Originally Posted by AFDavis11
Thats interesting Joe about the microscope in the Barbers manual, I hadn't seen that. No, no one intentionally uses a hone untrue unless it is really hard to true up. I'm thinking more that there is a connection with the Norton and the ability to hone straight across since its so easy to true. Since barbers in the past just did what worked the size of the stone and the trueness of it play a part in what worked. I think the X pattern is the way to go because of what it does to the edge, sheering it straight. No way to prove that as you say but anyone honing a razor often enough will eventually use a hone that is untrued. Even if its honing a single razor for a long session, unless you stop and true it every 5 minutes or so. Its always, atleast one stroke down the hone, untrued.