It gets murky, the softer turkey stones I am really not fond of, but soft washitas are awesome, the hard Turkey stones have more range imo.
Can't find a Turkey Hone thread so here it is.
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I'd take a soft washita over a hard turkey, but probably a hard turkey over a hard washita. I think the soft turkeys are newer stones that wouldn't have been sold in the past, for the most part... kind of like the cheap arkansas material being sold as simply "hard" arkansas now, that would have been gravel in the past.
I think I would take a prime hard turkey over all of those. It has the nicest balance of range and wear resistance
timwcic
"Look what I found"
My contribution to this tread. I have stones that give a keener edge, but not many look better that this Turkey. This hunk of rock came from the estate of a watchmaker (watchmakers have the coolest toys) along with other high end stones. It measures a chunky 6x3x1 1/4” in a box made from a true 2x4.
It is a hard rock, was a bear to lap and had the burnt match/sulfur smell while working on it. It has the characteristics of a piece of novaculite, smooth glasslike surface, easy feedback with a slight sensation of grit and a surfaced that gets more reflective with use. It’s performance it that of a quality finisher. It gives it’s best using a few drops of oil, nowhere close using water. It refines and improves my edges coming off a Naniwa Fuji 8K. Does not equal a edge off a Escher or a uber fine Coti, but’s it’s close
It is a hard rock, was a bear to lap and had the burnt match/sulfur smell while working on it. It has the characteristics of a piece of novaculite, smooth glasslike surface, easy feedback with a slight sensation of grit and a surfaced that gets more reflective with use. It’s performance it that of a quality finisher. It gives it’s best using a few drops of oil, nowhere close using water. It refines and improves my edges coming off a Naniwa Fuji 8K. Does not equal a edge off a Escher or a uber fine Coti, but’s it’s close
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I remember reading in more than one place saying how the Washita took over as being the go to stone from the Turkey stone. They called the Washita "The turkey stone killer". one source attributed it to Pike being so good at marketing. One was talking about the U.K. the other was speaking world wide.
I am thinking availability and less variability are probably what led to it taking down the charnley and turkish oilstone in many parts.
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Also turkey stones were almost always boxed tightly because they would break in use if you're honing heavy tools. They are brittle as all get out. Washita's don't have that problem.
Yeah I imagine if you snagged a chisel on a fissure it would be a bad time
Interesting question! Do you have an Armenian stone? I'd love to see...
(That passage in Pliny that mentions Crete as the source of the very best whetstones known at the time, cites 'Armenian' stones as the next best thing...)
Here's my old 'Turkish' stone. It's the single best natural sharpening stone I have.
Also interestingly - under a microscope it is a far purer, more homogenous, form of novaculite than any others I've looked at. On a par with Translucent Arks, but with a coarser grain.
Also interestingly - under a microscope it is a far purer, more homogenous, form of novaculite than any others I've looked at. On a par with Translucent Arks, but with a coarser grain.
I received an ebay job lot of stones today, this was the picture:
There was an Norton Hard Translucent, the red labelled one is a Tam O'Shanter stick thing, and then all of the others turned out to be old carborundum affairs... except the larger stone in the top left. I had hopes for that one, as it looked perhaps a little cracked. And as soon as I picked it up I was pretty sure...
And after a bit of cleaning:
It's the same 6x2" as my previous, but the new one is taller at 1 1/4", compared to around 1" on the other.
There was an Norton Hard Translucent, the red labelled one is a Tam O'Shanter stick thing, and then all of the others turned out to be old carborundum affairs... except the larger stone in the top left. I had hopes for that one, as it looked perhaps a little cracked. And as soon as I picked it up I was pretty sure...
And after a bit of cleaning:
It's the same 6x2" as my previous, but the new one is taller at 1 1/4", compared to around 1" on the other.
Another great score mate!
I have a bunch of turkeys and some are incredible stones, especially the darker ones.
Rob
I was about to say - now I want to see pictures of your collection...
Here are my babies together. I was particularly pleased because my first (on the left) I use pretty much on a daily basis in a ‘professional’ capacity. I really rate Turkish stones for knife sharpening
.These two are quite similar, with the newer perhaps being a smidge harder / finer. But there’s not much in it.
I was about to say - now I want to see pictures of your collection...
Here are my babies together. I was particularly pleased because my first (on the left) I use pretty much on a daily basis in a ‘professional’ capacity. I really rate Turkish stones for knife sharpening
These two are quite similar, with the newer perhaps being a smidge harder / finer. But there’s not much in it.
View attachment 1299431
Here are my “best” stones
A large chunk of a thing which is hard as nails and dense, it was a pig to lap but it is a beautiful stone to use.
Really fine feeling of abrasion and a razor just glides over it. It cuts surprisingly quickly for how fine it is.
I really need to give it a proper test with different honing mediums but using thinned mineral oil it gives a very good edge. Not quite trans arky edge but considering how fast it is it’s up there!
Measures 7 x 3.5” and it has a T H and Co label in the lid, the previous owner has fixed the label in with some form of resin which has never set, the label hasn’t dissolved but it a shame.
Oddly I have another T H and Co turkey and it is a quite different stone.
This stone is also hard but not quite as hard as the other stone, this one cuts quickly and leaves quite a consistent scratch pattern.
Ive used this more for knives and tools than razors and it is just perfect after a fast washita.
It can be made to cut very fast with pressure and if the pressure is toned down and any grit released during the heavy handed honing wiped off, it can be made to finish very nicely with low pressure.
Remnants of a label on the back and in the box, but nothing I can make out.
Ive owned a lot of turkeys but these are probably my most used stones
Rob
Ive used this more for knives and tools than razors and it is just perfect after a fast washita.
It can be made to cut very fast with pressure and if the pressure is toned down and any grit released during the heavy handed honing wiped off, it can be made to finish very nicely with low pressure.
Remnants of a label on the back and in the box, but nothing I can make out.
Ive owned a lot of turkeys but these are probably my most used stones
Rob
Very nice! I don't any experience with them apart from my two, but they sound quite like your second one there. Though I need to properly lap and sort the surface out on my new one, as it's releasing a few too many random particles atm for my liking.
Have you come across any labelled by companies other than TH&Co.? I've seen a couple of pictures of them, but not any others...
Random Aussie ebay listings coming up trumps again last night . The Turkish is a good size too - 6.5 x 2.25 x 1.25.
(Washita is about 5.5 x 2 x 1).
. The Turkish is a good size too - 6.5 x 2.25 x 1.25.(Washita is about 5.5 x 2 x 1).
Those are both beautiful. You got a full progression for pocket knives in that picture!Random Aussie ebay listings coming up trumps again last night
(Washita is about 5.5 x 2 x 1).
View attachment 1314650
If anyone’s interested I wrote up quite an in depth look at Turkish Oilstones in comparison to the modern Cretan stone.
Hope it doesn’t ruffle any feathers!
www.kitchenknifeforums.com
Hope it doesn’t ruffle any feathers!
The Turkish Oilstone Matter
[I warn now that this is going to appear somewhat prolix - you can skip to Part 3 if you just want to know about how the stones themselves work.] Some months ago I came across a dirty old stone, in a rural salvage shop here in South Australia. When I bought it I thought it might be a kind of...
www.kitchenknifeforums.com
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Very cool read. I had a cretan briefly and never bothered soaking it. Now I wish I had.
And nice score on that lot last month.
And nice score on that lot last month.
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