It's easy to spot good steel when you find it. I have had this 7/8 Henkotsu for a while now. It always shaved well as received, but the toe needed some work. So I took it through a fast progression from 1k to an Oozuku jnat. It practically honed itself. It's when you are honing that you can really tell a lot about a steel. This one has always been a great shaver, but with the toe touched up it is right where it should be. Honing a good steel like this makes up for all the misery that comes with those 'bay finds that seem to never take an edge.