Thread: A.M. Hone Co. Little Devil

Last weekend I was at an antique store and laying on the bottom shelf of the "shaving case" was this little hone. It is marked on one side A.M. Hone Co. And on the other side Little Devil. It measures 2 3/4"x1 3/4" x3/8"The only info that I could find on this stone was a eBay auction that ended earlier this year at $102, but this stone was 1" longer than mi e. I assumed when I bought it that it was a barbers hone for touch ups because it feels like it is a very high grit stone. Does anyone have any knowledge of his stone or why one would sell for so much on eBay?

It sells for so much because people are crazy. Amongst hone freaks, I can say that because I was one, these things take on legendary status. One guy posts a thread on something and the next thing you know a twenty dollar item is selling for a hundred. Randy, who owns quite a bit of the old stock of American Hone Co, has made many visits there, and is expert on their wares, told me that the little devil is a coarse hone. When Tillie was selling the last of the stock of the AH Co it was one of the cheaper stones. If you want it for the collector's appeal go for it but for actually using it on your razors I'd recommend a swaty or something like that.

Great point JimmyHAD, +1. AHC has made such a variety that any find of theirs is a keeper, just maybe not suitable for a razor edge, but a knife edge.

I have discovered that not all hones were made for razors, no matter what the seller claims!

The Frictionite #00 was thier finest razor hone, IMO, and everyone who sees AHC on a stone thinks it will be like a frictionite.

They did make a great 2 sided hone as well.

People think they can make money buying any AHC hone, and most don't know squat about razor hones.

I've noticed that the prices of 'decent' razor hones has dramatically increased on the 'bay. The only reason is folks think they are hot right now, and are trying to capitalize on it. All they succeed in doing is driving the price up until they do not sell at all. I'm watching that happen right now. A really beat up, chipped and stained Swaty going for $40. Ridiculous.

M

I used to have one which I got from Tilly and as I recall the recommendation was to use it to flatten other hones. I don't know if it's truly suitable for that but it is coarser then typical barber hones and I wouldn't classify it as a real finisher.

The Little Devil hone is unique in that it has a very high percentage of abrasives in it ( per cubic inch). More than in other AHC hones. That is why it feels so "coarse", the density, per surface square inch, of abrasive grains is higher. The actual grit size used in that hone is the same as most of the other AHC hones which do not feel as "coarse" because there is more space between the abrasive grains. The exceptions are the Frictionite 00 and a couple of others which used the finest grit available at the time.

Hope this helps,

The thing is that mine doesn't feel rough at all. Mine really smooth. I probably won't even use it it s a bit small.

A 3"-4" long barber hone is adequate for touch ups.