Reference

http://zknives.com this is a very informative web site which also does both an iPhone app & Android app- search app store lots of information on the full site.(knife steels etc)
http://forums.egullet.org/topic/26036-knife-maintenance-and-sharpening/ this is another good reference site.
Alas neither site mentions WE although perhaps someone will see that changed.
http://www.edgecraft.com/tips_myth_all.html this also makes for interesting reading as well .

A reference to another sharpener?!!? Shame shame…. _{(just kidding).} 🙂
Zknives is a great reference.

I believe in using the internet for reference to answer many questions I usually try to do a search on any quality knife I am given to sharpen since often especially with chefs knives people have sharpened them and usually the factory has set an optimised bevel for the Rockwell hardness and proposed use of the knife.

Not sure I’d totally agree, although I don’t have any real proof either way, but I think part of a manufacturer’s rationale for edge angle might also be creating a more durable edge knowing the abuse a knife normally gets? Or maybe what’s easy to do in the process. I do know that many knives often aren’t sharpened at their claimed angle. But it is a good reference point to start from.