Merkur 39C Slant Review – My Slant On The Sledgehammer
Merkur 39C Safety Razor
The Merkur 39c is also known as the “slant sledgehammer” due to its slant and heavyweight design. It’s a safety razor that’s quite mean in efficiency at cutting through tough stubble but not in an overly aggressive manner.
Pros
Great on coarse beards and 3+ days of growth
Long handle for larger hands or if you have a longer handle preference
Heavyweight if weight is important
Cons
It might be bulky for some users
A little tricky under the nostril area
Not best suited for daily shaving or every 2 days
In this shave-down review, I take a detailed look at the ever-so-interesting Merkur 39C Slant Safety Razor, examining its features, pros, and cons, as well as the all-important shaving experience after testing it out. I also provide a recommendation on who it’s best suited for.
The 39C holds a spot in the Best Merkur Razor recommendations article, as it is a good option for those with heavy growth who want efficiency from a razor, not just an additional blade gap.
Video
The YouTube video I created for the 39C might provide some additional information, and the visuals might also be helpful.
Description & Features
Before we get into the shaving experience, let’s examine the key features of this barber pole slant razor, also known as the Sledgehammer.
- Materials and Finish – The handle is made from brass, and the razor head is manufactured using a zinc die-casting method. The razor is coated with a shiny chrome finish, which not only protects it but also makes it look attractive and modern.
- Double-edged – Double-edged razors are the most popular style of safety razor. Each side of the razor head has a blade exposed, allowing users to shave with either side.
- Closed comb – Closed comb means the bottom bar of the head does not have any openings or teeth; it has a straight safety bar. The 39C also has indents and grooves on the top cap and bottom bar to support the shaving experience by guiding the whiskers.
- Two parts – The 39C is a two-part razor. A few twists at the bottom of the handle loosen the top section, and the top cap is then pulled off, which has a threaded post in the center. With this type of razor, the handles are not interchangeable, unlike those of three-part types.
- Blade replacement – Blade replacement is very easy because it’s a two-part razor. The top is loosened, and then a blade is inserted into the top section posts. It is then replaced and tightened via the bottom of the handle.
- Handle – The Merkur 39C is a long-handled razor that suits gentlemen with large hands and those who prefer a larger handle. It has an engraved grip, which is not as good for gripping as fully knurled types. You will notice that the bottom and top of the handle, alongside the engraved pattern, give it that barber pole appearance.
- Aggressiveness – I would say the 39C is a medium-aggressive razor. The slant style allows for efficient cutting or slicing without the aggression of a large blade gap type razor and a straight blade angle. I wouldn’t call this a mild or an aggressive razor, so I’ll stick to the mid-range.
- Size and Weight – A weighty, long razor. Overall length: 100mm, handle length: 77mm, weight: 110g.
- Warranty – Merkur offers a 2-year limited warranty.
Handle and Grip
Barber pole razor handles are not going to be every guy’s preference, but for those with larger hands or just like larger handles, then size-wise it’s great.
Some users may experience slipping due to the handles’ engraved and non-knurled design, which adds extra weight. I did not experience this, though!
Weight and Balance
There’s a good weight (110g) to balance ratio, and the weight can do some of the heavy lifting when shaving coarse growth. It’s likely to be a bit too hefty for guys transitioning from using cartridge razors, though!
Look & Design
There’s no doubt that the Merkur 39C looks like a great chrome razor and has the perfect design (i.e., a weighty slant razor) for the right user. The slant design makes it work well on coarse growth.
Ease of Use
As mentioned, the ease of use with courser growth or 3+ days of growth with the 39C is very good, under these conditions.
The bulkiness may not suit every user, while it may suit others perfectly.
Blade replacement is made easy because it is a two-part razor.
Shaving Experiences
The last safety razor I used and reviewed here was also a Merkur, the Merkur 42C. This is a completely different razor, and I think the closest recently used razor with some similarities was the Parker 98R, which is a heavyweight barber pole type (non-slant).
The 39C was the first slant razor I got to use, and I was really looking forward to testing it out in my local bathroom and seeing what all the fuss was about these bent-up razors.
First impressions: The 39C felt very much like the Parker 98R I mentioned I have used recently, and that’s because it looks and feels almost identical, apart from the slant head. I love the heavyweight and can see how the longer handle would suit some guys, although I do prefer them a little shorter.
I tested and used the Merkur 39C for about three weeks, shaving with various levels of beard and stubble growth. I used it over 2, 3, and 4 days’ worth of growth and tried out a few razor blades (including Merkur, Derby, Astra & Feather).
How did the 39C shave with 3+ days of growth? This is where this razor performed at its best for me, and I could see and feel the benefits of using a slant razor with coarser and longer growth. It felt quite comfortable and was very audible while shaving.
It was a three-pass shave and touch-up with 3+ days of growth, but others may get away with two passes (I have difficult, variable directional facial hair growth).
How did the 39C shave daily or every 2 days? Shaving every 2 days with the Merkur 39C was not as effective or, to be more precise, as well-matched as shaving with 3+ days of growth. I can’t say it was too mild or too aggressive, it just didn’t feel as comfortable as shaving with other razors I have.
I didn’t even try a daily shave as I knew for sure it was not going to suit my skin as a 2-day growth picked up some neck irritation.
What blades were best suited? I found the Feather a bit too much for me, and the Derby and Personna to be pretty good. The Personna was overall best suited for me.
I would start with something easy as a first-time user and step up to something like a Feather after getting to know this razor a bit better. If you always use something sharper, like a Feather, then go for it!
Is it easy to use under the nose and around the chin area? I found that the chin area was quite efficient with this razor, and there was no tugging, even with 3 days of growth. Because this razor is quite bulky, I required a bit of concentration and a little more effort to clear up all the hair in the nose area.
How about blade overhang? There is a very small amount of blade overhang on the sides of the head, but it’s insignificant and does not affect the shave experience.
What was the overall shaving experience like? The Merkur 39C felt like a great razor for heavier growth, and if I were someone who shaved every 3+ days, I could easily stick with this razor. However, it never felt like a razor I could shave with daily or even every other day.
It is very much about getting the right razor blade set up that can make all the difference with the 39C, and getting the right angle. It’s a razor where an extra 10°, either way, makes a huge difference (i.e., 45° is too mild and under 30° is too aggressive), but a user can adjust to their liking.
Value for Money
The Merkur 39C costs around $55 USD, £41 GBP, and €60 Euro. This price is heading up into the mid-range for a safety razor and is to be expected for the level of quality Merkur provides, alongside its weight and slant design.
Final Thoughts – Who Is It Best Suited For?
The Merkur 39C is an excellent shaving tool for the right kind of use. Although it is touted as the sledgehammer that gives the impression it can do damage, it does the damage, but in a comfortable manner.
Beginners to wet shaving with a safety razor need to get to know how they function best personally and the type that suits them before jumping in with the 39C. They would also know after using a standard DE razor or a couple of models whether this Merkur, with its slant design and large handle, is of maximum benefit to them.
Users of the Merkur 37C, the younger brother with a smaller handle, could really benefit from the 39C and its long handle and extra weight if they find the 37C handle is too short or would like more weight.
Those guys with course growth and those that need to chop down their whiskers every 3 or more days are going to feel the benefit of shaving with the 39C. It’s made for you!
Other guys who use larger razors, such as the Parker 98R and others with the barber pole style, and are heavyweight, might benefit from checking out the 39C for the slant effect. They’ll be just upgrading the head to the slant, really.
It was an absolute joy to test, shave, and review the 39C Slant.
See you on the next shave down!
–– Related: Merkur 37C vs 39C – Which Is Best Suited For You?
