One of my favorite things about Merkur is that they have such a diverse line of safety razors. They have an option for everyone. The Merkur brand name is so trusted in the wet shaving community that I don’t think you can ever go wrong buying a Merkur. However, you can’t buy any Merkur and expect it to be the right one. You need to do some research and find the Merkur that meets your needs.
So today we are going to take a look at one of Merkur’s more unique safety razors: the Merkur 1904. (FYI — The 1904 is also sometimes referred to as the 42c.) What makes it so unique? Two things: 1)it has an open tooth comb and 2) the handle has 6 sides instead of circular like most other razors.
I really like the 1904. It delivers a great shave and just has a really cool design and feel to it. To me, it looks like a safety razor that men were using 100 years ago which is pretty cool.
The 1904 definitely isn’t the best safety razor for a lot of you because of the open tooth comb. So who do we recommend it for? Let’s find out.
Pros
- Made with top quality materials and construction
- Durable 3-piece design
- Unique, old school design
- Open tooth comb is excellent for men with thick, coarse beards
- Moderately aggressive
Cons
- Probably not ideal for beginner wet shavers
- Grip is good, but I prefer when Merkur uses knurling on the handle
Product Overview & Specs
- 3-piece safety razor
- Open tooth comb
- 3.3 inches long
- Weighs 2.3 ounces (66 grams)
- Chrome-plated
- Made in Germany
Key Features of the Merkur 1904
Size Is Right In The Sweet Spot For Most Men
I really like the size of the Merkur 1904 safety razor. At 3.2 inches, it is right in the sweet spot for most wet shavers. It’s got good length but isn’t so big that it’s difficult to handle. Unless you have really big hands and need an extra large safety razor, the Merkur 1904 should be a comfortable size for most men.
Weighs Less Than Most Merkur Safety Razors, But Doesn’t Feel Light
The 1904 only weighs in at 2.3 ounces, well below what I normally prefer. But for some reason, it doesn’t feel that light to me. I think it’s because it has such good weight distribution and the ideal balance point. The handle might be on the shorter side, but it has a good amount of heft to it.
The balance point is roughly 1 inch down from the razorhead. This is a great spot as it allows you to get a really comfortable, sturdy grip and shave with good form.
Unique Handle Has Very Good Grip
One of the standout features of the Merkur 1904 is the unique handle. I don’t think there’s another handle out there that looks like it. I think it makes it look like a really classic, old school safety razor. I can picture my grandpa using this back in the 1930’s.
Most safety razor handles are round. But the 1904’s handle is a hexagon (has 6 sides). And on each side, there are diagonal grooves. They add some grip but it’s not as good as knurling. The grip is good on the 42C, but it definitely feels a little awkward at first since it’s not a circular handle.
Moderately Aggressive
Like many other Merkur safety razors, the 1904 is moderately aggressive. I rate it right in the middle of the aggressiveness scale at 5/10. I was actually a little surprised it wasn’t more aggressive because it is an open tooth/open comb safety razor. But what keeps it from being too aggressive is that the blade gap is pretty minimal.
I’m a huge fan of moderately aggressive razors. They allow you to really control how aggressive you want it to be based on blade choice. You can select a very mild blade and get a gentle, smooth shave or you can select a really sharp blade like a Feather and turn up the aggressiveness even more. The good thing with a moderately aggressive razor is that it is in your control.
Classic & Unique Design
The Merkur 1904 has a very classic but unique design. There aren’t any other handles like it. To me, it looks like a safety razor GI’s would have been using back in World War I.
Despite having such a unique design, the 1904 still shares a lot in common with other Merkur classics: chrome plated, 3-piece, similar size and weight. But the 2 biggest differences definitely are the open tooth razorhead and the hexagonal shaped handle.
If you’re looking to add some variety to your safety razor collection, this is an excellent choice.
Who Do We Recommend The Merkur 1904 For?
The Merkur 1904 is only moderately aggressive, but since it is an open tooth design, I don’t recommend it for beginners. However, if you are a skilled wet shaver that knows how to use good form and want a unique safety razor that delivers a close shave, this is a great option.
This is an especially good option for men with thick, coarse hair. There aren’t many open tooth safety razors out there, and this one can do a really good job of handling thick stubble while still being gentle on the face. I wish the Merkur 42C weighed just a little more, but overall the design is really nice and it is just a top quality safety razor.
What Are Some Other Safety Razors To Consider?
Merkur Futur
Interested in more of a sleek, modern safety razor look instead of the old school look of the 1904? Well then you should definitely consider getting the Merkur Futur.
This is one of the sleekest safety razors on the market. It’s a smooth chrome finish on the entire razor. Yes this makes it a little less functional in regards to grip, but that really shouldn’t be a concern as I’ve never had a problem with that.
The real selling point/unique feature of the Merkur Futur is that it is an adjustable safety razor. There’s an adjustable dial at the top of the handle that gives you complete control over how much blade gap you want. You have control of how aggressive of a shave you’re going to get.
Merkur 23C
The Merkur 23c is probably the company’s most popular safety razor. Heck, it might even be the most popular safety razor on the market.
Like the 1904, the 23C also has a classic look to it and is moderately aggressive. But other than that, it doesn’t have much in common with the 42C.
The 23C is a closed comb, straight bar safety razor. I think the standout feature: it’s very long at over 4 inches and it has excellent knurling.
The 23C is the perfect option for beginners that want a safety razor with a long handle.
Parker 96R
Need something a little more aggressive than the 1904? Then take a look at Parker’s 96R which is a very well made safety razor.
The 96R has a butterfly open design and the handle has decent grip. It’s not knurling but it has good texture that makes it easy to hold. The razorhead is a chrome finish but most of the handle has a black finish.
The main reason to buy the 96R though is because you are wanting something with just a tad more aggressiveness. What makes the 96R more aggressive? It has a noticeably bigger blade gap than most safety razors.
Because it is such an aggressive razor, I probably wouldn’t recommend the Parker 96R for beginners. But if you have thick, coarse hair and really need something aggressive, then this might be the perfect fit for you.
Need to review some other safety razors before buying one? Then go checkout my comprehensive review guide on the safety razors on the market right now. It has everything you need to find the best safety razor in your budget.
