Yes, King stones. Tried and true and one of the oldest stone manufacturers in Japan. King's have and always will be one of the most reliable brands of stones out there, and the ones we've all used. There are many grades of King stones, some great for beginners and some, like the hypers, known to be the best. We've been using King Hypers for years and now we're happy to bring them into the shop. Hard cutting, little soaking, and the perfect medium grade stone for a vast majority of steel types. In short, a great stone. Benefits from regular flattening. This isn't the hardest stone out there (dishes faster than Naniwa) but is fantastic if kept flat. The main difference between the standard King Hyper stones and the Hyper Soft series comes down to binder hardness, feedback, and how the stone releases abrasive during sharpening. Standard: The standard Hyper stones are harder and denser. They wear more slowly, stay flatter longer, and provide a more controlled, precise sharpening feel. Because the abrasive is held more firmly, they tend to cut a little cleaner and leave a slightly more refined finish for their grit rating. They work especially well for: Harder Japanese steels Users who prefer strong edge definition Lighter pressure sharpening longer sharpening sessions with less flattening The feel is smoother and a bit more glassy compared to softer soaking stones. Soft: The Hyper Soft stones release abrasive much more easily during use. That creates a thicker slurry and a more cushioned, tactile sharpening experience. They feel faster and more forgiving, especially for users still developing consistency. Because they are softer: they dish faster require more frequent flattening generate mud/slurry quickly feel more aggressive at lower pressure Many people enjoy them for wide bevel work, kasumi finishing, or simply because the feedback feels very alive under the knife. In practical terms Think of it this way: Standard Hyper = cleaner, firmer, more controlled Hyper Soft = muddier, faster-feeling, more tactile Neither is objectively better — it depends on sharpening style and steel preference. If you sharpen harder carbon steels and want precision with lower maintenance, the standard Hyper stones usually make more sense. If you enjoy a softer traditional Japanese stone feel with lots of feedback and slurry development, the Hyper Soft series is often more enjoyable to use. Dimensions 205mm X 70mm X 34mm Material Predominantly Ceramic based Use Great maintenance stone for many steel types Soak Quick 5 minute out of the box / < 1 min after
