Merkur 38C Barber Pole Safety Razor Chrome

Recently received my Merkur Solingen Barber Pole Safety Razor and am very impressed with the quality of the device. Additionally, the German made blades are great value as they are cheaper than the lesser quality items sold by a well-known competitor.

Highly recommended this, I got this razor blade for husband Xmas present and he loves it. They delivered it fast and I got it early too.

Wow. Handle length is perfect. Weight is perfect. Performance also perfect. Fear not sceptical folk, you will not cut yourself. You will have the closest thing to an Italian Barber shave all by yourself. It may not look like it, however, you can still easily shave the area just under your nostrils. Trust me my nose is not squishy and it doesn’t move.

The heft of the Barber Pole DE razor is especially pleasing. I previously had the Merkur Solingen Bakelite, a plastic, short handled version, thinking it would be more nimble over skin and suit me travel kit as well. This model's longer handle and weight sits heavily in the fingers yet it feels so much better – more presence and control.
Everything else has Merkur's effortless efficiency.
I unhesitatingly recommend the 38C for the mindful shaver.

There are no words to describe how impressed I am with this razor... but I’m sure I’ll find a few..

First words that came out of my mouth were Oh My God! The whole shave was smooth and effortless, no pulling on the hair, no cuts and glides so easily over the skin. Used with the Jack Black Beard Lube, I completed the shave in half the time of a disposable.

Can’t recommend This razor and Menz Biz highly enough.. thank you

This is a great razor that is well balanced and very easy to use. I'd had a break from DE for a few months and then tried this, no issues at all. I've been manual shaving with DE for about 6 years now and I wish I had started with a longer handled razor. The shorter handled 34C is a good razor, but the 38C is superb. Highly recommend it.

Wish I would have bought one of these years ago. I bought the long handle for my husband after he tried my regular one. It takes some getting used to if you are a heavy handed shaver, this my husband learned this the hard way. Just chill with it, and enjoy. Sustainable product, reusable.

I was using my Lord razor when one day (after 3 years) I cross threaded the handle. I am glad that I did as I bought the 38c and have never looked back. After 3 weeks of continuous use every day I can say that it is an amazing razor which is easy to adapt to and super gentle. Would recommend to anyone wanting a high quality razor with a close shave and very little risk of nicks/cuts.
Very Happy :)

I was worried about my 13 year old son using my straight razors on his budding mo' while away at work, so bought this for him. No nicks so far, and the smudge has disappeared.

The Merkur 38c was must first DE, and after using it almost daily for 7 years I have finally come back to write a review.

First and foremost, this is a really nice razor, the quality is good, the shaft has a good heft and and knurling has a nice feel to it.

The shave you'll get out of this razor is good, although it will tend to be on the mild size, and this is largely due to the largish safety bar, which makes the 38c a great razor for beginners.

On a finally note, I will say that after 7 years of daily use, this razor looks as good as the day I bought it. No signs of deterioration in the plating at all.

Another quality product by Merkur.

only my second Razor so not going to 5 star but its everything I thought it would be.Quality constuction great balance and the weight means the blade does the work,highly recommended for a newbie like me.

Who would ever use a cartridge razor again? I have been using this for about 6 weeks now and I've gone from only shaving when I absolutely have to, to shaving every day because I want to.
It took me a little getting used to, it's quite different from a cartridge razor but well worth it. I am now getting the smoothest shave I've ever had and little to no cuts most shaves.
I'm currently working through the blade sample pack and I really notice the difference between blades.
Teamed up with some Proraso or Crabtree and Evelyn shaving products you can't go wrong. So glad I found Men's Biz.

This was and is my first non-disposable razor. I always cut myself once or twice with my cartridge razors that I've been using for years. Switching to this, I was really worried about slicing my face up but I've found that I'm not cutting myself at all! I like the fact it's a bit heavier than I'm used to, as I'm less likely to push down from the weight. Used with some good shaving cream as well. Love the fact that there are two sides to use and that I don't have to tap the razor when rinsing between strokes! Won't be going back to cartridge razors and the like ever again! Brilliant razor that you can tell will last for years.

I bought this razor with some trepidation as the last time I shaved with a double-edge was about 45 years ago. Used this in conjunction with TOBS shaving cream and tried to not press to hard and wow.... what a shave. Also used the Astra blades as the Merkur seemed quite dull. Have yet to try the Feather brand blades.

after using Gillette 5 or however many blades they've gotten up to now, and still having acne after using them I transferred to a Dovo shavette,which caused me panic each time I used it I thought there must be a better way - This is it! - with a feather blade guess what? a close shave and no acne HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

This was my first safety razor and well it will most likely be my last, it's just that good. After using cartridge razors for so many years, this was a pleasant shaving experience. It's quite heavy which makes it a breeze to shave with and was forgiving enough for a beginner. I will advise people to keep it dry during shaving as it can get a bit slippery. One of the most important things to consider is which blade to use. I think the sampler pack is a great idea and I was able to identify that Feather blades work best for me. Overall this razor coupled with the correct blade and a good shaving technique will give you the best shave ever and it will be as close as a cartridge razor. Worth a try for anyone who is interested.

