Just started wet shaving four weeks ago after removing my beard after 35 plus years. Loving the whole process. Started with a Merkur 23C. When I saw what a beautiful design the Merkur 1904/1906 is, I just had to have it. Came in the mail today and after watching your review on it I gave it a go with a Personna blade - though I was a little nervous initially with the open comb design. I have a medium heavy beard so I did three passes. What a great, smooth, close shave it delivered with no effort. No nicks or cuts either! I'm hooked...Keep up the great reviews, they are much appreciated!

I have a Merkur 1904 with a closed comb that I recently purchased, shaved daily for six days, and only have minor irritation on the bottom of my neck. I've used it with Feather blades, and this is an excellent combination for me. I plan on purchasing the open comb version.

I shaved today for the second time with this razor and it was a great shave. I shaved for 12 years with the 1960 Gillette DE razor and then 42 years with cartridge razors. No problems with Gillette and Schick cartridge razors, but this razor gave me BBS shaves two days in a row with the Merkur blade. I'll try other blades but this razor is great to use and great to look at! Thanks for the video!

Used my 1906* for first time this morning (my first open comb). Astra green blade. Two days of growth. 1906 for first pass WTG, 34C (my long time closer) for final two passes cross grain in both directions, light pressure always. Very smooth, extremely comfortable shave. No nicks cuts or weepers and zero irritation. Proraso green soap, my go to. Feeling like I’ve found my new standard shave. For long growths (5 days or more) first pass is with Parker 66R aka “The Lawnmower” - super efficient but pay attention! 1906 felt safe; a little more efficient than 34C, in my opinion (which is what I was hoping for), yet basically as smooth as 34C (another win). Well crafted, beautiful, and affordable. Found the missing link for my arsenal 👍👍 *The Merkur 1904/1906 open comb is the 41C Update: Did full 3-pass + touch-up shave using only 41C. Impressively close shave! Talkin’ “date night” shave on the face (and very comfortable on the face). Experienced minor irritation on neck under jaw (trouble spot as it is). Could have been my fault but I am thinking, objectively, that the 41C is a bit “bladey” for 3 neck passes. I will continue to use my 34C for final passes-I am able to keep the neck irritation-free with 34C as closer + mindful, light-pressure technique. Now, for 24hr growth I use 41C for first pass & 34C for final two. For 48hr growth I use 41C for two passes (with & across grain) and 34C for final pass (across in other direction + touch-up). (I only go against the grain on upper sideburns during touch-up.) Been a week; getting excellent, perfectly comfortable shaves; looking like a winning combo; very pleased with 41C (no grip issues in my experience).

Thanks for the review! It was a big help in choosing my next razor purchase, hopefully upgrading to the open comb will be more efficient for removing several days of growth

Enjoying your vids this last while, they've helped me greatly. Looking forward to using this 42C (1904).

Enjoy your videos Nick, I just purchased the Merkur open comb 1904 two thumbs up very close shaves with it, it's right up their with my progress adjustable by Merkur.Hope all is well out in Boston.

thanks for all the great tutorials. You have helped me come to enjoy shaving. I wanted an open comd razor. So I went to eBay an bought a 1920s Gillette. It's now my favorite. Yes. The Merkur head is identical to the Gillette. But, the handle looks more like a Gem or Star 1912. Thank you again.

Some say an open comb is more aggressive. Some shavers say no. They say an open comb is smoother. I have a vintage Gillette "New" or "New Standard" open comb razor. It's a three piece razor. The first time I shaved with it, it blew me away. To my great surprise, It beat my Merkur 34c. It beat my Fatboy, my Gillette Adjustable Slim. And it made my Parker Variant feel like an old klunker. I used a Perma Sharp blade which works for me better than a Personna Lab Blue, a Feather, a Wilkinson, and others. All fine blades, by the way. And I used a Stirling soap and my Semogue OC bristle. This combination of the four variables which are in play in every shave--the razor, the blade, the soap or cream, and the brush--resulted in the smoothest best shave I've experienced to date.

