Spyderco's GOLDENSTONE? Any Information Available yet?

J

JD Spydo

Joined
Nov 20, 2004
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It's been some time ago on one of these subforums I heard that Spyderco did have various plans for the GOLDENSTONE sharpening tool. I heard at one point that Spyderco was working on some type of a base for the GOLDENSTONE which would make it better to work with. But I haven't heard any follow up on that in a long time. I also heard that there was talk of maybe the GOLDENSTONE maybe at some point being offered in more grit selections. But in the past year or so I haven't heard anything about that either.

I've experimented with my GOLDENSTONE quite a bit lately and I've found it extremely handy for my Spyderco kitchen knives. When the GOLDENSTONE was released into the main line up it literally took the place of my dearly beloved 701 Profiles ( Thank GOD I bought extra Sets When I could ;))>> But it's as though it has died a quiet death as far as Spyderco's sharpening tools go>> because I have not heard anything about it at all. I believe that the tool has potential but it's like it has fallen out of favor :confused:

I would love to see the GOLDENSTONE in at least 4 different grit selections and I do hope we hear something soon. Does anyone else use the GOLDENSTONE? IF so what do you mainly use it for? Anyone heard any news on it at all? Any hope of the 701 Profiles being brought back? Well let's talk about it at least?
 
JD Spydo said:
It's been some time ago on one of these subforums I heard that Spyderco did have various plans for the GOLDENSTONE sharpening tool. I heard at one point that Spyderco was working on some type of a base for the GOLDENSTONE which would make it better to work with. But I haven't heard any follow up on that in a long time. I also heard that there was talk of maybe the GOLDENSTONE maybe at some point being offered in more grit selections. But in the past year or so I haven't heard anything about that either.

I've experimented with my GOLDENSTONE quite a bit lately and I've found it extremely handy for my Spyderco kitchen knives. When the GOLDENSTONE was released into the main line up it literally took the place of my dearly beloved 701 Profiles ( Thank GOD I bought extra Sets When I could ;))>> But it's as though it has died a quiet death as far as Spyderco's sharpening tools go>> because I have not heard anything about it at all. I believe that the tool has potential but it's like it has fallen out of favor :confused:

I would love to see the GOLDENSTONE in at least 4 different grit selections and I do hope we hear something soon. Does anyone else use the GOLDENSTONE? IF so what do you mainly use it for? Anyone heard any news on it at all? Any hope of the 701 Profiles being brought back? Well let's talk about it at least?
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With the right base, pretty much any angle between 20 and 0 would be possible. I look forward to seeing what Spyderco has up its sleeve.
 
Hi JD,

We designed a stand that converts the 40 degrees to 30 degrees. The plan is to offer the ceramic Golden stone along with a CBN version (the old Duckfoot) and the 30 degree stand together as a set. I travel with that set regularly and have really enjoyed it. We've been holding off on the base until the Gauntlet is ready. We just approved of the final proto for the Gauntlet so we'll begin tooling for the Golden stone base soon.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi JD,

We designed a stand that converts the 40 degrees to 30 degrees. The plan is to offer the ceramic Golden stone along with a CBN version (the old Duckfoot) and the 30 degree stand together as a set. I travel with that set regularly and have really enjoyed it. We've been holding off on the base until the Gauntlet is ready. We just approved of the final proto for the Gauntlet so we'll begin tooling for the Golden stone base soon.
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That is excellent news to hear Mr. Glesser :) I'm looking very forward to both the GAUNTLET and the new CBN GOLDENSTONE & base to both hit the market. For a sharpening fanatic like myself that is truly excellent news and I'm sure a lot of other forumites will be patiently waiting for both units to become available on the main line up.

However I'm still holding out hope that you all will consider the GOLDENSTONE in more grits like Ultra-Fine, Medium or any other grit you think will help us keep our Spyders "sharp & ready" . The more I play with and experiment with my GOLDENSTONE the more I'm liking it>> I think an Ultra-fine GOLDENSTONE would be so useful for those in the culinary and meat cutting trades as well as us hobbyists. I'm also hoping that more information will be made available on the many uses of the GOLDENSTONE and hopefully an instructional video also might be forthcoming as well.
 
