The Merkur 1904 Open Comb Safety Razor is great for tough, coarse or heavy beards. The open tooth head offers more exposure to the blade and is therefore slightly more aggressive than a regular closed comb/safety-bar razor.While this model is best suited to someone with a little experience wielding a double edge razor, there is no reason why it can't be used by a beginner. The handle is otherwise identical to the Merkur 1904 and it comes in a stylish chrome plated finish.