00 Frictionite substitute

annr

annr

Basic Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2006
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I use a 00 Frictionite. My problem: I don't want to take this baby out of the house for fear of losing it; it's invaluable, out of print and I don't think I have a comp. Could you recommend a comparable portable sharpening stone or tool for touch-ups? I've tried a host of things but none seems to give as keen an edge with so little effort.
 
I have one of those also. Mine is a two sided one with a little green pouch to store it in. Whenever I travel through small towns that still have a barber shop I always stop in to see if they happen to have any because I know that some stocked them and that somewhere out there are more still for sale on a shelf in a small town shop.

Many of the old time axe chopping champions swear by these stones also and would buy them up whenever they could find them.

I don't know if you know the story about these American Hone Company Frictionite stones and how they ended up in Moravia Iowa or the history of how the way they were made was lost one Christmas but it is a very interesting one. I put it on one of the forums here a long time ago. I'll try to find it if you are not familar with it.

Years ago when the woman that made these stones in Iowa passed away and took her secret recipe with her the small barber/beauty shop that sold them and helped distribute them still had just a few of the small sportsmans hones that are also quite good. I've got four of them. They are perhaps the closest you will find to one of your 00 Frictionite stones my friend.

I'll sell you one of them for $20 if you want it. New never used just the way it was placed in the box when done.

And if you ever find any of those stones buy out whats there. I'll split the cost with you if its more than you can handle alone. :D

STR
 
I'd love to try one. Anything that is close may do the trick. I bought "00" in a small city/town pop. 250,000 in about 1975. I think that I will do as you suggest and if I should find a secret stash I will stock up and/or let you know.

When I joined BF I found those posts on the Frictionite. Enchanting.

IYO what would you recommend as a substitute? I teach my students to sharpen double hollow ground knives and I feel badly when they can't really get the same edge as I can:D. Or is it in my imagination? (I just pulled a crappy knife off my desk and with a few passes on the Frictionite that knife could almost sing a double high C.)

I'll email you off the air.:)
 
annr said:
I just pulled a crappy knife off my desk and with a few passes on the Frictionite that knife could almost sing a double high C.
Click to expand...

It's so difficult to get crappy knives to use their whistle register let alone negotiate the passagio between the heavier and lighter mechanisms (though we do thank Lindquist and Vennard for the laryngeal pivot and Dale and Stanley for the EdgePro and Shapton Glasstones). Are you sure it's from the Frictionite and not the person sharpening?
 
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