Hand sawn Vintage Umaji/Mizukihara? Japanese Natural Whetstone

This exceptional Japanese whetstone was selected by us and imported directly from Japan, thoroughly tested and sealed on sides and back to protect the stone for long term use.

Hardness: 4
This unique stone is extremely old with hand sawn sides and hand chiseled backside. This stone appears to be from the Tanba region with its deep black/blue base and vividly contrasting bright yellow Namazu catfish patterns. This stone appears to be from the early 1900's and represents a unique piece of tennen toishi history. The hand saw marks are horizontal and cover all sides. The chiseling on the backside has a unique, rustic appearance as well. This is a soft Suita which is best for knives and can be used for razors and tools for pre finishing. This soft, grit rich Suita creates a toothy, aggressive edge which is excellent for food penetration. It is also great for Kasumi polishing and creates a hazy finish easily. This stone is most likely a Tenjou Suita from the Tanba region.