I think this might be my new favorite razor. I put in a Gillette Vietnamese super thin in. Wow! No weepers, no nicks, and best of all almost no burn when I used my Alum. BBS all over face and DFS on neck with no reddness or bumps.
The merkur long handle is my first and only DE. I've been trying to decide whether to try the 1904 next or a slant bar. I think you may have helped make that decision.