Edwin Jagger DE89 Review: The Beginner Razor Everyone Recommends
The Edwin Jagger DE89 earns its beginner reputation for one reason: it is mild, forgiving, and hard to cut yourself with while you learn. If you want a classic three-piece razor that gets out of your way, this is the safe first buy.
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Here is what you are actually getting, and where it falls short.
Why beginners are pointed here
The DE89 uses a closed comb head with a mild blade gap, so it takes real carelessness to nick yourself even with sloppy technique. That mildness is exactly what a new wet shaver needs in the first month.
It also loads like every other classic three-piece razor, which keeps the learning curve gentle. If you are still deciding on format, our comparison of one piece vs three piece razors explains why three-piece designs are easy to live with.
Build and handle options
Edwin Jagger describes the head as a two-piece die-cast closed comb design, chrome-plated and hand-polished. Handle material, length and finish vary by model (the variants table below sets them out), and the longer handles suit larger hands better.
Edwin Jagger’s figures for the standard DE89 are an 83 mm (3.3 inch) handle, 93 mm (3.7 inch) overall length and 68 g. The lined and knurled finishes add texture that many shavers find easier to hold with wet, soapy hands.
How it shaves
Expect a comfortable, efficient shave that rarely bites, but do not expect it to clear three days of growth in one pass. This is a mild razor, so coarse or thick beards may need an extra pass with the grain.
Blade choice changes the feel more than people expect. A sharper blade wakes the DE89 up, and our guide on how to use a safety razor covers angle and pressure so you get the most from it.
Where it falls short
If you already shave well and want more efficiency, the DE89 can feel too tame. Shavers with dense beards often outgrow it and move to an adjustable or a more efficient head.
The chrome plating is good but not flawless, so check the seams when it arrives. If you want to weigh it against other starters, see our take on mild vs aggressive razors.
One buying detail trips people up: the Amazon listing for the DE89BL says the blade is not included, while Edwin Jagger’s own store packs one Feather blade.
Edwin Jagger DE89 Specs: Weight, Length and Materials
The Edwin Jagger DE89 is a three-piece, closed comb double edge safety razor with a chrome-plated solid brass handle in its standard form. The figures below come from Edwin Jagger’s own product page, plus the Amazon listings where noted.
| Spec | Edwin Jagger DE89 (standard chrome) |
|---|---|
| Handle | Solid brass, triple-plated, hand-polished chrome |
| Head | Two-piece die-cast, closed comb, chrome-plated and hand-polished |
| Overall length | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Handle length | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Weight | 68 g (2.4 oz) per Edwin Jagger |
| Made | Hand-assembled in Sheffield, England |
| Blade in the box | One Feather Hi-Stainless on Edwin Jagger’s site; the Amazon DE89BL listing says no blade is included |
| Blade fit | Any standard double edge blade |
Edwin Jagger says closed comb heads give a milder shave by limiting blade exposure, which is why the DE89 sits at the gentle end of the range.
Edwin Jagger DE89 Variants: DE89BL, DE89Lbl, Knurled and Long
The DE89 name covers several handle finishes on the same head. Amazon titles use codes such as DE89BL and DE89Lbl, while Edwin Jagger’s site spells the finishes out as Chrome, Chrome Lined, Knurled and Long.
| Variant | Handle | Overall / handle / weight | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE89 Chrome (Amazon title: DE89BL) | Solid brass, smooth chrome plating | 93 mm / 83 mm / 68 g | The base model and the card above; listing says blade not included |
| DE89 Lined (Amazon title: DE89Lbl Lined Detail) | Polycarbonate, chrome finish with fine engraved lines | 93 mm / 83 mm / 68 g | Sold by Edwin Jagger on Amazon; same head and dimensions as the standard model |
| DE89 Knurled (Edwin Jagger site) | Polycarbonate, chrome finish with knurling | 93 mm / 83 mm / 68 g | Same head and dimensions as the standard model |
| DE89 Long Lined (Edwin Jagger site) | Solid brass, lined chrome, longer | 101 mm / 93 mm / 70 g | For larger hands; the Amazon listing found for it is a third-party seller, so it is not linked |
| DE86 Black and DE87 Imitation Ivory | Polycarbonate with chrome accents | 93 mm / 83 mm / 68 g | Same closed comb head, per Edwin Jagger |
Handle material differs by finish, per Edwin Jagger’s own product pages: the standard Chrome and the Long Lined are solid brass, while the Lined and Knurled are polycarbonate with chrome plating. The Amazon DE89BL listing shows 75 g where Edwin Jagger gives 68 g for the same razor, so treat Edwin Jagger’s figure as the model’s weight.
Pick it if, skip it if, by variant
| Variant | Pick it if | Skip it if | Where the call comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE89 Chrome (DE89BL) | You want the base model with Edwin Jagger’s Feather blade from its own store | You have large hands: an Amazon reviewer found the 83 mm handle too short, with the ring finger and pinky off the handle | Edwin Jagger DE89 page, Amazon reviewer on the DE89BL listing |
| DE89 Lined and Knurled | You want more texture than smooth chrome on the same 93 mm / 83 mm / 68 g body | You want a longer handle; the dimensions do not change | Edwin Jagger Lined and Knurled pages |
| DE89 Long Lined | Your hands are large and you want the 93 mm handle | You want the lightest option; it is 70 g against 68 g | Edwin Jagger Long Lined page |
| DE86 and DE87 | You want a polycarbonate handle on the same closed comb head | You want a solid brass handle, which only the standard Chrome and the Long Lined have | Edwin Jagger DE86 and DE87 pages |
If your hands are large, the long lined version is the one to find. If the standard handle feels slick when it is wet, pick the lined or knurled finish over the smooth chrome.
