New Coti. Folks (esp. Bart), what do ya think?

[SliceOfLife]

It's an Old Hickory. Barely used. The Stamp (Old Hickory) is still visible at the end of the stone. It's a peachy/tan color with dark orange (butterscotch) colored speckles, kind of the way BBW is speckled with dark purple/black. Then it has those dark spots scattered throughout it that you can see. It's a manmade combo stone that was very well put together (my new Coti from Ardennes has a mm or two of filler at places between the slate and the coti, this stone looks like it was cut flush and then glued with almost no filler.)

It's 150x30mm.

I've used it once and it is soft. Ridiculously soft. Takes about 1/4 the time to slurry as my other coti's do. I touch it with my vintage 40x40 stone and bam milky slurry appears instantly.

Any info on this sort of coti, Bart?

 

[Bart]

I looked into some old books and text, but could not find any direct reference to the "Old Hickory" brand.
I've seen it mentioned once, on a list of imported qualities by a US importer.

(with thanks to mrmaroon).

I wouldn't worry too much about these old qualifications. It seems they depended mainly on honing speed, on a few cosmetic parameters, and on some early "marketing" insights.

Could you be so kind to transcribe what you can read of the label?

Kind regards,
Bart.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Ink Stamp on bottom of box "3278"

Mongomery Ward & Co Sticker with handwritten "2-F-H6" and "3278" Printed "11059." followed by handwritten "78"



Top of box


A hickory tree between O and H
underneath it is "Trademark"

Old Hickory Hone
Is Superior to all others for Sharpening Razors
Warrented(sic) to give a very keen and lasting edge.
Can be used with either Water, Oil, or Leather(sic).

 

[Isaac]

Wanna sell it? Beautiful Hone

 

[SliceOfLife]

Nope and thanks.
Here's a closeup to show the more subtle (orange) patterning.

 

[Isaac]

It looks like a Dalmation...very nice

 

[Scotchhound1969]

Ah..you won that. Congrats!
I didnt bid on it, but i know a number of dudes that were drooling, at the sight of it.
Should be an awesome addition to your collection.

 

[Bart]

The black/gray spots are manganese deposits. Usually found on faster specimen. Manganese plays a key role in garnet formation, so "left-over" manganese is a sign of abundant garnet presence within the stone.
The various colors are, as far as I know, only found in the La Dressante layer, which is a bit of a special case, because it delivers a wide range of Coticule properties, from fast to slow, brisk to mellow edges (both properties unrelated to each other). Softness/hardness is something found in all layers, I've both seen very hard and very soft La Dressantes, and everything in between.

If it generates slurry on its own , it might be best to fishing under a running tap.

It looks like a very fine purchase.

Bart.

 

[SliceOfLife]

Thanks everyone.


Yeah, I saw it and it was too pretty to pass up.

I'll finish some razors on it and let you know how it performs.