Some of the comments I have read on here are quite disturbing to read, what I mean is just how nasty and aggressive some people are ! Why do you have to talk to people like that ? Jesus it's a video about something a chap has found in a shop and he's sharing it with you all.
You're really making me feel old. I bought one of these new when I was about 28 years old. Still have it. Works really well. I use oil. After years of use it doesn't show any wear.
Nice find mate! We use to make these in trade class as apprentice carpenters. It could be an 'apprentice piece' but usually they look like a dogs breakfast when kids make them. That box looks quite tidy.
Hi Jeff, can you make a video on how to sharpen on a stone? I can't seem to get the technique down, but you seem like a good teacher. Thanks and nice video.
Got a similar stone. I'm not into knives, but I use mine to sharpen my micro screwdrivers. When your repairing and restoring woodwind instruments , dull tools make your life miserable.
A nice tool collector piece, being a woodworker I've made several (without the strop) of these storage boxes for my stones. The tight boxes make the stones survive a drop on the worksite. I use WD as a lube instead of water, it doesn't evaporate as quickly like water and it doesn't clog the stone pores like oil.Enjoy (the coarse side) of your stone!
Hey Jeff, I'm sure someone will have already mentioned this but the box was most likely made by the owner, it's very common practice for carpenters to make a box for their sharpening stone, most will do it as an apprentice piece, along with building themselves a tool chest/tote.
I was given this same sharpening stone when my grandfather passed away. He had a shop full of antique tools. I inherited a good bit of them. Mine actually has four stones of different grits in a tray that flipped when you opened the lid. Unfortunately the wood on mine is kinda in bad shape.
A super-nice find indeed!!!! The odds of that stone not being original to the box is pretty high; it fits too good. I really love it and totally jealous; wish it was mine!!!
Great find. If you intend to use it (I strongly recommend it) you need to recondition the surfaces with abrasive grain - silicon carbide will work good enough in 60 or 80 grit for the coarse side and 120 or 150 for the fine side. Use it with oil /wd40, ballistol (I know you have some I watched your leatherman leather case restoration), baby oil, fine machine oil, pure mineral oil etc. /- it is not a big mess at all and helps floating the metal swarf away of the structure of the stone. After you restore it - an old school sharpening video of you smoaking good cigar drinking good beer and sharpening old ka-bar USMC, Camillus or Shrade on vintage PIKE India will be spot on. Cheers.
+Stefan Wolf Can't u just rub a more worn down sharpening stone on it? At least that's what I did w/ my 1000/600 grit (~550/350 ANSI) combo-stone I found in a lean-to up at camp. I grinded it against my worn out 1200 grit pocket stone.
+MoistCookies it's better to use silica carbide and a pane of glass to get a consistent flat. It's also much easier because the glass surface is larger and you can move it around faster and in a bigger area. I just use water.
+newcoyote Just from my personal experience as a butcher lol, Then again it's not 100% that I need the most high quality stones to sharpen my Victorinox but to each their own! as long as it does the job eh?
***** Yup. To be clear, I was not criticizing your comment. Just expanding it. For good working edges that is fine. Some of us knife nuts like to get extreme sharp edges and every little factor contributes. Of course when you get very fine edges, they don't last that long in use.
My dear friend, the leather is also a sharpening device for razor blades used still by barbers. These razor blades are mounted like on a knife and are permanent. You sharpen it directly on the leather and lasts for years. The sharpening stone is still produced today, I am a chef, and I sharpen my knives on it. Regards from Cyprus.
I can't say it it's the case here, but I have found several nice stones over the years including a translucent Arkansas at yard sales/estate sales etc. that have been in nice wooden boxes. Many of them were custom/purpose made by the owner, so it is always possible that somebody made that nice box for a special new purchase many years ago.
That is very cool. One of the great things about being in the antique business with my father was coming across all sorts of cool and interesting things I did not know even existed.
