Closed Pass around: Merkur 37C Slant - CLOSED

Day 4 - Shave #1


It must have been almost two years since I last used a Merkur 37C. Back then I didn't see the benefit it gave over other razors. I also had discovered SE razors and they are still what I now use most. The 37C arrived just after I had a shave with the Bunny V3. I don't need a shave the next day if I use the Bunny. I decided to push it a bit further and use the Merkur 37C with three days worth of stubble.
Proper prep was called for, so I used the Lucky Tiger facial cleanser and removed it with a hot face towel.
PolSilvers are my default DE blades, so I used a fresh one. As with all pass around razors I decided on my standard four pass WTG/XTG/GTX/ATG routine. This razor is a slant with a twisted blade and the way to shave with those razors is to forget that they are slants. Shave as normal, use the correct angle and use NO PRESSURE.
The feel of the razor on my face was rather pleasant. I never had the impression that it was out to cut me. Quite tame, but very efficient. I was presentable after the first pass.
I started DE shaving with a Merkur 34C, which has the same handle as the 37C and I was always happy with the handle of these razors and dismissed claims that the handle is too short and that the 39C is the better razor. I was wrong. The handle is too short and uncomfortable. Then again, the handle of the bakelite Merkur 45 is the same length and it is perfect. I need to think about this some more.
The shave was very close and lasted quite long. Not up there with the best, but still very good. Alum block and ASL had very little to tell me - it was not a harsh shave at all. I'll skip another shave and either shave with my Merkur 34C in two days time or with both the Merkur 34C and the 37C so I can judge the difference the slant makes.
 
@riverrun I dare you to do an entire shave using the gilette slide stroke with 37C. then share the blood bath....um I mean photos lol
I almost always use a Gillette slide below my jawline and I'm sure I did it with the 37C as well with no ill effects. I don't see the point of doing it everywhere, no matter how much you dare me. I'll do allegedly silly things if they sound interesting (shaving with a Durham Duplex with a dog dresser blade - bad idea / shaving with a Bunny V3 without the safety guard - quite OK), but gillette-sliding across my entire face just sounds tedious. Pass.
 
The whole reason I sold my 37c was it just wasn't different enough to my 34c. Didn't get noticeably better shaves with the 37c. 34c now doesn't get used since I bought the progress. if the chance of using a fasan or a German vintage bakelite slant came up my mind may be changed but right now I'm pretty sure the slants are a bit of a gimmick. As always however, YMMV.
 
I almost always use a Gillette slide below my jawline and I'm sure I did it with the 37C as well with no ill effects. I don't see the point of doing it everywhere, no matter how much you dare me. I'll do allegedly silly things if they sound interesting (shaving with a Durham Duplex with a dog dresser blade - bad idea / shaving with a Bunny V3 without the safety guard - quite OK), but gillette-sliding across my entire face just sounds tedious. Pass.
Omg! did you shave with the Durham Duplex with a dog dresser blade in the end? I thought you were seeing if I would lol didn't think you were going to. how bad was it?
 
The whole reason I sold my 37c was it just wasn't different enough to my 34c. Didn't get noticeably better shaves with the 37c. 34c now doesn't get used since I bought the progress. if the chance of using a fasan or a German vintage bakelite slant came up my mind may be changed but right now I'm pretty sure the slants are a bit of a gimmick. As always however, YMMV.
See my main interest in this razor is comparing it to my 34c and i've never used a slant before.
 
Omg! did you shave with the Durham Duplex with a dog dresser blade in the end? I thought you were seeing if I would lol didn't think you were going to. how bad was it?
It was a while ago... About as bad as, or worse than shaving with a fake PolSilver :eek:. Worst blade I have tried to be quite honest. Not bloody, just bloody uncomfortable. Mind you, the Durham Duplex with a proper blade ↪needs to be experienced. Cool machine.
 
