Edwin Jagger or Merkur

[bad-bryce]

Help me out, I heard a lot of great reviews from both razors. I have been looking at the Merkur 34c Heavy duty and the E.J. DE89L. They both look awesome, slight preference for the Merkur on looks, but i know nothing of fuction of either.

Let me know the good, but also let me know the bad. If there is any minute detail you noticed that the razor has, let me know.

[KM-instructor]

Both good, quality is better on the EJ's quality meaning the overal finish.

[Sledgehammer39]

Merkur is a two piece razor the EJ is a three piece. IMHO the Edwin Jagger is a smoother shave and cheaper than the Merkur.

[Codfish]

I like more aggressive razors. To me, the EJ looks nicer, but the Merkur performs better.

Codfish

[Blade Boy]

Both are good, but EJ wins on finish. Never used that model Merkur so can't say which shaves better.I think I would go with the EJ.

[Ozgun]

Combine ej with feathers and have some extremely good shaves.

[talibeard]

They both shave well (though I do not like the short handle and the balance on the 34C very much) and they are both in the same price range but there is a substantial difference in quality. EJ (and Mühle for that matter) have a superb fit and finish while the QC on Merkur is not too constant; poor plating and uneven blade gaps are quit common. That doesn't mean you could not prefer the shave the Merkur gives you but you would have to buy both to know.

When quality is an issue go for the EJ!

[Dalejr]

I vote EJ

[fine wine]

They both shave well (though I do not like the short handle and the balance on the 34C very much) and they are both in the same price range but there is a substantial difference in quality. EJ (and Mühle for that matter) have a superb fit and finish while the QC on Merkur is not too constant; poor plating and uneven blade gaps are quit common. That doesn't mean you could not prefer the shave the Merkur gives you but you would have to buy both to know.

When quality is an issue go for the EJ!
I did not know that. Of the EJ or the Muhle which do you prefere?.................JR

[bad-bryce]

They both shave well (though I do not like the short handle and the balance on the 34C very much) and they are both in the same price range but there is a substantial difference in quality. EJ (and Mühle for that matter) have a superb fit and finish while the QC on Merkur is not too constant; poor plating and uneven blade gaps are quit common. That doesn't mean you could not prefer the shave the Merkur gives you but you would have to buy both to know.

When quality is an issue go for the EJ!

Between Mühle and E.J., they are pretty much the same thing or is there is some differences in performance department. I know in looks there are big differences. I head they use the same head piece. Is that true?

[talibeard]

I did not know that. Of the EJ or the Muhle which do you prefere?.................JR

I went for the Mühle, partly because of the somewhat lighter handle, making the R89 a bit head-heavy, and part of the semi-knurling making it look a bit more traditional. You have to take in account that they have about the same price-tag overhere and if the Mühle would have been 50% more expensive I would have picked the EJ. Quality doesn't make any difference it seems.


Between Mühle and E.J., they are pretty much the same thing or is there is some differences in performance department. I know in looks there are big differences. I head they use the same head piece. Is that true?

Same heads in the 89-series but the EJ's have a slightly heavier handle. I would be very surprised if the did not come from the same factory, handles and heads alike.

[joshgambit]

I had the same question not long ago (EJ vs Merkur). I went with the EJ, for reasons of quality of finish. I would make the same choice again.

I was also looking for something slightly more aggressive than the Tech I was using...

[Optometrist]

I have both, and whilst there is no debate on which has the better quality finish, as the more aggressive of the two, I choose the Merkur over the EJ/Muhle. I would rate the quality of shave over appearances any day.

[talibeard]

I have both, and whilst there is no debate on which has the better quality finish, as the more aggressive of the two, I choose the Merkur over the EJ/Muhle. I would rate the quality of shave over appearances any day.

You sure have an important point here but this is typical YMMV. The Merkur is indeed (slightly imo) more aggressive but the strange thing is that with the Mühle, once hitting its sweetspot, I hit a DFS in 2 passes all the time while the Merkur still needs some touch ups here and there after the first two passes. The difference is not great but the Mühle is the more effective razor for me.

As I said in an earlier post; to find out what he likes best he needs both.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

The Merk is the better shaver by far.

[Optometrist]

You sure have an important point here but this is typical YMMV. The Merkur is indeed (slightly imo) more aggressive but the strange thing is that with the Mühle, once hitting its sweetspot, I hit a DFS in 2 passes all the time while the Merkur still needs some touch ups here and there after the first two passes. The difference is not great but the Mühle is the more effective razor for me.

As I said in an earlier post; to find out what he likes best he needs both.

