Thread: My HAD got the better of me

Swotstein Barber hone in a little box and a Swoty Barber hone...I really don't need them but I thought what the heck. So are these any good? They will likely be put in my "den" to add some nostalgia, but if they are good touch up stones I may use them when needed.

My recently-retired barber has a Swotstein! He always had it in his pocket whilst working.

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

My recently-retired barber has a Swotstein! He always had it in his pocket whilst working.

How many companies made barber's hones?!?! It seems every time I turn around there's another one I hadn't heard of. Today's winner is Swotstein.

JimmyHAD to the white courtesy phone, please!

The Swaty was the most highly esteemed 'barber hone' by the old barbers I knew back in No Jersey in the 1980s. I still have one and it is real good. I'm not familiar with the other one you mentioned. There were a number of different Swaty hones produced. One way to tell is by the number of lines of text embossed on the front. Some were two sided though to the eye they appear identical. Here is a thread with a lot of barber hone info.

I've had a couple of different hones (no swaty hones, though). They are so different that some I would describe as dangerous to your face if you let them work all the way to the edge (which is probably not what they were designed to do, given the instructions to limit strokes), and some that work just as well as a modern hone in terms of a bright polish with not too much disturbance (like this one after I lapped it).

The two am. hone company types that I've tried (frictionite and super punjab, both the same on the fine side) also make a very nice shaving edge that isn't harsh, but they are in space in terms of price.

I don't usually buy razor hones assuming that I'll get much, though, and the above one linked is the only one I've spent any real money on. I got it only because I have a bunch of OVB woodworking tools.

I don't know why, but I have a thing for little barbers hones. Lately I have been giving mine a go here and there to see how they work for me. So far I have had more luck with my pasted balsa's and strops, but I want to get to know one that works well for traveling purposes.

Were I to get on a plane tomorrow, the best combo I have found so far, is a silver steel blade I have, and my little "barbers coti." But there are more blades and barber's hones to try out yet lol! It's a fun little pass-time for me . Good luck with yours!