Thread: Used for years but what is it?

This hone was my fathers and his before him. I still am unsure what it is but I still use it because it gives such a good edge.

or see bigger image here.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/t.j.lansley/stone02.JPG

It could be a better picture for sure but I still don't know all the functions yet

PuFF

Looks like a pink translucent to me, but it's hard to tell from the photo.

The side looks like an Escher or some similar stone. I am not an expert on Eschers though (don't have the funds to own too many and haven's had many either) so I am just posting as a warm-up opening act for the real experts

Cheers
Ivo

I suppose more info is needed. This stone has always been used as a water stone and a slurry can be produced though not as quick as a belgian or japanese hone. It cuts as fast as a belgian but with a finer finish being produced. If heavy handed, you can take slices out of it but not clips, if you get my meaning. When dry it has a glassy feel to it that grips a finger and when wet this increases. When honing the stone gives a good amount of feedback, i.e. it sounds less course when the edge is nearing the point of beaing razor sharp. It will work without a slurry but the cutting is markedly slower and tends to polish more.
This stone is heavily marbled with burgundy striations and is sedimentry in appearance, showing multiple layers with more colours than i can name (all dark brown/red with predominantly grey-green/brown as the main colour)

I hope this helps someone to identify this stone.

PuFF

Pink translucents match just about everything, but they won't produce a slurry to save their life. Beats me.

So is a "pink translucent" translucent to look at? This stone of mine is a very flat coloured stone with not any resemblance to a "marble" trype stone or a glassy looking arkansas.
I suppose I will just have to enjoy using it without knowing what it is or if it's possible to get another.

PuFF