It wasn't your stropping as you later said you did not strop it before use and your technique is fine as the other razor shaved well. Check the razor for some physical defect like a bent tang or warped blade that would make honing difficult. There should be a reason that your bro can't get it honed up as I take it he maintains his own large collection. Some razors are just finicky and a PITA to home, maybe that is one of them. Remember that there is more than one thread on here about getting a brand new razor that was not shave ready out of the box so that is not uncommon or people have trouble getting one particular razor to hone up.

Bob