Welsh slate has been used as a whetstone for centuries. Slate has a high silica content, which lends a hand to its usefulness as a sharpening stone.
I am not convinced of this stone’s alleged heritage, so I will avoid that part of the story.
I have used several of these purple stones and they have all been plausible finishers for straight razors. They are fairly inexpensive and for someone starting out, or anyone that doesn’t need a high end finisher, they are a valid option.
