Looking for info on Grandfather's Norton hone.

[LosingSleep]

Hi guys. PapaFish(Wyatt) is restoring my Grandfather's razor: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/359434-Grandfather-s-straight-razor-options and I've been trying to find the hone.

Finally found it the other day but, I don't know much about it. It's 5" x 2" x 5/8" and I have found a similar one in a search that suggests it's from about 1905, which sounds right because the razor was 1890s. I would like to know what grit it is. The red side is rough and the black side feels as smooth as leather. The included pamphlet says to only make a couple passes on the black side to keep a razor sharp and use the red side when the edge is damaged.

Also, should I be using it?

Any info on the hone would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SliceOfLife]

That's the Norton axe/razor stone. Worth a Lot. Like a Hell of a lot. Like 300-500$. It's popular among guys who do the professional lumberjack competitions I hear. And because of that reputation some shavers started using and liking them. Pretty much it's just a solid 2 sided barbers hone in use, but evidently it's a really nice balance between fine and finisher on the two sides for a quick axe touchup.

 

[LosingSleep]

That's the Norton axe/razor stone. Worth a Lot. Like a Hell of a lot. Like 300-500$. It's popular among guys who do the professional lumberjack competitions I hear. And because of that reputation some shavers started using and liking them. Pretty much it's just a solid 2 sided barbers hone in use, but evidently it's a really nice balance between fine and finisher on the two sides for a quick axe touchup.

Holy smokes. A google search yielded 2 ebay auctions where they sold for $760 and 900! Guess I'll be using it. Thanks for that!

 

[life2short1971]

Yeah they regularly hit $900+ and end up in Australia. Great score.

 

[BakerAndBadger]

I know it's an heirloom but personally I wouldn't use it, I'd sell it and buy some other stones and razors. I'm sure your grandfather would have preferred you to profit fully from what he left you.
Just saying......

Or you might want to hang on to it for a while and learn to hone on another stone, once you've got that down you can try out this one - apparently there are a lot of people that rave about them after having tried them for razors.

Thanks for sharing in any case.

 

[Bayamontate]

Excellent hone, I had the opportunity to try it at a meet over the summer. The resulting edges were spectacular.

 

[PapaFish]

Wow Dave! Nice little hone! I never would have anticipated that it was worth that much, but I guess it's supply and demand, and there is no more supply. I am glad you got good news on your stone. I guess you could sell it, but you can never get THAT stone back. If Bayamontae says the edge it imparts is spectacular, you might be best off keeping the stone.

Your red/black Norton is MUCH finer than the red/black I have. Mine is a grindstone, the black side is very porous (drinks oil) and is too coarse for use with razors and chips the edge (I guess it could be used to correct a chip or something like that), but the red side can be used for rough work.

 

[LosingSleep]

I know it's an heirloom but personally I wouldn't use it, I'd sell it and buy some other stones and razors. I'm sure your grandfather would have preferred you to profit fully from what he left you.
Just saying......

Or you might want to hang on to it for a while and learn to hone on another stone, once you've got that down you can try out this one - apparently there are a lot of people that rave about them after having tried them for razors.

Thanks for sharing in any case.

It is a tough call. Not sure I'm as attached to the stone as I am to the razor.

Wow Dave! Nice little hone! I never would have anticipated that it was worth that much, but I guess it's supply and demand, and there is no more supply. I am glad you got good news on your stone. I guess you could sell it, but you can never get THAT stone back. If Bayamontae says the edge it imparts is spectacular, you might be best off keeping the stone.

Your red/black Norton is MUCH finer than the red/black I have. Mine is a grindstone, the black side is very porous (drinks oil) and is too coarse for use with razors and chips the edge (I guess it could be used to correct a chip or something like that), but the red side can be used for rough work.

I'm definitely going to use it before I ever decide to keep it or let it go. It is an heirloom but, ultimately I'll have nobody to leave it to.

 

[gumbo]

Don't let it go.
Eschers, Cotis, etc. are all a dime a dozen. If you don't need the money, don't sell it.
No offense to BakerandBadger, but imho that's horrible advice.
You never sell the rarest and most in demand item from a collectors catalogue unless you NEED the money (rent, mortgage, etc.), and for razor hones, that's the holy grail.

 

[Kentos]

I wouldn't sell it either. You are the first guy recently I have seen profess to actually own one.

 

[Legion]

They pop up all the time in Oz. And they go for big money. Why? Because the racing wood chop guys are as susceptible to hype as shaving guys (probably more so, because they do it for money), and those hones are regarded as tip-top for racing axes.

My advice is to keep it if it has sentimental value, but sell if not. There are probably (definitely) other hones which will do the job for you just as well for a razor, or better, for a fraction of the price.

Or send it to me for proper disposal.

 

[Disburden]

Congrats
That is the most sought after barber hone is existence!
The edges from that are ectremely sharp.

 

[LosingSleep]

I've pretty much made up my mind with the fate of the hone. But, I think a poll would be fun/interesting.

 

[Disburden]

If you ever want to donate it to my hone research let me know.

Lol

Btw check out the page below. The stickies in the link are the best info for barber's hones out there.
http://www.razorandstone.com/forumdisplay.php?68-Synthetic-hones

 

[Gamma]

Agreed - it's the 'best' out there and makes for an ineteresting read.
Even so - I think the reporting falls short in a comprehensive sense.

 

[LosingSleep]

If you ever want to donate it to my hone research let me know.

Lol

Btw check out the page below. The stickies in the link are the best info for barber's hones out there.
http://www.razorandstone.com/forumdisplay.php?68-Synthetic-hones

Thanks for those and I'll let you know. lol

 

[SliceOfLife]

They're good stones. I had one for a brief period. They sure as hell weren't worth $900 when I sold it (wish I'd kept it now just to sell it for $900). But they AREN'T even in the same ballpark as what other stones can give you these days. I'd take a modern 10k synth over one any day of the week, and 10k synths aren't even in my top 5 for finishing stones. A very good stone but with a LOT of hype around it. As others have said, if you keep it, keep it for the sentimental attachment or maybe as an investment (If you trust it will continue to appreciate). DON'T keep it because it's the best razor hone out there. It isn't. Not even close. But if you WANT to keep it and use it, it will work. You don't have to think that you need to sell it to buy better stones if you WANT to keep it.