The old barber who sharpened my razor told me it would never need to be honed if i looked after it properly..he said strop before and after you shave, rub olive oil on the blade after each use and it will stay as sharp as it is. yhat was a dovo bismarck which ive used almost every day for the past year and a half and its still as sharp as it ever was.....moral of the story - look after your razor!