Welcome to SRP. +1 to what BHChieftain said on the metal polish if you want to get rid of the rust lines. Dental floss (unwaxed) is good to get into the area between the tang and the scales. As for merkur DE blades. They are expensive and they are not worth it compared to Feathers, Gillette Swedes, or even Israeli Personnas. If you go to West Coast Blades here you can pick up a sampler pack with a variety and figure out what works for you. It is a very individual thing. Once you get used to the straight the DE will be in the medicine cabinet anyway.