Well with all the talk about this razor, I decided to order one last week from Charles at QED. At $35.95 shipped, not much of a risk, plus with all the sketchiness with Merkurs right now, figured I should check and see about an alternative, in case they never get it back together. Love my slant, and still would like to get the Sledgehammer, but will play with the Edwin Jagger for awhile while they get things sorted out...
Edwin Jagger DE89L
- Thread starter Blondie
- Start date
I'm on the hairy edge of placing an order for one of these at the moment.....
Just trying to figure out which model (leaning towards the black handled one), and perhaps getting the Muhle version with the open comb....
Just trying to figure out which model (leaning towards the black handled one), and perhaps getting the Muhle version with the open comb....
- Thread starter
- #3
Well, if the UPS tracking is correct, I will be able to give you a more detailed impression today. Planning on shaving with it later, if it gets here.
Yeah, thanks for the QED head's up. I had forgotten about them. And since they are in RI, and I'm in MA, the shipping should be overnight!
Good luck
I'll be interested to read your impressions.
I'm curently considering the EJ DE89L; Merkur classic long handle; Merkur 1904 as my first razor.
What's the sketchiness with Merkurs all about?
I'll be interested to read your impressions.
I'm curently considering the EJ DE89L; Merkur classic long handle; Merkur 1904 as my first razor.
What's the sketchiness with Merkurs all about?
Excellent choice Phil!
Phil - I'm soon to receive one on loan from a generous member (Darjeeling Express) so we'll be test driving about the same time. I hope it shaves as beautifully as it looks!
For $35, how could anyone not order a DE89L? It's one of the best I've used.
- Thread starter
- #9
Good luck
I'll be interested to read your impressions.
I'm curently considering the EJ DE89L; Merkur classic long handle; Merkur 1904 as my first razor.
What's the sketchiness with Merkurs all about?
Do a search on Merkur here on the forums, and you will see. There has been some change to the warranty, dropped to two years, and they do not seem as responsive to customer problems lately as they used to be. Most of the problems have been around the plating. FWIW, I have had my Merkurs for over a year, and have had no problems. Some others however, have. Charles over at QED has a letter posted from Merkur as well, discussing production problems.
- Thread starter
- #10
Ok, so I just got it a little while ago. Have not shaved with it, but will give first impressions. Packaging is very nice. The razor comes in a blue textured box, will wrapped in tissue, with adequate padding to keep it in place and not shuffled around. The exterior of the blue box is sealed in plastic, so overall, nicely done.
The razor itself looks to be very well plated, with good attention to detail. The plating overall looks thicker than what I have found on the three Merkurs I have purchased, which are the 34C HD, Open Comb 25C long handle, and the HD Slant. Places like the ends of the head stand out as more heavily plated than the Merkur. Overall, if I compare it to an HD Merkur on looks alone, I have to say this:
Merkur: $35 before shipping, lousy packaging, thinner plating than the EJ
EJ: $28 before shipping, nice packaging, heavier plating, overall better looking razor from a quality perspective.
So I have to ask, how is Edwin Jagger excelling in both packaging, and craftsmanship? I expected to see a lesser razor when I opened the box, with the additional cost of packaging, and the fact that it is less money than an HD. I will update this after a shave. On looks alone though, Merkur better look out if EJ decides to produce a Slant. I may just jump ship entirely. I am thinking of a British Wilkinson for the maiden shave, to keep it consistent. And now, the photos:
The razor itself looks to be very well plated, with good attention to detail. The plating overall looks thicker than what I have found on the three Merkurs I have purchased, which are the 34C HD, Open Comb 25C long handle, and the HD Slant. Places like the ends of the head stand out as more heavily plated than the Merkur. Overall, if I compare it to an HD Merkur on looks alone, I have to say this:
Merkur: $35 before shipping, lousy packaging, thinner plating than the EJ
EJ: $28 before shipping, nice packaging, heavier plating, overall better looking razor from a quality perspective.
So I have to ask, how is Edwin Jagger excelling in both packaging, and craftsmanship? I expected to see a lesser razor when I opened the box, with the additional cost of packaging, and the fact that it is less money than an HD. I will update this after a shave. On looks alone though, Merkur better look out if EJ decides to produce a Slant. I may just jump ship entirely. I am thinking of a British Wilkinson for the maiden shave, to keep it consistent. And now, the photos:
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Phil, how does it handle? The comparable Mühle always felt too light and unbalanced to me, but if EJ have given the handle more heft, this might just be a razor for me.
But is is a looker!
But is is a looker!
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- Thread starter
- #12
I will be shaving with it tonight, but I can tell you I would not classify the handle as "light", weight seems really close to my HD Slant, maybe a couple grams heavier than a Red Tip Super Speed. Will see about weighing it later.
My thoughts exactly - the one Muhle I've handled did feel "head heavy".
As if those pictures Phil posted weren't tempting enough, the English Shaving Company is having a free shipping promotion:
http://www.theenglishshavingcompany.com/cgi-bin/pnDbDetail.cgi/display::news::::::198::user
http://www.theenglishshavingcompany.com/cgi-bin/pnDbDetail.cgi/display::news::::::198::user
This top-heavyness is what has kept me from trying one of their razors so far.
For those of you who are interested the EJ razors are available as a 'handle only' option.
I bought an EJ Chatsworth handle, which I use with my Merkur head from my 23c.
Just email: http://www.theenglishshavingcompany.com/
I bought an EJ Chatsworth handle, which I use with my Merkur head from my 23c.
Just email: http://www.theenglishshavingcompany.com/
Maybe the right question is why Merkur doesn't do a better job.
It does and if you don't like that.. The EJ seems to have 13 grams more in the handle. For me the Mühle is better balanced.
YMMV of course but since I own both razors too I am a bit surprised since for me the R89 is not less aggressive than the 23C. In the same league I would say.
Just simple supply and demand.
I don't see that. Merkur manufactures and sells far more razors than Edwin Jagger/Muhle, and at equal or higher prices.
Why shouldn't Merkur's quality be as good as Edwin Jagger's/Muhle's?