Absolutely agree.:thumbup1:

[bad-bryce]

Okay after reading all of your posts and doing a lot of investigating. I will be going for the Edwin Jagger Classic Safety Razor Barley Handle, EJ-DE89BA11. I love how the handle looks on this one. Once I get I will let you know how my experience was with it.

[Werner]

Okay after reading all of your posts and doing a lot of investigating. I will be going for the Edwin Jagger Classic Safety Razor Barley Handle, EJ-DE89BA11. I love how the handle looks on this one. Once I get I will let you know how my experience was with it.
Good choice! I also have that one. Had 3 shaves with it and I love it!
Made a topic with a quick look video in it.

[alex2363]

ed jagger

[camjr]

I had the same choice to make and just ordered the EJ.

Cheers

[InHotWater]

I own an Edwin Jagger DE 89, and a Merkur "1904" (which is similar to the HD) They both give me nice shaves. One thing I find, is that the shorter handle on the Merkur makes it easier to go Across The Grain for me, especially right under the nose. I do like the chrome finish on the EJ though, and it would not be fair to compare it to the finish on the Merkur, which I am pretty sure is Nickel.

[Optometrist]

I own an Edwin Jagger DE 89, and a Merkur "1904" (which is similar to the HD) They both give me nice shaves. One thing I find, is that the shorter handle on the Merkur makes it easier to go Across The Grain for me, especially right under the nose. I do like the chrome finish on the EJ though, and it would not be fair to compare it to the finish on the Merkur, which I am pretty sure is Nickel.

Yes, it is(1904).

[JonM]

I too love my EJ. I've been using the DE89 as my daily shaver & I'm also eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Chatsworth.

http://www.westcoastshaving.com/assets/images/lhcsr.jpg

[hawgsfan34]

Combine ej with feathers and have some extremely good shaves.

Amen.

[KM-instructor]

Okay after reading all of your posts and doing a lot of investigating. I will be going for the Edwin Jagger Classic Safety Razor Barley Handle, EJ-DE89BA11. I love how the handle looks on this one. Once I get I will let you know how my experience was with it.

Good choice, I think you'll enjoy it when it arrives.

[jwilock]

Most everything has been said, but here's an odd point ... if you happen to like any of the blades from the St, Pete plant, with the heavy "glue" dots there's no problem using them in the EJ. For me they stick to the middle piece when I remove it. I just pull them off and clean of that piece of metal. Actually it always looks clean like there is no wax sticking to it, but I clean it anyway. Have not used the Merkur so don't know about it. Just wanted to comment that I started out scraping off the "glue" dots, which was a lot of work. Turns out that's not at all necessary with the EJ.

[DaveNJ74]

Combine ej with feathers and have some extremely good shaves.

One of the smartest things I have heard anyone ever say....

[Godan]

If you do a search for the Zinc Merkurs? thread of a week or so ago and read through the posts, you will pick up some information that may help you decide.

[spoonsacola]

I was looking at either the Merkur HD or the EJ Barley for my first razor too. From all of the reviews I've read, they didn't really seem that different.

Important to keep in mind: you'd probably have to try them both first to truly identify which was the better FOR YOU. As such, it's probably hard to go wrong with either. I decided on the EJ in the end as it will be used daily and I preferred the workmanship of the EJ. Am yet to use it, however, as still waiting on some other goodies :(

I posted an 'un-boxing' here:
http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/241465-Lurker-From-Melbourne-Checking-In?highlight=
eg:
http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=28245 (http://badgerandblade.com/gallery/showimage.php?i=28245)

[camjr]

I had the same choice to make and just ordered the EJ.

Cheers

My EJ 89lbl was delivered on Friday, so I took it for it's first drive (and my first ever DE shave) this morning. Here's the report from the noob forum I posted a couple of minutes ago:

OK-reporting back. No issues at all using the EJ as my first shave with a safety razor on my face and neck. Very close, very smooth, very comfortable, but slower than using carts because I had to concentrate on keeping the proper angle. No nicks or weepers. I used C.O. Bigelow/Proraso cream and a Shea Moisture badger brush to build the lather in my latte mug.

I decided I was successful enough, so I decided to shave my head with it (I typically shave my head every morning with a Fusion). I figure I had the extra time to learn and adapt to a DE since it was a Saturday morning and not a morning where I was rushed to get to the office. It was a somewhat different story for the head than for the face. As long as I could see what I was doing, no issues. I nicked the back of my head once where I was having to shave by feel. Next purchase: Alum block or styptic pencil!

Opinion for my first DE shave: Me Likey!

Cheers!

[JeffJ]

Both are great razors. My preference is for EJ for both looks and performance. YMMV.