I'm right on with Howard with this one. I too own them all. I also find them all more similar than different with only experience showing slight variations. Even that can be accounted for with variations in individual stones.

If Howard and I each produced a pair of Thuringens and a pair of Coticules we could have a winner each way as one Belgian may be better than another Thuringen, the next Thuringen better than the next Coticule. (substitute the hone or stone brand of your choice here)

The only real consistancy may be in speed of cutting, generally, as a class, one type of stone (arkansas, belgian, Tam O'Shanter, etc...) may always be slower than another type. If blindfolded though I bet each will produce a similar edge with the average user being unable to distiguish from which stone the edge was produced.

I sold Belgians myself as well and swear by them as execeptional stones, just no point in all of us selling the same exact ones so offered another typeof equal value.

Tony