OK, I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but I can't help it...

I've now had three shaves with a "Glen Sharp" blade. Each time, I did half my first WTG pass with the Glen Sharp blade, and the other half with the sharpest blade I've been able to produce so far.

On day one, there was a huge difference; Glen Sharp handily beat my best work, and allowed me to go XTG then ATG for my first BBS straight shave.

Yesterday morning, I worked on another blade, adding my newly acquired 12k Chinese stone to the works. I honestly thought I had a match for Glen Sharp. I had LASIK done yesterday afternoon, and only had time for a quick WTG pass. Glen Sharp still beat my best work, although not by much.

This morning, I did another 25 laps on the 12k Chinese, 25 on .25 diamond paste, and 100 leather. The WTG pass was a tie! I thought for sure I had matched Glen Sharp! Then I did a half face XTG with Glen Sharp.. wow, that was smooth. Then the other half XTG with my blade. It was possible, but certainly not comfortable. I had to switch back to Glen Sharp for the remaining half of the XTG pass on the chin and lip. I did end up having to switch to a DE for the final ATG pass.

This whole thing has me wondering how many new guys have given up after they have had nothing but uncomfortable shaves due either to not sharpening a brand new blade, or only shaving with a blade that they had sharpened themselves.