Merkur 23

I bought this as an upgrade to my beloved Lord L6. The lord has a Merkur style head and a long handle, albeit aluminium, so this seemed to be the model to choose.

I have absolutely no issues with the Lord, nothing could shave me better, but it's a cheap razor, and human nature being what it is then there is the price/quality association.

Not disappointed, this gives me the same great results, feels more substantial being heavier, and the long handle gives superb grip. The balance is perfect, and it looks good on the eye.

Like the Lord, it tames any blade, and whilst my go to seems to be the Lord Superchrome, I have used feather, treet platinum, wilkinson sword classic and Tesco personnas blades with good effect. I am not sure whether this means it's mild or aggressive, but whatever it means it's smooth and comfortable and leaves my skin in a good state.

In short, I got my Lord upgrade. This will be my day to day razor, and the Lord will do the Travelling, which is actually a compliment for both.

I heartily recommend the Merkur 23c to anyone who needs a DE razor.

Price: Rating 9
Hey…what can I say…for around 29 bucks w/ ‘free shipping’ from "The Superior Shave"; I’d say I got a real good deal

http://www.thesuperiorshave.com/index.html

Quality: Rating 8
This beautiful German ‘classic style’ Razor has a straight bar (which according to Merkur is ideal for my ‘sensitive’ skin), closed comb, non-adjustable 3-piece unit (this is a standard 3-part razor design, with a short screw mounting the razor head to the handle). I have been using this for many weeks now and I’m really pleased with this Razor. Although not Stainless Steel like a Feather Razor (which I do not own), I believe their design with brass over chrome plating / finish could stand up with the best and more expensive Razors out there.

"Merkur; Solingen quality, Time-tested Tradition with Modern Design".

User Friendly: Rating 9
I believe one the best aspect of this Razor is the weight… Although not a monster , but at 2.0 oz, it has average weight which is a ‘plus’ for ease of my ‘daily’ shave.


Grip: Rating 9
The ‘non-slip tooling’ grip on this Razor is very ‘sure’ even when wet and the handle is long enough to ‘fit’ even the Wet-Shaver with ‘Bear Claws’ for hands. At a total length of 4 inches long, this is what is the neatest thing about this Razor…it just feels perfect in my hand.

Ease of Blade Replacement: Rating 9
The ease of Blade replacement is ‘quick, easy and flawless’ (please do be careful ), with the 3-piece ‘sandwich type’, ‘load / change’ system operating with no slippage and/or creakiness’ and the razor head unit is ‘tight’ when closed using the knob on the end.

Aggressiveness: Rating 8
This Razors performance in terms of aggressiveness is outstanding, depending on the ‘angle’ you use. By far, it is neither too aggressive nor too mild (but a 'tad' less aggressive than my Merkur 38C).

Adjustability: Rating 8
The blade on both sides of razor head unit excels in that it is evenly exposed (I use “Shark Super Chrome).

Balance: Rating 8
Another area where this Razor shines is that it has incredible balance allowing me to hold it in different ways; depending on the area of my face and the direction I am shaving

Christopher "Laughter is the [shaving] brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of your heart." Mort Walker

A lot of forums recommend the 34 or HD however that one was a lot more expensive. I thus chose the 23c for the blade configuration and not the handle.

As it turns out the Merkur is very easy to use. Loading a blade is perhaps a little more fiddly than with a TTO type but the shave it gives is far better than my Gillette Mach 3 ever gave me and that is on the first pass. The long handle suits me as I have large hands.

I'm already using Palmolive Classic shaving cream (complete with a bowl and badger hair brush). That already improved the Mach 3 shave far beyond aerosol based foams but using the Merkur really took my shave to a new level.

Right from the beginning using this Murker confirms to me that DE shaving eliminates razor burn and irritable skin. Why the majority of men use cartridges is beyond me... Gentlemen - Go back to safety razors!

The one thing I regret is that there's nothing to adjust. Once the technique is down that's it, the Merkur stops there.

I would like to shave with a little bit more blade so it seems I need to move to an adjustable model such as a Futur or one of the vintage gillettes.