This is of typical quality and weight and feels great in the hand and in use. This takes me back to before I was taken away with all the media crap about multi blade shaving. You only need one blade for a good close clean shave and with correct technics a safer one. Man up boys and enjoy a real shave in front of a mirror so the wife can enjoy your butt while you shave. The other thing the service from ManBiz, fantastic. I will give my full review in the coming weeks of the Merkur 38C but so far it’s great. Thanks you Manbiz……

Love this thing!

Biggest thing to learn as a beginner is not pushing the razor hard against your face like you do with a cartridge razor. Due to this being nice and heavy it makes it an easy transition. I have a very tough beard that grows really fast and this cuts a weeks growth without any difficulty. If I had gone with a smaller and lighter razor I think I would have had more trouble and also cut myself as I would have been frustrated with a lesser cutting ability.

Also, put your mind at ease, if you take your first few shaves a little slower and use the minimal pressure, cutting yourself is pretty difficult. I have had nothing more than a normal nick like I could get from a cartridge razor, albeit a couple more, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Watch some YouTube how-to vids, take the plunge and get the Barber Pole. The extra weight and length are great and you will notice the difference in your shave.

My first double-edged razor. On to my 3rd blade (out of the free sampler pack - nice one Men's Biz!) and it does a good job. Works about as well as the 2-blade cartridge razor it replaces. I only didn't give it 5 stars because it's my first one and I like to give myself room to move.

Using a fairly cavalier approach, I've not been able to cut myself with it, so it really is a safety razor. If you have any issues with this, then you probably should just grow a beard and be done with it.

Service from Men's Biz was excellent. Minor issue - sorted instantly. 5 stars.

I bought this one as an added alternative to the Merkur HD, which i use regularly , just for variety sake . The length is more like a cartridge razor , but it has quite some heft about it . Great balance in the hand - excellent choice if looking for a longer razor .

After heading into the local supermarket to replace my disposable razor blades and seeing (as usual) I was up for $4-$5 for a single less than average blade decided I need to change. I've tried all range of disposable razors (3,4,5 blade), plus a few electric razors and never thought any were decent after the initial shave blunts the razor.
Was taken by the review of the Merkur 38C and at a very respectable rice with a hea of sample blades thrown in I had to give it a try.
First couple of shaves weren't brilliant, I nicked my face a few times but the shave was close. I've been using it a few weeks now and while not a pro at handling it yet I have never had a closer shave and the nicks are no longer. It's extremely easy to use, just let it glide over your face. Plus gone are the chemical loaded gilette and nivea shaving creams for shaving soap and a brush...I think I'm an out of closet metro-sexual, my skin has never been this good!
In all honesty for a decent shave which leaves you walking out of the office at 5 without a d o'clock you can't go past the Merkur 38C.

This razor is nicely weighted and quite hefty to hold.

The knurling is fantastic wet or dry, this razor isnt slipping anywhere!

Because of the weight of the razor, minimal/no pressure is required.

I find the shave to be quite mild, but its fantastic looking and performing.

The first time I used it I had to check to make sure I put a blade in it. I could not feel it on my face. It was that smooth. Admittedly I had to get used to it for the first two or three shaves, but after that I was up and running. I am extremely satisfied with it.

I will never ever use disposable razors again. A first class product indeed.

The service from Men's Biz could not have been better. I received my order two days before I expected it. Good work. Keep it up.

I've been wet shaving with a Comoy for about a year now. The first shave with the 38C was phenomenal! Amazingly close, yet no irritation. Can't wait to try some more safety razors in the near future.

What an excellent fathers day present! I grew tired of my disposable 3-blade with expensive cartridges some time ago.

So far, I've used the Merkur twice, and I am never going back to cartridge razors...it works well, and it feels.. proper.

So far I've used just the supplied Merkur blade, if the others in the sampler pack are even better, then I'm looking forward to it.

For years I have been searching for the perfect shave. I have experienced brutal shave rash and in grown hairs. i have spent hundreds on electric shavers that refused to cut my stubborn facial hair because of its habit of growing several different directions in a small area. Finally after trying almost everything and nearly giving up i stumbled on a technique almost lost. And high time! Amazing razor and when used with the high quality shaving creams and balms found on this very site you too will know pleasure from this mundane, day to day task. Thanks mens biz for the blade sample pack. Nice touch.

this is my first double edge razor and i could not be happier great shave and no irritation

I have a 1961 Gillette Fatboy and a Merkur Futur. Both are wonderful razors but it took just one shave with the 38C to convert me. A fresh astra blade and a nice lather of tabac gave one of the best shaves I have ever had. As you can see from my stable I like heavier razors but I really enjoyed the Razor having a slim head. This is a top shelf razor with excellent finish.