Muhle R89

**TorzJohnson** · 09-13-2008, 10:53 AM

I've had this razor for about 6 months now and thought it might be time to make a few comments based on fairly regular use.

This razor is reputed to be very aggressive. Well, let me confirm that; it is very aggressive. This would be a terrible choice for a new DE shaver to try. If you are not careful, you could really suffer the consequences.

That being said, I went into this being extremely cautious. Beard prep is critical, and more so with this razor. I would always make sure to use this razor on a well-softened beard. I also make sure to use extremely light passes. The first pass, I am practically cutting off free-standing whiskers above the skin line.

The extra care is worth it. The razor is capable of an extremely close shave in 2 passes if you take your time. Don't try to use this razor in a rush. If you're late for work, grab the HD instead.

This razor is also quite capable of giving you legendary razor burn, scrapes, nicks and weepers. I have only suffered this one time early on. I quickly saw where I went wrong (rushing) and worked a little more on my technique, and haven't had anything but BBS, comfortable shaves out of this razor since then.

To sum it up: if you have this razor and hate it, try it again using a more careful approach. It does work, and works well, if you tailor your approach to the razor.

**talibeard** · 09-13-2008, 11:27 AM

These are the same experiences I got with the M-P R89. When you take your time getting to know this little baby it is really amazing but when I am in some sort of rush I choose another razor. Take it easy and it will provide you with the closest shave ever and I mean ever!

**wtruitt** · 09-13-2008, 08:06 PM

I've read a few posts just recently on this razor.. I am niave on these.. are they 'new' or 'vintage'?
Wayne

**drandall** · 09-13-2008, 09:43 PM

i believe these are new...

**Aevum** · 09-13-2008, 09:52 PM

freshly made in germany, muhle has 2 models, the R89 and the R41, both are the same, one is chrome, the other is nickel, theres also a gold version, im not sure if its also R89 or has its own denomination,

**CitizenDan** · 09-13-2008, 10:51 PM

design aspects aside, this almost sounds like advise and praise one might find in regards to a slant.

**spinyeel** · 09-14-2008, 02:25 AM

If you want the closest shave possible with "ANY" d/e razor,invest in one of these.There is a bit of a learning curve,but the rewards are well worth the effort.I'm really surprised that more wet shavers haven't discovered this superb shaver. Cheers Phil.

**wtruitt** · 09-14-2008, 03:17 AM

Wow...reasonably priced too.. around $24.00 for the nickel plated..

Wayne

**blade08** · 09-14-2008, 08:44 AM

Originally Posted by TorzJohnson

I've had this razor for about 6 months now and thought it might be time to make a few comments based on fairly regular use.

This razor is reputed to be very aggressive. Well, let me confirm that; it is very aggressive. This would be a terrible choice for a new DE shaver to try. If you are not careful, you could really suffer the consequences.

That being said, I went into this being extremely cautious. Beard prep is critical, and more so with this razor. I would always make sure to use this razor on a well-softened beard. I also make sure to use extremely light passes. The first pass, I am practically cutting off free-standing whiskers above the skin line.

The extra care is worth it. The razor is capable of an extremely close shave in 2 passes if you take your time. Don't try to use this razor in a rush. If you're late for work, grab the HD instead.

This razor is also quite capable of giving you legendary razor burn, scrapes, nicks and weepers. I have only suffered this one time early on. I quickly saw where I went wrong (rushing) and worked a little more on my technique, and haven't had anything but BBS, comfortable shaves out of this razor since then.

To sum it up: if you have this razor and hate it, try it again using a more careful approach. It does work, and works well, if you tailor your approach to the razor.

How is the plating on this model? I am asking this because Merkur seems to have some prolems with the plating on their chrome models.

**TorzJohnson** · 09-14-2008, 11:22 AM

Originally Posted by blade08

How is the plating on this model? I am asking this because Merkur seems to have some prolems with the plating on their chrome models.

I'm not entirely sure this Muhle isn't actually made by Merkur themselves. If you stand it up next to an HD they are pretty much exactly the same dimensions and appear to be distant cousins. One is just more refined looking and is wearing a nicer suit.

As to the plating/finish, it is pretty much flawless. I just took it apart and looked it over, no blemishes or casting marks visible. This may be why it justifies it's somewhat higher price. I suspect that if it is made by Merkur, a lot fewer of them are made than, say, the HD, and the dies don't get nearly as much use. They probably also devote a bit more time to the finishing for a higher priced model, like the ones they make for Edwin Jagger.

**talibeard** · 09-18-2008, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by TorzJohnson

I'm not entirely sure this Muhle isn't actually made by Merkur themselves.

I had a hard time believing this because the head- as well as the handle design is so different so I asked Mühle-pinsel directly. It took a few days before I got a reply and there is some company secret involved but they stated that the open comb razors are certainly not made by DOVO/Merkur but somewhere in Italy.
More disturbing is that it seems they stopped production of this razor completely, but I am still waiting for a confirmation of M-P. Will let you know ASAP !