Shave #2 - Merkur 34C vs Merkur 37C

Merkur_34C_37C_Barrier.jpg

In the right corner: the humble Merkur 34C, my first proper razor, since living in a drawer somewhere. In the left corner: the might Merkur 37C, my first slant, and the one I since sold. Both are armed with a fresh PolSilver blade. PolSilvers are one of my favourite DE blades, Tabac Original is currently my favourite soap, the MÜHLE brush is the best I own. Both razors are equipped with the best starting conditions I can give them.
The contest is over four rounds. Let's call them WTG, XTG, GTX and ATG.
I had a shave with the 34C yesterday to get used to it again and I figured out my 'short handle problem'. I need to hold the 34C and 37C at the very bottom of the handle. Hey presto - that works - the handle of the 34C/37C is not a problem. I was holding it wrong!
The shave-off: they are very similar. The 37C sounds nicer when cutting stubble. Not sure why or how to describe it. Different frequencies...
After each pass I rinse my face and run my hands over my skin to be able to tell the difference.
WTG: no difference.
XTG: no difference.
GTX: no difference.
ATG: no difference.
Alum block: no difference.
ASL: no difference.
12 hours later: no difference.
They are both very capable razors. Better than I remembered them, but for me the 37C gives exactly the same shave as the 34C. The slant on the 37C is a gimmick I personally can do without. Other slants do vary! The pass around vintage Trumpf slant was marvellous. Slants do work, but the 37C doesn't make a difference for me. It may do for you. (YMMV and all that).
I'll have another shave off with the 37C. Maybe with the very humble bakelite Merkur 45. I'm sure it will humiliate the 37C. It has not been surpassed by any DE razor, not even the stainless steel marvels so fashionable right now.
TBC....
 
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Shave #3 - Merjur 37C vs Merkur 45

One half of the face with the Merkur slant, the other with my best DE razor - the bakelite Merkur 45. One more word on the handles.. both handles are roughly the same length and I noticed that I hold the Merkur 45 naturally by the end of the handle. As the 37C is much heavier, I was tempted to hold it closer to the head, making it unbalanced and uncomfortable to hold. Hold it at the bottom of the handle and all is well.
I did my usual pass-around shave routine. I'll spare you the pass by pass details.
At the end of the shave I was smooth all over on both halves of my face. The alum block and ASL claimed that the shave with the 37C was a little bit harsher.
The next morning I could pick a winner and, as I expected, it's the Merkur 45. The closeness of the shave just lasted longer. No other DE razor gives me a closer, longer lasting shave.
Personally, I'm not getting the 37C. Other DE razors give me a better shave, including some German vintage slants. Other guys love this razor and I encourage you to try it if you don't know it. It's a good razor and not dangerous at all, just not on top of my list.
 
Nothing more to be learned from the Merkur 37C. It's on its way to @Blademonkey

  1. sɐǝɹpu∀ / riverrun (ATG/TSR)
  2. Blademonkey (TSR)
  3. Mr Bigmem (ATG/TSR)
  4. Gairdner (ATG/TSR)
  5. wazza (ATG)
  6. ManicDee
  7. You?
The list is open.

Legend: Currently with, On the way to, Waiting, Completed
 
[ATTACHView attachment 22035 =full]22035[/ATTACH] Recieved with thanks, @riverrun arrived in good order. Now locked and loaded with a blade ready for my first shave with this razor.
I will send in regular reports regarding my experience.
Thank you going out to @Steve Bowles for his donation and making this possible .
Will be interesting to see how it compares with the ATT S2?
 
Thanks for reporting back. If you think the 37C twists the blade, you should try some of the German vintage slants. :eek:
  1. sɐǝɹpu∀ / riverrun (ATG/TSR)
  2. Blademonkey (TSR)
  3. Mr Bigmem (ATG/TSR)
  4. Gairdner (ATG/TSR)
  5. wazza (ATG)
  6. ManicDee
  7. You?
The list is open.

Legend: Currently with, On the way to, Waiting, Completed
 
image.jpg My first shave today with the 37c paired with a stainless polisilver and I had a good shave from it.
I don't know what I had been expecting really, people talk of this razor and hold it in high regard but it just gave me a good shave with the same amount of effort that I would have put in with any other DE razor I have.
It's early days though so I will carry on and see if compaires to my ATT S2 for closeness of shave.
Over and out
 
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