Merkur DE Throwdown

[hyperwarp]

Vote for your fave Merkur mowing machine.

Heck Vote Early & Vote Often....Multiple Votes allowed to Smackdown for your favorite Fixed Blade model & SlamDunk your fave Adjustable model while you're here.

Comment on your choice to help educate other members.

[TraderJoe]

#1 Slant Bar

Would never be without it. Great mowing-machine


#2 Progress

Had it, sold it. Will buy it again.


Futur (didn't vote on, but .02-->) - Had it, sold it, got another one.....still evaluating, but again not sure if I like it. Too heavy?

[qhsdoitall]

I voted 38C and it's my goto when I need a break and my HD slant is my #1 used razor but I have a 12C on the way. Who knows. :D

[hyperwarp]

Am going back 'n forth on my 1st adjustable....Prog, Fut, or Vis...so many fine choices...But if you've had it, sold it 'n got it again, that's a purdy good sign !!!

Then again, i wanna 38C too !!!!!!!

[TraderJoe]

...But if you've had it, sold it 'n got it again, that's a purdy good sign !!!

Yeah, its a good sign alright.........a sign that I am a sick, sick pup :happy001

[rick]

SLANT !

......jury's still out on the Futur :eek:

[herzi]

Voted HD and Futur. The Futur is a very nice shaver and I had a HD but I sold it. Now I miss my HD. I will probably get another

[DragonBoy]

I voted Slant and HD.. Dont wanna live without either one..

[moviemaniac]

HD for me - the only one I've tried ;)

[johnniegold]

23c. The Long Handled Classic. This is the only razor I've used that I felt compelled to write a review about. For me, it is my favorite razor. Something about the longer handle helps me attain a better blade angle, perhaps more appropriately stated, provides easier manueverablity at the right blade angle than shorter handles. All the Merkurs I have are excellent shavers (Futur, HD, Slant, EJ B&B) but it seems that I always look forward to getting back to the 23c. YM... ah heck, you already know that.

* awaiting the arrival of the Progress from Vintage which will probably end up a Mergress.

[qhsdoitall]

23c. The Long Handled Classic. This is the only razor I've used that I felt compelled to write a review about. For me, it is my favorite razor. Something about the longer handle helps me attain a better blade angle, perhaps more appropriately stated, provides easier manueverablity at the right blade angle than shorter handles. All the Merkurs I have are excellent shavers (Futur, HD, Slant, EJ B&B) but it seems that I always look forward to getting back to the 23c. YM... ah heck, you already know that.

* awaiting the arrival of the Progress from Vintage which will probably end up a Mergress.

You should try the 38C or 12C then if you like the 23C so much.

[icemncmth]

I have three that I use in rotation...

LHC...Slant..and Mergress!

[hyperwarp]

LOL...now that I think about it SLANT used'ta mean sumtin' a whole lot different 2 me !!! But then I was young, single, well-off 'n living in lotus-land (California)...now, am old, married, broke 'n living in the Third World part of South Florida -- SLANT's a RAZOR....It figgers...

[johnniegold]

You should try the 38C or 12C then if you like the 23C so much.
Sorry. I excluded the 38c from my list. I do have that one and my preference is still for the 23c. As to the 12c, I do not own any open combs. Ummmm.... no, no snap out of it.

[Padron]

I voted slant, I don't have an HD or 38C yet :(

[hyperwarp]

If you haven't read Mike Sandoval's stunning, indeed, shocking interview with Charles Robert's, you are really missing something good. Something very good.

Here's the link. Clik it & proceed to QUESTION #5 for a real (imho) controversy. Then weigh in with your thoughts & opinions based on your Merkur experiences.

http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1968

[Queen of Blades]

If you haven't read Mike Sandoval's stunning, indeed, shocking interview with Charles Robert's, you are really missing something good. Something very good.

Here's the link. Clik it & proceed to QUESTION #5 for a real (imho) controversy. Then weigh in with your thoughts & opinions based on your Merkur experiences.

http://www.theshaveden.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1968

Everyone is welcome to their opinions. No need for controversy.

[hyperwarp]

to the realm of controversy.

Nothing wrong with controversy. Great things come of controversy. When a highly regarded Shavist classifies the complete line of razors that most of us use as unworthy & clownish, that's controversial to me....:eek: and very stimulating.

If I'd have expressed the same opinion, it wouldn't be controversial because it's just an opinion from an average joe that doesn't mean doodly squat. Coming from one of the great living Shavist's, an icon of modern shaving, it's deliciously controversial & provocative. Agree or disagree this is something to really SAVOR & RELISH.