I bought the 1906 double edge safety razor with safety bar, it is modeled after the Gillette safety razor as you mentioned. I loved the close shave I got with it and was anxious about using the open comb model - I feel the bar version is better for safety as I am new to double edge razor shaving. I feel that the handle is a little small for me and may go with a 34C or 180 model for a longer handle. I would like to add that I found your advise with shave brushes to be very helpful as I bought a Van Der Hagen shave set to go with the razor. Great results with the brush and soap combo as opposed to the shave cream cans and gels. Thank you again for the great advise and enjoyable videos.

I have the Merkur 37c slant bar destroyer, the 38c, and my favorite 15c. My blade of choice is the Voshkod. I cannot believe how spectacular those blades are. SO SMOOTH. I've tried Feathers, too sharp not smooth for my face and PolSilvers my 2nd choice. I'll never go back to anything but Voshkod and I really recommend you get them! Voshkod FTW!

@markcianciolo9384

6 жыл бұрын

Interesting, you and others rave about Voshkod. And I'm excited about that. I'm still working with this blade. For some reason my beard and skin don't like it. It is not smooth nor especially sharp for me. I don't exactly know why. I, like others, have many blades, many soaps, many brushes, and razors. And I'm always experimenting. Thus far Perma Sharp gives me the most pleasant shave. Smooth. Sharp. Effortless. Seamless if you will.

@jerrycourt9272

5 жыл бұрын

Jeff Czaja I’m in total agreement with you on the voshkod blades as I have a double open comb and they are fantastic in it , great choice.

bought this razor a few years ago and didnt like it much but used it again today and got a Great shave so perhaps my technique is better now

Thanks for the review, I've been considering this razor because it is a handsome piece but you answered a couple of questions as to the grip and weight. I imagine that if it was real heavy with open comb we'd be more susceptible to gashes haha but great review

I use the close comb version with crystal blades..works great!

Thanks for the great review Nick! I currently use a Parker 26C OC which is very good and a Merkur 34C. The Parker beats it hands down. I will purchase the Merkur 1904 OC via your link. Thanks again. Cheers!

I used an open comb 3 at 4 times a weeks and i love it. I have an heavier beard and for me is the best. It's little more agressive but i used a smooth blade like Astra platinum. Try this and enjoy...:-)

I have this razor, first and only de Razor, I really like it. I have to closed one

the handle for the 33c will fit that just fine, so if you want a deeply checkered handle just pick up one of those, which is often a overlooked razor to begin with.

Another great review 👍would you recommend this as a first open comb or something else, I really enjoy my EJ89 and merkur 34c but sometimes they feel a bit to mild for taking of 4 days of growth thx in advance

Today I opened up a LORD Platinum Class blade and I found a Voskhod inside!!!! After trying the Voskhod and the Lord Platinum I am convinced that they are the same blade.

Just tip for the grip on the handle - keep your alum block handy to touch with your fingers - improves the grip on the razor and to stretch the skin no end and I just like the Rapira LUX blades with almost all my razors

I might really pick this thing up. I'm getting tired of my old razor and for some reason my shaves been going down hill lately... Anyways congrats on 900+ subscribers seemed like last month you had 250

@nickshaves

10 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Yeah, I have had some great growth of sub recently and I am really excited about it. Its great to shave my shaving experiences and get out more and more videos

I just got this razor. Had the merkur 23c already. 1904 feels a bit more aggressive. But maybe I don't quite have the angle down yet. Still getting used to this

I enjoy my 1904 OC. I wish the handle was 1/4" longer and a few g's heavier. The Fatip Grande is still my OC of choice.

Have you tried the Futur? Got one as a Xmas gift some years back.

What do you recommend for a beginner to this style of shaving?

Being that this video is well over a year old, you've probably already corrected your pronunciation of "Merkur", but just in case: "Mer" should rhyme with "hair", and "kur" should sound like "koo-er" (think of the beer Coors. Exactly like that, but without the "s", of course). The emphasis is on the first syllable. MER-kur. I confirmed this by asking a German friend, who was born and raised and lives in Germany, and is actually in the next town over from Solingen.

