OK, I gotta start by saying that Rob from Ardennes Coticule is a class act. He currently has this Coticule Selected 150x50mm (6"x2") 50% reduction - Straight Razor Place Classifieds coticule for sale for 50% off, because it is cracked. It has a crack running diagonally from one side to the other, about half way down the length of the stone. Below is a copy/paste of a PM he sent to me after I asked if the crack would effect the sharpening ability of the coticule, or if it would just be cosmetic.

Paste:

Hello,

It's an actual crack, but a closed one (so not a cosmetic fault).

I honed some knives on the stone just to check if the crack would effect the usability of the stone and it isn't effecting the usability at all!

But the crack is there and for that reason it isn't salable at its 100% value.

Regards
Rob Celis

It took Rob less than three hours to respond to my question. Now *that's* customer service. Anyway, Rob stated that he sharpened *knives* with the coticule to no ill effects. Do you guys think that would also apply to the much thinner blade of a razor?? I *really* would like to buy this stone, but not if there's any chance of the crack affecting it's functionality as a finishing stone.

Opinions?

(Why do I have the feeling that I'm gonna get sniped on this stone now that I've posted this thread?)