Thanks. I'll stay with my pre-2017 34C then. I don't doubt that the new one is a more modern design and a better shaver for many. If you keep it clean and dry it should last a decent length of time, but I don't see how you can keep the plating from wearing off the threads. Silver or gold plating will wear off much more quickly than harder chrome plating.
Merkur 34S Updated Version & Comparisons
- Thread starter jasonco
- Start date
Interesting. Maybe it's an optical illusion, but the 34S on the right looks like it has a taller 'dome' on the cap. Seems like that would make it more difficult to achieve a shallow angle shave, for those that like to ride the cap.
Wow! This 34S looks interesting enough I might buy one if they were available in USA for a decent price.
I used to have a 34C, but it seemed too mild (inefficient?) for me, so I got rid of it.
I can’t say unfortunately. I just listen to the razor and adjust the angle accordingly.
But it is a very smooth shaver and I’m sure one can play with the available angles.
Reading through the latest replies in the thread, it occurs to me that this may be one of my more foolish purchases and I hope I am not disappointed further down the road. However, I am very fond of the humble 34C; it was my second DE (the first being the 37C, which I am also quite fond of) back when the market had a lot fewer offerings for brand new DE razors. I had forgotten that Merkur had changed some of their materials, which is a shame. My old 34C (at least 20 years old now) is in as good a shape as it was when new; I take very good care of my shaving implements and have never dropped one or over-tightened a razor. Hopefully such care will keep the 34S in as good condition. All brass would have been nice, and chrome is certainly more durable than silver so if the shave is that much better with the new iteration of the Merkur head it may behoove the 34C lover to get a new one, or spring for the Razorock GOAT.
The 34C works very well for my sensitive skin as a daily shaver. Nostalgia got the best of me with the 34S! What a splendid thing it would be if Merkur would manufacture the 34 in all brass!
The 34C works very well for my sensitive skin as a daily shaver. Nostalgia got the best of me with the 34S! What a splendid thing it would be if Merkur would manufacture the 34 in all brass!
i've said this in the past or to merkur think once all brass 34c or 15c would be nice knowing it wont happen tho hopefully razorock could do a 15c or 37c in a stainless would be nice ido have the 37c top cap set
I don't think the silver finish would stand up to a hard water environment and the silver plating would soon be worn out. The threaded post is still a weakness on the new design and I cannot see any of them lasting a reasonable amount of time. I don't know why Merkur has gone down this path.
The Razorock GOAT could be a good option for a replacement German 34 but it is a three piece razor. It is just a Gamechanger cosmetically altered to look like a German 34.
Gold plated brass with US distribution and I am in for one at a reasonable price.
I’m afraid it isn’t.
The top cap posts are smaller on the new design and don’t protrude that far under the base plate.
Also this top cap is clearly the old slimmer version.
But the ultimate test is blade overhang. The new design covers the entire blade.
So put a blade in your razor and that will be a definite answer.
This morning I was still in the 2025 restraint with no temptations on the horizon.
Then I saw this thread.
Now I am out of this year's restraint....
Thanks @jasonco
Of course you're out, but it's not your fault!
marty
Definitely exposed. Guess I need to try a new one. Too bad that 34s isn't distributed in the US.
I bought this a year ago. I wonder about a 2025 34g.
Buying directly from merkur, wouldn’t they ship to the US?
I think you’d like the new design. I know I did. And to think I almost left the store without it. Oh the horror…
Thankfully we have soft water here. The 34S might become an occasional shaver for me.
Will definitely have to get the GOAT soon, maybe next month. Or sooner. There's a reason I stopped reading B&B everyday.
- Thread starter
- #35
No particular benefits, its pretty rare now a days to see a modern production silver plated razor, the same reason one might buy a 34G over a 34C. If they bring back the Merkur 11 open comb in silver id have to buy that also.interesting, what are the benefits of silver? is it more/less durable than chrome?
how does the new head compare to other well known razors? idk, like progress, lupo 95, or even 37C.
Lot of questions, sorry.
I do find Merkurs gold plating and now silver plating to be of higher finish quality than their chrome though and underneath the gold and silver plating is a durable nickel plating so one just needs to not use unnecessary harsh cleaners on the gold or silver plating as its a thinner and softer plating than chrome but less prone to cracking/chipping. When chrome chips it usually takes off the nickel plating underneath it leaving exposed Zamak, so ill take silver or gold plating any day based on my personnel experiences and my oldest 34G from 2020 (Zamak threads model) has held up just fine.
I dont have either of those razors on hand anymore so i cant give a quality comparison side by side but i can say its smoother than all of them for me. But i do precisely remember thinking the 37C wasnt that efficient(for me) and the fact the 34S can give me an effortless 2 pass + touchup BBS WTG/ATG came as quite a shock, i do see why Razorock decided to name their SS version the GOAT but German 34 would have been good also. All those razors listed though are perfectly capable and its just going to come down to micro preferences and which geometry/design you like most.
Yeah i really wish they kept the brass post, when the brass post units failed they popped out but it was in a clean manner so epoxying it back wouldnt be so difficult. I think they will have replacement top caps available in silver also, ill have to ask them and if so ill probably buy one or two just to have on hand. That would be nice if they could do a brass 34 and they could offer them in gold, silver and chrome still.
I am sure they will, but the cost is relatively high compared to a 34g or 34c from a local retailer.
- Thread starter
- #37
They have them here, "Merkur Shave" is a US retailer for them.
Merkur - DE Safety Razor 34G HD, Gold, Straight Guard, German (9034003)
Merkur German DE Safety Razor 34G, Gold, Straight Guard is a classic. It offers a very smooth, comfortable shave. Shop now and see for yourself.
merkurshave.com
Oops you meant brass, never mind
Oh there’s that, of course. Any chance of emailing a known vendor to see if it could be done?
Maybe some of them don’t even know the silver is available.
German 34 sounds a lot better than the GOAT!
If a manufacturer like Fatip can offer all brass at such a reasonable cost, I don't understand why Merkur can't do the same.
It is the labour cost of soldering in those pins and posts. Merkur are not set up to do that work so it would be prohibitively expensive for them to change the production method.