**sucuri** · 09-18-2008, 02:12 PM

This razor is not for me. Just too much. End up with cuts everywhere. You have to be extra careful with this. Even more so than with the slant. I find that I would rather have a good shave (not BBS) with no irritation/cuts rather than a very close shave with irritation pain

**talibeard** · 09-18-2008, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by sucuri

This razor is not for me. Just too much. End up with cuts everywhere. You have to be extra careful with this. Even more so than with the slant. I find that I would rather have a good shave (not BBS) with no irritation/cuts rather than a very close shave with irritation pain

Don't give them away yet ! You have to adjust to the M-P R89/41 (and in a lesser manner to the slanted merkurs as well) but they are capable of a great shave with at least one pass less and therefore cause less irritation. Getting to know these razors needs some time and effort but I found it time well spent.

**Norbert Sykes** · 09-18-2008, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by talibeard

I had a hard time believing this because the head- as well as the handle design is so different so I asked Mühle-pinsel directly. It took a few days before I got a reply and there is some company secret involved but they stated that the open comb razors are certainly not made by DOVO/Merkur but somewhere in Italy.
More disturbing is that it seems they stopped production of this razor completely, but I am still waiting for a confirmation of M-P. Will let you know ASAP !

I hear through the grapevine that Muhle does not make their own razors. I know from experience through dealing with small breweries that the "company secret involved" is that they have some or all of their beer varieties contract brewed by a bigger name in the biz and then slap their name on it. They're usually very careful how they word what they say on the matter to be deceptive but still not lying. I would be very surprised if the R89 weren't actually made by Merkur.

ETA: This page on the Muhle site is calling it an Edwin Jagger. I believe it's been stated as fact many times on this board that Merkur makes Edwin Jagger's razors (once even in this thread).

talibeard, can you copy and paste that e-mail that you received from Muhle? It would be interesting to hear how they worded their statement that their open comb razors are not made by Merkur and are made in Italy.

**talibeard** · 09-18-2008, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by Norbert Sykes

I would be very surprised if the R89 weren't actually made by Merkur.

Point is that none of the Mühle R89/41 parts resemble any Merkur parts to my knowledge (I don't want to sound too full of myself , but what I mean is that there are no matching parts). I do know however that they are replacing the R89 open comb head with a straight bar head , first from DOVO(=Merkur) and in a couple of months with one of there own design.
The original open comb head of the R89 is also found on some french Joris razors (which is a brand owned by plisson I think) and they absolutely resign of having anything to do with Merkur in this case.
All in all I have yet not found a reason to do not believe the answer from M-P themselves that these razors are made elsewhere , but not by Merkur.

**Norbert Sykes** · 09-18-2008, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by talibeard

All in all I have yet not found a reason to do not believe the answer from M-P themselves that these razors are made elsewhere , but not by Merkur.

I don't know if you saw my ETA above, but Muhle is labeling these as Edwin Jaggers. That's a pretty good reason for to me to believe they're made by Merkur, as multiple knowledgeable folks on this board have stated that Merkur makes Edwin Jagger razors.

**jss** · 09-18-2008, 08:51 PM

I found this razor to be very aggressive..I'm not the sharpest shaver in the den..But when I got familiar with Mr Muhle, I was impressed with the closeness of the shave..In spite of its detractors, I love this razor..Its my go to favorite.. YMMV..If anyone wants to orphan their R 89/49, please send PM..A good home will be provide for them here....

jss

**talibeard** · 09-19-2008, 02:53 AM

Originally Posted by Norbert Sykes

I don't know if you saw my ETA above, but Muhle is labeling these as Edwin Jaggers. That's a pretty good reason for to me to believe they're made by Merkur, as multiple knowledgeable folks on this board have stated that Merkur makes Edwin Jagger razors.

Yes I have seen it, sorry I didn't react right away.
Well the straight bar heads used by Edwin Jagger are certainly DOVO/Merkur heads but as far as I know they only buy the heads and make the handles and the finishing of the heads themselves. The open comb/all metal ones should be made in Italy.On the Mühle website are a lot of other E.Jagger razors as well so there certainly seems to be company interaction between the two.
The other question is whether Merkur is making their own heads or is ordering them too somewhere (Italy maybe?).

**Norbert Sykes** · 09-19-2008, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by talibeard

The open comb/all metal ones should be made in Italy.

Can you copy and paste the e-mail from Muhle so we can see how they worded their answer?

I contacted Edwin Jagger and asked what company makes their razors, and this is the reply I received:

All razors from the Edwin Jagger Premium range are made in our factory in Sheffield.

If you have any questions or require any additional information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Garry Sides

Administration

Edwin Jagger Ltd

Now, I don't know which razors are considered part of their "Premium range" and which are considered otherwise, so I write back and specifically ask if that includes the No. R 89.1. Did you guess that I didn't get a straight answer?:

This razor has been discontinued and is no longer available.

If you have any questions or require any additional information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Garry Sides

Administration

Edwin Jagger Ltd

I just wrote back and asked if he could let me know who made the head of that razor even though it's no longer available.

I'm going to write Merkur right now and ask them the same.

**Norbert Sykes** · 09-19-2008, 07:18 AM

That was fast. I just received a reply from Gary Sides from Edwin Jagger. Finally got a straight answer so I don't have to contact Merkur after all.:

The head of that particular razor was made for us by Dovo of Germany. It should be compatible with all standard double edged razor blades.

If you have any questions or require any additional information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Garry Sides

Administration

Edwin Jagger Ltd

See how deceptive the language these folks use and how hesitant they are to let the consumer know who's making the products they're purchasing? Horrible.