All About Pocket Knives

Here's one Scott of my Grandpas axe stone we leave upta camp.

Here's a couple of interesting old stones I have. Posted the Case counter hone on a separate thread before I found this one. Best guess on its age is somewhere around 1940-1950's. The smaller case stone in wooden box dates to 1970's based on one like it being in 1974 Case catalog.

Maybe one of the site admins could move that thread to this one so they are in one place for future research.

Ken

Mumbleypeg wrote:Maybe one of the site admins could move that thread to this one so they are in one place for future research.

Done

Here's an old Cattaraugus stone in the original box.

Scored this little 4" Norton India Oil Stone yesterday......

That's a nice size. I try to keep one like it in with my hunting gear, and another with my camping gear. Usually though, they get "borrowed" and not returned! Tuck that one away someplace safe, so you know you have it when you need it.

Thanks coffeecup!

I keep scoring these things, but then I flip 'em....

Today I found this gently used Arkansas Novaculite Oil Stone with the wood box

I keep finding these rascals....
Over the weekend I found this dark charcoal/black stone that is smooth as silk and weighs 29 ounces!!!
The other is a BUCK Washita Stone #131 that could use a bath in Easy Off Oven Cleaner and it'd look almost new!!!

Here are three different Sears Crafstman stones I have picked up over time.

Bkazz5, if I remember right, the two larger stones were made by Norton. Not sure about the smaller one, but I think it is a Norton as well.

Here are a few sharpening stones that I got a number of years ago from my father. The stone in the upper right is boxed in walnut with an inlay on the top. You will notice that both of the big stones have slices of bicycle inner tube around the ends for traction on a table top. All are still reasonably flat although the edges on the two big stones are a little worn.

The lower picture are a couple of stones that I have picked up on my own from a garage sale and a flea market. The little white stone is fairly fine and good for sharpening convex blades like prunners. The other may be my favorite stone as it has a lot of age on it but is still square and flat with nice crisp corners.

I am partial to large sharpening stones as I dislike ending up with blades that have scratches on them where one has run the knife blade off the end of the stone. Of course one needs a smaller setup in the field for touching up the blades now and then.

Seems to me that collecting sharpening gear is almost as addictive as collecting knives, but it definitely helps when refurbishing an old folder that has seen better days.

I think I'm getting the feel for the Black Arkansas stones......Purdy sure I just picked up another one.
It weighs close to a pound and is suhmooooth as a baby's butt. 7 1/8" L x 1 1/2" W x 3/4"T

Nice costly stone in that size, Scott. They are pretty hard which is why they're so smooth. A great sharpening /polishing stone. I don't know what you would have to do to wear one out.
Your like a magnet for these things guy. I hope your hanging on to a couple of them.

Thanks Joe.....I guess I just notice them more.

Hopefully I'm not just hogging this thread, but adding some value, especially with this little treat - enlarge pics to see details...

Here's my Dad's sharpening stone. No idea waht type, maybe someone can tell me.

Rather small stone. My Dad always use this stone and could sharpen knives like no one else. One slip and you would hit bone.
I have a Lansky, etc. I could not quite figure out the perfect technique on Dad's stone until yesterday. With correct angle and pressure on just a few passes, now the sharpest I have ever been able to get a knife. Passes thru paper (and I am sure human skin if you make a mistake) with ease.

Still have to figure out best technique to sharpen toward the tip of a clip with scratching up the blade tip.

I am old school and perfer a stone, especially after what I was able to do yesterday. My Lansky never performed that well, in my opinion.

Some beautiful old stones shown here. Thanks for sharing. Would be cool to collect.

Just curious how many of you use a stone as your primary means of knife sharpening?

Jerry

Jerry I use a 1x30 belt sander with various belts, and a leather stropping belt now. But I learned free hand with stones, as I think everyone should first. I had a Lansky like system, but I never liked it as much as a stone.

I'm like your dad, in that prefer a stone I can hold. I find it easier to maintain the right angle, especially near the tip if I can manipulate both the knife and the stone.

Even though I use the belt sander to set the bevel and strop it, I still finish everything up on a stone and do touch ups on a stone, usually an old razor hone. I also use a ceramic stick or old steel.

I guess I'm just lazy now, because it sure is easier to get the bevel set with the belt sander. But it ain't finished until it's seen the hone!

Jerry- I'm thinking that might be an Arkansas Stone....but I'm a newbie with stones.

I use the Lansky System, but I use it freehand because the clamp doesn't have grooves. Then I hit a few strokes on the black stone (about 8" shown above), then strop on an old belt....seems to be purty sharp to the hairs on my arm.

Belgian Coticule honing stone.....this little beast weighs almost 8 ounces!!

cool,scott
never heard of COTICULE

here is what i found:
A coticule is the name of a rock metaphorically formed over thousands/millions of years and mined out of the ground in Belgium. For hundreds of years they have been used for honing razors, among other things. A slurry, or rubbing stone, is lightly rubbed across the honing surface. The water becomes cloudy with the abrasive generated by the rubbing and cuts faster than if the stone is used with water only.

Synthetic stones, cheaper , more consistent than a natural stone, easily replaceable and available, have largely replaced the coticule for many honers. Some use both naturals and synthetic, appreciating the qualities of each. I fall into the latter category.


neat
thanks fer showin

Jerry, from what I can tell from the photo I'm thinking that is a White Hard Arkansas. Not quite as hard as a Black Hard Arkansas , but a hard stone none the less. In my experience you need to have an edge in pretty good shape for that to be effective. In other words you wouldn't use that stone to create an edge or an angle suited to the blades job description/task. There are other more coarse stones for that job.
Nice little stone as is Scotts Belgian.
Scott, how big is the Belgian?

Joe -

Here's a pic....

Thanks, Scott. Nice stone. Great for any pocket knife work. I've got one a little bigger that I paid a whole dollar for. I'll have to dig it out and send a picture.

FRJ wrote:Jerry, from what I can tell from the photo I'm thinking that is a White Hard Arkansas. Not quite as hard as a Black Hard Arkansas , but a hard stone none the less. In my experience you need to have an edge in pretty good shape for that to be effective. In other words you wouldn't use that stone to create an edge or an angle suited to the blades job description/task. There are other more coarse stones for that job.
Nice little stone as is Scotts Belgian.
Scott, how big is the Belgian?

Thanks Joe. That may have been my issue all along but more likely my technique on the knives I was using . Good to know though. I tried off and on with that stone for about a year and just could never get it right. I did however increase the pressure on my sharpening strokes and man, what a difference. Most of my EDC's were near mint or close too it and never sharpened/ factory edge. So now that I have the technique down, should suit my needs fine if I keep them maintained.

Thanks for the info and input. Regards, Jerry

I'm glad you found it use full, Jerry. Also, if I may suggest, water stones in larger sizes and various coarseness would be a very noticeable upgrade in creating an edge and sharpness.

FRJ wrote:I'm glad you found it use full, Jerry. Also, if I may suggest, water stones in larger sizes and various coarseness would be a very noticeable upgrade in creating an edge and sharpness.

Thanks Joe. Please enlighten me on what a water stone is. What would put a finishing edge beyond the stone I have if used properly? Besides a strop I mean.

Regards, Jerry