Thread: Identifying a random Japanese Natural stone

I agree with all of the above. At first, I thought he was trying to skirt something by charging so much on shipping, but after viewing the royal mail page, I see that confirmed royal mail just costs a mint. I wish he would ship more things economy, but I understand with all of the international shipping why he doesn't. I would probably buy a half dozen more stones from him if the stuff would be sent surface mail, but I don't want to go to the trouble to find out if he'll go there.

As far as the names, hopefully most people know there's no free lunch, at least not without risk. Grit ratings - well except the most experienced always overstate the fineness of natural stones. I've never figured out why. There are precious few natural stones with 1/2 micron grit particles and nothing larger...maybe none.

Originally Posted by DaveW

I agree with all of the above.
As far as the names, hopefully most people know there's no free lunch, at least not without risk. Grit ratings - well except the most experienced always overstate the fineness of natural stones. I've never figured out why.

Well i find the "most experienced" like you said dont give a grit rating on naturals at all, and i find that if they do its usually low ball, as far as "there no free lunch" like you said! if i buy a gold chain it better be gold. Seems like perhaps you shouldnt believed everything you read on ebay postings and perhaps buy quality, and correcty identify stones from many "experienced straight razor stone sellers" not on ebay.

I buy some of both. I have stones that cost $40, and stones that cost $500. I buy the $500 stones only from people who know exactly what they are and offer to take them back if I don't like them.

I do think you're attempting to bully the thread and others into the idea that everyone should agree with you, though, and I don't. I like having both types of sellers, and have no interest in a world full of "correct police" who get involved as a third party when not everyone wants them to. The world is not a researched congressional archive, and a bit of variety is nice.

Gentlemen, lets remember we are all friends here and keep it civil. I wouldn't want to have to close down the thread so if it is going to get 'personal' confine it to PMs. Thanks in advance for your understanding.

Originally Posted by DaveW

I buy some of both. I have stones that cost $40, and stones that cost $500. I buy the $500 stones only from people who know exactly what they are and offer to take them back if I don't like them.

I do think you're attempting to bully the thread and others into the idea that everyone should agree with you, though, and I don't. I like having both types of sellers, and have no interest in a world full of "correct police" who get involved as a third party when not everyone wants them to. The world is not a researched congressional archive, and a bit of variety is nice.

My only attemp was to make members aware of fraudulent stone identification on ebay!

Originally Posted by Martin103

My only attemp was to make members aware of fraudulent stone identification on ebay!

Well, I don't know what other people think when they see a listing that says "possible", etc, I can only guess. Personally, someone like AJ, I saw the stones and thought they were too cheap and almost didn't buy them figuring they'd turn out to be dud slow or coarse stones that couldn't finish a razor. I turned out to be wrong, every stone I've gotten from him can finish a razor, though they are a rung below the high priced stones that I have, which are fast, fine and leave a gentle edge. What he has for $50 trumps every other natural finisher I've seen, though, and if that gets people honing their own razors, to me that's good.

What irritates me a lot more is dealers like timbertools who charge exorbitant prices for a stone that can be had from germany for a lot less even with a VAT added, and then they use the words "genuine escher" with them, instead of thuringian. All they do is stick an unknowing user with a stone that they will be out a lot of money on if they decide to sell. I can look past that kind of stuff if a buyer can get back out from under whatever they purchased without much loss.

Everybody has a different opinion about it, I guess.