Swaty with the Pike name included ? I once had an Escher Barber's Delight that was labeled (on the box, not the hone) Pike Escher. Thinking Pike wouldn't have risked copyright or trademark infringement so it was probably Swaty making if for Pike ?

Thanks for clearing thing up a bit guys, I guess the lines on the back of mine is from breadkniving or something :)

Bjørnar: It would be interesting to compare them, but I think Glen made a valuable point, I don't know about yours but mine was pretty roughed up when I got it so I've lapped it on 320 and 600 wet/dry sanding paper.
I guess we still could get an idea if there is any big difference, but from what I understand a comparability test will be hard to do.

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I wonder if the Pike Swaty was made by Pike or by Swaty with the Pike name included ? I once had an Escher Barber's Delight that was labeled (on the box, not the hone) Pike Escher. Thinking Pike wouldn't have risked copyright or trademark infringement so it was probably Swaty making if for Pike ?

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I don't know Jimmy I have heard that Pike made some with Swaty's blessings and recipe here in the US I have heard that Swaty made them as imports, and I have heard that Pike just bought the name and used their own recipe...

I have used both side by side, and honestly I couldn't feel a difference but both were just lapped by me so I don't know if that counts... :shrug:

A few Swaty hones with 2 & 3 lines. Also an American made hone with the words "Three Line Hone" written on it.

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That "Three Line Hone" (script lettering) is the one I was talking about. Thanks for posting the pix John.

This thread is getting interesting, I had never seen the one with the Script "Three Line Hone" Looks like it says Olean NY thanks for posting it

I didn't know there was a 3 line (of text) with the Marlbor, Jugoslavia location. I had always seen the 'Wahring Bei Wein' 3 line. BTW, I didn't get it but I recall seeing a Swaty "Diamond" hone on the bay a couple of years back. Standard barber hone size IIRC.

The one I have Says "The Swaty " and then "Three Line Barber Hone" and that's it.

I thought I once read something about the 3 or 4 line having to do with a son taking over the company and the line number was changed then.

Here's a 3 and a 4 line. The photo is old, prior to cleaning them up, but I think you can still see the text ok...

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

A few Swaty hones with 2 & 3 lines. Also an American made hone with the words "Three Line Hone" written on it.

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I recall reading somewhere that only the ones marked "Franz Swaty Austria" is genuine Swaty's, while the ones with different variations i.e. Franc Swaty and made in other countries have just stolen the name for the reputation.

I'm not sure if this is correct or not, but if someone knows more about this it you're welcome to comment :)

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Originally Posted by Zephyr

I recall reading somewhere that only the ones marked "Franz Swaty Austria" is genuine Swaty's, while the ones with different variations i.e. Franc Swaty and made in other countries have just stolen the name for the reputation.

I'm not sure if this is correct or not, but if someone knows more about this it you're welcome to comment :)

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Feast your eyes on this archived thread here .

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Feast your eyes on this archived thread here .

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Thanks, interesting read, need to go through it again and follow the links tomorrow, looks like I can be reading for a while.....

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I wonder if the Pike Swaty was made by Pike or by Swaty with the Pike name included ? I once had an Escher Barber's Delight that was labeled (on the box, not the hone) Pike Escher. Thinking Pike wouldn't have risked copyright or trademark infringement so it was probably Swaty making if for Pike ?

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Jimmy, I have had the good fortune of finding and purchasing an original NOS Pike Swaty. It had all the orignal stamps and attached labels when I got it. Here is what I have surmised about the pike swaty's.

And I quote: The Pike Mfg. Co Pike, N.H. Sole Agents for America

and the stone itself simply says in 2 lines: Franz Swaty, Marburg Austria

This leads me to believe that it was imported by Pike, but is an original formula swaty from Austria.

But my 3 line, which I got so very lucky in obtaining says:

(in 3 lines) Franz Swaty, Wahring Bei Wien, (AUSTRIA) and is probably the highest grit and hardest stone of all my swaty's. Which is what I am pretty darn sure is the original 3 line swaty.

Now I have several examples of true 'Franz Swaty' hones, only 2 of them show similar composition and hardness/grit. The others are either darker or lighter, smoother or rougher, or showing some other minor dissimilar traits from each other.

I hope that helps someone!!

Mike

oh, and amazing thread you pushed us into Jimmy!!

I read it all the way through and found it very educational. I see our conversation is a rehash of an old thread. Most of the stuff we think we just came up with is old hat by now.

I was about to post up pics of my three line when I saw the other post above has my exact 3 line in it, so I won't. Apparently Swaty hones hold up very well, as all of mine should be pre 1888 according to everything I've just read. Jimmy once said he found it hard to believe, as do I, that these hones are that old.

I mean, how in the heck have they managed to survive for so long. I mean I recently (in the last 3 months) bought my NOS Pike that had never been used. How old do you suppose that one is? Yet it displays the same stamping that the others possess. How can that be?

Just posing more questions to the already answered, heheheh.

Later!!

Mike

Hey Zephyr,

Those lines on your hone, gssixgun can attest as well, that older barbers, back in the day so to speak, would run the edge of their razors across the 'edge' of the hone, or on the side, or even horizontally parallel along a corner, a few places, I assumed to remove the wire that gets created sometimes and to even out the edge before honing it up for use again. I have a hone that has some interesting lines on one side that I believe were caused by this very thing. I saw it mentioned in some forum post somewhere on here as well, it might even have been Glenn that had mentioned it.

Anyway, when I saw those lines in your picture that was the first thing that popped into my head.

TTYL!!

M

A few years ago there was an Escher, IIRC, on the bay that had the last inch and a half with deep crevices an eighth of an inch or so apart ..... valleys rather than lines..... that must have been caused by that kind of 'slicing.'