TheJapanBlade
To the left center CHO TOKKYU (very, very super quality) This shiro-white suita stone is a true grade #24 stone at 220mm by 79mm by 50mm. It is big and beautiful and rare and because it comes from the deepest layer of the mine this stone is harder than most and will stay flat during sharpening allowing the greatest contact of blade to stone. Although this stone is hard, it cuts exceedingly fast as you can see in the close up photo showing fine steel and iron filings floating in clear water. The metal is cut without creating any paste if you begin with just water or if you have a little slurry on the stone to begin with the cutting action is even faster and more aggressive. This paste can be made up with the use of a diamond plate or you can just leave the paste/slurry on the stones surface from sharpening to sharpening.. The dried paste is as pure as white snow and is unchanged even when containing particles from the orange area at the lower corner of the top surface. The hand chiseled back is indicative of stones quarried pre-WW2 and of higher grade products. This care and attention to detail on the backs was reserved for only the better stones. I was only able to buy a few of these oversize grade #24 stones and I have not been able to restock more. |
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Suita #52