Hi I'm from the UK and I have a similar one, no leather strap on top though just a coffin shape top, it belonged to my father he was by trade a joiner (wood worker craftsman), he used it for keeping his chisels' and plane blades sharp, as he has passed I have it now and use it too, but I will have to look to see if it is double sided as the stone facing is a fine one, I always thought he had made the box himself because when he was an apprentice learning his trade in those days they made a lot of there own tools, tool storage box things like that, probably part of there training I suppose but mainly it was because there was hardly any wages paid to them on apprenticeship so they could not afford to buy a full woodworkers tool kit. He made his own wooden planes of various types, all he needed was to buy the steel plane blades then make a wooden body for them, he had these planes all of his life and used them regularly too, I have those too, the only complete metal plane he bought was by saving the money from his first two real wages he said at the end of his apprenticeship, it was a Stanley 3" smoothing plane and it was a beast to use as it had such a wide blade, you can't get them any more, get's the job done quicker my dad used to say. Let me tell you a funny tale about that plane, it must have been about 30 years after he bought the plane and after many sharpening's of the blade that was by now well worn out I went with him back to the shop and company where he bought the plane It's still in existence, The very young obviously new shop assistant came rushing over eager to serve and please the customer, my dad said to him, now young man I have come here today with a complaint, I bought this plane here 30 years ago and it has worn out already, what are you going to do about it, the look on the young assistants face was pure terror, the manager of the shop had by now had came over, he new my dad as he was the young assistant way back then who had served and sold dad the new plane and they had remained on chatty terms since through dads many visits to the shop. The manager of the shop and I had to turn away so the young lad could not see us trying to hold our laughs in, as we both new my dad had at times had a wicked mischievous sense of humour and here he was using it at it's best, anyway the young assistant measured the plane blade and had to explain quite timidly by now that the plane was no longer made in that size and he didn't think there would be spare blades available any more as the plane was so old. The manager then said to his assistant fetch the ladders and get that box up there pointing to it down you will find two blades for this plane in there, Mr Edwards or Abby as I know him go way back in fact I was the young assistant who sold him this plane, he is only kidding you on and I think you handled the situation just fine don't you think Abby, my dad smiled at the young man and said yes he will turn out just fine maybe be the new manager here when you retire.
+cutlerylover - I have one like this, but the box has no hinges or hook. It was my father's, and he used it to sharpen his chisels and knives. My stone is pretty worn (both sides), and your box is much nicer, but I wouldn't give mine up for anything. Not sure about the age of my stone, or whether my dad bought it new or if he acquired it used (or from my grandfather - which is unlikely since granddad was, among other things, a broom maker), but my father was a carpenter, 30 years in the union, and he worked as a union carpenter in the Chicago IL area since before WW2. Nice find! d8^)
I remember back in the UK about 50 years ago teenagers would make things like that as high school woodwork projects. I can remember a friend of mine making one very similar to that. H-mm about 1960s. Shows my age. Have a good look and see if it's hand made.
Seen them literally dozens of times ... I knew the instant I saw it that it was a sharpening stone...But, I fast forwarded to the reveal just in case there was something other and interesting in there...The wah wah wahhhhhhh song came to mind...
I have to check but my father had a similar box with an oilstone in it. It didn't have a latch or hinges. The top just lifted off. Does your case show any brand marking or is it possible that someone made this for themselves to hold the stone? Thanks for showing this.
The box was probably made by the tradesman who bought the oil stone. Mine is very similar, I made it when I was an apprentice in the sixties. I did not install the leather strop on mine, but what a good idea. Mine was made from Honduras Mahogany and I still have it!
I made this box back in 1977 at my job, same hinges and lock, my stone was broke but still used, the stone was different... stones you can still buy, but box I made...
+nissanlord Yes this kind of box is pretty common with Arkansas and Washita stone. Most of them (the boxes) are handmade by the custtommer on longs winter nights.
that's pretty clever with the strop on top. Be nice if they made something modern like that. Might be a fun project to make a sharpening kit similar to that.
My dad has the exact same stone with box and everything. In really good shape as well. Its pretty much just past the point of the writing worn off the stone. And the box is for that stone. My dad still uses his to this day with oil and you would sware just looking at the box his was brand new Minus the normal ageing wood gets.
That is cool, esp the leather on the top...I have my grandfather's in a similar box with no hinges or latch, and definitely no leather on top. No markings either, I went and looked after watching this video. Anyhow, all this is leading to a question...if a stone was always used with oil, can you use water instead on it? Mine you can smell the oil on it and I was wondering if it would hurt it at all.....
hi, is the India Stone very fine? than its a combo for a straight razor, first you sharpen your razor on the stone and align the edge, then you put it on the strop t osmoothen the edge and last you use a hanging strop to finish the blade
Not sure exactly, but judging by the huge metal chips embedded in the stone, it looks like someone used this stone as a stone for a machine table, to clear it of metal chips, flakes, etc. and to true up the surface of the table. The machine shop I work in has some combination stones like this and they get the same chip buildup in them.
