Hey everyone, I'm new, this is my first post here at Straight Razor Place.
I've been into wet shaving since I started shaving, and for the past few years have really started to dabble in finer products (Just picked up Truefitt & Hills shave soap after using Williams mug soap for about a year, and I absolutely love it). I've decided to drop the Mach 20 or however many blades it has, and go with a straight. I picked up a new Thiers-Issard 5/8 blade from The Art of Shaving, payed a bit too much ($135 with plain black acrylic scales) but I much rather have held it in my hand and payed a little more then ordering online not knowing what it feels like.

So on to my question: I was told the blade is already honed. I'm not quite sure it is. I tried shaving, no cuts but not exactly a great shave either, but that very well might be my technique. I'm not sure what I'm looking for in the fingernail test and the thumb pad test. Would anyone be so kind as to explain how these are supposed to feel on a proper blade? Also, if I run the blade on the hairs on my arm or hand, should they be coming off fairly easily with a single stroke? Its clearly taking off some dead skin, but only cutting a few hairs.

I'm in the Westchester County area of NY, Yorktown Heights to be exact, and in NYC on weekdays. I was told to go to Westpfal Henry & Co Inc Cutlery to get honed. Is this the best place to go in my area?

Thanks!