Quote Originally Posted by BeBerlin View Post
This may sound counter intuitive, but since you have already invested quite a bit of money, why not take another 30-50 USD and get a second razor from the classifieds. One which is actually shave ready. That way, you will have a benchmark razor for your own honing efforts.

WRT the Norton, What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki should give you a good overview of what is required, and what is optional. With the canvas pasted, you should do just fine with a Norton 4/8k.

Good luck, and welcome to SRP.
Great piece of advice. It is soooo nice to have a professionally sharpened razor around. Gives you an idea of not only how comfortable a straight shave can be, but also gives you an idea of how "sharp" (or not) your honing jobs are.