This is not my favorite stone and not even my most used stone but I do enjoy it and I do think it is the most practical stone, aside from a bevel setter, that I own. Yes, that includes synthetic water stones as well.
Is it the best butchery edge, no, I get that from my monzen-to but those two stones have a ton of overlap and I think the Aono is more versatile, is the better buy and has 99% as good of an edge for that one dedicated task while having a better edge for others. It does not leave a finish near as fine, in edge quality nor cosmetic beauty as a Takashima but again I think it is more versatile. It still has better feedback and is slightly easier to use. The edge is about 75-80 as refined but has a wee bit more bite too it. It is also much cheaper and easier to find as well. It leaves a wonderful edge on a paring knife, a petty, a honesuki, a deba and a gyuto etc. I think no other stone that I have would I use on so many knife types. Normally I want a different finish for different sorts of knives. I still might go a lot higher on a Yanagi though.
It isn't just today's session that brings this up. I have been getting a lot of PMs as of late in regards to natural stones, which I enjoy btw, and just thought I would say that this is the number one stone I recommend when people ask. It falls somewhere between mid grit and finisher and is a good starting point when jumping into the rabbit hole and while not a one size fits all rec I do think it is a stone that damn near every natural stone enthusiast should experience. One that can open up the eyes of any one new to naturals as well. Where to jump off from there is a totally different story! And particularly because the Aono is about as dead center of a stone that you can find in every way. You will learn if you want to go harder and less muddy or softer and more muddy or maybe stay somewhere in the middle. If you want a fast stone that leaves some bite or a slow stone that polishes to no end. Etc the list goes on.
This is a no-brainer for somebody who has not yet built a preference for stone type as well. I think this is how many people feel about the suehiro rika but I will choose a natural over a synthetic as often as possible.
What says you? What is your most practical or most versatile stone in your setup aside from your 1k(ish) stone? That one stone that you recommend to everybody you ever talk to...lol
PS: I am pretty sure I have rambled on similar to this before. If so, ignore me. And no, I have not been drinking. Just have the cabin fever from being pent up.
