Several of my Grandpa's old old razor stones...

Hey guys, turns out my Uncle kept his dad's razors and hones from several decades ago when he died...the razors were kept in such a safe place that they are now lost , but the hones are still around...in fact, they are right here! Anyway, some are smoother than others, and I'm just wondering if you can offer any more info than I can provide below, especially this huge half-rounded behemoth. All feel oily, so I'm at least going to say they were used as oilstones, one of them actually saying oilstone on it. Pics to follow, one at a time, starting with the big dude.

BTW, once oiled, always oil it?

Krodor

So this massive thing is fairly oily, and is like a half-cylinder, but would be an oval vs. a circle in cross-section. Quite heavy and is fairly rough. There is a "120" deeply scribed into one end, which seems appropriate-ish for the grit on it. I was thinking it would be used as a lapping stone for other hones, but the base of it is nowhere close to flat enough for that. What's it for? The top rounded parts seem like they might have been used in the past for something as they have more-flattened areas, but I'd doubt for sharpening a razor.

in today's parlance, anyone wanna make a stab as to what "medium fine edge" means? maybe a 1000 grit? it says for carpentry and general woodworking...I'm going to assume NOT using it on a razor without some heavy lapping and personal experience.





certainly needs lapping.

this one's dark side is smoothest of the bunch....anyone know of a honemaker from Marinette Wisconsin?

Last one...it's a little stubby two-sider that is quite rough...again, serious lapping needed.



smoother side only..the rough one is all chunked-up

The Washita is an oil stone, and fairly low grit. I have a Lily White Washita, and it's around 320 grit. I have it lapped and use it to do heavy lifting on rough edges (pre bevel setting). Mine doesn't chip the edge of the razor, which is nice. It doesn't cut all that fast compared to a diamond plate at a much higher grit, but it didn't cost much either.
You are correct on the barber's hone.
I think the Marinette is a combination barber's hone, with a lower and higher grit.
The oblong one may be used to sharpen axes or something... I don't know. Not sure on the other one either.

I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark on the first one (because it is weird, and I've never seen one before).

Could it be for sharpening the inside edge of a curved blade, like a sickle or a scythe?

I was thinking it was a horseshoe sharpener. That does not make any sense, though. Your guess is better than mine.

Krodor said:

this one's dark side is smoothest of the bunch....anyone know of a honemaker from Marinette Wisconsin?

Click to expand...

There were only a few synthetic hone manufacturers in the US and almost all barber's hones were re-branded stones. This is one of those probably made by The American Hone Co. for

Aerial Cutlery Mfg. Co.
Marinette, Wisconsin