Yepp, I'd have to agree with Dean above. I have a yellow coticule as well as a thuringen and a Shapton 16k. I've recently experimented with them all and I find the results quite similar between the coticule and the Shapton but the coticule is the smoother shaving of the two and the Shapton leave a slightly sharper edge. I finish on Chromium oxide on a flat leather bench strop.

I do have a couple of razors (out of about 26) that have responded favorably to being honed up with my Shapton hones until they are as sharp as I can get them, then I drop back to the Coticule for a few laps with a light slurry, then pure clean water and that seems to soften the harsh edge on those razors and yet they are sharper than what I've been able to do with the Coticule alone... but the pre Shapton results from the Coticule alone was just fine.... only not as sharp as I can get now.

I like the Shapton for it's speed and reliability.... but I'd never give up my Coticule and if forced to pick one hone, it would be the Yellow Coticule for me.

Regards

Christian