Merkur 37C Slant Review – A Two Piece Razor With An Edge
Merkur 37C Slant Safety Razor
The Merkur 37C -a safety razor with a slant to its edge. The 37c features a small stubby handle that’s made from brass with a chrome-plated finish.
Pros
Great on coarse beards and 3+ days of growth
Short handle is good for maneuverability
Good for tough skin types
Designed well
Cons
Small handle may not suit everyone
Might not be kind to sensitive skin types
In this next lather up and shave down, we are taking a close look at the Merkur 37C slant safety razor, a popular slant razor.
The last slant razor tested, used, and reviewed is a very close relative of the 37C, the Merkur 39C Sledgehammer. The 39C could chop away at any length of whiskers with ease, so it was going to be interesting to see how the Merkur 37C matched up.
What’s a slant razor?
A slant razor is a very unusual type of safety razor which many people have never heard of or seen.
The slant is the same as a standard safety razor, with the only difference being the head. The head on a slant razor is kind of bent or buckled on each side and looks just the same as any other safety razor head otherwise.
The action of a slant razor is that it slices rather than cuts, which mimics how a straight razor cuts from an angle. As a result, they are very efficient razors.
Brand/Company: The German behind the Merkur brand named DOVO Stahlwaren was established in 1906, and the brand Merkur dates back even further. The life span of the company alone gives its products some credence. Merkur Safety Razors and other shaving products are sold and known worldwide, including the Merkur 34c, Futur, Progress, and others.
Merkur 37C Description & Features
Let’s first take a look at some of the features of the 37C, and I will explain how these function to serve the razor user. Some details might seem basic, but I try to cover what I can for those new to using safety razors and knowledgeable gentlemen.
- Materials and Finish – The handle is made from brass, and the razor head is manufactured using a zinc die-casting method. The finish is a shiny chrome that protects and looks attractive.
- Double edged – Double-edged razors are the most popular style of safety razor, which means they can be used on both sides of the head.
- Closed comb – Closed comb means the bottom bar of the head does not have any openings or teeth; they have a straight safety bar. The 37C also has indents and grooves on the top cap and bottom bar to support the shaving experience by guiding the whiskers.
- Two parts – The 37C is a two-part razor. The head is unscrewed from the bottom of the handle, and the top is removed to insert a blade. Handles cannot be changed on these razors, unlike 3 part types.
- Blade replacement – Blade replacement is straightforward because it’s a two-part razor. The top is loosened, and then a blade is popped inside the top section posts, then replaced and tightened via the bottom of the handle.
- Handle – The Merkur 37C is a short-handled stubby razor. It has an engraved grip.
- Aggressiveness –The 37C is a medium razor in aggressiveness. The slant style does make it cut or slice very efficiently without the aggression of a large blade gap type razor. I wouldn’t call this a mild or an aggressive razor, so I shall stick it in the mid-range.
- Size and Weight – A weighty short razor. Overall length: 3.25in-83mm, weight: 2.7oz-76g.
- Warranty – Merkur offers a 2 limited year warranty.
How Does The Merkur 37C Slant Perform And Shave?
I have just spent my last few shaves with a Feather AS-D2, which was reviewed. A very different razor compared with the 37C and milder.
It wasn’t so long ago that I used and reviewed the Merkur 39C, which has the same head as the 37C I am reviewing here. This gave me a good idea about what to expect, although this short handle would make it interesting.
Related: Merkur 37C vs 39C – Which Is Best Suited For You?
My first impression made me think of the Merkur 34C, a mild standard razor. They share the same stubby handle, and I know the shave from the 34C razor very well.
I tested and used the Merkur 37C for about 3 weeks and shaved with various beard and stubble growth levels. I used it over 2, 3, and 4 days of growth and tried out a few razor blades. I skipped a consecutive daily shave as I know from experience that the aggressiveness and style of this razor will not befriend my skin (it will cause irritation).
How did the 37C shave with 3+ days of growth?
I knew from experience that the Merkur 37C would shine here, and as expected, it easily hacked off the thick growth. The first pass seemed to shave off most facial hair, and then another pass or two was definitely required.
Of course, my usual clearing up leftovers after shaving was needed, and having the small handle seems to make this easier.
How did the 37C shave daily or every 2 days?
Because of my previous experience with the 39C I knew this razor was not suited for shaving daily for my skin.
On two days of growth, I did not have the best experience. The first pass was fantastic; however, the second pass and touching up did cause irritation. No nicks or cuts, but irritation.
I have multi-directional hair growth on my neck that I have learned how to shave without irritation and with many razors. Therefore, I can only conclude that the slant style causes irritation and is not suitable without overthinking it.
Update: I thought I would give it a shot with a Feather and the improvement was remarkable. The irritation I mentioned previously was non-existent. What a difference blade change can make sometimes!
