Anyone know what kind of stone this is?

COSMO

COSMO

Joined
Feb 13, 2005
Messages
453
Good Day all

Looking for some insight on this sharpening stone. Picked it up cheap at the gun show this weekend. At first I thought it was a good tackle box knife, and the groove is for fish hooks, but the groove seems a bit deep for fishhooks. Also, is this an Arkansas stone? It is very smooth. Any input is appreciated.





Thanks

Cosmo
 
?Washita stone ?
One of the dudes from my woodworking chatroom days loved Washita stones.
To boot he was probably the fastest "Geeeeterdone" sharpener I have ever seen that really knew his stuff.
He would hit the edge on a bench grinder and take a couple of passes on a Washita stone and within a minute he would have a very accurate and useful edge for hand tool wood planing. I prefer a different approach (and some would say I just work wood so I have something to sharpen) but he got decent results ! ! !
Here is a vid by him
PS : I will see if I can find the vid of him doing the quick like a bunny sharpening as well.
 
eKretz said:
Looks like it could be a modern Washita.
Click to expand...
I was not saying it isn't a Washita. I posted while you were and thought I was the first one to answer.

By the way I could not find the vid by David W. doing his super fast one minute sharpen. Oh well; probably something he did just for the woodworking chatroom back in the day. Basically he hollow grinds to within 1mm or less of the edge without effecting the heat treat then takes 'er to the Washita and maybe to a Trans Ark and a finish side up leather strop with no abrasive on it. He was big on plain leather and he knows a whole lot about shaving razors; he's nuts for those and really is expert about them.
 
That stay away from the edge method is a good way to do it. I know Dave from the straight razor forums. He and I are in agreement on a lot of things.
 
I agree with a Washita. Which is the coarsest of Arkansas stones. Good for sharpening carbon steels, axes, and basic stainless steels. Kitchen cutlery ect.. DM
 
Thanks for the input guys. I still am not sure what the groove is for, and it feels really smooth. If washita stones are very coarse, I would not expect it to be this smooth.
 
I wouldn't say Washitas are very coarse but they are very soft and will dish out rapidly. They are good for a quick touch up in the field. That looks like a soft Arkansas to me but you really can't tell anything from a photo.
 
Looks a lot like a stone I have in a similar pattern of pink/white, which I've referred to as a 'medium' or 'soft' Arkansas stone ('soft' in the sense it sheds grit relatively easily, and also shapes & flattens easily against another stone, like a SiC, when it needs lapping or conditioning). The one I have works very well for simple steels like 1095, CV, 420HC, producing a finish in the range DM mentioned, around ~ 500-grit. I've noticed it follows a Fine India stone (~360 - 400) pretty well, for example. I think the one I have even came in a setup similar to yours, on a 'paddle'; but I removed it from that some years ago.

The groove might be there for sharpening fish hooks (maybe larger ones, if the groove is very deep) or something like that. Pretty common trait on 'field sharpening' stones marketed to sportsmen.
 
Yeah it's almost certainly a hook or dart sharpening groove. Washita stones are still made of novaculite, just like a translucent or black Arkansas stone, so they can feel just as smooth when they get worn down or purposely lapped that way. They just aren't nearly as dense, so they give up abrasive particles more easily and cut more aggressively. The best way to use a Washita is to keep it freshly lapped and let it cut quick. They are very good on things like chisels and plain carbon steel kitchen knives, etc. (Fish hooks and dart points, etc.)
 
COSMO said:
Thanks for the input guys. I still am not sure what the groove is for, and it feels really smooth. If washita stones are very coarse, I would not expect it to be this smooth.
Click to expand...

The groove is used to sharpen fishing hooks.
 
Would it be more palatable if I reworded my post to say; the Washita is the lowest grit for Arkansas stones..? DM
 
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As always, I'm amazed and thankful for all the input and knowledge from the bladeforums community. I Appreciate all of you sharing your input to help me figure out a little more about this Stone.

Sincerely
Cosmo
 
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