S.R Droescher Blue-Green Thuringian
S.R. Droescher Inc. was an importer; they were in business from 1892-1924 and located on Warren St. in NYC.. Among their wares, along side straight razors – they offered Thuringian razor hones from Germany. Some were actually Escher hones with a large S.R. Droescher label and small end labels with E & Co. on it. Others were branded under their name only, and this is one of those stones.
The color of this one is bluish green. Actually – the green seems to run through it, so there’s a bit of a streak/cloud type of pattern. The coloring variation is nearly impossible to see when dry. But - in the right light after a splash of water it is visible. Sometimes though - it looks kind of like a yellow-green Escher.
This is a Thuringian hone, like the famous Escher stones; quarried in the Thuringia region of Germany. They were sold specifically as straight razor hones, and that’s kind of interesting; seems like most hones were just sharpening stones – and then someone figured out how to use them with razors.
Honing on this one is blissful; the feedback is clear yet silky smooth. It’s a fairly hard stone; I find most bluish Thuris to be on the harder side of things.
Performance wise – it’s a pure finisher, and the edges off it are – to my senses – keener than I get off other similar stones, while being just as smooth on the face.
This example has the label you see on the box fixed and preserved with a layer of lacquer on the opposite side. The original slurry stone is present, and the box is in worn but very serviceable condition.
Approx. Dimensions: 4.8 x 2.4 x 0.75" / 122 x 61 x 19 mm
Weight: 14.6 oz / 415 g
