As per Joed's excellent advice I sent off some razors to Lynn for pro-honing.

I am very, very glad to have something to compare to!

I've been swapping out the 4 shave-worthy razors I've got over the last week now. I was afraid that the one I'd honed was going to feel so inferior that I wouldn't want to use it. That fear proved unfounded.

At first I was actually getting a better shave off the blade I'd done myself, but that was just because I was still afraid of the edges Lynn had put on. Now that I'm more familiar with them (and know that my breath reflected off the edge isn't going to cut me), I'm doing a bit better with the pro-honed blades than the one I did.

Having a bizarro-swirl of beard hair on my neck (yes, the grain has a spiral) means that any kind of shaving requires some effort, but I'm definitely getting the knack, and these blades make it a pleasure to do.

Now to get some more of these razors honed up! Unfortunately, I went after the low-hanging fruit first and all I have left are interesting in one way or another.

So thanks again Joed for suggesting I send not one but two razors for the professional treatment (it's a long story on how it ended up being three). It's a glorious confidence builder and a target to aim for!