Thread: Stone

Maybe one of the Mods could take this question or maybe someone can tell me why a honing stone would cost $ 15,000.00 ?????! Are the results from this stone any different that you would get from a stone such as a Norton or any of the popular stones any different in the end ? Give me a break ! Am I just showing my ignorance here or what ?

Jnats prices can go very hing depending on quality oft he stone and appearance factors such as karasu, renge, color of the stone.
are you looking at a 330mate stone?

No you are showing Intelligence for asking...

J-nats can get crazy expensive, -BUT- that expense has to be backed up by the performance and/or rarity of the stone, two ways to know that

1.) You have the experience to know the difference

2.) You have the explicit trust in the guy selling the stone, to grade the stone correctly


If one or both of those 2 things are not met then the stone is just "Another Ancient Indian Sex Stone"




(if you don't know what the expression means your not from Colorado, so PM me )

$15,000 is nothing. Probably about 10 years ago, I remember a Jnat sold on a wood working site I used to go to for close to $100,000 IIRC. Of course it was of quite a large size, around 24" x 24" x 12".

I was looking at the razor section on E=bay and they have quite a few stones listed towards the back. As I do not hone my own razors, I really do not have any good knowledge about stones. These are Japanese stones. Thanks for the help guys I was just wondering why someone would pay so much for a stone when the same results, I would imagime, could be achived to make a razor shave ready by a far less expensive stone/stones.

Originally Posted by driver/examiner

Thanks for the help guys I was just wondering why someone would pay so much for a stone when the same results, I would imagime, could be achived to make a razor shave ready by a far less expensive stone/stones.

Pretty much the same as a $2300 razor if you have the money then you can have the prestige, note that I did not say best best is always a relative term...

Reminds me of going to the Rifle or Trap/Skeet club, those with the most expensive guns, were not always the same people as those with the best scores

There is a following of folks in Japan who collect these natural stones. They are prized for their pedigree and the coloration and patterns and size. Some of the prices can get astronomical.

Originally Posted by driver/examiner

I was looking at the razor section on E=bay and they have quite a few stones listed towards the back.

I would recommend you buy your Jnat from a reputable seller. The name of the hone is composed of the name of the mine, the name of the original wholesaler or owner of the mine and its appearance. None of them have anything to do with grit size or other qualities important to honing a razor.