Recently won a random antique pack online which arrived yesterday. As a bonus, other than the fantastic pocket logarithmic slide rule, was a decent-sized coticule! More interested in the stone to be honest. It's certainly seen better days and is very dished, but I think there's still a few viable millimetres left on it.
Size is 175 x 50mm
I researched some options (leave as-is, lap, etc.) and slept on it overnight. This morning opted for the cut and lap option. I tried it as-is and it felt a little awkward....also I've been thinking about a travel hone which this might serve the purpose of down the track.
So here's the result.
I ended up taking just over 10mm (~1/2") off each end. Saw them clear with a standard hacksaw with a standard Bahco blade. Easy work! This left me with two neat little slurry stones and less than 2mm to lap out the dish. A hard 2mm though BTW....so very appreciative of the advice to trim the ends as it gave me less of the harder work to do. Also saved off the slurry, so have about 2L of slurry water which I hope to condense down to a nice slurry paste.
So I ended up with a handy little stone of 150x50mm and two slurry stones for both sides of that stone - as I'm thinking this will be my first combination stone...unless y'all don't agree that it's viable (e.g. BBW)
Now towards identification, here's the slurry on each side.
I'm initially inclined towards a La Dressante au bleu.
The back certainly isn't slate nor glued on. Not sure if it is BBW or Rouge du Salm....as I only have slate to compare it to.
Be keen on your feedback.
....and in a matter of hours we'll see how she hones.