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No scratching, same drag all the way across the surface of the blade.
If I want to be technically correct, that should be: "bevel of the blade", right?

With my background in physics, I have mostly been using tests that involve light reflection.

After the third day of stropping, I don't see any indications of whatever it was...
Guess I lucked...

I'll put it down to part of my "learning curve"...

That's why we get a less expensive one first, right?

I didn't look, but I very much doubt it...

This was fresh out of the box (before I dropped it) from Lynn Abrams.

No.

This looks like a bit of black color from the leather (probably less than 1/64") along the cutting edge of the blade opposite the brand and model name stamps.
All I can detect is the color,...

I can't see anything with my digital, these are the clearest shots I could get.

While a tiny spot is visible in the shots, I couldn't FEEL anything.

It covers such a minute surface of the...

I don't feel or see any burrs or chips when I look at it through a microscope, all I see is a darker coloration in the general area.

I'm using a 60x - 100x zoom illuminated microscope.
...

The first time I used my new straight razor I accidently dropped it (pure unadulterated careless and inexperience on my part!)

Now is see a very small spot on one side of the edge that shows a bit...