mainaman,

It was purchased as an untouched factory 'shave ready' that i paid the extra $20 to have it sent to a professional to hone it before it was sent to me. ClassicShaving.com, they sent it to a guy in michigan before it was sent to me. The flat spot is about 1/16" (maybe just a bit less) vertically. it has some tilt if i put the whole blade on a flat block (i was a machinist for some years and have some instruments that are very accurate at checking flatness), if i put just the flat part on the block it does sit flat, but this way there is some of the edge that is hanging off the block also.