Overall recommended for the beginner - it's never hurt me (that said YMMV!)

Great for beginners. Sadly not as aggressive as I need, so I switched to a Mühle R89 (same head as EJ DE89x) which has a slightly larger blade gab. The long handle is nice at first, but once your technique improves, it's not really needed and you never actually touch the last 1 cm, I've found.

This razor is very similar to the famed Merkur HD (34). According to other posts here, the heads are identical. A notable difference is that the handle is longer and more slender, which was why I choose it.

The razor has a nice, high quality feel. It has got a good weight, and as soon as you pick it up, you realise that this razor is built to last.

At 19£ (Gentleman's Shop), this is the cheapest DE razor I have seen, and worth every pound, penny etc

The grip is good, it will not slip out of your hands, even when wet or covered in lather. It is not agressive at all, actually I managed to switch from M3s directly to this without nicks or burns.

Balance is also good, the long handle makes it possible for me to hold it with a light grip, thus preventing pushing down the blade. However, since this model has a long handle, it will be harder for you to use the Kyle grip (holding at the end of the razor).

The plade is replaced by unscrewing the head, and changing the blade. Not as easy as with a butterfly model, but OK.

All in all, a very good razor

Necator

The Merkur Long Handle Classic (as it is also known) is my favorite DE razor. It is identical to the HD in all but two respects. The first, and most obvious difference, is that the handle is much longer and thinner. I have come to prefer a long handled razor and feel that this instrument has perfect balance and maneuverability. The second difference is that the LHC is a three piece razor whereas the HD is a two piece. That makes the LHC a little harder to load and a little less user friendly. I find this a minor inconvenience and it shouldn't be the slightest trouble for an experienced user. IMO this razor has the perfect amount of blade exposure. It is neither too aggressive nor too mild. I gave it a score of 10 under "Aggressiveness" for this reason. I interpret this category to mean a useful amount of exposure not just raw power. The thing that really sells me on this razor is that the blade exposure is even on both sides. Most of the Merkurs in my possession have the infamous mild side/aggressive side. My LHC (and Futur) do not and I much prefer them. I don't know if this is a characteristic of all LHCs or I just got lucky.

This razor, teamed with a Swedish Gillette blade, is my go-to rig. It works great with almost every soap or cream that I care to use. If I need a great shave, this is what I reach for.

Wow! I love this razor. I think that it has perfect balance and weight. I've got long fingers and this is the razor for a gentleman with long fingers. I'm very pleased with the quality of this razor and the chrome job is excellent. It is an excellent alternative to the HD. Great for newbies as well. This is now my everyday razor.

Awesome for beginners. Why do I say that? Because I'm a beginner, and I love it I been DE shaving for four months now with this bad boy, and all I can say is wow. The learning curve is very easy. The only problem I have is that it's not as aggresive as I would like. A sharper blade should help, but you can apply all sorts of pressure without bleeding. A must for newbies.

The 23C was my re-entry into DE shaving after having taken a multi-year detour through the lands of Trac II and Norelco. In fact, the reason I purchased the long handled 23C was because it most closely approximated the length of a Gillette Trac II, and thus was a good transition into a fixed head DE razor.

If you are used to a long handle disposable razor or if you simply like to throttle up on the handle of any razor, I recommend the 23C. The razor is nicely balanced, easily disassembles into three pieces that permits simple cleaning, and the handle is textured for a positive grip with soapy fingers.

Price-wise, you can't go wrong especially when you consider that the razor will last for years.

As for aggressiveness, hmmm, well...it's not adjustable so you do have to watch your angles. That said, the 23C doesn't strike me as overly aggressive (but obviously more aggressive than a disposable) though like any razor you can bite yourself if you're not careful. I've been using Derby blades with little complaint.

Merkur 23C.

I paid approx £18 for the razor itself. This seems about right for a brand new one. It is one of the cheapest all-metal DE razors.

The worst thing about this razor is probably the balance, - which is actually pretty good, especially for a long-handled razor. It's simply the worst thing about it because, everything else is so good.

