Merkur 23c Review (180 long- handle)- Light, Long and Mild
Merkur 23C Safety Razor
The Merkur 23C is a safety razor with a long and slim mildly knurled handle. It’s one of the best-selling mild and lightweight Merkur razors.
Pros
Traditional razor with a modern appearance
Mild and a good choice for beginners
The long handle will suit gents with large hands and other men
The slim design is a feature some men will prefer
Lightly knurled handle but still offers plenty of grip
Lightweight for those that prefer a lighter razor
Cons
The handle could be too long for some guys
It could be too mild for coarse growth
It might be on the light side for some guys
The Merkur 23c, also known as the Merkur 180 long handle razor is one of the best-selling safety razors made by the German brand Merkur (Dovo). It’s a fairly light shaving tool, and mild in its aggressiveness when shaving –which is why it’s a good beginners safety razor option.
I used this razor for shaving after using and reviewing the Mühle R41, which is such a different razor than the Merkur 23c. They’re worlds apart, and I had to adjust my mindset and shaving style quite considerably.
The 23C also holds a spot in the Best Merkur Safety Razors recommendations article for its mild nature and long handle.
The Brand – The company situated in Germany behind the Merkur brand named DOVO Stahlwaren was established in 1906, and the brand Merkur dates back even further. The lifespan of the company alone gives its products some credence. Merkur safety razors are sold and known worldwide with many great models, including the Merkur 34c, Futur, Progress, and others.
Let’s delve into who the Merkur 23c might be best suited for and give you some facts, shaving experience, and opinions.
Merkur 23c Description & Features
You’ll find this type of safety razor is the ideal tool for beginners getting started with wet shaving with safety razors. One of the main reasons for this is its mild aggressiveness which gives a beginner room to learn to shave with safety razors without cutting themselves too much.
- Materials and Finish – The handle is made from brass, and the razor head is manufactured using a zinc die-casting method. The handle and head are chrome plated, making them shiny and attractive. The chrome can discolor or wear, but this will take more than 10 years if it’s taken care of.
- Double-edged – You can shave with this razor on both sides and use double edged razors in the head. DE razors are the most commonly used.
- Closed comb – The bottom section of the razor head has a row of carvings/grooves; underneath, it’s flat, which makes it safer and easier to use than open combs. It may not be best for those with dense and thick growth.
- Three parts – The razor head comes apart in two pieces, and with the handle, that’s three parts. Three-part razors are better for cleaning well.
- Blade replacement – Blade replacement for three-part razors is a bit more fiddly than others; however, as mentioned, they are easy to clean.
- Handle – The 23c is known as a long-handle razor and is relatively slim compared to many other safety razors. The knurled pattern engraving provides plenty of grip while shaving.
- Blade gap – The blade is 0.64mm, placing it in the small-medium gap range. This is the gap between the razor and the bottom lip of the head, and the bigger this gap is will increase its aggressiveness.
- Size and Weight – The whole razor weighs in at about 60g, which is fairly light, but just about enough weight to help a user shave with some of its own weight. The overall length is 105 mm, and its handle length alone is 98mm.
How well does the Merkur 23c perform and Shave?
I headed over to the bathroom with a Personna razor blade at hand, a shaving brush, Maca Root & Aloe shaving cream), and of course –the latest shaving tool of choice, the Merkur 180.
As usual, I used the razor for over two weeks and a good few shaves to get familiar with using it to get enough experience to let you guys know how it performs and who the 23c would be best suited for.
As mentioned, I went from using a Mühle R41 to the Merkur 23c, which was a massive difference in aggressiveness to adjust to. If you know the R41, then you know what I mean!
Unlike the Mühle R41, the 23c does not just zap off anything (hair) in its path –it required three passes in my case. So I got lathered up with cream thrice and shaved, then cleaned up a few leftovers afterward.
The joy of using this type of razor is it feels very safe, and I have room to be more clumsy or relaxed while shaving.
The Merkur 23c is not a fan of thick 4-day growth, but of course it will remove it, albeit after making many smaller strokes.
The Merkur 23c is not really a fan of thick 4-day growth, but of course it will remove it.
What this razor is a fan of is a face that shaves once every day or two. Also a great razor for women shaving their legs.
The bottom line for me was that it shaved well enough with three passes, but it required more effort than other razors after two or more days of growth. Making a lot of shaving strokes can cause me skin irritation; however, the 23c was kind to my neck
Handle and Grip 9/10
The knurled handle offers plenty of grip and the longer handle helps the razor stay in the hand easier.
The handle is slim compared to most other safety razors, including those that Merkur makes. Some say this can be advantageous for those with big hands; however, overall, I reckon the thickness and length are more about personal preference than any other important factor of functionality.
Weight and Balance – 7/10
The Merkur 23c is fairly lightweight which some users may prefer, although I do like a heavier tool. Because the blade gap is quite small and the razor is quite light it does require the user to use a lot of pressure while shaving
Balance is not an issue; the blade head will rest on the face nicely while shaving at a 30-degree angle.
Look & Design – 9/10
The 23c looks both traditional and contemporary in a way with its traditional knurled handle look and shiny chrome head finish.
Ease of Use – 7/10
The ease of use stands out in terms of its low aggressiveness, and as mentioned, it provides room for error. However, it being fairly mild means the user has to do a bit more manual work to get rid of tougher growth.
Value for Money – 10/10
The Merkur 23c is one of the cheaper Merkur razors that can make it affordable for those transitioning from cartridge razors without forking out too much dosh (priced at around $38).
Final Thoughts – and who is the Merkur 23c best suited for?
The Merkur 23C could make a good razor for those new to wet shaving with safety razors and for more experienced safety razor users that would like to try out a tool that’s streamlined with its long and slim handle.
This razor is also a good choice for women that need the right razor for shaving their legs.
Personally, I found nothing special about this razor which is not a negative as it functions just fine. Some razors do just stand out more, while this one didn’t.
See you on the next shave down!
About the Author
Jason
I’m the chief shaverer over here at ShavingAdvisor and when I am not shaving off any hair I have left, or writing about what I have shaved off – I do a load of other life stuff and enjoy a good cup of tea between doing stuff!
