Thread: old barber hones

I found these old hones on my recent semi-monthly/monthly antique hunting trip to southern Indiana.

Here's the story: I asked a shopkeeper about barber hones and razors. An older woman in her mid 80's, shopping there, overheard my question. To make a long story shorter, she sold me the hones below. 1 through 6 were in a gallon plastic baggie, 2 dollars total. 7 and 8 were loose, $1 each... I can only think that she sold them so inexpensively because she was glad somebody might finally use them again; who knows.

She said that they used to belong to her Great-Grandfather and/or Great-Great-Grandfather, who were both barbers. If we assume that all of her family had children at age 20, then that would place her Great-Great-Grandfather as being 20 years old about 140 years ago (circa 1869). They all certainly seem to have an "old" feel to them.





Hones number 1 through 6 all had glue remnants on one side of them (except for #3, a broken piece of coarse combination hone). My guess is that they were mounted to wood at one time. All of these hones are fairly soft, including #3.

#1 and #2 were thought to be Hindostan hones at first. After lapping, I believe that they are different. Either Hindostan hones vary a lot, or they are different types of hones.

#3 is a broken combination hone, coarse (even on it's finer side), and unlike any combination hone that I have ever seen. I think the coarsest side is around 80 to 125 grit.

#4 is somewhat fine, looks almost "volcanic", and has an extremely high (and reflective) density of some fine abrasive.

#5 is very fine, 12k to 17k is my guess. The slurry when lapping would get very thick.

#6 might fall somewhere in between #4 and #5 (haven't used it yet).

#7 looks like a Swaty in color, but is much softer when lapping. It is almost as fine in grit as number 5 and 8.

#8 is the same material as #5.

My guess is that hones numbered 5, 7, and 8 were the main finish hones. This barber(s) had a nice range of grits for sharpening.

Of interest to me is that all of the hones were obviously lapped flat at one time. The finer hones were very close to flat when I received them, the once-glued sides were unlapped as expected.

Any guesses as to what types they are?

Really cool find Steven. No idea what they might be but it will be interesting as you experiment with them and see where the pecking order is.

#7 and #8 look like vintage thuringian hones, and if #5 is similar perhaps it is too! You mentioned that they were softer and created a slurry, which sounds like more of a property of a thuringian than a dense synthetic barber hone.

None-the-less, great haul!

I have one of those #3 course red and black hones but don't find it usefull.
Does #4 or #6 produce a slurry?

Originally Posted by beenpickin

I have one of those #3 course red and black hones but don't find it usefull.
Does #4 or #6 produce a slurry?

They are soft enough that you could make one quickly with a 325 or so DMT. With just water, not much slurry would form. #6 is very slightly harder than #4.

It is going to be a lot of fun for you to play with these and see what happens with your edges. Number 6 looks particularly interesting to me, because I have a similar white one that does a super edge and produces a thick white slurry. It seems softer than a coticule to me. Does #6 make slurry? How hard does it seem compared to a Swaty, or a Belgian BBW or coticule? Congratulations on your jackpot of nice hones!

Very interesting group of stones. I have one identical to #4 in composition but mine is long and narrow. Volcanic is the way I'd describe it as well. I got mine with a few other sharpening stones IIRC. I did lap it but have never used it and thought that the abrasive would be too gritty and non-uniform. Just let me know if you'd like me to snap a photo or two to compare with your #4.

Also, I wouldn't be too quick to rule out #1 & #2 being Hindostan. That's the region for that hone stone or yore IIRC and I remember seeing a picture of Hindostan grave stones in a cemetery from the 19th century and some were figured/mottled like your #2 and some were more uniform in color to your #1 stone. IIRC Hindostan is a novaculite hone stone as are the famed Arkansas stones.


Chris L

Originally Posted by Chris-L

...Just let me know if you'd like me to snap a photo or two to compare with your #4.

Chris L

Yes, please. More hone porn is a good thing!

I have also seen many mottled gravestones in S. Indiana that look like #2 especially. #1 was a bit different when lapping, but there were different quarries and both could very well be Hindostan.

Originally Posted by Croaker

It is going to be a lot of fun for you to play with these and see what happens with your edges. Number 6 looks particularly interesting to me, because I have a similar white one that does a super edge and produces a thick white slurry. It seems softer than a coticule to me. Does #6 make slurry?not much How hard does it seem compared to a Swatymuch softer, or a Belgian BBW or coticule?dunno', I've never used a Belgian Congratulations on your jackpot of nice hones!thanks

Here you go. Does your #4 look like this stone?







The mag shot is on only 40x with my stereo mic. This is a pretty coarse stone and somewhat gritty even when rubbing fingers briskly over it.

Chris L

Oops, I meant to post this pic first. Sorry.

Chris L