Safety Razor Review

Merkur 38C Review – Weighty and Long Barberpole Razor

Last Updated on July 24, 2023

The Merkur 38C is a double edge safety razor, also known as the Merkur Barber Pole, because of the ribbed-shaped handle design.

The last couple of safety razors I used and reviewed were the Merkur 39C Slant and Parker 98R. The 38C shares the same Barber Pole style long handle, but the heads differ.

The 38C holds a spot in the Best Merkur Safety Razor recommendations article as it is one of the top long, heavy, and mild razors worth checking out.

Before I get into the review, I just want to mention I was pleasantly surprised with the shaves I got from the 38C. I am not a big fan of long handles, but I got along quite well with this.

Merkur 38C Description & Features

The Merkur 38C is a chrome-plated brass safety razor with a longer handle than your standard razors. It’s an attractive looking shaving tool that is very popular among wet shavers.

• Materials and Finish – The handle and head are both made from brass. The 38C has a die-casted zinc razor head, galvanized surfaces, and it is chrome-plated.   
• Double edged – Double-edged means this razor requires a double edge blade and can be used when shaving on both sides. 
• Closed comb – A closed comb razor like the 38c is the most common razor. It has a closed bottom safety bar which does not expose any blade. 
• Two parts – A two-part razor like the Merkur 38C has a screw-off handle section at the bottom, which is attached to the top of the razor head until unscrewed. 
• Blade replacement – Blade replacement is a fairly easy task with the 38C. It comes apart in two pieces, and the blade is placed on the top with posts or stubs. 
• Handle – This handle is long, which is best suited for men with bigger hands or guys who just prefer a longer handle. Engraved slanted lines along the handle provide a user some grip.
• Aggressiveness – The Merkur 38C leans toward the mild to medium side of aggressiveness. 
• Size & weight – Weight: 3.91oz. – 111g, Length: 4in-101mm.
• Warranty – Merkur offers a 2 year limited warranty.

How Does The Merkur 38C Barber Pole Perform And Shave?

As mentioned, I was pleasantly surprised when shaving with the 38C. I know it is a mild razor, and I prefer more aggressive types; however, possibly because of the weight of the 38C, it felt more in the medium range.

I shaved with the Merkur 38C on a number of occasions and with heavier and lighter growth over a couple of weeks before reviewing it. I usually give it some time to adjust to a new razor. I like to test it out under various conditions (i.e., days of growth and blades) to provide you guys with a clear perspective of how a razor performs.

How did the 38C shave with 3+ days of growth?

The 38C was fine with 3 days of beard growth. I did have to make two good passes and a good bit of clearing up after. This was the first occasion I shaved, and I got some neck irritation, which can often happen with a new safety razor (this can be normal).

Because the 38C is quite a mild razor, it requires a bit more effort than other aggressive types I use to get a very close shave, which flares up irritation (razor burn).

How did the 38C shave daily or every 2 days?

Shaving every 2 days was ideal. And, after the 2nd and 3rd occasions of shaving with this razor, there was no irritation like I had when I first used it. There was also less work for the razor to do than when I shaved with 3+ days of growth.

I’m not a fan of shaving daily. However, the Merkur 38C is well suited for daily shavers because of its mildness.

Which blades are best suited?

I went straight in with the sharpest blade, a Feather. I knew this was a mild razor, and as it has the same razor head as other Merkur safety razors like the Merkur 34C, I knew that I needed something sharp.

I had no need to test out other blades, but I knew anything as mild as a Derby or Astra would go well with the 38C. 

If you are new to using safety razors, then start with a mild blade and move up to sharper blades if needed. And if you are a veteran shaver, then you know better than me what you usually like to use.

Is it easy to use shaving under the nose and chin area?

The 38C is a bulky razor, with a lot of handle to hold in the hand. This makes it a little more clumsy around the chin area or not easy to use as shorted handle razors. 

The bulky handle did not seem to affect shaving under the nose area.

How about blade overhang?

The Merkur Barber Pole has a small amount of overhang that does not affect the shave. 

What was the overall shaving experience like?

I prefer safety razors with much shorter or at least standard-sized handles. However, the extra weight of the handle enables the 38C to step up from the mildness it would have with a shorter handle which I did like.

I got a very close and comfortable shave with the 38C. It would have been the perfect razor in my early safety razor shaving days. I liked longer handles back then. 

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. 

The longer and heavier handle will suit guys with large hands and those who prefer longer handles. 

Weight and Balance – 9/10

If you need weight, the 38c does provide enough of that (3.91oz. – 111g). 

The balancing of the razor’s weight when using it seems to be all heading toward the bottom of the handle. Holding it lightly allows the razor to do some of the work when shaving and lets it lean towards the face better.

This weight and long handle are ideal for the longer strokes of shaving. Not so much for the trickier areas, though.

Look & Design – 8/10

The Merkur 38C is a shaving tool that is solid brass with an attractive chrome design. Brass is not as durable and won’t last as long as stainless steel, and the chrome can wear after a period of time. They generally do for last years.

Merkur makes razors that suit many types of user needs which is noticeable when we look at the short handle of the 34C to the long handle of this 38C reviewed here. 

Ease of Use – 7/10

While the head of this razor is relatively mild and user-friendly for most people, the long handle will not be the easiest to use for everyone. Men with small hands and others may struggle slightly with the bulkiness.

Blade changing is done easily enough. It’s a two-part razor.

Value for Money – 9/10

I would class all Merkur safety razors as good value for money based on the quality of craftsmanship and engineering that goes into their products. 

The 38C is priced up at around $61 (£43 – €46). 

Any Common Consumer Issues, Complaints, or Positive Reports?

As expected, reports and reviews give mixed opinions about the long and heavy handle. Most buyers were pleased that they bought themselves a razor that gives them a close shave with a long handle, and this handle was one of the main features they liked. 

There are a number of mentions about the handle not offering a good grip. However, the grip they want is what knurled-type handles will give, not these.

Final Thoughts – Who is the Merkur 38C Barber Pole Best Suited For?

The Merkur Barber Pole is among a group of safety razors that have this heavy and long handle style, which is best suited for individuals with particular needs or preferences.

I can definitely see this razor being a good option for someone new to wet shaving with safety razors that like the idea of having a razor with a long handle that is pretty mild. Other mild razor users might also want to try a Barber Pole style long handle who are considering a longer razor. 

See you on the next lather up and shave down.

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