Sharp Enough???

Hey Everyone,

You're the docs, here's the problem:

Newbie, orders a 'singing TI,' it arrives sparkling and beautiful.
I have a Super Badger from Truefitt & Hill, shave soap ditto, standard Illinois strop with canvas / leather surfaces.

So far now, I've shaved about 5 times with it. I seem to be getting closer every time, but from what I see / read I'm really doubting I've got her really keen.

Backing up, out of the box I stropped and did the first shave - that's the only time I've cut myself so far, and it was quite minor -

After that, while I was impatiently waiting for my norton 4/8 to arrive, I honed on my father's hard arkansas stone (visiting the 'rents during Christmas).

Well, it seems for one I've managed to screw up the bevel, as you look down the edge it is no longer uniform width the whole length of the blade.

I've since received the norton and gone to work between each subsequent shave using the pyramid system I grabbed from this forum.

Like I said I haven't cut myself again, but A) I still haven't gotten as close a shave as the old safety yet. B) I'm probably pressing to hard because I'm experiencing some irritation afterwards, C) I am going over the same places three and four times in a session to try and get that extra closeness, yet a few little stubs here and there remain.

Kind of frustrating: I know the blade is sweet, my equipment is solid - but still the lack of that micro-keen -

Question: was the TI honed sharpest when I first received it and I actually messed it up with the arkansas hone?

I guess I'll stop here and respond to anyone patient enough to read ths whole thing,

Thanks for your time, kind person,

Ryan Tyree

ps - this is awesome

HI and welcome at first.
You have answered your own question.Now i don't think any company makes straight razor real shave ready condition.Not mention people from classicshaving etc places.if you bought it from company most likely it wasn't shave ready.
2 nd you have messed up edge more with arkansas
Now you don't have to worry about width of the cutting surface.
My advise if you have never had shave ready blade then it will be very hard to find out how shave ready blade feel like.that is why please send your razor to some honers let them make it shave ready.then you can shave and see how shave ready should act.then you are ready to go as you said you are already have norton.You may need a little more then norton--- chro2,good strop.belgian etc keep it great condition.
i hope this will help you.

Just for future reference the Arkansas is about a quarter as fine as your 4000 grit stone or about 1200 grit.