Hey JD,

I wold guess both medium and ultra fine would be possible. FYI, the Golden stone was originally invented and designed back in 1978 when we invented the Sharp-maker. Unfortunately, the technology wasn't there to make it. We patented the idea much later, when we made the Duck-foot. It was only recently that the technology was there to actually make a Golden-stone. It is a remarkable piece just in being able to make it in ceramic. That's why it's so expensive.

sal
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hey JD,

I wold guess both medium and ultra fine would be possible. FYI, the Golden stone was originally invented and designed back in 1978 when we invented the Sharp-maker. Unfortunately, the technology wasn't there to make it. We patented the idea much later, when we made the Duck-foot. It was only recently that the technology was there to actually make a Golden-stone. It is a remarkable piece just in being able to make it in ceramic. That's why it's so expensive.l
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Like I said before, I like my GS and I like experimenting with it and trying different things with it. But having one in UF would be really handy for fine tuning kitchen blades and I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one who would want one in UF. I'm really anxious to see what the CBN stone will be like.

yeah I remember all that history on the GS and on the Sharpmaker both>> very interesting product evolution for sure. They are both really nice sharpening tools and both sort of ahead of their time. But I still very much miss the 701 Profiles and do hope you all decide to bring them back at some point. I bet if they were available in at least 4 different grits like Med, fine, UF and diamond there would be markets in many other trades that would love having them as well as sharpening enthusiasts.

If the GOLDENSTONE is actually supposed to replace the 701 Profiles I'll try to adapt but I still can't do some jobs with the GS as I can with the 701 files. I find the 701 files a lot more versatile in many applications epsecially manually doing Spyderedges. Oh well I'm glad I stocked up on a couple of extra sets when they got disco'd. But they were an excellent tool and I do hope they return some day. Very interesting information needless to say
 
Just ordered one of the 'Golden Stones' from Blade HQ, should be here near mid week, it sure looks like a handy stone for carrying everyday in a kit bag where the sharpmaker would take up too much room, again it would be just for touch ups.

My 'plan' is to use that to help keep a more accurate micro bevel, or rather more consistent micro bevel, which I'm just starting to experiment with adding when I sharpen.

It would be great to get the medium grit also, Sal please let us know if that ever becomes a real thing :)

G2

edited to add: from the looks of the stone, it doesn't seem like a base is really needed, it would be just one more thing to carry, but, we shall see ;)
 
Well GARY I think you'll like the GOLDENSTONE. Like I said previously I just want to see it in more grit selections. I'm really getting anxious to test drive this new, upcoming GOLDENSTONE in CBN. But I want an Ultra-Fine GOLDENSTONE as well. When you think about it an Ultra-Fine GOLDENSTONE would probably completely eliminate the need/uses of a butcher's steels and/or sharpening steel. And the UF might even be significantly better in many respects.

As soon as they hit the market I'm going to buy a GAUNTLET sharpening kit. I'm anxious to see how they might compliment all the great Spyderco sharpening tools that are currently available like the 204 Sharpmaker. If this GAUNTLET has more capabilities than the 204 Sharpmaker then all I can say it "BRING IT ON"!!

Also hearing about an updated version of the GALLEY V kit I'm finding very interesting as well.
 
Sounds interesting, my key thing is portability, carry to work and things without being too big.

Other grits would certainly be welcome, at least the UF

Anyone have photos of this other thing? Gauntlet ?

G2
 
The Goldenstone arrived today from BladeHQ, while it arrived safely, I would have felt better if the stone was in a box of some sort, less chance of being banged around from other things in the box, it was in it's leather slip sheath, nice by the way and that was in a plastic bag.

BUT, that small shipping nitpic aside, Mr Glesser, VERY VERY cool, I wish I had gotten one of these long ago. I also did not realize they are as big as they are, not awkwardly so, but in fact just right for what it is intended for.

If anyone had held off getting one...do yourself a favour, don't wait ! Check them out here at Blade HQ, a paid dealer on Bladeforums

From tip to center tip it is about 7 1/8" long and at the base from side to side is just 3"

about 1/4" thick with nicely radius corners plus of course that one center channel that is good for fish hooks or the tips of needles and awls.

The full flat surface allows for free hand sharpening if needed.

Overall, simply an exceptional tool and very glad to have it in my daily kit. The medium grit would be a welcome addition, while an Ultra Fine might be nice, I think the regular fine seems to provide a very good edge.

:thumbup: :thumbup:

G2
 
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Yeah like I said I just want to see it offered in more grit selections. The GOLDENSTONE sharpening tool has huge potential if offered in more grits. Like I said I'm anxious to check in out in the CBN selection that they are going to eventually put on the market.

