Ok, i know this is a serious newbie question. yesterday, i got my Dovo razor from Vintage Blades llc. Ive wanted one for a year now and in the waiting time i have watched every blasted straight razor shaving video on youtube, gurantee it! ive learned all about how to know if your razors sharp, proper technique, how to strop a razor, the importance of not applying pressure, etc etc.
I got the razor with a sticker on it from vintage blades llc that said "this razor has been professionaly honed by one of our Honemeisters at Vintage Blades llc. It is shave-ready and does not need to be stropped before use". I dont think that was correct. The first shave was a nightmare. I applied as little pressure as possible and all that jazz. Today, i stropped it on my Vintage Blades llc strop, bout 40 on linen and 40 on leather. I did the dangling hair test. The first two times, my chop didnt cut the hair but the third time it did. I had a better shave, but it still didnt quite float across my cheek like it seems to do for everyone else and DEFINATLEY isnt as close of a shave as everyone tells me it should be. My question to you guys:
1)Is it possible that the guy at vintage blades llc didnt quite hone this one to perfection.
2)is there something in my story that might have been reason for a bad shave
3)Is there a better way of knowing if your razor is sharp enough?

p.s For any people who read that are debating where to get their straight razor: I am in NO way un-satisfied with my expierience with Vintage Blades LLc. They have been wonderful to me and im sure that this problem is an isolated incident. The perfect: Ship on time, prompt updates on order status and even a free sample of Vintage Blades Brand Shaving Cream and free steptic pencil. No doubt, this is where you want to buy your razor.