what did they use in the old days

buckbeans · #1 02-07-2007, 10:19 AM

does anyone know what was used for sharpening the tools in Europe before the emergence of the arkansas stone which still seems to be the favourite over there still.

AlArchie · #2 02-07-2007, 11:32 AM

Just a guess, but shale of various varieties has been used for honing and sharpening stones..some of the best available, I'm told is from the "nonesuch" shale deposites along Lake Superior's south shore. Nonesuch is not named that because it is in fact none-such, but because of the Nonesuch mining operations that took place in the early 1800's in what now is the Porcupine Mtns State Park, in Ontonagon and Gogebic Couties of Upper Michigan. Because most of this shale deposit is located within the confines of the park, it has not been exploited to any great degree. I have a small piece that I picked up on the lake shore, and it does work well, after some work at getting it flattened to shape.

Al

buckbeans · #3 02-07-2007, 07:44 PM

Thanks Al
were these used in Europe?
I went on a tour a few years ago and i marveled at all the statues and ornately carved fixtures covering the altar, lectern and pews.
I bet you they wished they had power sharpening at that time!

hobo · #4 02-07-2007, 08:41 PM

they still used stones like arkansas . there is some good info on the web . i belive one stone was called a turkey stone . if you like sharpening with stones the best natural stone is a arkansas and the name to look for is norton. if it dont say norton dont buy it . norton has started selling a stone called a white lilly these we used in the good old days these were the best and you can still find one or two but dont be shocked to pay 100 or 130 for one you can buy a good stone at www. the best things .com

Thomp · #5 02-08-2007, 05:38 AM

buckbeans,
maybe thor can confirm this but in some of the writings of the battle of hastings the soldgiers used native field stone to beat their swords back to a near as they could to straight then sharpened them on the same,

being steel wasent more than our nowday mild steel it was soft and plyable.. they couldnt hold an edge.

water or wet wheels appear to be of some kind of sandstone, i seen very few that wernt slightly crumby and just your hand rubbed over it would loosen fine stonedust