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Antique Hone ID, Europe?

Steve56

Ask me about shaving naked!
Folks,

Picked up a cool little razor box from the bay that has a hone in the box too. The hone I'd guess is an European slate, but I'm not very knowledgeable about this class of hones. Anyone have a guess to what the hone is/from?

Cheers, Steve
 

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That looks really cool! I take it that the box will house a razor also? It looks like a nice travel setup to me. A touchup hone (I am going to guess it's a Thuri based on the long/narrow shape, but I'll leave that up to those more experienced than I), a strop, and a razor. The leather could probably use some conditioning. I have re-conditioned a couple old strops, and used neatsfoot oil. Each of mine took about 15ml (1/2 oz.) of neatsfoot oil to bring them back to life, and both work great. What size is the hone? The strop? If you ever want to sell it, please let me know!
 

Steve56

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Yep, it is kind of cool, the design is ingenious - you could sell something similar today I bet, though you probably wouldn't need the hone. And what a high-end box for say a new TI special? Haven't got it yet BTW, these are the vendors images. I wondered why the hone was even there since a freshly honed razor and a strop can keep you going for a month or three, then it hit me. This thing was made before there were airplanes. If you traveled by ship, you might be gone for a year or more.

Cheers, Steve
 

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Steve56

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I don't have it in hand yet but it has been shipped. I'm fairly sure the stone is glued to the base. Here are images of the sides and bottom. Oh, and I'm hoping he forgot to take that Le Jaguar out of the box before shipping!!

Cheers, Steve
 

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Steve56

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Don,

Thanks for the PM. It appears to be a Schwedenstein, about the same as a Thuringian or coticule in fineness, around 10k according to a quick search.

Cheers, Steve
 
Hey Steve, I saw that box/strop combo. It looks like a great little setup. I'm glad it went to somebody who will use it.
 

Steve56

Ask me about shaving naked!
Hi everyone,

The hone box arrived today and the biggest disappointment was the seller remembered to take that Le Jaguar out of it!

It's nicer than expected, probably 85% of the original finish is there, the hone itself is flat and usable as-is though I suspect the previous user had a smiling blade because it is a bit low right in the middle but only on the very edges. It feels very smooth. The strop has a small nick but it usable also and has probably 50% or more of the original surface on it. The strop is black leather and isn't as dirty as it seemed in the original photos, and could easily be replaced if desired. So it has indeed been lightly used for its intended purpose.

I cleaned and polished the finish with fine automotive paint cleaner, removed lint from the purple velvet interior with painter's tape, and saddle-soaped the strop. jpeg grab shots attached, with my Le Grelot, complete with fingerprints.

One reason I bought this thing (besides it's cool) is because it looked like something that could be used today. Use some cordovan for the strop, maybe with a foam backing instead of the "curve" in the wood, and for travel, maybe a piece of lapping film. Or a piece of a hone. I wouldn't mind having one that accommodated two razors, which would give a wider hone. Maybe I visit my great neighborhood furniture guy...

Cheers, Steve
 

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Steve56

Ask me about shaving naked!
Thanks,

What's the origin of Schwedensteins? I assume Germany but haven't seen a location mentioned.

It does seem nice - really, really smooth. I'm looking forward to testing it.

Cheers, Steve
 
8 year thread revived! I just got one of these neat razor box, hone, and strops. I was searching for info on it and couldnt believe finding this post. My box is in a bit rougher shape and will need the leather replaced. It is a clever setup and im going to fix it up for use as my traveler.

The stone is a little different looking too. Mine is more homogeneous than what i often see called schwedenstein. It feels, smells and lapped very similarly to my other thuri but is a tad less homogeneous. I would call it mostly green in color, maybe a later mined one? I ran 1 good shaving razor over it so far with no ill effects on face or magnified edge. Pretty cool piece.

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That's cool. Reminds me of the old pencil boxes.

Ive read that mining for razor hones was often a secondary business to the larger one of building matrial and pencil making. So some of the mines likely had connections or made these razor boxes in the same design. It basically is a pencil box with a stone glued to the backside and a separate strop mounted on wood that slides over the back to hide the stone.
 

Legion

OTF jewel hunter
Staff member
Ive read that mining for razor hones was often a secondary business to the larger one of building matrial and pencil making. So some of the mines likely had connections or made these razor boxes in the same design. It basically is a pencil box with a stone glued to the backside and a separate strop mounted on wood that slides over the back to hide the stone.
Makes sense. And they also made black boards and children’s writing slates as well. The different coloured veins that were used for hones were probably annoying, and in the way.
 
 

Steve56

Ask me about shaving naked!
Necro thread! I still have 3 of these, two 95%+ Schwedenstein, the other dark grey/blue. Probably slate.
 
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