It wouldn't put it past the possibility that the box might be custom made. Sometimes people with crafting skills make some amazing quality gifts that can overtime end up being sold or forgotten.
the oil keeps the pores from being clogged and facilitates easy cleaning and a factory sharp blade @45° angle following up with a razor strap.... shit I grew up in So. Cal. damn son!
I once purchased Jesus old sharpening stone from when he was a carpenter at a middle eastern bazaar. It sharpened knives and saws just by wishing for it ! A real time saver ! It said property of J/C in Hebrew but a guy from AIPAC found out and had impounded by the Mossad. :(
Wow that brought back memories. I used to work in an old school in the 60-70s and the building dated back to the 1800s when it was called the Liverpool Mechanics intitute anyway there was a load of workshop equipment that had been around since at least the 1940s and there was a box just like the one you have with a 2 grade stone though ours was well worn. I used it myself to sharpen chisels over the years sadly I left when the school closed and what happened to all the wonderful and unique bits of equipment I shudder to think. I worked with a guy that made a lot of the equpment as he was there in the 1940s I always assumed Alec had made the box himself. But given yours is identical right down to the little brass latch I guess it might well have been bought, maybe it even came from America
Any toolsman of a certain age will have one like this in his collection of used "treasures". Very common over here in the UK. Given your proclivity for collecting knives by the bucket full, it'll be interesting to see if a) you use it, and b) you know how to use it? Time will tell.
+Dr. DAC Ok, Doc found one. 25+ minutes long and the first 13+ minutes was just jabba, jabba,jabba, Can sharpen even the dullest knife in a fraction of that time. How you American's like to talk. My life!
The thing is he does tend to jabba on a bit. Can't help thinking that his clips, informative and interesting though they are, could be reduced by 50% or more with less unnecessary yacking. I also think you're just claiming not to be American,
I went to an antique shop and I found 4 Randy Johnson rookie baseball cards being sold for $6 each (and no, none were fakes). So yeah, I thought that was pretty neat. I already gave 1 to my dad and I'm keeping another for myself. Someday I'll probably sell the other 2.
A lot of people use to make custom boxes for oil stones, I think people still do, since they are not exactly something you want to just chuck in your tool box. My father made a few for his stones out of mahogany but I've never seen one with the strop.
i have my grandfathers whetstones and oil stones that he had when my dad was a kid or even some of them had been my great grandfathers stones one of them he had was used so much that its basically falling apart i would have to grind it down slowly and for a very long time. so i have a oil stone that was sold when my grandpa was relatively young and a few of those stones i still use to this day!
my Grandfather had a mess of stones like this in his shed , he did leather work. The stones were from the 1920s to the 1950s . I am a knife maker now and wish I had all of those stones. they just don't make them like they used to. S
You found a synthetic stone, it would be much rarer if it was like an esher or one of the good veins of coticule. or any other rare or extinct stones. its still a nice find, but not amazing. I think the box is more interesting. I myself have glued leather to boxes of real nice stones, mostly the grain side on the top of the box, and the coarse(reverse) side on the bottom. its good anti-slip, and you can use the coarse side with jewelers rouge. the top does look a bit saturated with whatever its been used for, clean leather strops with mineral oil, soak it, work it in and wipe it off with a paper towel. have fun with it.
Antique malls and flea markets are a good place to find cool stuff like stones and such but odds are that the box didn't come with the stone new but very cool either way
Very cool! I wonder if you'd enjoy a Boatswail's?! I think it'd be a good thing to add to your collection of cool stuff like zippos, knifes, this bad ass box. Keep up the good work!👍🏾
It's a barbers razor sharpening stone. Must that you find are very worn from the frequency of the barber repeatedly honing his razor after each shave or so. We have one from a great uncle who served in WWI to give you an idea of the possible age. Enjoy it. It should put a wicked edge on your knives!
Some of the comments I have read on here are quite disturbing to read, what I mean is just how nasty and aggressive some people are !
Why do you have to talk to people like that ?
Jesus it's a video about something a chap has found in a shop and he's sharing it with you all.
RUclips.
