Escher Barber’s Gem

Gents,

I lucked out, and was able to purchase this stone over the weekend.  I have tried and failed to acquire an Escher for the last eight months, because I was always too late, or unwilling to pay the exorbitant prices that these stones often sell for on the usual markets (eBay, etsy, and BSTs)!  Unfortunately, I don’t have the time or energy to scour flea markets or antique shops.

So...that being said all I really know about Eschers is that Escher=Good Thuringian Hone=Keen and Smooth Edge...all I knew about this stone is that the dimensions are 5x2.5x~1, and what I see in the pictures.

Sellers Pictures:


So after I made the deal, I figured I should see if I could find out anything about this stone.  Based off of reading some other shave forums I believe that this stone is called a Barbers Gem.  Here are two pictures that I found on the internet.

The first is an old chart of Thuringian Hone dimensions.  As you can see...this stone matches the Barbers Gem.


Then...if you look at this one in a Barbers Gem box, the labels are the same.  



It should be here Thursday, and I will follow up with more posts of lapping and finishing as I try to figure the stone out.  

I also purchased a Yellow Green Thuringian rubbing stone from Griffith Shaving Goods to use as well, since the BG I purchased doesn’t have one.

Vr

Matt

Gents,

My Barber’s Gem Escher is moving through the system faster than expected, and it may arrive tomorrow!

So I figured that I had better get cracking!  I took this 1st Generation Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple through a full progression from killing the edge, setting the bevel, through to finishing on the Jasper under water.

There is no scratch pattern, and it is ultra sharp/shave ready.  I am excited to see what the escher does to the bevel near the edge, and how it changes the feel of the shave.

Vr

Matt

You have some great gear, Matt. Congratulations.

Thanks Celestino!  I really do enjoy this hobby immensely, and I have made some lucky deals!

Vr

Matt

You have some great gear, Matt. Congratulations.

+1 Enjoy!

Thanks Brad!  Have a great week guys!

Vr

Matt

Gents,

The Escher BG arrived today, and I spent about an hour cleaning it up.  I think it turned out pretty well, and I will finish my first razor on it tomorrow!

These are pretty rare I guess, and I am happy to have snagged it!  Note the dual colors...Yellow/Green top with the Blue stripe on the side.  I guess that was characteristic on Barbers Delight and Barbers Gem hones.

The YellowGreen Thuringian rub stone from Griffith Shaving Goods arrives on Friday...so tomorrow I will just finish on water.

Vr

Matt

I have taken this razor through my normal progression to finishing on the jasper under water.  

In addition, as the final steps I finished it on the Barber’s Gem...about 60 extremely light laps with just spraying water on the Thuringian Slate about every 10 laps...and I stropped it.  

Shave test later today!

Vr

Matt

Gents,

The initial edge off of the Escher Barbers Gem yielded a very beautiful shave which I enjoyed immensely!

The 1st Generation Filarmonica 14 Doble Temple still had the beautifully ground singing blade, but it felt smooth and buttery reminiscent of what an old Sheffield straight razor feels like on my face....singing full hollow with the squeegee effect!

I‘m a believer!

Vr

Matt