Well, your second shave will tell you more. I don't use a Norton myself, but since so many guys use something to finish the edge afterwards, I reckon that 8K side might need a lot of stropping. It's not impossible that you had the slightest bit of a wire edge, that dissipated almost immediately by shaving a couple hundreds of whiskers.
I don't know about the angle theory: cutting angles of different razors don't variate that much. I don't think the grind of a razor comes into play with the angle you need to use on your face.

Gssixgun's advice to backhone 3 laps and finish again on the 8K can't possibly hurt, so I'd go with that, if the second shave doesn't really work out as great as the first.


Slightly
All kinds of funny things happened to my razors while I was learning to hone. but mostly the opposite of what you experienced: smooth shaving edges crumbling away mid shave. But looking back now... By nature, I'm a very optimistic wishful thinker. I probably often stood in front of my mirror while test-shaving, experiencing the self fulfilling prophecy of a well honed razor, only to find reality catching up with me, with each shaving stroke. Without wanting to be offensive, maybe, just maybe, your a bit more pessimistic than me, and expected that edge not to shave well, only to find out after a few shaving strokes that you did a good job after all? I know that the mind can play funny tricks. Ever saw people firewalking on hot coals?

Bottom line, I think your doing just fine.

Have a nice day,

Bart.