@PolntBlank

8 жыл бұрын

+Ted Riggs thanks for this!!

@ClassicalPan

8 жыл бұрын

+SomeHooligan You're welcome. :)

Whats up Nick I have the same razor for some reason like you said its not really not that aggressive but I'm wondering should I change the blades out or what because for the open comb and it supposed to be aggressive for me it doesn't do as good as well lets say like the Parker 92 I think I have, so just let me know Nick,if you could list of 5 razors i need to buy that you recommend. I'm black so my hair is different but what would the top 5 be? Thanks

What does "aggressive" mean? Does it mean it cuts off more beard hair per stroke? Or does it mean more likely to cut your skin?

Have you tried the Parker 24C/26C? I've read that it's a top contender for milder, open-comb razors, like this Merkur 1904. I tend to shave every 4-5 days and my beard grows fairly quickly, and while I love my Merkur 34C, I've been wondering if an open-comb razor would be better suited for me. My only major hesitation in buying one is that I don't know if I would also need to find a new blade to match it. When using an open-comb, do you find that your favored blades don't perform as well in it? I took up wet shaving last year, and after spending 4+ months going through a blade sampler, and incidentally going through many horrible blades to find 2 or 3 that I like, I really don't want to start that process all over again.

Nick. Was wondering. Comparing the Symmetry open comb with the Merkur 1904 open comb. Do you have a preference? Thanks

Nick...do you own any other open comb head (RazoRock or Maggard)? If so, how does the 1904 compare against the?

I too have a quick question... Do you ever shave against the grain on your neck? Like holding the razor upside down and go up towards your chin (hope in explaining myself well) because when I do I seem to get some varying irritation and sometimes have to use some alum to stop a few bleeds here and there.

@nickshaves

10 жыл бұрын

I don't shave against the grain (ATG) on my neck - it really can't handle it. I am acutally in the process of refining my neck shave - its really key for me to go with the grain (WTG) in all directions on my neck

@nickshaves

10 жыл бұрын

YES - and VERY light pressure on the neck

Is it more aggressive than Merkur 34C?

do you guys think this is more aggressive than the 34?

Hi Nick, You should really try HTGAM's new DE safety razor called "Name Taker". You can get it in an open comb or safety bar styled razor and it has a solid heavy duty handle.

@edhead35

10 жыл бұрын

Incredible handle. Symmetry open comb is the head I have on mine.

@knightmare1015

10 жыл бұрын

edhead35 I've been interested in getting an open comb but can't decide on which one.

@edhead35

10 жыл бұрын

If you like the long handles, the Symmetry Open Comb is fantastic, if you like short handles, The Symmetry Name Taker has a short, fat, heavy handle, but both razors have the same Symmetry open comb head. I have never used this Merkur 1904/1906. I have several Gillette open combs, and I like the Symmetry Name Taker Open comb the best. It is a beast of a handle. The Name taker and Symmetry can be ordered open comb or solid bar, so be careful to order the right one if you decide to go with that one.

@knightmare1015

10 жыл бұрын

edhead35 Thanks. I belive I'll stick with my Merkur 37C slant for now. I'll see about getting one of those razors later on. Can't do it now due to budget reasons.

I have one quick question nick. I just bought a Edwin jagger de 89 and it came with 5 derby blades. I'm just wondering what blades you recommend. Keep up those good vids. Thank,

@Unbendable74

10 жыл бұрын

Personally, I use Feather blades with my DE89 since it's about a medium aggressive razor. Everyone has their own preference though.

@nickshaves

10 жыл бұрын

I agree with Shane - I like sharper blades in my DE89 since its a milder shaver - like the Personna or Feathers

@nickshaves

10 жыл бұрын

I agree!

@hectorrangel1580

8 жыл бұрын

i have the same double edge razor Edwin Jagger and it is a wonder to have it. I use 3 types of blade, Derby, Dorco and Personna, i like to try another blades to know how is it feels. I think the answer is the blade that adjust toy your face, your face told you which one you feel good to work in. Each of us have different kind of skin, maybe if i tell you buy dorco blades they are the best, maybe are the best for me but for you it will be complete thrash. There is a pack of 100 blades on the internet, it is a pack of 10 blades different marcs and i think that is a good thing to see which one blades work good for you. Thanks you.

