MERKUR 15C Double Edge Safety Razor in Bright Chrome with an Open Comb Design, Standard Handle, Made in Germany, Plastic-Free, Three-Piece Design, and Straight Bar

A delightful, gentle razor that is slightly more aggressive than the 33C closed comb version, but much better at removing longer hairs as well as providing a wonderfully close shave on the first pass. More often than not, one pass with this razor in the morning and done! I also use it to shave my pubic, chest, and underarm hair, and it handles the task gently and much more efficiently than the 33C. I have yet to suffer any nicks or razor burn with it in contrast to the carnage I used to suffer from multi-blade cartridge razors.Favorite attributes:-- It's a light razor, and you'll get a lot of blade feedback while using it to help keep it at the proper shaving angle. Heavier razor heads and handles tend to absorb whisker-to-blade feedback, so you never really know what's going on between blade and skin.--Don't let the smaller handle fool you, even if you have big meaty hands. Most shavers hold their razors with just the thumb, index, and middle fingers, so you don't need a "rake handle" to hold onto your razor. If you're actually monkey wrench gripping your razor with your entire fist, than it's probably the last thing you should be using. The 15C is a wonderfully balanced razor and the shorter handle makes it highly maneuverable for precise shaving.--The low profile head makes it very easy to shave right under the nose. The razor gets right in there for a clean swipe without a lot of metal getting in the way.--If you do a lot of bodyscaping, then this razor is idea for quickly removing longer hairs, often with one pass. It rinses cleaner and is less likely to clog than a closed comb razor.Of course razors are like religion, and everyone has their favorite that works specifically for them. That being said, this would definitely make a great razor for someone transitioning from multi-blade cartridges. You'll really have to try hard to cut yourself with it.

Although it doesn't say so in the description, this razor is indeed a Merkur 15c. I ordered this razor because I wanted something more aggressive than my Merkur 34C HD. Normally, all else being equal, an open-comb razor is more aggressive (shaves closer) than a similar razor with a solid safety bar. This razor, however, is not aggressive. It is a mild razor. I can't blame the razor for being mild though. It is not advertised as being aggressive. More research (by me) on the Internet would have revealed that most reviewers find it to be quite mild.The Good:That being said, it is a beautifully made razor. The open-comb head is quite different from the head on the 34c. The 15c head has an elegant curve to it and the knurling on the handle, threads that hold the head on to the handle, spacing of the comb teeth and so forth are all very nice. It is quite common to find complaints in reviews about the chrome plating on Merkur razors, but the plating on the 15c that I received (mine came from Focus Corp) was flawless.The handle was not great (see below) but another good point is that the head from this 15c fit perfectly on the handles that I have for my Edwin Jagger DE89 (and vice versa but I didn't want to put the EJ head on the 15c handle). Ironically, the 15c open-comb head part of this razor fits on all my razor handles... except my other Merkur, because the 34c has a base plate that is permanently attached to its handle.The Bad:The handle is thin, much thinner than the handle on the 34C or an Edwin Jagger razor. It reminds me of a yellow number 2 pencil that you might have used in school. (Do people still use pencils or is it all Tablets now?) If you can imagine a steel, knurled pencil then you'll have the idea. The picture of the razor on Amazon seems to be distorted or foreshortened, because it really does not give you an accurate idea of just how thin the handle looks or feels in your hand. The handle is hollow with a hole in the bottom, which is typical of Merkur razors. That makes for light weight. Maybe too light for a double-edge razor.The Neutral:The light weight probably contributes to the very mild shaves it gives. As I mentioned above though, you can pair it with a heavier handle, but it's still pretty mild. I just could not get a really close shave with this razor no matter what blade I put in it. You might find that to be a good thing. For someone like myself, with a tough beard who often finds it necessary to shave twice a day, mildness isn't that desirable. But for someone with sensitive skin this razor would probably be wonderful. It would be hard to nick yourself or get razor burn with this.Conclusion:If you are looking for an aggressive shaver, this is not your option, even though it has an open-comb head. If you want an open-comb razor that is a mild, comfortable shaver from a well-established brand this could be a good choice for you.