Mike's interview was absolutely top notch & "extractive" in a way that hardly any professional journalist's are able to achieve. They'd love too but they usually just end up failing to do so.....Mike really rose to the heights by asking great questions that got great responses from his subject.

I'll be reading and re-reading it many times in future....Just hope another installment is coming from his pen...

[qhsdoitall]

Nothing wrong with controversy. Great things come of controversy. When a highly regarded Shavist classifies the complete line of razors that most of us use as unworthy & clownish, that's controversial to me....:eek: and very stimulating.


Unless of course the person making the comments was maybe planning to create their own line of razors or selling competing razors or maybe got locked out of selling the razors by the manufacturer. :D I'm not saying this is the case at all. I'm just playing devil's advocate because I own a very competitive retail business and see all sides of our product industry. Razor industry would be no different.

[Queen of Blades]

to the realm of controversy.

Nothing wrong with controversy. Great things come of controversy. When a highly regarded Shavist classifies the complete line of razors that most of us use as unworthy & clownish, that's controversial to me....:eek: and very stimulating.

If I'd have expressed the same opinion, it wouldn't be controversial because it's just an opinion from an average joe that doesn't mean doodly squat. Coming from one of the great living Shavist's, an icon of modern shaving, it's deliciously controversial & provocative. Agree or disagree this is something to really SAVOR & RELISH.

Mike's interview was absolutely top notch & "extractive" in a way that hardly any professional journalist's are able to achieve. They'd love too but they usually just end up failing to do so.....Mike really rose to the heights by asking great questions that got great responses from his subject.

I'll be reading and re-reading it many times in future....Just hope another installment is coming from his pen...

I guess if that is how you look at it.

By the way, questions were submitted by TSD members, relayed to Charles by Mike, and answered by Charles. Mike does deserve a great deal of credit, but so do others.

Thanks everyone for a great interview!

[PalmettoB]

You gotta look at a couple of issues here:

1) Charles is highly competent, but also highly opinionated (hey, I've met him...nothing personal, just a statement of fact).

2) He is usually thinking a couple of years (or more) ahead of the rest of us, so I have no doubt he will come up with an alternative to Merkur that will really stand out.

3) I started out with a 23c long handled classic. I like it, but the Merkur is, nonetheless, a copy of the classic Gillette razors. Hey, they're better than anything else out there now, but if tomorrow I had to give up all my DEs except one, I would keep my Gillette Fatboy or Slim adjustable and the 23c would go out with the rest.

[hyperwarp]

Your right QOB, didn't realize others had contributed to the question list. Great questions, so kudo's & a hat-lo hat tip to all who contributed to the interrogatory aspects of the interview...

This really was one of the best interviews I've read on any topic in years....

[msandoval858]

When I compiled and formatted the questions I recieved I did my best to get the best spectrum of knowlege from Charles. Having spent as many hours as I have discussing shaving with him, I had a very good idea of how to lay these questions out. I think the end result came out well. Charles is a very good personal friend of mine and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to get his knowlege and experience contributed to our forum here. He is excited about the positive feedback from everyone and he and I hope to do some future projects exclusive to this community. Visitors to the Enchante site will soon see a link to The Shave Den, so hopefully our forum will benefit from this!

On the subject of Merkur, this is one that I knew would generate some comments. Despite the opinions about the various models Merkur offers, the fact is that's really all we have to choose from right now. Vintage Gillette models are great but the quality of the razors will always vary depending on age and condition they are found in. As far as something anyone can go out and buy readily available, Merkur is pretty much it. I was gifted one of these new 38C razors and have been using it off and on the past week. I'll start another thread here soon with my thoughts on it so as not to get too far off topic here.

[mantic]

You'll have to pry my Progress from my cold, dead hands. :cool:

Re:CAR--

Charles is highly competent, but also highly opinionated (hey, I've met him...nothing personal, just a statement of fact).
Ya Think?!? :rofl

He is usually thinking a couple of years (or more) ahead of the rest of us, so I have no doubt he will come up with an alternative to Merkur that will really stand out.
Agreed. He's about five years ahead of the rest of us....

BTW, I'm planning to be in Austin tomorrow afternoon...gonna stop in the new Enchante shop to play with all the toys. :D

--Mark

[Kingpepper]

Darn :mad: I can't vote as I don't own a Merkur; yet. Maybe a slant in the future. But I do enjoy using all my old Gillettes.:D

[Mottern Man]

S

I said.

S-L

S-L-A

S-L-A-N

SLANT

S-L-A-N-T

SLANT SLANT SLANT SLANT!