Quality is definitely there, seems a very well built, easy to clean, disassemble, change blade and re-assemble etc.

Definitely user-friendly in the above respect and that I find it a very forgiving DE razor. You'd have to be throwing it at your face to make mistakes really.

This is currently my day-to-day razor. I enjoy shaving with it.

I just purchased a Merkur 25 in a shop in my local town for £16.95. This is a very cheap price for Britain. It is the same as the 23 but has the rake head. I was worried about the reputation of this razor head design as a face ripper, so approached my first shave with caution and a light touch. I can report that it just glided over my face and took off those bristles with a silken feel. Absolutely no drag, nicks or any other negative effects to mention. The razor is quite light, but beautifully balanced and well made. I now use four razors, a Gillette Superspeed, Merkur HD, Merkur Futur, and this new acquistion. I like them all in their own way. The differences in weight, balance, aggressiveness and feel in the hand make each change of razor a mini adventure! If I had to keep only one, it would be the Futur, but that's because of the four it is the most OTT, a bit like me!
Cheers,
Martin

I too have the comb head version of this razor. I was a bit cautious, thinking the razor might be too aggresive, but its turned out to be the easiest razor I've got to shave with. I have a Merkur Vision, Futur and Slant Bar and this razor is the easiest to use, its not as aggresive as my Futur set on 2.5, and doesnt bite as quickly as the Slant when youre not concentrating. However I've yet to get as close a shave with this one as the Futur. I've tried it with both Derby and Feather blades, without noticing a great deal of difference. The three piece arrangement makes the blades slightly tricker to change than the Futur or Slant, but not really a problem, and the size of the head makes it easy to shave round my goatee. All in all a great razor for everyday, but I still use the Futur if I'm after a really close shave.

After many years of Gillette Excel, This is my first DE razor.
The brand was selected based on the many guides for first time DE shavers.

The specific model was chosen because of the similarity to the Gillette Excel.

I am use to a long handle, and as one of the guides said: eliminate as many as possible vaiables. So I did.

Price was 23 EUR. Is that good? Compared to other brands? Compare to plastic DE razors? As I expect it to last a lifetime, it is worth the money, that is the bottom line
Quality seems more than OK, but a little hard to judge after a few weeks.
User Friendly? Definate yes. Long handle helped me build confidence.
Grip: No problems there at all.
Ease of blade replacement: I can see why the butterfly model will be easier, but this is no hardship.
Agressiviness. Does not seem agressive.
Balance: well, the head is a bit heavy compared to the handle. But to seriously give a score on this, I will wait a couple of months and try out another razor, so I can compare.

I give this razor high marks based on the fact that I like it as a newbie. I would recommend it to anyone with experience in wet shaving but new to DE.

This is a great razor. The slender and longer pole make it perfect for those with large hands. The head is the same as that of the Merkur HD/34c and makes this a 'middle of the road' razor in terms of aggressiveness. It's well suited for the more experienced DE user as well as the beginner. This was my second Merkur after the HD/34c and must say I like this one a little better. The blade replacement is just a little harder compared to a two-piece Merkur like the HD/34c, that's why I gave it a 9 instead of a 10, It's not rocket science however

In all the 23c is a great razor that I would recommend to anyone looking for a DE razor. In my opinion, the 23c is Merkur's secret gem.

After trying many razors, with the Merkur Futur being the most expensive; I choose to shave with the 23C. For my hands its the correct length and weight. When I travel and use a short DE, I just don't feel as confident as with the 23C. the fit and finish on this Merkur product is great. I can't say the the same about the crappy 3 piece Parker I just got in the mail. Since its one of the least expensive DEs out there I would recommend this model for those with sensitive skin. It performs very well with all blades and I give it my highest recommendation after trying a dozen other DE razors. Best!

The famous Merkur 23C or the Long Handle Classic is a must, of course!! € 22 for it..nice price i think. I consider myself this razor superior to his twin the 34C HD...same head (mine without comb) but longer handle. This is the razor i will recommend to a newbie...not the 34C HD or even the Progress. And why? Because all the guys who came from other parishs (fusions and other multiblades) to our DE wetshave church have in mind all the handles are longs... First a DE long handle, and if they like, then a short one...it's the best method to begin the prayer of every morning.