The 1904 handle is nothing like the original Gillette....I had an original 1907 Gillette years ago and the head of the 1904 is similar but the prongs are a little shorter on the 1904 head that aligns the blade. The Merkur 15c is alot like the original Gillette as far as looks go.

Yes your can dull your blade faster using an open comb….HOWEVER that also depends on if your using both sides of the razor for one shave. Here is my advice and this is the best way to shave with an open comb or any other razor for that matter…DO NOT switch sides while shaving!!!! For the first 15 days of the month use ONLY ONE SIDE of the razor than after the 15 days are over use the other side for the rest of the month, a lot of wet shavers make this mistake and I don’t know why they continue to do this but switching back and forth is using your blade up faster and if you continue with this incorrect way of shaving you’re going to go through your supply of blades faster than just using the correct method I have describe. Yes the double edge razor blade is a lot cheaper than a cartridge but in the long run making the mistake of switching sides during a shave is going to be prohibitively expensive. I can make a pack of blades last for months depending if it is a 5 or 10 pack whereas using the incorrect method you will use the pack up in less than a month and then you’ll have to buy more and that in a little while will get expensive. Trust me I know this from experience.

💪💈👍

The Merkur 15c is far more closer in design to the original Gillette

Have you tried a 2013 Muhle R41 razor?

@nickshaves

9 жыл бұрын

lastpally I have not. Its supposed to be a great razor! Its on my wish list

@mrsrhardy

9 жыл бұрын

lastpally I love my R41 but others to read up on are the Above The Tie US$185 S2 is a slant/opencomb razor on a choice of 3 handles, or head/cap separately for around US$150. Its SS and CMC machined, so very tight fit and tolerances. Only had 1 shave with it so far and ill give you the advice i was given and agree with, get the R41OC. I also loved the iKon101 too on my first shave, but im not a huge slant fan after trying the iKon102 slant, 37C slant or the S2. Might grow on me, might not... YMMV & blade choice is important on all agressive shavers, also the PhenixDOC is the best clean up shaver for BBS in my opinion so i do all my clean up with this razor and only use S2/41R/37C/102S for 2 passes as they are awesome but crap for BBS any of them as they will nick and burn for BBS.

@mrsrhardy

9 жыл бұрын

nick shaves himage.com.au/product/1835/merkur-15c-open-comb-safety-razor

@mrsrhardy

8 жыл бұрын

ColtDeltaElite10mm Love the Feather AS-D2, dont think it gets the credit it deserves and yes its better than the ATT-S2 but its a lot closer when up against he S1.

How come you're not wearing your neck tie T-shirt?

@nickshaves

10 жыл бұрын

Thanks for noticing! Well, I used to be more intimately involved with How To Grow A Moustache (which is where that t-shirt is from), the producer of Synergy Shaving Soap. Since Synergy has extended their product line, I no longer do my reviews with HTGAM to make sure that my reviews are as honest as possible, as they always have been, without an implied unethical relationship where I may want competing products to seen inferior. Just want to keep it as honest as possible for you guys!

@Glockler

10 жыл бұрын

Perhaps you can get your own custom tie shirt made. They look slick.

@Glockler

10 жыл бұрын

Nick, have you tried the Synergy Lime scent, how do you like it?

It's just the hand that is modeled after the Gillette.

Merkur are nice, but they have problems with rust from what i read. Also their client service is bad.

@nickshaves

10 жыл бұрын

Weird! I have never heard of a Merkur rusting - I will look into it

@blackjohnny0

10 жыл бұрын

nick shaves I read about it on badger and blade and also in some shop's comments.

@kaunas888

9 жыл бұрын

***** Edwin Jagger and Muhle have excellent chrome finishes.

@actionjackson442

2 жыл бұрын

Mine is rusting. Responding to a 7 year old comment

Ist's no chrome, it's nickel!