Thread: is this a coticule?

It looks like BBW to me but use a lapping plate or sandpaper and see what color the slurry is. I know in the old days they had natural combo coticules and coticules glued to Belgian blue whetstone, they didn't use BBW for honing back then so it was just a backing. Then they switched to concrete at a brief period before Maurice took over for the mine and became Ardennes Coticule. At this point they used Slate to back the Coticules and keep the natural combos for a two-in-one stone. Some current layers are thin and require the BBW and coticule to be a natural combo as seperating them can cause the coticule to break into piece. La Veinette is usually a natural combination stone of the newer coticules.

Nice Christmas present...Great find, looks like a vintage Coti to me, can't be sure though. Do a pic of the reverse side, close up, and wet. We'll tell you if it's bbw, or rub it, purple slurry = bbw....Congrats....

P.S. the fact that the water/slurry turned gray/dark after 10 strokes usually indicates a fast cutting Coti.