Thread: Hone of the Day

Originally Posted by outback

There's definitely something different about the earlier makers, compared to today's. To be honest, my best shaves have come from the cast steels of the late 1700s to early 1800s. I say it comes down to the ore that was used, and the smelting process used to achieve the acquired steel. Even to the point of what fuel was used to fire the furnace, heat treating, and what solution was used to quench the steel.

Agree Outback, I’ve noted this too. I have several French framebacks and ‘acier fondue’ (pot steel) made before the Bessemer process and they’re every bit as good if not better than the best modern steels as far as taking and holding a razor edge. They remind me very much of TI C135 ‘carbon song’ or the best semi-modern Swedish steel (and they may be old Swedish, many were stamped Swedish steel) lol. The only thing that the ancients lacked was an advertising department.