Thank you all for your advice!

I should have made it clear that the razor was made "shave ready" and tested by the totally irreproachable folks at straight razor designs, so the probably is undoubtedly my poor stropping, shaving, and hanging-hair-testing technique. Although, I did test it with the HHT as soon as I got it to see whether I could get away without stropping it for the first time. It didn't cut the hair, so I figured I'd best strop it.

Is it possible that several cuts in the strop would make the razor need to be re-honed? If not, I'll wait for the cuts and scrapes to heal, practise stropping a little more, and go at it again in a few days. Or maybe I could try stropping it on the canvas? I really do think my technique improved and I might be able to do it now.

BeBerlin, thank you for the pointers. I'll try to remember to stop if I feel the pain It's a good reminder that like most good things, the perfect shave is a process happening over time with persistence and patience! Ursus, it's totally possible that I just don't know how to do the test. I hadn't considered that possibility. The blade is definitely sharper than a butter knife.. I look like I tried to cuddle with an angry badger! lol!