MERKUR 47C Double Edge Safety Razor – Long Handle Three-Piece Straight Cut Razor, Bright Chrome Finish, Engine-Turned Grip, Smooth Shave, Designed & Made in Germany

For those who don't like to read too much, this razor is mild for me (I'm new to DE though), and with a sharp blade like a feather, it causes less irritation and with a little skill, it is comfortable for close shaves (3 pass for BBS) and with minimal cuts. The handle is ribbed with little accents that sparkle like tiny diamonds, a beautiful piece. Size I would call it medium large, a little heavier but with a milder razor you require this, at least I do.Now for the readers...I've bounced back and forth between electric and wet shaving for years (and yes, wet electric also). I too, like many others, have been sucked in by the 5+ blade creations, but the eye watering cartridge price and considering my wet electric shaved better made me reconsider. My best friend said he went back to traditional DE and has been experimenting with blades and razors and was happy with the results.So I find myself in a shave shop in Tasmania, contemplating a replacement block and foil for my electric. I was on vacation and using a 3 blade disposable wonder to reduce packing space, but saw a German made Golddachs DE razor in front of me. So I decided it was time to give it a try. A chat with the very helpful staff saw me out the door with a new razor, soap, brush, styptic pencil, and blades before I knew it.So why this long diatribe? Well, my skin is weird sensitive is the best to describe it. One pass with the blade is what it traditionally tolerated so wet shaving was either dark and shady or a red bloody rash. Well, I had some lessons to learn.The golddachs I quite liked, and of course I had to buy the sharpest blades on the planet (feathers), and after getting the merkur I find this goldachs a bit agressive. So much so, I swear I can sever a piece of concrete with one false move. Not quite what you would expect a sensitive skin user to "cut their teeth" on this one. Blood was shed but I heal quickly, and the shave quality was great, and no rash!Spending time getting used to this combination (golddachs and feather) yielded a definitive respect for the sport. Youtube to the rescue, then preshave scrub, preshave oil, cold rinse and balm and I have a good start to a proper shave. It has grown from here with multiple creams and the sort but I consider this the basics for the strange sensitive skin folks. Shaving is now a ritual, one not to be interrupted or rushed. Shave quality and skin condition has greatly improved.So on with the collection, enter other proper tools (badger brush, bowls, stands, exotic creams, blade assortment), one of which is the 47c.I loaded the 47 with a feather (who ever named this blade maker feather is either a sadist or a genius) and to work I go. I wasn't sure it was cutting anything until I looked. Initially and unbeknownst to me, the razor seems mild, but the feather takes care of that, what a fantastic combination. The weight and handle work great, again, for me.The goldachs is now delegated to duty where I need more agression (the merkur can do it but may need another pass) and travel (it's a bit shorter), and the rashy areas are handled by the merkur for daily use. It took me three weeks before I nicked myself with it with a feather loaded, so again I feel it's on the mild side.So in conclusion, good job merkur! Now, what to get next?UPDATE 09/29/2016:This 47 is my daily razor. After sorting through more of my blade sample pack, I have now found that the Astra Superior Platinum is the blade for me in the 47c. The Feathers are nice but I get three shaves from them as with most others. After three shaves they Jeckle and Hyde if I press for a 4th (but some claim to be using the same blade after 6 months...). I easily get 4 to 5 shaves out of the Astras at which point I retire the blade "just because". The cost of the Astras are 1/2 that of the Feathers, considering the possibly double the shaves, it yields a 75% reduction in price per shave (about 3 cents per shave, not including soaps / etc). I find that I am also less likely to get irritation from the Astras if I mess up. Mess up technique with the Feathers on the other hand, irritation is inevitable. Key is here, the 47 is heavy enough to require NO additional pressure, something (for me) to remember.