0427581 Wow do you think of that all on your own or did Mummy have to help you with it !!
+Phat Baz
I thought of it all by myself. :)
And it was free to watch.
You're really making me feel old. I bought one of these new when I was about 28 years old. Still have it. Works really well. I use oil. After years of use it doesn't show any wear.
Very cool! I love wandering around Antique stores, I often wonder what stories an antique piece could tell if it could talk...
India! That's what we saw a lot of when I was a kid. Damn, I'm old! EPIC find!
Very cool. My last find was a Wenger classic keychain knife in white in great shape. Love antique and thrift shops!
I have one exactly like that from my grandfather I knew exactly what it was the second I saw the thumbnail! awesome find.
Great video and great find! The built in strop is the icing on the cake.
Great one Jeff !
Wow, my dad had an exact same one in his fly fishing tackle box for YEARS, wonder if he still has it. Thats an amazing find! Congrats.
Nice find mate! We use to make these in trade class as apprentice carpenters. It could be an 'apprentice piece' but usually they look like a dogs breakfast when kids make them. That box looks quite tidy.
Thanks for the info about washing the cars. Very informative.
Hi Jeff, can you make a video on how to sharpen on a stone? I can't seem to get the technique down, but you seem like a good teacher. Thanks and nice video.
That's bad ass Jeff! Love antiquing!
Beautiful item 👍👍👍
Norton purchased Pike in 1932 at which point I assume the name changed... so your stone is likely pre-1932...?
+jrmym2 Companies dont always change the name of of a brand they buy...
***** That's why I said I assume...
Got a similar stone. I'm not into knives, but I use mine to sharpen my micro screwdrivers. When your repairing and restoring woodwind instruments , dull tools make your life miserable.
Really cool find. It will look great on the coffee table or in the shop.
A nice tool collector piece, being a woodworker I've made several (without the strop) of these storage boxes for my stones. The tight boxes make the stones survive a drop on the worksite. I use WD as a lube instead of water, it doesn't evaporate as quickly like water and it doesn't clog the stone pores like oil.Enjoy (the coarse side) of your stone!
Hey Jeff, I'm sure someone will have already mentioned this but the box was most likely made by the owner, it's very common practice for carpenters to make a box for their sharpening stone, most will do it as an apprentice piece, along with building themselves a tool chest/tote.
I was given this same sharpening stone when my grandfather passed away. He had a shop full of antique tools. I inherited a good bit of them. Mine actually has four stones of different grits in a tray that flipped when you opened the lid. Unfortunately the wood on mine is kinda in bad shape.
We are having 50 degree weather in Wisconsin right now too, and man does it feel great! Awesome find and great video!
A super-nice find indeed!!!! The odds of that stone not being original to the box is pretty high; it fits too good. I really love it and totally jealous; wish it was mine!!!
Great find.
If you intend to use it (I strongly recommend it) you need to recondition the surfaces with abrasive grain - silicon carbide will work good enough in 60 or 80 grit for the coarse side and 120 or 150 for the fine side.
Use it with oil /wd40, ballistol (I know you have some I watched your leatherman leather case restoration), baby oil, fine machine oil, pure mineral oil etc. /- it is not a big mess at all and helps floating the metal swarf away of the structure of the stone.
After you restore it - an old school sharpening video of you smoaking good cigar drinking good beer and sharpening old ka-bar USMC, Camillus or Shrade on vintage PIKE India will be spot on.
Cheers.
You can take another stone of similar grit and rub them both together with oil/water in between to renew the surface
+Stefan Wolf Can't u just rub a more worn down sharpening stone on it? At least that's what I did w/ my 1000/600 grit (~550/350 ANSI) combo-stone I found in a lean-to up at camp. I grinded it against my worn out 1200 grit pocket stone.
+MoistCookies it's better to use silica carbide and a pane of glass to get a consistent flat. It's also much easier because the glass surface is larger and you can move it around faster and in a bigger area. I just use water.
+newcoyote Just from my personal experience as a butcher lol, Then again it's not 100% that I need the most high quality stones to sharpen my Victorinox but to each their own! as long as it does the job eh?
***** Yup. To be clear, I was not criticizing your comment. Just expanding it. For good working edges that is fine. Some of us knife nuts like to get extreme sharp edges and every little factor contributes. Of course when you get very fine edges, they don't last that long in use.
