Thread: Help me ID this natural

Not even sure it's a hone, but I just saw a guy put a pretty wicked edge on a pocket knife with one of these, so I'm hoping I could at least set a bevel with one.

Raises no slurry, very soft, porous. Smells like sandstone when wet. Pink and cream colors. I have 12 of them, got the whole lot for $1, so if they are worthless, I'm not out anything really.

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Looks kinda like a medium Arkansas stone. They come in all colors including and containing pink and cream. But they aren't really super soft. Just not as hard as the fine grit Arks. Anyways, that's my guess. I'm sure someone will come along and say there's no way it could be that. But there's my vote.

Originally Posted by regularjoe

Looks kinda like a medium Arkansas stone. They come in all colors including and containing pink and cream. But they aren't really super soft. Just not as hard as the fine grit Arks. Anyways, that's my guess. I'm sure someone will come along and say there's no way it could be that. But there's my vote.

Suppose it is a medium Arkansas...How should I use it, and would it be an adequate bevel setter?

I do have a softer Ark. But it's grey and white. Cups easily And I use it for kitchen knives. As it's badly cuped I haven't tried it on my razors.
But for the price I would have done the same.
Try it on one of your 'resting razors' and see how it works.

I tried to set a bevel with a medium ark, and wasn't pleased with the amount of time it was taking. I believe I was in the neighborhood of 300-500 strokes when I quit, and went to a Chosera 1k. Anyways, I'm certain with proper motivation and available time to devote, a person could set a bevel with one. But if I had to use an Arkansas for bevel setting, it'd be a fast cutting Washita. Even then, I'd probably wonder what sort of hellish place I've found myself in where I can't get my hands on a 1k synthetic waterstone.

They do look beautiful. My first thought was "Moughton whetstones! A rare sight" but they are too light colored, too course and the pattern seems too random. So the Arkies have also red colored variations.