thanks. I actually contacted Larry at whippeddog earlier today about honing. I think I will send it to him for sure then. I've read that you can use a barber hone to maintain a honed edge, but that's something I'll discuss with him, unless someone has advice on that front.

And I don't quite understand the acronym you used...what do MASS and FRITS mean? I have some metal polish that I used on the blade (Brasso?) and it did an pretty good job...got up some dirt I had missed and made it feel really smooth.

Great idea on the dental floss. I didn't even think of it.