Thread: A Coticule & a very fine Slate, i love my Flea Market

After about one an hour on my local Flea Market i didnt expected to find anything and tried to think
someone was there before my and bought everything good.
OK, there had been no Razor, it was the first time i saw not only one Razor, but then i found these
two nice stones and they made my day

The first one is a natural Coticule and Blue Belgian Combo, 20cm x 4,5 cm x 1,5 cm (about 7,5" x 1,75" x 5/8")
in extra-fine shape.
The Second one is a fine Slate, possibly a Thuringian but as it has no Signs or Labels i guess ill never know,
but that doesnt matters, all that counts is the result and i think it will be a good finisher as it seems similar to
the Eschers i had.

The Condition when i found them was poor, the Surfaces were glass-like and there had been some dirt and a few nicks,
the condition on the Pics is how they look now after araound two hours of cleaning an lapping.

Good looking stuff.
Would bet that stuff like this is not to be found in the US.

Thank you :-)

Well, i dont know if such stone stones cant be found in the US, but on german flea markets they are rare too, especially in this size. Sometimes smaller hones can be found, especially Arkansas Hones as they are used still by carpenters, but cotis or slates are rare its overall the second time i saw good hones and this time i had to buy them. It was a good price but only because of the sad condition they had, im angry that i made no pics before lapping, had to lapp around 2 mm from both. First with my polishing wheel where i use a 180 grit grinding fleece wheel on, than with 380 and 800 sandpaper.

Originally Posted by IndependenceRazor1

Good looking stuff.
Would bet that stuff like this is not to be found in the US.

Happens all the time here in the US and Mid West where I am.. I know of a lot of local guys that hit it big with German and Belgian hones with in 60 miles of me. Me too! Remember the Razor Companies made a million razors a year each. The hone companies served that market. It took looking and luck but it happens every day to someone!
~Richard

Well both stones cleaned up very nicely, The second stone could very well be a thuringian, the look and size looks right on. Enjoy!

Thank you :-)
I thought i could be a thuringian too, but as it has no Label i guess ill will never know this clear, but today i will test it and compare the results with the Escher.

Nice find! I always wonder why with all the razors made why we don't see more hones for sale in the wild. Similarly, I see lots of hand planers and other sharp tools for sale, but almost never any hones for them. I guess dealers must think there's no market for 'rocks'.

I guess some sellers think that there is no market for stones. A good friend of mine is carpenter and only uses a Tormek sharpener, its easier for him, in about one hour he can sharpen nearly all of his chisels etc., if he would use a stone i guess that could be a work for hours.

Originally Posted by Rockabillyhelge

I guess some sellers think that there is no market for stones. A good friend of mine is carpenter and only uses a Tormek sharpener, its easier for him, in about one hour he can sharpen nearly all of his chisels etc., if he would use a stone i guess that could be a work for hours.

I think that your comment is an elegy for the entire craftsman ideal. 'Seems now that a person considers a tool only as a way to do a job. That, rather than a partner in accomplishment.
Was a story about a butcher in Chinese lore. A newby sharpens his knife about twice a day, a journeyman once a month. A Master...once when he was young. For the master moves with perfect grace and his edge is never threatened.
Seems like using razors
Nice stones for sure!
~Richard

Today i used them, the Coticule is a fast one, especially with water. It leaves a nice finish, i guess it is a "La Nouvelle Veine".
The Slate makes me very happy, it leaves an extra fine finish, shave directly from the stone was possible. The Edge doesnt look like as it looked after using my Celebrated Water Razor hone (that left a dull looking finish on the edge), the Slate from the Flea Market leaves a polished looking finish. The Feeling on the Face is similar to a Thuringian, i like it.