Merkur 37C Review (Merkur Slant Razor) – Buying Guide

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Today we do a Merkur 37C review and buying guide – a beautiful double edge slant bar safety razor. We should probably start by stating that the Merkur razor is a double-edged sword – literally.

But let’s get some of the basics out first:

Merkur 37C (Summary)

Merkur 37C Features

That said, you can expect the razor to work wonders in the hands of an experienced wet shaver.

However, on the flip side when handled by an inexperienced/beginner wet shaver, the results can be scary and even a little bloody if caution is not exercised.

An experienced wet shaver Nick Shaves goes on record comparing the Merkur Slant to the sibling Merkur 34C.

According to Nick, and this is quite evident even to the inexperienced, the two are similar in handle design, size as well as weight.

They do, however, differ greatly when it comes to the head.

Merkur 34C comes with a flat head while Merkur Slant features a slightly twisted one. This twist creates a shallow angle similar to that of a guillotine.

A straight head design cuts facial hair square on while a twisted head design slices the hair at an angle which is far more efficient. Courtesy of this angled head the blade gives a close shave with fewer passes and is more aggressive, or more correctly – effective.

Losing focus for even a split second will see you nicking your skin.

It is because of its aggressive and highly efficient design that most experienced wet shavers do not recommend this razor to newbies in wet shaving.

To help you get a better understanding of the capability of the razor below is an in-depth review.

What To Expect From the Merkur Slant Bar

The Merkur razor comes with a 2 piece design.

This is to mean that the handle and the base are designed as one unit. The bottom piece of the razor is held down by a bolt that screws into the knurled handle.

This 2-piece design is simple and significantly easier to assemble than the 3-piece design most Merkur double edge razors adorn. They designed the head of this razor to twist.

As such, the blade is held at an angle.

It is this design that warrants the name ‘Slant’.

Some experienced wet-shavers take the liberty of comparing this featured slant design to a guillotine.

The very first guillotine came with a flat blade positioned at no angle. The guillotine depended mainly on the weight of the blade to cut.

Other designs that followed, however, incorporated better designs by angling the blade thereby producing much better results.

• Instead of the chopping motion, the subsequent slanted blades sliced
• This slicing motion immediately proved to be more efficient
• The slanted design also has the same effect on facial hair
• The design helps to slice off the stubble

It is because of this design that Merkur recommends this particular DE razor to men with coarse beards.

For coarse facial hair, the standardly designed razors prove to be less than ideal. Given the efficiency of the blade angle, it is only logical that wet shavers, beginners, and newbies alike, will be attracted to the Slant.

However, those transitioning from cartridge razors should not leap headfirst into using the slant razor because of its very aggressive nature.

What has time and time again proved to be its strength can quickly transform to be a safety hazard in the hands of an inexperienced wet shaver.

If you are still learning the art of wet shaving, you should consider mild a razor, like the Edwin Jagger Double Edge 89 or the before mentioned Merkur 34C.

Here is a video by Nick Shaves that reviews Merkur 37C

At this point, it is important to note that the ’C’ in the 37C means that the razor is chrome plated.

While we recommend that you watch the video from start to finish, we have taken the liberty of pointing out the important points the video touches on.

• The razor is a must-have for any wet shaver especially if you are in a hurry and do not want to compromise on getting the close shave
• If you are one of those persons who have delicate skin, particularly around the neck, you should only go with the grain
• Before you start wet shaving with this razor, you should ensure that you have enough lather on the area you intend to shave
• Razor blades on slanted razors tend to get dull fast. As such, you may want to get a cheaper blade to keep the costs low
• While the razor in itself is not aggressive, the slant design does give the blade a significant level of access to facial hair and thus efficiency

In addition to this, there is yet another video by Geofatboy, who happens to be an experienced wet shaver. In this video, he proceeds to demonstrate the process of using the Slant in the event you choose to get one. Following this video ensures that a newbie to wet shaving stands a better chance of experiencing success with the 37C.

With the razor, he used a Feather blade.

This is, however, a sharp blade and is not recommended for beginners. In the video, Geofatboy insists that the razor is aggressive. You will notice several passes were used to get a clean shave.

The 1st pass was with the grain followed by a pass along the grain and finally against the grain.

Is Loading the Blade Easy?

Merkur Slant has a 2-piece design.

This means that the unit comes with a bottom cap and a handle that is designed as one piece. To load the blade, all you need to do is twist the knob at the bottom of the handle and remove the top piece. Loading a blade on this 2-piece design is generally easier than on a 3-piece design razor as there are fewer parts to be concerned with.

Aggressive Nature

The slant design is the main contributing factor to the aggressiveness and efficiency of the razor.

The blade is slightly angled. As such, it slices the facial hair instead of cutting it. Slicing, in this case, is much more efficient than cutting.

The working principle is similar to that of the guillotine—the slanted design slices with great efficiency. To put things into perspective, try cutting a potato with a knife. Cutting with a flat blade compared to slicing at an angle is certainly more work.

Another factor that contributes to the aggressiveness of the razor is the open comb design.

This design exposes more of the blade.

You should, however, be warned that the blade does get dull pretty fast and a change is required frequently. As such, it is recommended that you use less expensive blades for wet shaving with this razor.

Derby is a perfect blade to give a try, and then you can gradually progress up to a Feather blade.

Start with a variety pack to find your perfect fit.

The Grip

Most Merkur safety razors such as the popular Merkur 23c feature a knurling design on the handle.

The 37C is no different. The grooves of the knurling appear on both sides spiraling downwards. It should, however, be noted that these grooves are not deep.

But given the fact that the grooves spiral in both directions the grip is overall better in comparison to the barber pole-styled knurling. The lower section of the handle features a slightly wider diameter and comes with vertical grooves to enhance the grip.

Length

Merkur 37c Slant is short and only measures 3.3 inches from the head to its base, exactly like its sibling 34c.

The size makes it perfect for guys who have small or normal size hands. If you, however, have larger hands and find using this razor a bother, you will prefer Merkur 39c Slant Bar which has a longer handle and comes in at a total of 4 inches long.

What Do Consumers and Other Reviews Say About This Slant Razor?

Despite being rated as an aggressive razor, it is rather shocking to note that some individuals who bought this razor on online bought it as their very first DE razor.

Even more surprising, they had a great time saying they had a great shave. In the video shared, it is evident that the razor can be used for multiple passes.

That said, we still maintain that this unit is best for experienced wet shavers and newbies should learn the technique and skill first before diving right in with Merkur Slant.

Price

Different online stores like Walmart sell this product. However, the price differs between $35 to $50.

Accessories for The Merkur Safety Razor

There is a nice travel case from Parker that holds the razor (and other short models such as Merkur 11, 15, 30, 33, 34, 500 ) and 10 blades.

Did you know that this company is making some of the best cutthroat razors available today with their Dovo brand? Not only that – Merkur also has a firm grip on the best shave brushes and double-edge safety razor blades that you can get now!

Verdict

As our Merkur 37c review has shown – it is a safety razor perfect for men with sensitive skin and/ or coarse facial hair.