Frictionite No. 3

The Fort · Oct 23, 2016

Hi everyone! Hopefully I've posted this in the correct place. Last week, someone that I work with gave me a two sided sharpening stone. He's in his sixties, and said that it used to belong to his long deceased father, so I believe it's pretty old. It appears to be very well cared for, and still very flat. It's marked American Hone Co. Frictionite No. 3. Does anyone know what grits the two different sides may be, or anything else about this particular stone? Thanks in advance.

kn4wd · Oct 23, 2016

frictionite ,was a razor hone, its manmade and there was no grit rating as far as I know. just a sticker use this side first. razor hone usually cut quick because they were made to get a razor back to shaving where the barber could get a razor shaving quickly. the frictionite 00 was the one everyone who wants a straight razor hone wants.supposedly the 00 is the best one out there. I use straights and all my stones are naturals.

The Fort · Oct 23, 2016

Thanks for the info kn4wd. I hope this isn't a stupid question, but do you know what the difference is between the no.3 and the 00?

kn4wd · Oct 23, 2016

yeah, the 00 is the only barber hone by frictonite that is reported to get a true shaving edge. the others don't get it to a strop and shave edge, I would guess that it is a lot finer and it may open a can of worms but it is a guess. I had several old barber hones and now have two, that are unused collectors pieces. I use cotis, jnats, a(to me) very special arkie , and apache strata hones. the coticule leaves a very nice edge to the face.

The Fort · Oct 24, 2016

I'm sorry, one more thing that I forgot to ask. Should it be used with oil, water, or dry?

kn4wd · Oct 24, 2016

most barber hones are rubbed with the palm of your hand to get oil from your skin, some used water, don't some used vaseline. I don't know about frictionite. google it and see what you find.

The Fort · Oct 24, 2016

Thanks again!

Puerco · Oct 24, 2016

Most barberhones were traditionally used with (shaving)lather. A few laps on the hone for a razor that lost it's sharpness followed by stropping on linen than leather and they were good to go for the next customer.