The softest Arkansas stones are referred to as ‘Washita’. For the most part, this grade of Novaculite is no longer manufactured. A typical Soft Ark is a totally different type of stone, and it can be used as a substitute, but once you use an authentic Washita, you’ll understand why old timers refer to these as ‘the good stone’.
This Washita is not numbered, but it feels and looks to me like a slightly soft #1.
This particular example seems to be in near NOS condition. I can smell oil in the box, but I do not see any traces of oil anywhere on the box. The outside of the box has what I call ‘shop feel’. So, I believe this was, probably, bought and stored in a shop or in a tool box, and never used. The box is in solid condition, and the printed inside label is stain-free and totally legible.
The stone is cherry – smooth and nice, just like it’s supposed to be, and it is very clean and possibly never used, or maybe used once. I did not use it because I have several ‘working’ Washita like this, but I can tell you that it will cut fast and smooth. These can be used to set bevels on razors, and I have done that many times. They are best followed by a softer type of hard Ark. However, for the most part, Washita are usually relegated to sharpening knives and tools.
These are porous stones and I recommend using oil on them; while using water is possible, using oil will help prevent swarf from embedding. Any soaked in and swarf-laden oil can be easily flushed out/cleaned off with a solvent like Kerosene or mineral spirits. Simple Green seems to work well also.
These yellow and blue boxes with the Behr Manning logo usually indicate a manufacturing date in the early 1950s.
Approximate Dimensions: 6.0 x 2.0 x 1.0"
