MERKUR 38C Double Edge Safety Razor - Bright Chrome, Extra Large Barber Pole Grip Brass Handle, Made in Germany, Plastic-Free, Two Piece Design, Closed Comb, Straight Bar

I wanted to give this razor a few weeks of use before I reviewed just to make sure it was really as much of an improvement from my old razor as I thought when I first used it. I previously owned a Vikings Chieftain for about a year and a half before it broke. As I said in my recent review of that razor, I'm actually happy that it broke, because it gave me an opportunity to try a different razor before giving up on safety razors altogether.Whereas my old razor would leave me with razor burn or bleeding nearly every time I used it, I have yet to receive razor burn or any nicks at all from the Merkur after using it about every other day for a few weeks. I almost gave up on safety razors as a result of what the Chieftain would do to my face. I thought that was what people had to go through to get the close shave afforded by a safety razor. I'm so glad that I gave it one more try and ended up with the Merkur. It is heavy, well built and, most importantly, gives me the extremely close shave that one would expect from a safety razor, without razor burn or cuts. If you've had a bad experience with other cheaper razors, give this razor a try before going back to the expensive multi-blade units. It's very likely that you'll be glad that you did.

Have been using cartridge razors for literally decades, simply due to availability and TV commercials back when as it were. Wet shaving is taking on a whole new life, and I've always wanted to give it a go. I researched straight razors, shavettes, and safety razors rather thoroughly. After reading online reviews here on Amazon and from several of the dedicated shaving forums, decided to go with the Merkur 38C.The brand itself was heavily favored for quality and function, and it delivers! Great shave the first time at it, no bleeding from the neck to report. :)I also looked at Merkur's 34C which is basically the same as this razor only with a shorter handle. Definitely glad I went with the 38. Handle is comparable to the cartridge razor bodies I've been using and presented no learning curve upon initial use.Absolutely outstanding first DE razor purchase!

The good old fashioned shaver. Have had this for several years and am very pleased. It is made well and gives an awesome shave.

The Merkur 38c is my third safety razor. The prior two razors were decent, but were prone to nicks and cuts for me, despite using milder blades. After a fair amount of research, it seems like the Merkur 34c/38c seemed to be the most highly recommended for individuals a little newer to using safety razors as well as for folks with sensitive skin and more coarse facial hair.After having used the Merkur 38c for a little over a month now, I can say the recommendations were totally warranted. The Merkur is a very smooth and efficient razor. Since using it, I have not had one nick or cut and have not experienced any skin irritation. I was even able to upgrade to slightly sharper blades for a quicker and closer shave, and it was able to handle them with ease. For anyone that might be a little newer to using safety razors, the Merkur 38c is honestly a great choice.

Over the past few months, I've been trying to find the perfect DE razor for me. This is the 5th one that I've tried and while it comes the closest to "perfect" it does have one glaring flaw that is difficult to overlook.First the good: It's aggressive. I like that, with a quality blade, I can usually get by with one pass of this razor. A second pass, against the grain, will give you that hairless feel. The two-piece design is a bit easier to change blades compared to a three piece. The fit and finish seem to be good. I like how heavy it is. Overall I'd say this razor is an excellent value.The bad: The grip. While I like the long, heavy handle, the knurling on the grip is awful. It's like Merkur sat down and had a focus group for how to come up with the worst grip design. The grooves are so small, shallow, and close together that it feels like you're gripping a high grit sandpaper. And the spiral design, combined with the razor's weight, makes it easily slip and rotate in your hand, especially if your hands are wet and/or there is lather on the handle. I saw other reviews complain about it feeling slippery in your hand, and I have to concur.Its a shame because the razor does so many things well. If Merkur would just make this same design, but model the knurling after a feather, or even a cheap Weishi, it would be absolutely perfect. As is, I recommend it, but with the caveat that you'd better make sure to grip it tight.

I owned about 20 safety razors and I can tell this one is now one of my daily drivers. I have sensitive skin and last night I had one of my best shaves ever with this razor. NO blade feel, no red spots, no bumps, no nicks but BBS shave. This razor is well done and looks beautiful. It's great for beginners and experienced shavers.

Razor worked great for a year. I love the weight and feel, pretty effortless to have a good shave. After about a year, the threads started to degrade on the handle so I'm now not able to fasten the razor down and making the razor no longer safe to use.

I wanted to try this razor as it got great reviews on Badger & Blade.The first thing I noticed is that it glides effortlessly across my face. No nicks or cuts (rarely).My previous daily driver is the RAZOROCK Mamba 70 razor. That is a great razor, but I would get nicks every so often, so I thought I would try the MERKUR brand.I use both FEATHER and DORCO Prime Platinum blades with this MERKUR razor and I now rarely get a nick or cut. Plus it's head angle cuts a 3 day stubble down in just two passes.I highly recommended this razor for the beginner or expert wet shaver!