"This Razor just screams ‘Rebel’. You can almost see yourself in a Brando jacket, blue jeans, comb in the back pocket, and switchblade in the other. Ahhh! I can almost smell the Brylcreem! I've now tried the 34 HD and it is quite a beautiful razor, in an industrial sense of the word. Like a brand new, top of the line ‘wrench’. Dependable! If a razor was your best mate, then this one’s got your back. The only thing that’d make this an aggressive razor is the diet the user chooses for it. I’ve come from using cutthroats and as far as razors go, it isn't as good a shave as my cutthroat razors, they will remain my main method of shaving, but, and rightly so, this fantastic little DE will have its place in the rotation. When I travel, it will be there as well. It may not equal a cutthroat shave, but it far out distances those modern plastic monstrosities (cartridge heads, disposables etc), when it comes to quality and comfort of shave. This razor delivers a great shave with ease. No doubt the heft has a lot to do with that. If you’re after a perfect shave, then take the time to learn to use a cutthroat, they're only dangerous in clumsy or disrespectful hands. If you want the next best thing to perfect, without the need to learn the manly art of razor honing, this little razor can deliver. If you've come from a cutthroat to this, then this razor takes the thinking out of a shave. If you've taken a universal leap from the cheap plastic rubbish, you'll need to start thinking for yourself, for once. You don’t have a pivot head on this one. You need to work the angles yourself. Go on! Taste the freedom! Size: Smaller than it looks in a photograph Weight: Hefty is an apt description. It’s heavier than it looks. Grip: Deep knurling offering excellent grip, even with soapy fingers Balance: Its balance point is approx 1” below the head, so it is ‘top’ heavy, and rightly so. Finish: High quality. Recommendations: If you’re new to DE or ‘wet’ shaving in general, then this is the razor for you. If you’ve come from Cutthroat razors, then perhaps the slant head model would be better. I bought the standard head, after reading how the slant head was only for some kind of ‘master, god like shaver’. I think a slant will be next on my list. "

"This was my first DE razor and it may be my last. It is fantastic, really easy to use and have not had to worry about cutting myself as the razor is so well designed that as long as you use a light touch and take a bit of care with your blade angle there is no problems. Would highly recommend it to anybody thinking of trying shaving with a DE razor. Bottom Line: Great value, easy to use and very forgiving. Great for a beginner"

"I've been using this for about 2 months now and it's perfect for a newbie to DE shaving like me. It's well made and feels like it will last for decades. The top of the head screws onto the blade to hold it firm. The handle has an etched pattern that makes it less likely to slip in your fingers. Plus it feels well balanced. I'm very glad I bought this razor."

"Having always loved a barber's shave, and sick of paying rediculous abounts for Quattro cartriges, I wanted to try one of the more traditional methods of shaving. What I wasn't keen on was the danger and excessive maintenance of straight razors, so settled on the Mercur HD. I'm still learning, but am getting great results with Derby Extra blades and Proraso pre/post and soap. Most importantly, I'm actually enjoying shaving again - taking the extra time for a good hot soak, the smell of eucalyptus, the cold feel of menthol. Strongly recommend picking up this great beginners' razor and diving in!"

"The Merhur HD closed comb lived up to its reputation. Beautifully made. Dimensions and weight were exactly suited to my hand and face. I had previously tried a Weishi TTO. Far too mild. An Italian copy of the Muhl open comb was too agressive. The Merkur HD was right on the sweet spot. The order arrived within 2 working days. The contents were very well packed. Great initial impression."

"Solid and simple DE razor that delivers a good solid and consitant performance. Ideal starter razor since it is straighforward and unlikely to let you do any damage to yourself :)"

"The Merkur HD is very forgiving, well-balanced razor, which is built to last several lifetimes. Although there are more aggressive safety razors on the market the merkur HD is more than capable of providing smooth, close and irritation free shaves. For me the personna red blades are the best blade for this razor. "

"This is an excellent piece of kit. For me the best part is the weight. It's a solid, chunky, little razor and performs brilliantly."

"Great for beginners, but doesn't neccesarily mean you'll find something better down the track. Once you get your technique and blade choice sorted, this is a terrific razor. It's smaller than you expect, but is nicely balanced and weighted. Merkur sells truckloads of these things worldwide."

"I've been using a double edge safety razor for a number of years now. I've used many different brands and I can say that Merkur razors are the best in the business. Although the HD is promoted here as a beginner razor, it is a superb razor that I would recommend for ANYONE and will see you out for many, many years. Take the plunge, buy a Merkur HD, a blade sample pack and you'll never look back."