Price = relatively cheap

Quality = Ok

Aggressiveness = Not very. A bit more aggressive than a Gillette Tech.



Grip, User Friendly, Ease of Blade Replacement = Good: The 1904 is nice to look thanks to its ornamental handle. Bad: Unfortunately the metal they chose for the handle is too light. The ornamentation is too smooth thanks to the polished chrome finish, its on the slippery side of things. The handle also has a big round knob at the end which you want to grab on to to change blades but can't. Blade changing would be a breeze if that little knob was only faceted so that you can maintain a grip on it. As it stands if you want to replace the blade better use a towel and dry hands.



Recap = Light, pretty, klutzy, can't grab its big knob. Translation, the 1904 is the Jessica Simpson of razors.

I read a million reviews before purchasing a DE razor. I finally went with the 1904 because it was a classic and fairly cheep. So I wouldn't feel to bad if I didn't like it and wanted to buy another one.I have been using a Merkur razor with it, but I hope to get some Feather blades. I have no complaint about the razor other then the handle was short but I got used to it after the third or fourth shave. Replacing the blades is very simple but separating the blade it self from the top is a little awkward as you have no edges to hold thats not the blade it self. It cleans great and works great. I change blades after three shaves, but maybe the feather will last a little longer. The razor is never really the cause for any cuts mostly its just me pushing down hard.

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The young dream of the future and the old dream of the past.

I have to start out this review stating that I bought it purely because I liked the look. Given that I could get this razor cheaper than a classic murker how could I say no? Personally I think the reviews so fair have been a little harsh, for me the razor performs quite well getting a good clean shave with little effort. I've not found any problems with the build quality, it's plating is all nice and bright with no defects.



I can't say I found it too light or the handle too short, but it does feel lighter than my Gillette slim adjustable. I've not had any troubles holding it, but I didn't try gripping the knob on the end. Still I always find it's a good idea to have a towel and dry hands when changing blades, but I am prone to inattention. I Marked it down on blade replacement, but that's purely because it's a three piece not a TTO.



I find it to be in the middle for aggressiveness, but still good enough to get the job done. It's gone in to my daily rotation with murker blades and once I find my feathers it'll probably perform even better for me.



Given the build quality and how well it shaves for me I'd have to say it's a good razor overall. Also, for the price who wouldn't take Jessica home.

I got my 1904 at a great price and I really like the other Merkurs I have, so I had no problem adding this to the collection.



The solid handle is what makes this one unique in the Merkur line. It feels a little heavier than the Classic and a little lighter than the HD, so it will fit the bill for those who think the Classic is too light or the HD is too heavy. The only thing that takes getting used to is the hexagonal handle, but I took to it pretty quickly.



The shaves are as good as any of the other fixed head Merkurs. I certainly don't see this as any less of a performer than it's cousins. This will definitely be added to the rotation.

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http://wiki.badgerandblade.com/Air_Travel

This is my main razor and I actually really like it. It's simple and it works and it'll last forever. I would have to agree however with some of the common complaints this razor gets: the handle can be slippery if you've got shave oil on your hands and you have to be pretty careful changing blades. Other than that I get consistent, close shaves every morning with this baby. I can't really comment on the aggressiveness of the razor as I haven't tried enough safety razors to be able to compare. Seems about right though!

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- Dave

I would like to recommend this razor. There are a couple of things I’d like to address;



- Merkur does an open and closed comb version of this razor. Go for this one - The open comb is overly aggressive.



- I have found no problem gripping this razor. As long as you keep shaving oil out of the equation, you should have no problems.



- The razor is SLIGHTLY lighter than an HD - it still has an adequate amount of weight to give you a good shave.



- Blade replacement is straight forward.



I'd recommend this razor as a daily shaver. It's cheap and simple but also quite small and nimble which makes it easy to use. I think aggressiveness is mainly determined by your choice of blade - I use Gillette Swedes which do me fine.



I've used Merkurs 38c, 34c, 11c, 23c and this is by far my favourite. Definitely worth a try!

I bought this razor just because of his appearance and because it is relatively cheap.

The 1904 has the same head than the Merkur HD. Everything is fine except the handle which is too light, too short and has no grip. The balance is not so good, most of the weight is in the head.

I have better results using the Mühle R89 or the Mekur HD than the 1904.

This was my first DE and is still my only razor. It was the cheapest new razor I could find at under $25. It looks great IMO. I get a very nice shave from it. I don't have anything to compare it to, but using Derby blades I started getting a DFS after 1 month. The grip on it is fine, unless you have tons of oil involved. Changing blades is relatively easy and takes about 20 seconds. I haven't used any other razors so I can't compare, but in any case that should not deter anyone from this razor. It feels like it will last me my lifetime without any problems. It has already survived two drops without any damage.



This razor seems like a very balanced razor that would serve a variety of people. It looks good, it's relatively cheap, it seems mildly aggressive but I'm sure it can get pretty aggressive with the right blade in there. I would recommend this as a great first razor or somebody looking for that workhorse everyday razor.

Recently acquired this beautiful functional razor off eBay. The head is a HD clone and the weight is heavier then advertised at 2.3 oz (most dealers say 1.7 oz) so did Merkur increase the weight or are the dealers wrong?. I loaded mine with a Feather and the shaves are smooth and close with zero irritation. This is simply a great razor and inexpensive when you compare it to other Merkurs or other high end brands.

My 1904 is Several years old. It was my first shot at DE Shaving and I was underwhelmed at the time. Dropped it in the drawer and went back to a Mach 3.

Later I decided to give DE a shot again and bought the Feather Plastic DE that came with 2 Feather Blades. The Feather was a good shave and I realized that my problem with the 1904 was the quality of the blades I had used.They sucked.

With the Feather Blades ,the 1904 came alive and I have used it a lot in the last year. I get excellent BBS shaves with zero irritation.

I have the closed comb and it works perfectly on my mug.

My only complaint is that it lacks the heft that I prize in my Fatboy and Slim.

I also wish the handle was a little longer.

All in All, a excellent first DE razor.

Highly recommended.

This is the second razor I have owned, the first being a cheap butterfly model. At $25 the price it is hard to beat, especially for a beginner.



The razor has a nickle finish with a hexagonal handle that looks great. It is well balanced with a fairly heavy head which I like. Quality is good and the three piece design is simple and makes it very easy to clean. Since I have currently only tried two razors I don't feel a comment on aggressiveness from me would be meaningful. The one negative aspect as others have noted is that it can be very slick when it gets wet.



I would recommend this razor to beginners, just be sure to keep the handle and your fingers dry!

My little stubby. Cool looking design on the handle, that is functional in that it provides great grip. The handle is a bit short, so that may be a bother to some with larger hands. The balance is pretty good as the razor head does all the work for you with proper grip. Very mild blade positioning makes it a good starter razor. Overall a good 3 pass razor and looks good in the stand.

As mentioned I can't think of a better starter razor you can currently buy brand new that can compete with this little trooper in a dollar for dollar comparison.



To address some concerns raised in earlier reviews:

- The blade change isn't any harder than any other 3 piece.

- The handle is slightly short, though its not perceivable different to the HD in length.

-Grip is a little less than perfect but I've not had any issues due to this.



All said if you're starting out and really want to buy new there's no good reason not to consider this one.