Its been a while since i've had a problem I had to post about and usually I would just go to the chat and ask someone there but this is bound to be a problem others will face so I thought it merited a thread.

I finally got around to honing a Wade and Butcher custom that I had bought from AaronX. Is gorgeous work. There was no bevel on it though. No problem I thought, i've managed to hone successfully before. I'll nail this one easy. Started on 8K norton which did for AGES until something appeaing like an edge appeard. It was particularly difficult because there is a curve to the tip. But its getting there. When satisfied I took it to the 4K for a while and then finished on the japanese hone I have. This is a usual progression for me. My Dovo Black star which was honed originally by poona (he set the bevel a while back and its been excellent) has been dealt with this way when it needed a touch up with excellent results.

So i'm honing the W+B fine and the edge LOOKS fine- i'm using my new microscope to see the edge. It looks identical to the edge of the Dovo by the naked eye as well. And it also feels like its dragging when I run my thumb over it so it feels like it SHOULD be sharp.

Then I run it over the back of my arm to test hairs there. Nothing. Nothing at all. I mean its not even catching the hairs there painfully. Its running over them like silk.

What the SMURF???

So while I go touch up the Dovo and reluctantly shave with it, please tell me- whats going wrong here? Is there no bevel set? It *looks* the same but if it cant pick up hair on the back of my arm there is no WAY its going near the hair on my face!