Thread: Escher/Thurry questions

In terms of edge quality (not collectibility), would it be the case that some of the darker stones (blue/black) perform as well as the much sought yellow/green?

Blue/Black w/ Escher label vs yellow/green non-escher.

'Don't know how much heartburn to go through to chase the cherished Y/G.

Ideally, testing would be the way to decide, but from most private sellers, that's rarely possible.

I had a really nice Escher dark blue with the 'Celebrated Water Hone' label with the cup (E & Co) on the center of the label, and it was really good. Slower than a b/g or a light or y/g but gave great edges. I sold it to a fellow who told me not long ago that he loves the edges he's getting with it.

Jimmy, Thank You! The amounts are sizable enough to want to know more before signing up. I appreciate your help!

I can echo Jimmy's post. I have a couple and am very happy with the dark blue. Also, be patient and check out antique store/flea markets and you really don't need to break the bank (you may need to be very patient though).

See also this post and the responses below it.

Labels don't matter. You don't hone on the label.
What matters is the stone; and because they're naturals, they'll vary from one to another.
I've had a bunch of blue/blacks in those little wood boxes - with and without the Escher cup on the label. The best of them was greyish in color, but it wasn't branded Escher. All were good - a few were very very good.
But my larger blue/black non-label thuri was better still.
Presently - it's a shootout between my y/g (no label thuri, but probably an Escher) and my larger unknown-flavor labeled Escher (depending on the light it seems to be dark green with a hint of yellow, or possibly grey/green), and a little no-label thuri that's blue on one side and green on the other.
Funnily enough - I have a dark black/blue unknown-brand slate hone from the UK that's a smidge better than either of them. I have no idea what it is but it's a pretty phenomenal stone. It's rough on the bottom, the sides were never really finished either. It came to me in a fitted box-tray and it's held in with plaster or something. Looks like hell... hones like heaven.

I have several myself, including the one's in the little boxes, and a large dk blue with the cup on it, that say's E and Co on it. They work just a well as the Y/G, maybe just a bit slower ime. As previously mentioned, They're naturals, and vary a bit from stone to stone, but if it's Escher, it's good.

I've got a dark black/blue Escher and a y/g w/o label. The Escher I picked up at a flea market and the y/g at an antique shop. I won't tell what I paid for them but it was very cheap. I find that the edges I get off the y/g to be slightly better than the dark Escher for the most part. It's rare that I would hone on the dark, shave and then hone on the y/g and compare the shave. If fact, I don't recall doing so. Of the razors I do hone on either one of the hones are all fine shavers but the y/g edges seem slightly better. To go a little further, some of the harder steel razors I have I run over the C12k and get excellent results, some better than the Escher. Is it the steel or the hone that is making the difference? I can't say for sure but I know that the cost factor is not improving any of the edges.

It's my decided opinion that honing is 20% hone and 80% talent. Not that I'm some stellar honemeister - cause I'm not.
I can't say that a finer stone isn't capable of bringing up a finer stone though.
Cost - well that's another thing. Throwing money at a problem never guaranteed a solution...

I'd rather say 20% hone and 80% practice, honing a lot helps!