But to have 4 GOLDENSTONES in different grits would be a superb portable sharpening system. They have many advantages over conventional benchstones and they would be great in the field on hunting and fishing trips.

I still do some work with the original DUCKFOOT diamond sharpener that's essentially a GOLDENSTONE with a fine diamond grit. It's kind of strange that they took that off the market because most of the guys I know that got one of those spoke favorably of it :confused:

Also with additional grit selections it would make a superb sharpening tool for Spyderedges as well IMO.
 
Been using this one a bit lately, at work I showed a fellow the stone and suggested that he buy one. It was pretty funny as I handed him the stone to put a micro bevel on his knife, I explained how to do it and wanted him to do the sharpening. He did the one side fine, then he spun the stone around only to end up with the same side/angle, it baffled him lol...how oh how do you do the other side? and this guy is usually pretty smart, I said 'rock the stone to the other corner' then he switched hands and said he would be terrible trying to do it left handed....I just sighed and said 'no, just use your right hand and go under your left, not as neat as the other side but certainly doable. And it came out great, he was very surprised at the edge it came away with.

Another fellow at work that I routinely sharpen his folder for stopped by and I said give me your knife, I want to put a micro bevel on there...that was two days ago, today his thumb has a bandaid on it. Said that he did not realize how sharp it really was, he was cutting through some heavy air hose to make a special length hose and the knife zipped through and into his waiting thumb ;) there ya go...

G2
 
You make an interesting observation there Gary because for the basic intent of the GOLDENSTONE tool I think for the most part it's pretty much boils down to good old common horse sense. But I'm also sure that it's inventor knows a lot of methods and tricks to it's overall usage that we've yet to learn about.

I'm anxious to get those bases and I'm more than anxious to get the CBN GOLDENSTONE as well. I got a feeling this is going to be a good year for Spyderco and their wide array of new products
 
I wondered about a base, as long as it wasn't too large, it would be handy I think.

And yes, I hope Spyderco has a banner year, they win...we win ;)
G2
 
One other thing I'm noticing about the GOLDENSTONE is the versatility of it. I will admit that I still like the 701 Profile stones just a tad better than I do the GOLDENSTONE but I'm still in the learning process. I wish I could get inside Sal's innovative, brilliant mind and learn the many tricks to it's uses and capabilities which I believe that I've only scratched the surface thus far.

But having a set of GOLDENSTONES in Medium, ULtra-Fine and maybe even a very aggressive medium grit diamond version. Because to me the Duckfoot wasn't as aggressive as I would have liked it to be. My jury is still out on the CBN GOLDENSTONE because I haven't obtained one yet but I will as soon as I can get one at a decent price.

I do believe that this "base" for the GOLDENSTONE will indeed expand it's versatility. I'm looking forward to the improvements to the GOLDENSTONE because I believe in more grit selections it may end up being the perfect field sharpening tool in due time.
 
The price held me back, I tried to get a used one but no luck, so I waited until I had funds saved and bought one.

As Sal said they are expensive to make so different grits may be a while to see any come to market
G2
 
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Gary W. Graley said:
The price held me back, I tried to get a used one but no luck, so I waited until I had funds saved and bought one.

As Sal said they are expensive to make so different grits may be a while to see any come to market
G2
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Yeah I know I looked for a short time to hopefully find one for sale here on the "Exchange" section but I've never seen one on the secondary market in a very long time. There just isn't that many being sold from what I can tell. It's market is probably very narrow and mainly for sharpening enthusiasts I'm sure. I bet for every GOLDENSTONE that Spyderco sells they probably sell about 40 or 50 of their 204 Sharpmaker kits for every one sale of the GS.

But now that they got a CBN version and are going to release the Goldenstone base and hopefully later down the road they will offer the Goldenstone in other grits>> especially Ultra-Fine. I think the GOLDENSTONE has very nice potential but I think it's market is very limited for several reasons. I'm sure it's not the only sharpening tool that Spyderco hasn't sold well with>> because I'm discovering that the older/discontinued 701 Profiles were a real laggard sales-wise.

The GOLDENSTONE, GAUNTLET and the new GALLEY V all should be great new tools and I Hope they all hit the market here in 2017.
 
I do have a Ultra Fine Triangle stone, but no loner have the sharp maker, sent that off to a friend years ago. But, with the Goldenstone, I found I could use the groove side of the triangle stone to set against the side of the Goldenstone so I can make use of the Ultra fine stone for a very fine micro bevel edge ;)

it's a bit wonky but it does work.
G2
 
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