Thanks again you guys,

I'm more confused than before about what it was that I found, but i guess it doesn't really matter what it is. I also just got some new Mora carving knives that are super sharp right off the shelf, but not sharp enough to whittle with, a burr... Should I consider using this stone after lapping it with a Naniwa 220? Should I use it first on older knives first to burnish it?

The hard black I have is a small multiform slip type for carving tools. I'm intimidated to use it on the carving knives, cause I have only partially lapped it and it's small 2X4 or so.



Euclid 440,
Thanks for the post. My stone is not labeled a Lorraine, I just figured it was by the flickr images and the research I did last night.

That looks like a really pretty stone, but looks like it'll need some work.