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I've a piece of volcanic stone that I use for sharpening the mosaic tools. It's a piece I got whilst out in Spain, flat, very smooth and works fine on the hammer and hardie. I imagine a small piece of this would work just as well on swords or knives.
Lawrence
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OK, that would tie into my knowledge of rocks and stones. Nice link, lots of info! Just for those interested, a schist is a metamorphic rock, altered by subterranian heat and pressure to a more crysteline structure. Good cutting capacity. As sandstone and vulcanic stone seems to be in the majority of sharpening applications, these would have to be recommended for inclusion in a typical sharpening set. The average quartzite pebble as stated before would be applied only to remove burrs. Get a hone! :lol:
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Well, any self respecting legionary would want their gladius to be razor sharp, so maybe anyold pebble would be a bit hard on your weapon. But I see I have joined in after the comment has been elaborated on..... :roll:
Visne partem mei capere? Comminus agamus! * Me semper rogo, Quid faceret Iulius Caesar? * Confidence is a good thing! Overconfidence is too much of a good thing.
[b]Legio XIIII GMV. (Q. Magivs)RMRS Remember Atuatuca! Vengence will be ours!
Titus Flavius Germanus
Batavian Coh I
Byron Angel
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Well, it's perfectly possible for the regular sharpening to be done centraly in the barraks or camp by a trained sharpener and the soldier carrying a less abrasive stone to pick up the edge and remove burrs (caused by hacking into barbarian bone and deflecting blows by other weapons). Who is to tell? It would make good sense to carry the larger grinding and sharpening stones in the smith's toolkit. A hone could be shared by a contubernia and passed round the campfire to make ready for next day's plunder and pilage. Too much grinding and sharpening would swiftly turn a gladius into a rapier :lol:
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Interesting thread, I have learned much.
Still the question remains. "Roman sharpening stones, anyone have a pic?"
As discussed, there must have been central armourer stones/wheels(?) and personal stones. Are these items displayed in museums or are they 'overlooked'?
I must admit I have not seen any.
Matt Harley from sunny Kidderminster in the UK.
"Me sequimini ad agrum puellae."
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Good find Jef!
Visne partem mei capere? Comminus agamus! * Me semper rogo, Quid faceret Iulius Caesar? * Confidence is a good thing! Overconfidence is too much of a good thing.
[b]Legio XIIII GMV. (Q. Magivs)RMRS Remember Atuatuca! Vengence will be ours!
Titus Flavius Germanus
Batavian Coh I
Byron Angel
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In he Vimose marshes, they also found sharpening steels- wooden handles with a long steel shaft. 5th century IIRC?