Anyway perfect razor, price OK, built to last, non aggressive, perfect grip with or without soap in hands, balance excellent. The first days you will have some reserves (TTO is better of course...)to change the blade...caution...but after that everything is OK.Just a minor question.

That said, this is the razor i will recommend to any newbie who wants to introduce himself to this world without worries.

This is the finest DE I've tried to date. (Sampled so far: Gillette Flare Tip SS, Red Tip, Blue Tip, Fat Boy, Black Handled Flare Tip, Merkur Futur and HD.)

The multiple categories above don't allow me to adequately praise the most important feature of the razor - the shave. It's close, and yet the LHC glides over the skin in a very forgiving manner, providing a lot of tactile feedback. I switched to the Long Handled version after working for many months with the shorter handled version. These two razors shave similarly, but the longer handle provides a slightly more to grip. Both also are quite forgiving if you're off a bit with your blade angle.

Unlike others here, I find the Open Comb version of this razor to be very different to work with. More aggressive, (no surprise), but the correct blade angle seems a little harder to find. Somehow there isn't as much tactile feedback as with the OC version. It's too easy for me to be steep or shallow with blade angle on the OC.

New or more experienced, the Classic and LHC should be the first choice for a DE razor.

Price: under $30 brand new, it doesn't get much cheaper.

Quality: Top notch. All parts fit perfect, no machine/tool marks, tight tolerances.

User Friendly: Quite! The longer handle gives me a better grip and makes the tool feel like an extension of my hand.

Grip: It's not going anywhere, even when covered in lather.

Ease of Blade Replacement: well, it's not a TTO or a "2-piece", so I had to deduct some points. Still, I've never cut myself changing a blade.

Aggressiveness: Perfect for me, but YMMV! I have fine-to-average whiskers, not coarse or thick by any stretch. This razor mows them down with no problem.

Balance: This is where this razor shines, for me. It has incredible balance allowing me to hold it many different ways depending on the area of my face and the direction I am shaving. I believe an earlier review likened it to a surgical tool, which is a very accurate description.

Notes: I get incredible shaves with the 23c and a Personna Red Pack blade. Derbys are very good as well. I haven't felt the need to try a sharper blade with it, based on my personal variables.

The mekur 23c is the first DE razor I ever purchased and now a year into wet shaving I have to say it is the best razor that I have tried.

I really like the longer handle and with a weight of 2.4 oz it is perfectly balanced IMHO.

At around $30 and readily available online it makes a excellent beginner DE razor. If you are a veteran wet shaver and have not tried a 23c get your hands on one and I am sure it will become a staple in your rotation.

YMMV but Derbys are what works best in this razor for me.

This was my first razor when I was introduced to double edge shaving, and for a long while I never considered getting another as it was giving me great shaves. Finally I felt the need to see what else is out there, and got a couple flair tip superspeeds, a 50s gillette tech, and a gillette new. After giving all of these vintage gillettes a good trial, I finally realized that the Merkur 23c was a better shaver than all of them, at least for me.

What I like about it is first off, the handle is longer than most other razors. I have big hands, and holding the standard size razors are awkward to me. Second, this razor is just the right amount of aggressiveness for me. I load a gillette 7oclock yellow into it and it gives me a smooth BBS and comfortable shave. Its a forgiving razor, unless you press too hard with it, then you are going to get razor burn.

As far as the triple head set up, its a little more difficult to change blades, compared to say, a superspeed. But this is more than made up for, IMO, by the smaller profile of the head allowing you to shave more easily under the nose. Also the small head gives much better feedback, so that you can hear, and feel the hairs being cut, compared to a superspeed.

As far as comparisons with other three pieces, the new was too aggressive for me, the gillette tech was too mild, and the 23c falls into the perfect mid range between to two of these, at least for me.

So, soon I will be selling my two flair tips, and my gillette new, and my gillette tech because the 23c is the one for me.