Russel,

Just for the record, I'm not trying to antagonize you. Your posts are well thought out, and I'd be willing to bet that you have more overall sharpening experience than me. Belgian hones are just my thing; I've experimented a lot with them, and I really like them.

I can see what you're describing, and I think it's entirely possible. I have always assumed a different size and shape for the garnets, but I don't have anything to point to other than my interpretation of what the hones were doing, based on my different trials.

I'll have to see if I can dig up the other discussion I mentioned and see if there was an authoritative source involved, or if we were just BSing.

Josh