Unidentified oil stones - help please

[BDubbs]

I got these from a lady in VA and she didn’t know anything about them. I’m assuming oil stones? Large one has some markings I’ve tried to capture, no other markings on the stones or boxes. Let me know what you think

Thanks,

Dub

 

[Bill DeShivs]

Large is a fine India stone.
Middle is a combination Arkansas Washita/hard Arkansas stone.
Last is a Carborundum stone.

 

[BDubbs]

Large is a fine India stone.
Middle is a combination Arkansas Washita/hard Arkansas stone.
Last is a Carborundum stone.

Thanks Bill, I was sure someone here would know. I’m not questioning your answer just looking to learn, is it something about the Arkansas stones color that tells you?
dub

 

[Bill DeShivs]

The colors and textures of all the stones help identify them.
Washita stones are usually whitish, and the hard Arkansas can be anywhere from translucent to black.

 

[BDubbs]

The colors and textures of all the stones help identify them.
Washita stones are usually whitish, and the hard Arkansas can be anywhere from translucent to black.

Thanks Bill

 

[777 Edge]

The middle stone could also possibly be a Belgian Coticule / BBW combination.

 

[garry3]

The second stone does appear to be a Coticule, Belgian Blue Combo. The Belgian was used to stabilize the coticule as they are found together, the coticule running through a Belgian layer. That one is a glued combo but they also come as natural combos. The Belgian Blues can be decent stones in their own right, but the prize is usually the Coticule. They are both much faster on a slurry and dilute to finish, usually used with water but oil is fine. They can handle more modern steels than most natural stones. They are prized as razor hones.
Nice find.

 

[BDubbs]

Thanks fellas something new for me to research, wasn’t even aware of the Belgium stones before last week. I’m going to start looking for more of the old natural stones and build up a set. I don’t know how useful they are on the modern super steels but they will do the job for my GEC and case knives and I just like having them. Nostalgia maybe.

 

[garry3]

Thanks fellas something new for me to research, wasn’t even aware of the Belgium stones before last week. I’m going to start looking for more of the old natural stones and build up a set. I don’t know how useful they are on the modern super steels but they will do the job for my GEC and case knives and I just like having them. Nostalgia maybe.

The Coticules can be soft so careful with the pressure.

If you don't like it and want to get rid of it let me know.