As a 'natural' sort of guy, I have resisted the Shaptons for quite a while. I get fantastic one-pass edges off my BBW/Coti/CH12K progression...on most razors. There's the rub.

I have one razor that I have struggled with for more than two years. The challenge is what has kept me from selling it off. If all of my other razors were rated at 99% edges, this razor never got past 96.5% and it bugged me. I tried taping and all sorts of progressions and just could not get it where I wanted it. I rank an edge at 99% if it gives a one-pass BBS shave that lasts until the late afternoon.

I broke down and bought the Shapton 16K glass looking for a miracle ($100 investment for a $50 razor). Well let me tell you, this did the trick! In 20 laps! Now this razor can join the elite rotation.

I would like to add that this problem razor is a newer blade, probably from the '40s or '50s and my other razors are from around the turn of the century. Maybe it is a steel difference, who knows. I just know that it works now. How long the edge lasts is another test. My early razors go a loooooong time between touch-ups. I am hoping that (like with knife blades) the harder to sharpen razor edge also lasts longer.

I am not about to switch over completely as my naturals do perform admirably but I am glad that I stepped outside the box on this one.