Thread: Need some help here

OK all you guys that really know hones & stones, I am asking for some help here
I bought this stone back in 1981 with my first straight razor, I am trying to find out what it is????
I got the finest grit available from the store that sold me the straight razor, as instructed my the barber that started me in straight razors, They actually had to order it in, at that time the cost was $101
The stone is solid white looks and feels like a chunk of marble to me, it is 8"L X 2"W X 1"H very dense, very heavy, the top and one edge were lapped when I got it.... I could have sworn the he said is was a Washita??? but from what I have read those are not this high of a grit, I tried it last night, compared to a Norton 8K, the scratch pattern looked at under 40x loupe was finer than the 8k, and it feels smoother to the touch.. I have included pics but heck it is just a white stone I took top and bottom photos the bottom really looks like unpolished marble to me, but I am not a stone expert....
Any help identifying this would be greatly appeciated...


Bottom of stone:





Top of stone:

I think it's a great looking stone and if it polishes better than a coticule, just enjoy it or ship it over to England and I'll give it a good home.

I think it may be one of these types of hones.

Best Sharpening Stones

They say they are slow in cutting. I think it's a US secret shaving weapon that they keep secret.

Are you sure it's not a Spyderco fine? It looks just like my Spyderco fine hone.

Was Spyderco around in '81? I don't remember hearing about them until just a few years ago.

I would also say that it is a Translucent Arkansas stone. They are pretty popular in woodworking circles, and are around that price. The Washita is a coarse Arkansas stone, so if you remember hearing the name Washita, it could have just been the barber's mistake when he really meant Arkansas, and specifically the Translucent variety. They do put an 8k+ scratch pattern on the surface so that fits as well.

I have one that is unfinished and it looks a bit like marble, as you say. Cuts very slowly.

it looks a lot like the translucent, they havent come down much in price over the years have they? some use then for straights, supposted to put a very fine edge on a razor, that would be a good idea for a poll to see how many here use them

Spyderco was in business in 1978 but mainly sold the ceramic crock stick style sharpeners at the time...
please keep in mind that this was 26-27 years ago so don't put to much credence in the Wasihta reference I could very well be misremembering that....
This stone definitely does not have the opaque look of the Translucent stones that I have seen, but then again it is 1" thick...
This is one of the things that I don't like about natural stones, the uncertainty of what you really have, once the label is gone... I guess that could also apply to a few of the man-made stones too..

Again thanks for any help on this