I've acquired four Washitas over time, the last one I got works the best for me, it is fast in getting a burr and gets my tools ready for the strop quickly. The first three I got feel like they're slightly harder and therefore a little slower in getting a burr. I worked a chisel tonight on all the stones until I got a burr. I can feel the stone abrading the metal slightly more aggressively on my favorite stone. They all work well, though.
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My first stone, an odd size, about 7 x 1.5. Probably hand cut.
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My second stone, a little larger than the first, but still narrow. This one also likely hand cut.
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My third stone, a larger stone, 9 x 2. The odd size may also point to a hand cut stone.
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My last stone, standard 8x2 size. Almost white, probably a no. 1 or a Lilly White from the looks of it, it didn't come with a label. The standard size points to a Pike/Norton made stone.
These stones patterns don't exactly match the pictures of the new Washitas, but it may not matter, it may be just cosmetic, we'll know once we get them.
I have only one sample of Lilly White branded Washita, a slip stone. Here are pictures of it overlaid on top of the other stones.
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To add another datum, here's a Canadian, marketed as Novaculite stone, hand cut. Sold by the Federal Abrasives Company. It is porous like a Washita, but definitely harder than all my other Washitas. It can raise a burr, but takes longer. It leaves the bevel slightly more polished than the Washita.
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