Quote Originally Posted by eelzrvrs View Post
hey there jimmy..I've seen a few of your coticules in other threads..noticed any difference between older and newer hones being mined? and another Q.. would you consider hardness determines finishing quality?
I have had some older, vintage, that I liked some I didn't like so much. The same can be said of newer ones IME. Seems to me that softer cuts faster. I've got a vintage natural with a greenish hue that is super hard. I found that using a light slurry to polish and dilute as I go gave me a real nice edge. The razor already sharp when I went to it. I've got one old Droescher natural that is the color of an egg shell and is a fast cutter yet a fine finisher.

Pinkish hues or speckles seem to me to go with a faster cutter also. Some of the cotis I have, yellow/blue naturals take some figuring out. Recently got a Les Lat from Gary in UK that I'm really glad I picked up. Getting very good results. Another thing I learned is to be patient with a stone and try to figure it out before jumping to the conclusion that it isn't any good. I have a La Veinette from Ardennes that I didn't like in the beginning but as I got to know it I found it to be a kick azz stone.