Ever since I started traditional wetshaving (about a decade ago), I started going to flea markets and antique stores hoping to find something cool hidden away in a corner.
I did occasionally see a razor or two - usually overpriced - and I did buy a couple of straights over the years. They were not great deals (I paid about what they'd cost on the forums), but they were nice to have -- I still have them, in fact. However, I never found any hones for my razors. They were nowhere to be found.
Well, that drought has ended. I recently picked up these hones at an antique store, and for a nice price too.
[Image: IMG_20160219_1634461.jpg]
They're all slates, and they cleaned up well. At least three of them are Thuringians, and the other two may actually be pretty good too.
One of them (the yellow/green one) once had a label at the end, though only the glue stain is left now. That probably indicates a 'named' Thuringian.
[Image: IMG_20160219_1635015.jpg]
I've tried the largest one on a razor, and it works like a very good Thuri - putting on a sharp and very smooth edge.
At the same time, I also picked up some non-slate hones. A small, chunky 'barber's size' Coticule combo and a slurry stone:
[Image: IMG_20160220_1712146.jpg]
And a few oilstones that are pre-finishers or knife hones; including a couple of possible Arkansas stones and a Hindostan.
[Image: IMG_20160220_1713051.jpg]
[Image: IMG_20160220_1746220.jpg]
I'm sure that not all of them will be razor-worthy. Certainly three of the slates seem to be excellent hones and the coticules (of course). However, even the coarser hones will be fun to use on my knives.
Most of the fun comes from figuring out exactly what these hones are capable of. And there's a special delight that comes from finally - after 10 years of looking - finding something 'in the wild'. "D
I did occasionally see a razor or two - usually overpriced - and I did buy a couple of straights over the years. They were not great deals (I paid about what they'd cost on the forums), but they were nice to have -- I still have them, in fact. However, I never found any hones for my razors. They were nowhere to be found.
Well, that drought has ended. I recently picked up these hones at an antique store, and for a nice price too.
[Image: IMG_20160219_1634461.jpg]
They're all slates, and they cleaned up well. At least three of them are Thuringians, and the other two may actually be pretty good too.
One of them (the yellow/green one) once had a label at the end, though only the glue stain is left now. That probably indicates a 'named' Thuringian.
[Image: IMG_20160219_1635015.jpg]
I've tried the largest one on a razor, and it works like a very good Thuri - putting on a sharp and very smooth edge.
At the same time, I also picked up some non-slate hones. A small, chunky 'barber's size' Coticule combo and a slurry stone:
[Image: IMG_20160220_1712146.jpg]
And a few oilstones that are pre-finishers or knife hones; including a couple of possible Arkansas stones and a Hindostan.
[Image: IMG_20160220_1713051.jpg]
[Image: IMG_20160220_1746220.jpg]
I'm sure that not all of them will be razor-worthy. Certainly three of the slates seem to be excellent hones and the coticules (of course). However, even the coarser hones will be fun to use on my knives.
Most of the fun comes from figuring out exactly what these hones are capable of. And there's a special delight that comes from finally - after 10 years of looking - finding something 'in the wild'. "D
- Yohann