Edwin Jagger DE89 problems: who it disappoints
The mild head is slow on long growth. In a November 2021 Badger & Blade thread, thp001 wrote that the DE89 works perfectly if you shave every day, but is less effective once growth reaches a few days. AZBronco wrote that it took a long time to get good shaves compared with his cartridge razors.
Head corrosion is a reported failure. In the same thread AZBronco said the head is Zamak and the threads corroded about two years in. Edwin Jagger asked for a photo and sent a replacement head overnight from England, he wrote.
Atlantic59 added that the company later switched the threaded post to brass, and karm noted a rough, slightly loose screw thread after roughly 1,000 shaves. Edwin Jagger’s page does not mention the head alloy, so these are forum anecdotes, not maker statements.
The handle can be too short. An Amazon reviewer on the DE89BL listing wrote that the handle was too short for his ring finger and pinky, which fits the 83 mm figure Edwin Jagger publishes.
What to check on the listing before you buy
- Read the Sold by line. Both the DE89BL and the DE89Lbl Amazon listings showed offers from Edwin Jagger and from PF Global Shop at the last check.
- Check whether a blade is included. The DE89BL listing says not included, Edwin Jagger’s store packs one Feather, and one Amazon reviewer wrote that the included blades worked fine.
- Match the code to the handle: DE89BL is smooth chrome in solid brass, and DE89Lbl is the lined detail version, which Edwin Jagger’s page describes as polycarbonate.
- Check handle length against your hand: 83 mm standard, 93 mm on the Long Lined.
- Inspect the head threads and plating on arrival, and ask the seller about replacement parts before the return window closes.
DE86 vs DE87 vs DE89: What Actually Changes?
The handle is what changes. Edwin Jagger lists the DE86 (black) and DE87 (imitation ivory) with polycarbonate handles and chrome accents, and the standard DE89 with a solid brass chrome handle.
All three use the same two-piece die-cast closed comb head on Edwin Jagger’s pages, and the site lists the same 83 mm handle and 68 g for each. Pick on grip and looks, since Edwin Jagger describes the same head for all three.
If you are comparing the DE89 with the Muhle R89, our R89 vs DE89 comparison covers that match-up so this page does not repeat it.
Best Blades for the Edwin Jagger DE89
Any standard double edge blade fits, but blade choice matters more on a mild head. Edwin Jagger recommends Feather blades and ships one in its own box.
| Blade | Why it suits the DE89 | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Feather Hi-Stainless, 50 count | Edwin Jagger’s own recommended pairing; the sharpness offsets a mild head | The sharpest blade in this table; our Feather review covers who it irritates |
| Astra Platinum, 100 blades | Mid-scale sharpness and forgiving, per our Astra review | A 100 count pack; less bite than a Feather on dense stubble |
On Badger & Blade in November 2021, Atlantic59 wrote that blades on the sharper end make a big improvement on the DE89, and karm reported good results from Derby to Feather. Both are forum posts, not tests, and Edwin Jagger’s own recommendation is Feather.
If your skin reacts to sharp blades, the Personna Lab Blue review covers a smoother option. If you do not know your match yet, a blade sampler pack costs less than guessing wrong with a 100 count box.
Who should buy it
Buy the DE89 if you are new, have sensitive skin, or want a low-risk razor you will not regret. Skip it if you have a dense beard and already know you prefer an efficient, aggressive shave.
Edwin Jagger DE89 FAQ
Is the Edwin Jagger DE89 good for beginners?
Yes. It is a closed comb razor with a mild head, which Edwin Jagger says limits blade exposure for a gentler shave. It is a safe first razor, though dense beards may find it slow.
What is the difference between the DE86, DE87 and DE89?
The handle is the main difference. The DE86 and DE87 have polycarbonate handles in black and imitation ivory, and the standard DE89 has a chrome-plated solid brass handle. Edwin Jagger lists the same head and the same 68 g for all three.
Is the DE89 the same as the Muhle R89?
They are close in design: both are mild, closed comb, three-piece razors. Edwin Jagger does not say its head is cast by or shared with Muhle, so treat the same casting claim as unconfirmed. Handle design and branding differ, and our R89 vs DE89 comparison has the detail.
Who should not buy the Edwin Jagger DE89?
Skip it if you have large hands or heavy, multi-day growth. An Amazon reviewer found the 83 mm handle too short, and a Badger & Blade poster in 2021 said the mild head is less effective once growth reaches a few days.
What does DE89Lbl mean?
The Amazon title reads DE89Lbl Lined Detail, which points to the DE89 with the fine engraved lined handle. The head is the same as the standard DE89.
What blades are best for the Edwin Jagger DE89?
Edwin Jagger recommends Feather Hi-Stainless blades, and any standard double edge blade fits. Pick a smoother blade such as an Astra if Feather feels too sharp on your skin.
