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I found this in my childhood home while cleaning out the basement. I recall my dad using it to sharpen kitchen knives. Its entirely possible that this may have even belonged to the G-dad I never met. It may be horribly dished, and I doubt its a finisher, but I would love to know for my own knowledge, what kind of stone this may be. Its pattern is pretty distinct, so I'm sure one of you guys will have a good idea! :hmmm:
Attachment 102726
Possibly a hindostan with the layers, good rock for knives that have the bevel set or as a stone right after bevel set. What "grit" would you estimate that one? Could help with identification.
I also think Hindostan. It's another sort of Novaculite (like Arkansas and Charnley Forest hones), mined near Hindostan Indiana. They were often used for headstones. They have that woodlike grain that is so gorgeous. I've never actually handled one but they're my favorite for looks.
In a thread about lapping Arkansas hones, eleblu gave some instructions for prepping the surface of an Arkansas. I've followed them for my Charnley, and it does put a much nicer edge now than when I first bought it.
My best coti also came out of an old, neglected family toolbox. Lucky finds for us.
Hindostan have layering on the sides, the color looks about right, very hard stone, maybe a side pic, pic with slurry?
That's the weirdest-coloured 'Hindostan' that I have ever seen, and my monitor is frequently colour-corrected! It looks purple and lavender-blue to me!
'Hindostan' of course, is the name given to the novaculite that is found in Orange County and they seem to be grey, cream, light-coffee, brownish, tan or an orange-like colour. Another hone was mined in this area, of far coarser grit - like a fine sandstone - and was used by shoemakers.
The rock itself is found in plenty of other locations in the US with a larger colour range - white, greenish-white, blueish-white, even purple-brown - which I have never seen, so I don't know how extreme the colour is, or how subtle. Confusingly the purple/brown one was retailed as 'Chocolate Whetstone'.
BTW, to carry on the Indian analogy that the Hindostan hone proper brings to mind, I believe there is a 'Indian Pond' stone too, in two varieties but not from the same region as the Hindostan Hone.
Regards,
Neil
A very attractive stone. I know it is not a Dalmore Blue, obviously, but the colored bands, the shape of them, reminds me of one of those. I haven't a clue to what it is. Thanks to Neil for making it known that the Hindostan was not only found in Indiana, in the USA. I was under the impression that it was confined to that geological area. I had one BTW. IIRC the bands on mine were only apparent on the sides. The top and bottom were of a uniform color. I'm not sure that this is typical but that is the way mine was.
Thanks guys! I will get more pics later today. There is very obvious banding running the sides of the stone. the wood grain effect on this one is made more extreme by the severe dishing this stone possess. The ends of course being the thickest, have a beautiful "stained wood" color which turns grey as you approach the center (which due to the dishing is also closer to the "center" )
The Pike manufacturing made "the chocolate" very popular in the late 1800's, the stone was found in New Hampshire also the white mountain stone came from the same region.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neil Miller
Attachment 102772
Another stone from vermont called Lamoille stone resemble the chocolate but was mainly used as scythe stones and all part of The pike mfg.
Here are some extra pictures. taken outside in full sun. no color correction on my end. wet corner to bring out the reddish side. backside ground flat is not as monotone as it appears in the photo, but certainly does not show any of the beauty of the dished side. it FEELS medium grit, but it does obtain a bit of a polished surface when prepped as per arky stone. Has a "feedback" not felt in my arks or other finish stones.
I will get a bead on it later this eve with a fresh razor, and find out for certain where this lays in the line up. Attachment 102834Attachment 102835Attachment 102836Attachment 102837
Flatten that beast and polish her up and that will be an awesome sight.
I still say its a hindostan
Certainly looks like one now that it doesn't look blue and purple on the monitor! You would have had to be colour blind to be 100% sure from those first photos.
It's either had a hard life or it's softer than the norm to have a dish in it like that.
Regards.
Neil
Its a bit softer than I had hoped judging by the hindostan description. I think this may be one of the coarser sandstone variety Neil mentioned. Using a Norton 8K, I put a mirror finish on this old Gilberts Bros Eclipse. I used it deliberately because of its wide bevel. after mirror, I went back to this stone, and gave it 40 rubs on a diagonal, just to see. As suspected, it put a haze to the steel, leaving an obvious scratch pattern. I would have to put this stone (at least this side of it) at the 3-4K level. Attachment 102962
My hindostan is between 3-4k.
Now I feel a tiny bit more "smrt"
maybe one of these days I will actually know my stuff, instead of guessing at it! :beer1:
There's also a Scottish Red Bay hone which fits the description and aspect.
As far as I know, the only sighting of the Scottish Red Bay Hone was bought to our notice by LittleSilverBladeFromWales when he linked to an Ebay auction selling a number of hones from Scotland, and it wasn't that colour. The other reference comes form A_S who saw that auction - if he noted layering in the hone then I presume he won the auction - can't remember when it was - 2008? 2009? something like that. A_S mentioned the auction and the hone (he called it Scottish Red Bay Oilstone) when he commented on an unknown almost post-box red hone that someone had posted a pic of and queried. I can't remember the thread that clearly, but I think A_S said in it (or in one of his posts about hones and there place of origin, that it was a deep or dark red.
Do you have any more first hand knowledge of the Red Bay hone, Oldengaerde? I would love to know a little more about it, particularly as the strata it seems to come from surfaces in Red Bay on the Irish coast - I have looked at a few gazeteers and can't find an appropriate Red Bay in Scotland. If you have some pics of the hone I would love to see them!
Regards,
Neil
