Thread: Hone Ident?

I picked this up at an antique store, for $11, there was a red barbers hone(3/8x2.5x5) but this one looked and felt much better.

Any ideas on what it is? It is smooth as silk, and really does a great job on the bevel(polished out some rust even)

Judging by the colour and the appearance of the surface (i.e. those scratches), and that you say it's very smooth, it sounds like you have a nice little vintage thuringian hone. What for others to weigh in, because I might be wrong. Nonetheless, it looks like a nice stone and for $11 you can't go wrong!

I agree based on the size, shape and horizontal lines running the length of the stone on the stone's side. If there are no labels or remnants of labels on the stone, don't even get into or worry about whether it could be an "Escher" stone. You'll never know. It's how it works that counts. You got a good deal for a stone like that if it performs well. Enjoy!

Chris L

Really hard to tell from the photo but I do have a Thuringan labeled Hohenzollern-Droescher that is the same color. It was black when I got it and lapped to a blue/green. Unlike the Escher blue/green when you wet it the stone turns almost black again. Similar scratches as Dave pointed out. It is a bit coarser then the Escher but still extremely fine. You very well may have come upon a Thuringan. Whatever it is if it is good for razors that is all that matters.

I'd say it's a Thuringian too. It's a consistent size for many of them.

I lapped it last night on all 4 sides(not the ends), and used an old pocket stone(AlOx) to bevel all the edges, It is still very black looking, but boy does it work on razors! I could probably get away without even stropping.

I have a couple of thuringians, and one looks very similar to that one. I just measured it and it's almost exactly 5"x1", how big is that one? It looks to be about the same, if not a bit bigger. Mine's pretty black, but it looks dark green under some light. It'll polish up a storm, so it's a great stone. don't know if I would skip stropping though....

I like how small it is actually, it's really convenient and neat to use. To be honest I prefer that it doesn't have a label on it, it makes it more "pure" to me. Just pure natural rock, nothing else addded. Anyone else know what I mean?

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

I have a couple of thuringians, and one looks very similar to that one. I just measured it and it's almost exactly 5"x1", how big is that one? It looks to be about the same, if not a bit bigger. Mine's pretty black, but it looks dark green under some light. It'll polish up a storm, so it's a great stone. don't know if I would skip stropping though....

I like how small it is actually, it's really convenient and neat to use. To be honest I prefer that it doesn't have a label on it, it makes it more "pure" to me. Just pure natural rock, nothing else addded. Anyone else know what I mean?

Labeled stones increase the collector value and can indicate the quality and polishing ability of a certain stone. But I agree with you that labels can be a detriment to enjoying or using a stone as some have admitted or attested to that have been fortunate enough to acquire mint labeled Eschers. Water and labels don't play well together. Truly mint labeled stones can't be used and retain their mint status. That relegates them to a role of being an expensive paperweight.

It seems to be that Escher prices have gone down a huge amount within the last year or two. Either that or no one appears to be buying such stones when the reserve amount or asking price is really high.

Chris L

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

I have a couple of thuringians, and one looks very similar to that one. I just measured it and it's almost exactly 5"x1", how big is that one? It looks to be about the same, if not a bit bigger. Mine's pretty black, but it looks dark green under some light. It'll polish up a storm, so it's a great stone. don't know if I would skip stropping though....

I like how small it is actually, it's really convenient and neat to use. To be honest I prefer that it doesn't have a label on it, it makes it more "pure" to me. Just pure natural rock, nothing else addded. Anyone else know what I mean?

When I was chasing them in the beginning I only wanted labeled Eschers because I didn't know enough to tell what I was getting without the label. Now that I do know the label would be inconsequential. OTOH, if you wanted to re-sell the stone a labeled stone will bring more in many cases.

I actually have the best of both worlds with my one small thuringian, since it came in the original box with a mint label inside the lid. If you look in my avatar it's the one second from the bottom on the right. So I do have a label for it, it's just not attached to the stone! But I don't care so much for collector value, if it works it works, who cares if it's got a label, right?