Razor is extremely sharp at center, but dull at edges:

Should I use the sweeping honing stroke to correct this?

edges = toe, heel

Does the blade make contact with the hone at all points if you lie it flat?

spine does, cutting edge does not

then yes, a rolling stroke of some sort is what I would use.

What kind of blade edge is this????

as in:
Straight
Gentle Smile
Smile
Big Honking Grin...

The simple answer is, "whatever stroke keeps the entire edge moving across the hone evenly".. but I can tell you more accurately with more info...

look here too

http://straightrazorpalace.com/srpwi...honing_a_razor

Both sides sit dead flat at spine, cutting edge is slightly more deeply recessed at toe and heal than at center, which I figure is the problem. Easiest solution would be to grind the center back and rebevel and rehone, but I don't want to go through all that if it can be avoided.

Straight

C-Mon "Blackie" 6/8 - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Straight edge with slight toe wear

C-Mon "Special" 6/8 - Straight Razor Place Wiki

slight smile

Barlow, James & Sons "Echo" 6/8 - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Smile

Wade & Butcher "Unspecified" 6/8 2 - Straight Razor Place Wiki


Big Honking Grin


Cant find a pic

But you would know if you had one...

"Straight edge with slight toe wear"

45 degree X stroke should do the best at keeping the least amount of bad wear off there...

You have to watch the honing progression, the bad wear will suck you back in, sorta like ruts in a muddy road... I would recommend using 1 layer of electrical tape to get the edge correct on there, it is like grading the ruts out of the road...Using a marker to paint the edge also will give you a fast visual reference..
Swooping off the toe will work, to get the edge sharp, but that is not really the correct way to hone it.. Your real objective is to try and reduce that bad wear not just hone over it

I hope that made sense

Basically go back to the road analogy, you can keep driving down the ruts, or you can fill them in a have a nice even road again....

I'm not sure anybody is convinced yet the razor has a problem. If it was manufactured with a smile, as many razors are, you will probably want to keep it that way.