Photos identifying stone - novaculite

They did have 1 or 2 more sentences on washita stones a year ago. But I can't find
them. They are the most coarse grade of Arkansas stones. Still, 4-500 grit is not coarse, to me. DM
 
Dan's Washita's are very soft arks by my understanding.

Norton did have several different Lily White's graded by hardness and grit, also the Rosy Red which was the softest, in addition to a number one and a number two. The number one's and two's stones didn't come graded as to hardness or grit but graded by flaws in the stone.

The more modern Smith's Washita's are different from the others also.
 
Well Washita's came from Arkansas so we can call them Arkansas stones? It just adds to the confusion when modern manufactures market their super soft Arks as Washita's. They came from different mines and are a different type of stone.
 
Thats not what I have read.
Arkansas stones came from the area in around Hot Springs. Thus, heat and volcanic activity worked to form them. The quarry extends around that area. Some are dense and hard others soft depending much on the depth of the vein. But I am not an expert on them so, what you wish.
 
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David Martin said:
Thats not what I have read.
Arkansas stones came from the area in around Hot Springs. Thus, heat and volcanic activity worked to form them. The quarry extends around that area. Some are dense and hard others soft depending much on the depth of the vein. But I am not an expert on them so, what you wish.
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David, there is a lot of information in this publication https://books.google.com/books?id=y...=_c&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj82c3ym8XoAhWzFjQIHSsgBgA this is a good read also https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.31175035165789&view=2up&seq=2&skin=mobile.
 
Lifendeath said:
I broke my stone, but i really loved it and need help identifying it, so i may replace it. It was sold to me as a washita, but it is quite hard and quite smooth. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
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The very highest quality Arkansas stones are sold by Dan's Whetstones (https://www.danswhetstone.com/) There is also a lot of information on his site about Arkansas stones. Your stone is likely a Ouachita. They are even a little softer stone courser grit that Dan's "Soft Arkansas". I got into knives through a sharpening hobby, and I've tried all the water and oil stones in just about every grit level. May I make a recommendation? For pocketknives, buy a "Hard Arkansas" as your primary starter stone. Forget the soft, cheap ones labeled Ouachita. A 4x2x1/2 will cost you about $20 and is plenty big for a pocket knife. You can get a very keen edge with this one. If you want to polish the edge to a finer level, which really isn't necessary, then also buy a "Hard Black" or "Translucent". These are about $75 in the same size. I just sold a 6" black on eBay for $50. (Both black and translucent have the same level of "grit", just different appearance. Some purists just prefer one color or the other.) Arkansas Novaculite stones don't follow typical "grit" numbers. I'd say that "Hard Arkansas" is about 1000, and black/translucent about 5000. Arkansas takes some extra practice, but the "zen" is much superior. Only use light oil on Arkansas, never water. After trying everything there is, this is best by a very big margin. By the way, do not use diamond stones. They cut very fast and you lose the feel. I literally use my 400 diamond stone (equivalent to your Ouachita in grit) as a reprofiling file! Good luck. Glad to talk about this live if you're interested further.
 
Washita (Ouachita Mountains) is the cheapest form of Arkansas stone, softest, coursest. Don't confuse Washita with Novaculite. I guess Washita technically is, but only considered so by people trying to sell cheap stones. Dan's won't even sell it, which is why it isn't there. The fact that you broke yours almost proves it's Washita. I've dropped Dan's stones many times and have never even chipped an edge. Call Dan's and talk to Dan live. He owns the quarry rights to the very best of the quarries in Arkansas, so his stones are really that much better. Call him and talk to him live, he's a totally cool guy! There is a Youtube video you can find with Dan explaining things.
 
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