Thread: Natural Japanese hones from eBay seller

Originally Posted by pjrage

But, not knowing, I was/am skeptical to drop that kind of cash, when it would be a significant portion of the way toward getting a japanese natural from a known reputable vendor. Know what I mean?

For your peace of mind, I would suggest getting one from someone who does test them extensively before offering them for sale (i.e. O_S)

Like Nelson said, these aren't for the uninitiated. A lot of times you won't know until you try it. I would say the same is true with a coticle too. Depenting on the size of the garnets and the softness of the matrix, you won't know what characteristics it has until you buy it and try it. (coticles are a little more consistant though) Most of the time it is a bit of a gamble. If you can spare that kind of cash then go for it.

This vendor does offer some input in to the characteristics of the hones through his HGAL ranking. I would keep that in mind.

Originally Posted by pjrage

I guess that's the long winded version of why I was/am skeptical of the seller and of the hones. I really can't wait to hear more about them from ZethLent or anyone else, because if they are the "real deal" then it's a great bargain.

Actually the one I got for my bro, I lapped and tried out on a couple of razors before handing it over. Although I think my skills at the time were lacking I would say that is was a very good final polisher. It was a mixture of greens and blues and a swirl of yellow. A very very beautiful stone. The colours weren't appearant when I bought it though. They came out stronger after I lapped it.

I also look forward to the new one on the way. I should have it by Thursday.

Also, it can't be said enough, no two natural hones are identical. Whether or not I got a good one or a bad one is irrelevant, the next one may be better than anything else. You won't know unless you try it.

I'll try to be a little more clear PJ.
I considered buying one, but I did not. And exactly for the same reasons as you. That and I already have some fine grit fast cutting stones.

What I was trying to say is a much better stone would cost 4-10 times as much depending on size. If these were all that-they too would cost the same.

All things considered I do believe one of these would be substantially better than a 30$ chinastone.

I believe such things come with diminishing returns- so a 1000 dollar stone is not going to be 10x greater in effect than a 100$

Regarding nakayama the thing to remember, I believe anyway, is that All the other mines on Mt Atago were digging into the same rock. Any could have produced exemplary sharpening stones just as all of them found worthless ones. Just because a stone has a maruichi maruka stamp does not mean of necessity that it came from Nakayama mine

.....out of time for today

Thanks Os; I could never find shoubu-dani on a map so i got it fixed in my mind as an old name for Atago, which is incorrect can you find the coordinates of it.

Regarding Stamps:
1 way is for the stamp to be fake; I could not spot one, or say how often it has happened- but that is one thing you hear sometimes- It is not a fake- so there must be fakes, right?

The usual way, I have been told, is from buying from or trading with another miner. you don't put their name on it

What I am saying is; people, especially those with limited experience sharpening, should be less worried about having the best, or finest grit natural hone, and be more concerned with finding one that works, and learning how to use it.

Awase-do are quite fantastic. the way they work is not at all like synthetics. I can get a great shave from a takashima and shinden stones etc

So, since it seems to discuss the prices out in the open (I saw some statements recently that said it was not OK, so I am a little confused.), I will plunge ahead. I told him I would take something a little smaller sized than the stones he had on eBay. He came back with the statement that he had his stones for razors in boxes for a customer he was selling them to wholesale. he had them in 2 sizes 80K=65*180 and 60K=70*195. He said he would sell one or the other to me at $65 including freight.

Looking at the stones pictured that he has referred to and the stones on his website, the markings in the box seem the same and are described as:

天然砥石 正本山 山城銘砥 若葉色 2389[Japanese whetstone central Kyoto Honyama Yamashiro-mate]

The ones on his website that have the same markings and similar size are listed at 4000 yen. That would be about the price he is quoting me.

I was hoping someone would recognize some of the markings or writing on the stones.

So, at $65 shipped, I have learned more expensive lessons.

Zeth, I actually did end up getting my nakayama through O_S for the reasons I mentioned, and I'm very very happy with it!

Kevin, that makes perfect sense to me and that was my first thought.. that if they were "all that" they too would cost more. I had hoped at the time I was researching these that I had stumbled upon someone who was just unloading them very cheaply for whatever reason (no stamps, small size, doesn't know what he has, etc, etc, etc).

And I can only imagine that that's why anyone else on this forum is considering them vs other sources - to save money and hopefully find a bargain.

I just wanted to chime in on my conversations with the seller and my conclusions based on what I heard from him and everything else I've read concerning nakayama hones. I think some people here just want to try out any/all japanese/etc naturals, and that's cool, but then there are those of us who want "a nakayama." We see nakayama in the ebay ad and think "is this the nakayama everyone talks about as a great final polisher?" I don't want to see newbies or anyone else buying up these stones thinking they are definitely the #1 best nakayamas that everyone raves about. All I wanted to convey is that maybe they are the same quality as the nakayamas everyone raves about, and maybe they aren't Until we get some experienced hands on a few of them, we just don't know, so, buy at your own risk. If you are looking for a verified high grit polisher, it's probably more risky, but if you are just looking for a japanese natural that will fit into your honing routine at some level and you don't much care where, then it's probably not very risky at all.