Welcome fellow shavers!
This post is dedicated to my first and favourite double edged razor, the Merkur 39C Slant.
I spent an inordinate amount of time researching this purchase, looking for what was meant to be the best razor to suit my sensitive skin and tough beard growth. Everywhere I looked I saw slants purported to suit, so, a good look around at the modern options (I wasn't ready to buy vintage just yet) available led me here.
As you can see from the photograph, there is a subtle 'twist' to the head, meaning the blade runs at a slight angle from perpendicular to the handle, ensuring a guillotine type slicing action. When you consider why this is, you begin to understand how it is more efficient at cutting whiskers.
This is a two piece razor, and you release the head by twisting the ball end at the bottom, a simple and effective design, ensuring blade loading is simple and generally hazard free.
The razor is a closed comb design, with a heavily notched safety bar as seen below.
The subtle twist and closed comb design makes for a very comfortable shave, when combined with a nice sharp blade. I personally favour Astra Superior Stainless (blue pack) and Gillette 7 o'clock Yellow blades in this razor. They are sharp to the point where they cut very efficiently, yet retain a smoothness that renders irritation to the past. I can shave in all directions with complete comfort (with, across and against the grain) when paired with a quality soap or cream, something I could never do with a cartridge razor. Shave in short strokes for best results and you will be rewarded with quite probably the closest shave you will ever have. Total BBS (baby bottom smooth) shaves were once a pipe dream, now they are an every day occurrence. My skin, not to mention my wife, thank me for it.
The Merkur 39C is a well built razor, solid in it's construction, the plating is of high quality, and the overall impression from day one was that this was a very good purchase. I have not been let down in any way.
Merkur do state that the release mechanism requires a little maintenance, in as much as they suggest a little oil to prevent sticking. This is no hardship at all, something that given you care for your face enough to consider proper shaving, will prove no issue at all. It takes all of one minute maximum, and I do this once a fortnight. I put a few drops of oil down the razor handle (through the hole in the middle, in the last picture shown), and sit the razor upright to allow it to flow down the handle. Whilst doing this, I turn the release ball mechanism to work the oil in. I then sit the razor inverted (head down) on a folded piece of tissue paper to absorb excess oil. It's then ready to use next time.
So there we have it. If you are looking for your first razor (or indeed an addition to your ever increasing collection), and you have sensitive skin and heavy growth, then you really should consider the Merkur 39C. It is worthy of a place in anybodies shave den.
Thanks for reading!
Nick