My dear friend, the leather is also a sharpening device for razor blades used still by barbers. These razor blades are mounted like on a knife and are permanent. You sharpen it directly on the leather and lasts for years. The sharpening stone is still produced today, I am a chef, and I sharpen my knives on it. Regards from Cyprus.
i collect antique sharpening stones! its beautiful! !!! lucky man
I can't say it it's the case here, but I have found several nice stones over the years including a translucent Arkansas at yard sales/estate sales etc. that have been in nice wooden boxes. Many of them were custom/purpose made by the owner, so it is always possible that somebody made that nice box for a special new purchase many years ago.
That is very cool. One of the great things about being in the antique business with my father was coming across all sorts of cool and interesting things I did not know even existed.
My sharpening stone is in a box and old, I got it from my grandpa, I have no clue what the brand was but it is very old and pretty nicely presented.
Man that is super cool, I love the box!
That's petty cool I saw one in a flea market and it was actually quite a bit bigger but it was really worn down. Great find !
How awesome is that! Great find man!
I see bits of metal embedded in the stone. Great find.
Hi I'm from the UK and I have a similar one, no leather strap on top though just a coffin shape top, it belonged to my father he was by trade a joiner (wood worker craftsman), he used it for keeping his chisels' and plane blades sharp, as he has passed I have it now and use it too, but I will have to look to see if it is double sided as the stone facing is a fine one, I always thought he had made the box himself because when he was an apprentice learning his trade in those days they made a lot of there own tools, tool storage box things like that, probably part of there training I suppose but mainly it was because there was hardly any wages paid to them on apprenticeship so they could not afford to buy a full woodworkers tool kit.
He made his own wooden planes of various types, all he needed was to buy the steel plane blades then make a wooden body for them, he had these planes all of his life and used them regularly too, I have those too, the only complete metal plane he bought was by saving the money from his first two real wages he said at the end of his apprenticeship, it was a Stanley 3" smoothing plane and it was a beast to use as it had such a wide blade, you can't get them any more, get's the job done quicker my dad used to say.
Let me tell you a funny tale about that plane, it must have been about 30 years after he bought the plane and after many sharpening's of the blade that was by now well worn out I went with him back to the shop and company where he bought the plane It's still in existence, The very young obviously new shop assistant came rushing over eager to serve and please the customer, my dad said to him, now young man I have come here today with a complaint, I bought this plane here 30 years ago and it has worn out already, what are you going to do about it, the look on the young assistants face was pure terror, the manager of the shop had by now had came over, he new my dad as he was the young assistant way back then who had served and sold dad the new plane and they had remained on chatty terms since through dads many visits to the shop.
The manager of the shop and I had to turn away so the young lad could not see us trying to hold our laughs in, as we both new my dad had at times had a wicked mischievous sense of humour and here he was using it at it's best, anyway the young assistant measured the plane blade and had to explain quite timidly by now that the plane was no longer made in that size and he didn't think there would be spare blades available any more as the plane was so old.
The manager then said to his assistant fetch the ladders and get that box up there pointing to it down you will find two blades for this plane in there, Mr Edwards or Abby as I know him go way back in fact I was the young assistant who sold him this plane, he is only kidding you on and I think you handled the situation just fine don't you think Abby, my dad smiled at the young man and said yes he will turn out just fine maybe be the new manager here when you retire.
+cutlerylover - I have one like this, but the box has no hinges or hook. It was my father's, and he used it to sharpen his chisels and knives. My stone is pretty worn (both sides), and your box is much nicer, but I wouldn't give mine up for anything. Not sure about the age of my stone, or whether my dad bought it new or if he acquired it used (or from my grandfather - which is unlikely since granddad was, among other things, a broom maker), but my father was a carpenter, 30 years in the union, and he worked as a union carpenter in the Chicago IL area since before WW2.
Nice find! d8^)
use it for your traditionals! thats awesome man
I remember back in the UK about 50 years ago teenagers would make things like that as high school woodwork projects. I can remember a friend of mine making one very similar to that. H-mm about 1960s. Shows my age. Have a good look and see if it's hand made.
Seen them literally dozens of times ... I knew the instant I saw it that it was a sharpening stone...But, I fast forwarded to the reveal just in case there was something other and interesting in there...The wah wah wahhhhhhh song came to mind...
great find!
