Merkur Model 38 Hd Classic Barber Pole Long Safety Razor Review

The Merkur Model 38 Hd Classic Barber Pole Long Safety Razor or more commonly called the HD, is quite popular among shavers. Its handle looks like a barber pole making it look very distinct and really classic. Like any other high quality Merkur Safety Razor, this one is made from Germany. The frame of the razor is solid brass which gives a nice weight and good balance that users like about it. It has a polished chrome finished for added durability as well as aesthetics. The handle is 3.75 in long which is considered to be within the tall handle category. Commonly, razors with long handles are ideal for people with large hands or those who are used to using razors with long handles. It’s actually all about getting used to the length and size of the razor.

The Grip and The Balance

The handle of the razor is designed to give a firm grip. This is very important since double edge razors are used for wet shaving. Water often makes metal slippery and can cause the shaver to lose his grip. This results to the razor falling onto hard surfaces and obtain some damages. The grip also provides control during shaving. DE razors are known to give very close shave and if the handle is slippery, it could cause cuts and nicks. The bottom of the handle is a bar that looks similar to that of the bottom part of a barber pole. This bar provides weight to the bottom part of the razor, and results to good heft and the pressure applied during shaving is channeled effectively.

  • Merkur-Model-38-Hd-Classic-Barber-Pole-Long-Safety-Razor-View

Click Here to Check Ratings & Discounts on Amazon.com

Rating:

  • Quality: 10/10

Safety razors are made to last for a lifetime and added with the craftsmanship and quality by the Merkur brand, this razor is sure to be around for more than one lifetime. The brass material give it not just its good weight, but the durability it needs to withstand hard impacts. The chrome finishing make it resistant to corrosion and wear which preserves its appearance through time.

  • User Friendly: 8/10

Using this razor takes some time. Preparation must be done and it should be accompanied by the right shaving products although once you get the hand of it, you can achieve the closest shave that you could ever do.

  • Grip: 10/10

The length of the handle and its design prevent any unwanted slips during a wet shave.

  • Ease of Blade Replacement: 8/10

Like any regular DE blades, except for the ones which have butterfly-doors, this one has to be disassembled before you can put it in a new blade. The head needs to be unscrewed from the handle in order to replace the blade inside.

  • Aggressiveness: 10/10

The HD razor is able to give results similar to straight razors. If the blade used during shaving is of high quality, the razor can be really aggressive.

  • Adjustability: 8/10

This DE razor is straightforward and do not require any adjustments.

  • Balance: 10/10

The razor weighs 4 ounces. Other brands call their razors with this weight as heavyweights. A heavy razor is always a good razor.

  • Value for Money: 9/10

As a heavy razor, it’s quite expected that the price is a bit heavy as well. Compared to other Merkur razors, this one is quite expensive at around $45.00. Still, the price is very cheap when you consider all the types of razors in the market.

  • Overall: 9/10

If anyone is looking for a simple DE razor that can deliver and last longer than him, then this razor is the good choice. There are other razors made by Merkur that are cheaper but this one is much heavier and has a longer handle. Not to mention it has a classic barber pole handle.

Leo Flemming

About Leo Flemming

As a retired barber Leo has experience with all types of shavers, but his favorite has always been the classic safety razor. An avid collector of the elegant razors Leo is looking forward to sharing all of his knowledge with us, while he continues to help men stay well groomed and clean shaven. When Leo is not writing for us, you can often find him indulging his love of antiques at the local shops.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *