Originally Posted by superfly
You got it backwards. The smaller stones were made to force X pattern on all blades, giving them slight curve on the blade, or "smile" which is more desired than straight edge for comortable shaving. You cannot maintain a, let's say nice old W&B meatchopper, or that purty TI Pierres hand forged, just pushing it straight along the 3" wide Norton... Just think, there was no problem for old barber's hones manufacturers to just add another inch lenght and width wise, and up the price for 1/3rd.
Nenad