While it certainly is easier to hone with a wider and longer razor, years ago the only hones available were relatively short narrow barber hones. The Swatys are 2" by 5" and that represented the largest size of barber hone. It certainly is possible to hone on smaller hones, it simply is more of a challenge to keep the razor level when you are first learning to hone. For a chance to see honing on a narrow hone, LX Emergency did a great video of honing on a coticule bout.