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Couldn't resist trying out The Winner again. Everything else was the same..
-face wash
-prep with wilkinson brush/soap
-CH Cavendish Black soap + c&e best badger
-still have some of that homemade...

AFIK they cut slower than the Norton 4k but you can at least press on it and grove it without the fear of damaging the Norton. I have a rough Norton oilstone for that purpose that worked quite well...

My question is: Why did you start with the AK-stone if you already have a Norton which cuts faster? Could have saved youself a bit of time, unless you were REALLY curious about trying it out.

The Winner arrived today. In person it doesn't look nearly as ugly as on the pic.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270008848821
The scales are lighter and aren't as scuffed as...