Interesting concept, Allan. Like you, I've tried to visualize I can't see, by weighing the evidence I can see and feel. As I have pondered what stropping does and does not do (in an effort to do it better, not just for the Zen-like quality of the ponderings ) it strikes me that whatever it does, it must be a delicate thing since this same steel that we are trying so hard to bring to a keen edge looses that edge in minutes to warm, soggy, moist hairs and slippery soft skin. Based on that and the testimonials of many to the longevity of blades living on a primary diet of strops, it seems plausible that stropping is forming the edge by rearranging the steel more than removing it. All of this to say..."yeah, allan...makes sense to me" . And so does your comment about the thumb nail test, Scott.

- Dale