Which blades are best suited?
On this occasion, I did not get on too well with a Derby blade and found that a Personna had the right kind of sharpness. I was going to try a Feather blade and decided to give it a miss when I saw the Personna felt comfortable.
Many guys might find trying out a blade like an Astra or Derby when they first start using the 37C to get an idea of what sharpness would suit them best.
Is it easy to use shaving under the nose and chin area?
Yes. The Merkur 37C, with its stubby handle works very well on awkward spots, especially under the nose area. It shaved fine around the chin area also.
How about blade overhang?
A small amount of overhang that does not affect the shave.
What was the overall shaving experience like?
The 37C was excellent on heavier and dense growth. I like the short stubby handle just like I do on the Merkur 34C; it helps the razor become highly maneuverable.
The irritation caused by this razor on 2 days’ worth of growth and when clearing up on the neck area is a deal-breaker for me which probably says more about my skin type than the razor.
Handle and Grip 7/10
The engraved handle style does offer enough grip for most men when shaving with a safety razor. However, it won’t provide as much as a knurled-type handle, but it may look more attractive.
A short handle will suit some guys and not others. You can be mistaken by thinking only a long handle can work well when in fact, a short stubby handle really assists when shaving tricky areas and making short strokes.
Handle length is mostly about personal preference.
Weight and Balance – 9/10
2.7oz-76g is a good weight for a short and stubby razor. In addition, it seems to balance out nicely and provide some assistance while shaving.
Look & Design – 8/10
The buckled head design on these slant razors can make them look odd, as they are pretty bizarre. However, it’s a great design that works wonders for many guys.
The shiny chrome coating and engraved handle make the 37C an attractive enough razor.
Ease of Use – 7/10
I would not say this slant razor or any others are the easiest to use. When using these, some attention is required for shaving at the right angle, and if you’re off 10 degrees from what suits you best, it is quite noticeable. But, they just need some practice for some men to be an ideal shaving companion.
Value for Money – 8/10
The Merkur 37C costs around $50 USD (£48 – 37€), which is not cheap and not expensive. For a Merkur, it is at a higher price end which could be due to the extra craftsmanship of making the razor slant.
Any Common Consumer Issues, Complaints, or Positive Reports?
It seems many users initially had concerns that the Merkur 37C Slant was going to be overly aggressive and found out that was not the case after using it. I couldn’t agree more!
Good maneuverability of this razor is something consistently mentioned, and a heck of a lot of guys have found stepping up from their previous mild safety razors was a wise move.
It has also been mentioned consistently that the 37C is not best suited for wet shaving beginners with safety razors which I totally agree with.
Final Thoughts – Who is the Merkur 37C Slant Safety Razor Best Suited For?
While I found the 37C an excellent razor for heavy shaving growth, I did have irritation issues after the first pass and clearing up my multi-directional neck hair.
It’s possibly more suited for guys with tougher skin, although I have seen reports of those with sensitive skin finding it a great razor.
It is not a razor that I would recommend a new safety razor user for, but that’s not to say after learning to use one that the 37C would not be a great option.
Gentlemen moving up from mild DE razors might want to think about trying one of these slant razors out, including the 37C if the handle is not too small for them.
See you on the next lather up and 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!
Alternative Razors You Might Like
The Merkur 37C Slant might just be the perfect safety razor for you. However, it’s never a bad thing to consider other products that may be similar or even quite different while ticking other important boxes for the buyer. Here are several others you might want to consider.
Merkur 39C
It’s hard not to write about the 37C without mentioning the 39c model because they are so closely related. The difference is the handles, with the 39C having a longer handle.
The 39C is also a slant razor that it is also named sledgehammer. The handle on this model is longer, thicker, and what’s known as a barberpole. There is a big difference between these handles to consider.
See Review: Merkur 39C
Merkur 34C
I wanted to mention the 34C for those that might need a more mild razor. It’s much milder than the Merkur 37C and is known for being a good option for beginners in wet shaving with safety razors.
A closer look at the handle on the 34C reveals it is the same as the handle on the 37C but that’s where the similarities end. It’s a standard DE razor with a stubby handle which some guys might step up to the 37C or 39c from to gain more aggressiveness.
See Review: Merkur 34C
Rockwell 6C
I wanted to throw the Rockwell 6C in this mix of alternative razors. While it is not a slant and not a razor from the brand Merkur it offers various settings that may appeal to some gentlemen.
The Rockwell 6C is an adjustable razor, well a base plate interchangeable razor. It has a great, knurled, thick handle and offers various settings from mild to more aggressive. This model is cheaper than the Rockwell 6S, which is a stainless steel razor.
See Review: Rockwell 6C