I have to check but my father had a similar box with an oilstone in it. It didn't have a latch or hinges. The top just lifted off. Does your case show any brand marking or is it possible that someone made this for themselves to hold the stone? Thanks for showing this.
Wow what an AWESOME find Jeff
Let's see more antique videos!
The box was probably made by the tradesman who bought the oil stone. Mine is very similar, I made it when I was an apprentice in the sixties. I did not install the leather strop on mine, but what a good idea. Mine was made from Honduras Mahogany and I still have it!
I made this box back in 1977 at my job, same hinges and lock, my stone was broke but still used, the stone was different... stones you can still buy, but box I made...
I have 2 similar sharpening stone sets in wooden boxes. no strop on top. I like that. One of mine is 2 sided and one is an Arkansas hard stone.
+nissanlord Yes this kind of box is pretty common with Arkansas and Washita stone. Most of them (the boxes) are handmade by the custtommer on longs winter nights.
Wow! Very cool!
that's pretty clever with the strop on top. Be nice if they made something modern like that. Might be a fun project to make a sharpening kit similar to that.
looks awesome. never seen one with the leather on top.
Boy...
Have I been away...
"I was talking to MY WIFE".
GOOD GRIEF, JEFF!!! Congratulations!
That's really cool Jeff!😀
i have three of these given to me by my grandfather, almost exactly the same but the boxes are not hinged
Man what a great find!!
You should review a Gripper X6 or a Leatherman Kick, or both if you can get your hands on them.
Hey Jeff,
That is very cool! Thanks for sharing.
Duane
+XDM50 2 sentence letter
+mgonz55 lol
+mgonz55
LMAO :D
The box could be homemade. To be honest, I like the idea and might consider making one myself.
My dad has the exact same stone with box and everything. In really good shape as well. Its pretty much just past the point of the writing worn off the stone. And the box is for that stone. My dad still uses his to this day with oil and you would sware just looking at the box his was brand new Minus the normal ageing wood gets.
Didn't know these were such a big deal. I've got a tri sided one that sits on a wood base. I've got like 20 normal ones. A few in boxes.
Sweet find!
Nice find for sure. For me the box is a better find than the stone.
Nice find,you don't get quality built stuff like that often nowadays.
That is cool, esp the leather on the top...I have my grandfather's in a similar box with no hinges or latch, and definitely no leather on top. No markings either, I went and looked after watching this video. Anyhow, all this is leading to a question...if a stone was always used with oil, can you use water instead on it? Mine you can smell the oil on it and I was wondering if it would hurt it at all.....
Cool find. Takes you back to a simpler time when things didn't need to be fast and easy.
+gryphonz3 Who are you? Wilford Brimley? LOL
Yep...getting ready to do another Diabetes supply commercial as we speak. HAHA
+gryphonz3 I was wondering if you knew who he was... Glad you do
hi, is the India Stone very fine? than its a combo for a straight razor, first you sharpen your razor on the stone and align the edge, then you put it on the strop t osmoothen the edge and last you use a hanging strop to finish the blade
Not sure exactly, but judging by the huge metal chips embedded in the stone, it looks like someone used this stone as a stone for a machine table, to clear it of metal chips, flakes, etc. and to true up the surface of the table. The machine shop I work in has some combination stones like this and they get the same chip buildup in them.
Nice find. I would have bought it. I am sure you picked it up for a song.
Looked like a 9 bar when I first looked. Nice find.
great find
That's bad ass! I like waterstones over oil but cool part of history
It wouldn't put it past the possibility that the box might be custom made. Sometimes people with crafting skills make some amazing quality gifts that can overtime end up being sold or forgotten.
That is a great find!
u can find these in a lot of old sheds and tool kits in UK I found mine in same nice box in a skip nice though
the oil keeps the pores from being clogged and facilitates easy cleaning and a factory sharp blade
@45° angle following up with a razor strap....
shit I grew up in So. Cal. damn son!
I once purchased Jesus old sharpening stone from when he was a carpenter at a middle eastern bazaar. It sharpened knives and saws just by wishing for it ! A real time saver ! It said property of J/C in Hebrew but a guy from AIPAC found out and had impounded by the Mossad. :(
Wow that brought back memories.
I used to work in an old school in the 60-70s and the building dated back to the 1800s when it was called the Liverpool Mechanics intitute anyway there was a load of workshop equipment that had been around since at least the 1940s and there was a box just like the one you have with a 2 grade stone though ours was well worn.
