Well my razor was honed by Gugi, I bought it off him, but he said it needed stropping. I did strop it but maybe my technique is not so good. After sleeping the night I washed my face this morning and you can hardly notice all my nicks. You guys are sure right about a close shave though. Where I shaved with the straight is still smooth this morning, but where I shaved with the electric razor is getting rough already.