closest shave? merkur 34c, r41, 1904 bar* sensitive skin.cant decide

[ziggy1706]

Hi all ! Curretnly i am using a merkur 1904 comb. its the only razor thats ever given me the closest shaves! Been using it for about 3 years now. However, it may nick my face up. This i attribute to using store brand blades. CVS, walgreens, stop n shop, ect. cvs ones seem the sharpest. I use a gillette bakelight handle i got from a military WWII store..a tech from the 40's. the 1904 handle is near impossible to balance and use. the tech gives nice shaves, but not close enough. Have a short slant bad merkuer as well. smooth shaves, but face dosnt seem to agree with it.
SO! wanting ot experince a new razor! i am looking at the merkur 34c short handle, the muhle 41(westcoastshaving has 2 listed, one as grande, the other as a 41). I had read here, the 1904 bar and 34c are identical...so i dotn know if its true, thier actually the same? Thinking the bar will give not *** aggressive a shave but smooth n close so not even shadow is thier.
And have read about the r 41. Its been tweaked i read. But on a website last night, someone said thats a myth. I am experienced enough in wet shaving, but think since i ghave sensitive skin...the 41 might be too much. I am seeking a razor with super close shaves as if i used a throat slasher...btu without drawing blood ro skin and all that.
Also read about the parker 99R...angleing it can be a wow shave!
ANy ideas on what i can purchase ???

 

[ziggy1706]

I mean for me i really like the 1904! its super close! Im looking to upgrade my blades to much better quality..looking at gillette super blues, the yellow 7 oclocks, the personna med prep blades ( i see thiers 2 kinds, one least expensive, lab blu, then the med blades, is thier a difference?) and the astra stainless steel ones. Dont like platinums or anything fancy.

 

[Panama]

lab and med are the same blade. med is sterile for hospital use. Astra SP is a great blade as is lab blue.

 

[ziggy1706]

cool! Thanks for info! Now how about the razors i mentioned..cant really decide.

 

[nymtber]

Slim set to 9 with a Lab Blue.

Close shave, 12 hours later I have less stubble than 4 hours after ANY cartridge system.

 

[martym]

Merkur 37c with Astra blades or a blade sampler.
You can't beat a slant for a close comfortable shave.
just my 2cents worth

 

[Invicta]

The 1904 is considered a mild open comb but as I don't have one I cannot comment any further on that model. The 34C is a great straight bar razor with nice balance and a secure hold. However my favourite is the slant bar 37C which has the same features I previously mentioned. I would class that razor as non aggresive but efficient and works well onsensitive skin I hear. It should suit you very well. However, as always, good preparation and technique is the key to comfortable shaves.

 

[ThomasB98908]

Just my two cents worth, but I' suggest trying some better blades in the razors you have now. The Astra SP's are the ones I went with and it made a world of difference in my shaves. Started out using generic Persona's (walgreens etc...) in my Red Tip and got OK shaves, but tried the Astra, Gillette yellow and black, and some other ones. MY face definately prefered the Astra blades.

 

[NingYupOwaDat]

The 1904 is considered a mild open comb but as I don't have one I cannot comment any further on that model. The 34C is a great straight bar razor with nice balance and a secure hold. However my favourite is the slant bar 37C which has the same features I previously mentioned. I would class that razor as non aggresive but efficient and works well onsensitive skin I hear. It should suit you very well. However, as always, good preparation and technique is the key to comfortable shaves.

I got a 15c the other day which I believe is the same head as the 1904, and yes it is incredibly mild but for the last 5 days it has been giving me some of the closest shaves I have ever had. More importantly it is only the second razor (slim on 1 being the first) that I can use ATG. I think it is great razor!

 

[NingYupOwaDat]

I mean for me i really like the 1904! its super close! Im looking to upgrade my blades to much better quality..looking at gillette super blues, the yellow 7 oclocks, the personna med prep blades ( i see thiers 2 kinds, one least expensive, lab blu, then the med blades, is thier a difference?) and the astra stainless steel ones. Dont like platinums or anything fancy.

I use personna platinum chrome in my 15c(same as 1904) and it is the smoothest combo I have had in any of my razors. Might be worth a shot for you.

 

[chris.hale]

lab and med are the same blade. med is sterile for hospital use.

Maybe. Some say that they're the same, some say that they're not, and the matter has been the subject of debate for quite some time. Someone did post a photo taken under a microscope which seemed to show a different grind between the two blades, but it's no longer on the site.

Bottom line is the only way to tell for sure is to try a few of each and see if you can tell a difference, if not, you might as well get the labs.

 

[TallyShave]

Closeness isn't determined by the razor...

 

[dieselfuel79]

I use both the 39c slant and from time to time my R41. The R41 gives the closest shave hands down, but not by much. It's got more blade exposure. It's no secret that the slant would be the more comfortable between the 2 (for me that is.)

I had a 1904 OC, which was nice to look at, but way to mild for me.