Thread: Does anyone know about this hone? It's a Raven?...

Here is my local antique store find that got me into straight razors in the first place.I bought it solely because I thought it was cool and thought it would look nice sitting on the shelf.I am curious about what grit it is.It feels smooth as glass.Anyone have any experience/knowledge of this hone?Any info much appreciated!

Originally Posted by shinyribs

Here is my local antique store find that got me into straight razors in the first place.I bought it solely because I thought it was cool and thought it would look nice sitting on the shelf.I am curious about what grit it is.It feels smooth as glass.Anyone have any experience/knowledge of this hone?Any info much appreciated!

Hi! I am beginning to be quite experienced in barbers hones these days. I feel barely qualified to say anything, but perhaps sharing some of my insight might help you decide the right answer for yourself.

First, like all hones, large and small, there are a few things that impact the 'grit' of the hone. You need a DMT or lapping plate with sandpaper to flatten it out for use first. Then, you can examine the slurry that comes off it in greater detail, as well as evaluate the surface after the 100 years worth of age has left on it has been removed.

Lapping and chamfering your hone tells you tons about it, how fast it laps for example. The softer stones I have lap very quickly and leave a thick slurry quickly on the DMT. (Diamond honing plate, formally a DMT D8C or DMT 325). A really soft stone or really rough feeling stone erodes quickly and is not a great polisher. I have a few Swaty's that are very hard, and lapping them was a PITA. These harder stones have a much higher grit than say the front of my Duro or an Aloxite 200 that would be better suited to a knife sharpener than a razor, just as examples.

Now, if you are trying to compare it to a real 'bevel' setting stone like a Norton 4K or 8K, or say to the Chinese 12k which we call a PHIG (peoples hone of indeterminate grit). I usually try and rate mine as being 'Greater' than an 8k or 'Lower'. I have very, very few hones that are 'greater' than the 8k IMHO. Most are in the 6-8k range. Maybe, just maybe as high as 10k for my smoothest stones. Again now, this is must my opinion. Others may feel completely differently.

So, to answer directly your question, and sorry for the rambling lecture on old hone restoration and evaluation, but it is impossible to tell without getting my hands on it, lapping it completely flat, removing all the nicks and dings, chamfering the edges neatly and (this is a personal touch to finish up a razor hone) polish the fronts with 600 grit W/D and the backs up to 1k grit to finish them. In my experience with hones of this type, I'd say you will find this Raven to come in around the 6-8k area. Fairly hard, and a quick edge fixer.

I read once that the fronts were used rougher to cut quicker, and the backs were made smoother and used to polish.

Nice old hone. I saw a Raven for sale a while back, I was tempted to grab it. But I'm tempted to grab any hone I don't already have one of.

Get her cleaned up and enjoy the heck outta it!!! Have fun!

M

Wow...the more I learn,the more I realize i need to learn more.LOL.Ok,so lapping is something you do to the hone to be certain that IT is flay before touching a razor to it?Thank you for your "rambling lecture"...that is exactly what i need!

pmburk was nice enough to send me in this direction: Raven Barber Hone Info?

Wow, chasing that thread around was very educational for me as well.. It was as I suspected all along, no matter what it is you think you know, others have already been there and can help you along the way! Too cool! In all that there was a Raven, being used wet to apparently great results!!

Lots of great help on here isn't there?

Later!

Mike

Yes,lots of help.Awesome site!