I just received my new Merkur Progress last night and tried it out. First time using an adjustable. Wow! Best, smoothest, non iritation shave in a while. Used it with a shark blade and Jermyn Street cream. Used it at 2 for the first and second pass. Decided to try out a higher setting and went to 4 and did ATG. No tugging at all. It was a great shave, alum stick didnt sting much at all. I might have found my new favorite razor. Gonna try it out again tonight with my new SOC cherry wood brush.
Merkur Progress
- Thread starter joeboom
- Start date
Nice have you any thoughts of turning it into a Mergress?
- Thread starter
- #3
Whats a Mergress lol
- Thread starter
- #5
Oh nice. That looks better than the plastic dial at the bottom. Might end up getting one.
The early Progresses with dots between the numbers seemed to have some issues of one sort or another.
I got a Progress 9 months ago with notches (i) between the numbers that has had no issues whatsoever.
So for me no need to more than double the price on a modification.
Plus I like the ivory knob as is, it closely matches my brushes
I got a Progress 9 months ago with notches (i) between the numbers that has had no issues whatsoever.
So for me no need to more than double the price on a modification.
Plus I like the ivory knob as is, it closely matches my brushes
I'll probably get tarred and feathered for saying this, but I have hard time seeing the real value in the Mergress. I don't see the upgrade really taking a $60 razor and turning it into a $115 razor. I hate the plastic knob on the progress as much as anybody, but I also hate the handle altogether. If I were to upgrade a progress, I think I'd rather get a bobsrazorworks handle that is nicer all around, but that's just me.
I am one of those folks who bought a Progress two years ago and my Progress suffered from blade gap issues (the knob would twist so that it landed not on one but a lot lower than that). Once I learned that 1 was really a two or three setting it was OK. However, I had it converted to a Mergess and the balance and feel was much better. Plus, the setting was now accurate. I liked it so much I ordered an XL Progress which Eric modified to a Mergress. Both are among my favorite razors.
I have 3 Progress razors (I guess you could say I like the Progress razor). Stock long handle. Bob's Razor Works custom handle. Megress XL. I had a forth one that I sold. It was a stock handle that I had a Bob's razor works metal knob for. Sold it as a stock progress and kept the knob which works in the Megress if I want to use a shorter razor then the XL knob on that one provides.
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #11
I really like that Bob's Razor Works custom handle.
me too!
I too love my progress its one of the best razors in my opinion, I also can't see the point of converting to a mergress for the price, I like the weight/look/feel of how it is.
I'm in agreement on the Progress. I just had my first shave tonight with my new Mergress. I personally didn't like the looks of the standard Progress. Being such a well built razor it will very likely last me so I didn't want that ugly knob to look at every day. It shaved beautifully! Settings: 3 WTG, 2 XTG, 1 ATG. Next time I'll start out a bit more aggressive as I had no irritation but a fair amount of touch ups. I've only been wet shaving for... a couple weeks now though too, and haven't settled on a blade. I feel the Progress was the best choice for an adjustable that isn't overly aggressive. On the lowest setting it's virtually identical to my Merkur 20c.
Congrats, the Progress is an awesome razor!
+1, and another +1 for the plastic knob. It gives it a retro/vintage look.
If it were my go to number 1 razor id get rid of that plastic crap looking knob!!!!