I used it myself to sharpen chisels over the years sadly I left when the school closed and what happened to all the wonderful and unique bits of equipment I shudder to think.
I worked with a guy that made a lot of the equpment as he was there in the 1940s I always assumed Alec had made the box himself.
But given yours is identical right down to the little brass latch I guess it might well have been bought, maybe it even came from America
I have a hard time resisting such cool wooden boxes.
I have the same problem with wooden boxes and cabinets. Lol.
I found a similar stone in a wooden box. Mine has a single hinge on the end of the box without a strop, but it made me think I should add one.
>driving with the windows down
>outdoor activity
>LOL
nice find jeff.
Any toolsman of a certain age will have one like this in his collection of used "treasures". Very common over here in the UK. Given your proclivity for collecting knives by the bucket full, it'll be interesting to see if a) you use it, and b) you know how to use it? Time will tell.
No I've not. Something to look forward to no doubt. Let hope they are not in the 20+ section of some of his other stuff. I'll go check now.
+Dr. DAC Ok, Doc found one. 25+ minutes long and the first 13+ minutes was just jabba, jabba,jabba, Can sharpen even the dullest knife in a fraction of that time. How you American's like to talk. My life!
The thing is he does tend to jabba on a bit. Can't help thinking that his clips, informative and interesting though they are, could be reduced by 50% or more with less unnecessary yacking. I also think you're just claiming not to be American,
Nice find.
I have seen one of those before. Exact same version. My grandfather had it.
I went to an antique shop and I found 4 Randy Johnson rookie baseball cards being sold for $6 each (and no, none were fakes). So yeah, I thought that was pretty neat. I already gave 1 to my dad and I'm keeping another for myself. Someday I'll probably sell the other 2.
Wow very cool.
A lot of people use to make custom boxes for oil stones, I think people still do, since they are not exactly something you want to just chuck in your tool box. My father made a few for his stones out of mahogany but I've never seen one with the strop.
At a local antique market I found a nice conventional reel and for the price it was a great deal
amazing find
It'd be interesting to see if other stones fit in that box.
i have my grandfathers whetstones and oil stones that he had when my dad was a kid or even some of them had been my great grandfathers stones one of them he had was used so much that its basically falling apart i would have to grind it down slowly and for a very long time. so i have a oil stone that was sold when my grandpa was relatively young and a few of those stones i still use to this day!
ive got one too ... have to find it again lol
Very cool!
those stones work best if you soak them first,,, if you ever get a worn stone, you can flatten them with a cinder block
Great find Jeff! Can you do a vid sharpening and stropping a knife with this?
He already has go find them
my Grandfather had a mess of stones like this in his shed , he did leather work. The stones were from the 1920s to the 1950s . I am a knife maker now and wish I had all of those stones. they just don't make them like they used to. S
You found a synthetic stone, it would be much rarer if it was like an esher or one of the good veins of coticule. or any other rare or extinct stones.
its still a nice find, but not amazing. I think the box is more interesting. I myself have glued leather to boxes of real nice stones, mostly the grain side on the top of the box, and the coarse(reverse) side on the bottom. its good anti-slip, and you can use the coarse side with jewelers rouge.
the top does look a bit saturated with whatever its been used for, clean leather strops with mineral oil, soak it, work it in and wipe it off with a paper towel.
have fun with it.
Such a cool find!
That strop in the box lid is awesome,can you do a tutorial of stropping for us please since it's not the easiest thing to find info on.
He kinda has one already i think
Antique malls and flea markets are a good place to find cool stuff like stones and such but odds are that the box didn't come with the stone new but very cool either way
Since the top is a Strop, perhaps the box held the Razor or Razors?
Very cool. BTW the box is made out of Red Mahogany, which is a very beautiful hard wood. Pricey too. These days anyway.
Lots of fun to work with mahogany, makes really nice furniture!
Looks like the padding on top is for finishing the edge.
Very cool! I wonder if you'd enjoy a Boatswail's?! I think it'd be a good thing to add to your collection of cool stuff like zippos, knifes, this bad ass box. Keep up the good work!👍🏾
It's a barbers razor sharpening stone. Must that you find are very worn from the frequency of the barber repeatedly honing his razor after each shave or so. We have one from a great uncle who served in WWI to give you an idea of the possible age. Enjoy it. It should put a wicked edge on your knives!