Thread: New hones

Last weekend I visited an antique market, looking for hones.
I did not find an escher or coticule, but managed to score these hones at 3 euros each.

The green one is 8x3 inches. The purple one is 14x7 cm (~ 2.75x5.5 inches)


I only wanted to buy the natural stone originalle, but then I figured that for 3 euros, the other one was worth a try.
Boy am I glad I did. I do not know the brand, but I used it yesterday to sharpen my grandfather's woodaxe.

I soaked it in water and then used it to sharpen and smoothen the last inch of the axehead. The stone raised a nice slurry that had no problem with removing metal. After that I used the fine side to hone the very edge.
The axe is now sharp enough to cut cloth. I could have made it even sharper, but I don't think there is much point in making an axe that sharp if you are not competing in the Stihl timbersports.

I have not tried the natural one yet. I have to lap it first because it has a dimple in the surface. Probably caused by something falling on top of it.
There is also a chip out of the bottom side.
My first tought was that it was a belgian blue, but it is a deep purple color that I have not yet seen before. Anyone know what else it could be?
Given that the stone was shaped in centimeters, rather than inches makes me guess it is either from France, Belgium or Germany.

I have a purple hone like it glued onto a cream colored one. The cream colored one is not a coticule, but I don't know what it is, neither do I know what the purple one is.