Thread: Merkur 37C Slant

After years of thinking about it, I finally pulled the trigger on one of these yesterday. Now the dreaded wait begins but from everything I've read, this thing should shave like a champ.

The main thing I learned to watch with them is aligning the blade from the top when I tighten it down. There is enough play in there to where you can have more blade exposed on one side than the other, or it can be a little askew. I use the thumb and fore finger on each end of the blade to position it while I snug the top cap down. Other than that it is a matter of which blade works for you. Run your passes like you would with a normal designed razor and the twist in the head does the rest.

I am close to ordering one of these puppies as well, except I'm looking at the 39C. I'm very interested to know about the results -- perhaps you could let us know how it goes.

Originally Posted by Man

I am close to ordering one of these puppies as well, except I'm looking at the 39C. I'm very interested to know about the results -- perhaps you could let us know how it goes.

The 39C has a 4" handle. The 37C has a 3" handle. I have a slight preference for the 39C because of the longer handle.

Hands down, the slant is the best razor I have ever used. I have been under the weather the last several days and have been using it instead of my usual preference of straight razor. I really think if the public using a multiblade razor would give the slant a try the multiblade would lose a lot of business. For those scared of the sight of a slant bar, the 34C (3" handle) and 38C (4" handle) would also whip the daylights out of the multiblade.

My feeling is that the multiblade razor (which I used for about 40 years because I wasn't aware of alternatives) is a fraud that has hoodwinked the public and the reason it has become fashionable to shave infrequently. My face always felt freshly slapped with a multiblade.

To those who are thinking about purchasing a slant: do it, you will most definitely not regret it.

To those who just pulled the trigger on one: congrats

Phil at Bullgoose tells me it will be here tomorrow evening. I'm gonna skip the morning shave so it has a bit of stubble to work with. As long as I've been stalking one of these, I'm totally stoked to have finally bought one. It will be the only razor in the fleet that has never shaved anyone else's face.

When using a slant, do you have to angle the head in a special way to do a straight across section such as the sideburn line or the bottom lip, or does it just work without thinking about angle?

Thanks,

Max

Originally Posted by Man

When using a slant, do you have to angle the head in a special way to do a straight across section such as the sideburn line or the bottom lip, or does it just work without thinking about angle?

Thanks,

Max

IME you can just use it as you would a normal razor. That is the 'secret' of the slant head. Actually, older DE collectors referred to them as "twisted head" razors. Some razors were made with a normal straight head placed on the handle on a slant, such as the Mulcato and a few others. They are truly slanted heads. The Merkur and others from the pre and post WWII era have the head twisted but straight across relative to the handle. After you've become accustomed to it you might try some tricks like the 'Gillette slide' but in the beginning just use it as normal until you get used to it. IMHO.

I use my 37C the same way I use my 34G. The Slant is a bit more aggressive than the HD, but nothing that a careful successful user of the HD can not handle, in my opinion. I have had no issues with uneven blade alignment. The Slant shaves a little closer than the HD, but with a bit higher risk of irritation. I get close irritation free shaves, but I have to pay closer attension than when using the HD. I use Feather blades.

Originally Posted by Man

When using a slant, do you have to angle the head in a special way to do a straight across section such as the sideburn line or the bottom lip, or does it just work without thinking about angle?

To get straight lines on your sideburns/beard you will most definitely have to "twist" the head or align the blade straight. The rest of the shave is business as usual.