When I went to my straight razor teacher for the first time he examined the razor and asked if I had honed it, "No" I replied "I was saving that for a later time." He then examined the blade and showed me how dull the blade was by attempting to cut a piece of paper with it and it would not. Again this was before he told me that I ahd to hone it for it to work, I was still thinking that stroping would sharpen it. He proved that the edge had not been stropped properly. Once I got the padle strop he then showed me how to accomplish the task and got me doing it and eventually the two of us got it sharp enough for it to cut some paper. Its now starting to reach a point where it can actually do some good.