david weaver
Hasluck's carving book (going from memory) mentions two benchstones (one - a washita type, for someone of limited means) and a strop with emery.

Chromium oxide is probably not mentioned in historical guides, but plenty of other emeries and flours are. The references that I have are for cutlers and razors (or perhaps that's the only place I remember reading them because I was looking at them to glean historical information about razors).

At any rate, there is some utility beyond the level that oilstones will take an edge, in my opinion, as long as it doesn't spoil geometry (but there are others who have opinions that differ - I recall randall rosenthal mentioning that he only used a charged buff to maintain gouges, and his work is supremely good).