I'm thinking the harshness was due to incomplete honing on low grit stones

the 4k glass was cutting it, but very slowly and I might have rushed just a little to finish

I'm thinking that if I remove about half a bevels worth performance will improve.

opened in 1862
http://books.google.com/books?id=G0w...%2C1308&edge=0

closed in 73
Johnstown, Pennsylvania: A History ... - Google Books

anyone care to guess at the age?
they seem to have done the most business between 1880-1930