I take no notice of scratch pattern on my coticule . Once the bevel is done which I try my best to go no lower than 3 k obviously I will use 1 k chosera when needed.

Btw I use mostly x strokes and may begin with circles just how Lynn perform them.

Then once I use the coticule I just hone and dilute with circles. I check my bevel at the end of circles once I am down to water and just after x strokes and again after stropping and just by the way the cutting edge looks I can normally tell if the razor has a good nice clean cutting edge .

Same with naniwas the edge looks so different under 60 x mag after stropping I see a really nice polished bevel with a nice clean really nice cutting edge .

I noticed coticule leave the same scratch pattern some look more rough than others. I sent a razor to doc and he was very happy with the edge and he did say it was the worse scratch pattern he had seen but one of the best coticule edges he had shaven with, so go try and figure that out.

I only use in general loops etc to check the very cutting edge for nicks and chip s and to see how straight the cutting edge is .