I am new to using a SR when I wanted to start practicing I just bought a new one this helped my confidence plus I bought my SR from SRD when Lynn Abrams does the honing, and it shaved great, also I practiced stropping with butter knife before received my SR, and while I was waiting for my new SR, I did purchase a blunt SR a Gold Dollar, but I did that because I want to use that for honing when I'm ready that way I won't mess up a good SR if I don't do it correctly, well that's my take, hope it helps