The coarse side is made from a sandstone from Orsa, Sweden, with a grain that varies from 120 – 200 grit. This sandstone is a fossil-free sedimentary rock which is comprised mostly of silica-bound quartz. This sandstone has been used as a sharpening stone since the 1500s, and the qualities of its coarse, slightly porous surface work well to grind an edge back to its original geometry and begin sharpening before final honing. 

The fine side of the whetstone is made from a fine-grained slate from Los, Sweden. It is a unique material which is only found in Los, and has been used as a whetstone since the late 1800s. The Los stone has a grain size between 500 – 1000 grit with a smooth and hard surface. This fine-grained, smooth surface has the qualities to achieve an extremely sharp edge with good bite. 

The whetstone’s shape is user-friendly and easy to hold with a firm grip. This makes it relatively simple to sharpen an edge by following the existing bevel and grind angle. The whetstone comes with a sheath of vegetable tanned leather from Tärnsjö Garveri in Sweden with a small strap for easy attachment to trousers or backpack, perfect for carrying in the wilderness. 

If used carefully, the leather case can even be used to strop an edge to achieve the highest level of sharpness.