Sold & out of stock

I am months, possibly a year or more away from purchasing a Japanese natural hone. I have started the research needed to make a sensible choice and have started to look around at the vendors who sell the stones who have been recommended in the forum. It is a little discouraging as what I am seeing mostly is, SOLD and OUT OF STOCK. So a question for the Jnat devotees: is this something which represents a cycle or are we likely to see fewer and fewer (read more and more expensive) opportunities to find a good stone going forward?

IT comes down to supply and demand. A lot of Vendors run out of stock and then buy more, so that's just the normal process. What hones do you own now?

Just an FYI that Japanaese naturals are not magic hones and won't improve anything if you can't get an edge off previous hones.

Disburden,
I am honeless.
I just sent out a NOS Fon Golden Star to mainaman to have a baseline for what a 'shave ready' razor is. I am going to take the advice of people who seem to know what they are talking about and begin with synthetic hones. I am looking forward to finding a suitable Japanese hone partially because I have an affinity for rock. The word natural means a lot to me, but I will do everything I can to become skilled at honing on the synthetics. I don't think they are inferior.

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Originally Posted by Disburden

IT comes down to supply and demand. A lot of Vendors run out of stock and then buy more, so that's just the normal process. What hones do you own now?

Just an FYI that Japanaese naturals are not magic hones and won't improve anything if you can't get an edge off previous hones.

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I would recommend buying a 1K and the Norton 4/8K and figuring out how to get edges from those hones first...

Thanks!
A quick question as they say: do you think there is still some untapped source of natural stone that might compete with what has already been discovered? This seems logical in some way but maybe not if I actually possessed some geological knowledge.

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Originally Posted by Disburden

I would recommend buying a 1K and the Norton 4/8K and figuring out how to get edges from those hones first...

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Maybe, I have no idea. All I know is what I learned from SRP over the past three years...

Yes, You need to check out my South African hone post. As TBS said, there are tons and tons of good stones out there, you just have to know where to look. These are awesome natural hones I'm in process of testing for a friend.

I agree with Disburden, Seems everyone one wants a Jnat these days. They're over rated in my opinion. There are other finisher's equally good. Escher is good, Charnely is good, Coticule is good.
There are excellent Synthetics too, Shapton and Chosera to name a few.

Jnats, you have to contend with Supply and Demand, High prices, counterfeit stamps and there's no guarantee you'll get a good stone.

Also, For the novice honer, A Jnat can be very unforgiving, only behind Coticules. A lot guys come into this hobby, and think, Heck, I've been sharpening knives and tools my whole life, How hard could it be to sharpen a razor. Most are in for a rude awaking.

I was lucky enough to find an honest seller a while ago, he's long gone, and so is the supply. Jnat's are non consistent natural, like Coticule, and Unlike Escher. Escher's were labeled Thuringian's because E&Co knew they were good. Jnats and Coticules are a crap shoot really. You never know what your going to get. You may get lucky, then again you may not. Some guys go through several before they find a good one, just like Coticules.

The answer is, of course. There are vast supplies of the finest natural hone material in the world. The problem is, how are you going to find them and mine them? It all has to be technically and economically feasible. So that's the kicker. Until that happens you're stuck like the rest of us trying to find material from what is available.

I never sure what's the best choice.
All that matters is the one ya pick is super fine and good cut speed.
I kind of think wider is better long and narrow stones.
for flat ground razors. But long and narrow are good for
the cruved blades razor.
There are many vintage stone out there with a polishing grit.
Do remmeber that the really fine stones are always really heavy for their size.
but you only know the cutting speed by using it.

What Nick (Disburden) said, learn to hone with the nortons. Once you can do that look into natural stones if you like. I can take Lance Armstrong's bicycle and I'll still only be able to do 25 mph tops. I could take Tiger Woods golf clubs and I still won't be able to drive any better than I can now .... poor analogy because I've never played golf , but you get the point. Learn to hone than worry about more equipment. Jazz tenor sax great Charlie 'Yardbird' Parker said , "Master your instrument and then forget all that stuff and play." Kind of like that.