Merkur Razors Compared: 34C, 23C, 37C, and the Futur
Buy the 34C if you want one Merkur that handles everything, the 23C if you have large hands, the 37C if coarse stubble beats your current razor, and the Futur if you would rather change a setting than change razors.
All four come from the same German brand, and three of them share more DNA than the model numbers suggest.
Merkur 34C vs 23C vs 37C vs Futur: specs side by side
Merkur publishes length, weight and head type on each product page, but it does not rate aggressiveness. The last column is our read of the community scale, so treat it as a guide and not a Merkur claim.
| Razor | Head type | Length | Razor weight | Handle and build | Aggressiveness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merkur 34C | Closed comb, straight cut | 81 mm | 78 g | Two piece, short brass handle, zinc head | Mild to medium |
| Merkur 23C | Closed comb, straight cut | 104 mm | 61 g | Three piece, long brass handle, zinc head | Mild to medium |
| Merkur 37C | Slant bar | 81 mm | 78 g | Two piece, short brass handle with diamond ribbing, zinc head | Aggressive |
| Merkur Futur 700 | Closed comb, adjustable gap | 108 mm | 129 g | Duo Clip, long zinc handle, matt chrome | Adjustable, mild to aggressive |
Lengths and weights come from the product pages on Merkur’s own site. Laid out like this, the pattern is clear: the 34C and 37C are the same size, the 23C is longer and lighter, and the Futur is the heavyweight by a wide margin.
The 34C and 23C share a shave, not a grip
Both use Merkur’s classic closed comb head, so the cutting geometry feels close to identical. What changes is the handle.
The 34C is short, thick and heavily knurled. The 23C is a noticeably longer, lighter three piece handle that suits bigger hands and anyone who grips low on the shaft.
The 34C also comes apart in two pieces instead of three, which is one fewer part to fumble over a wet sink. For the full breakdown of that razor on its own, the Merkur 34C review covers it.
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If the short 34C handle does not suit your hand, the 23C is the longer alternative.
Merkur 34C vs 23C: which one should you buy?
| Razor | Head | Length | Weight | Pieces | Pick it if |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merkur 34C | Closed comb | 81 mm | 78 g | Two piece | You want a first razor that carries its own weight |
| Merkur 23C | Closed comb | 104 mm | 61 g | Three piece | You have large hands or need reach |
Lengths and weights from Merkur’s product pages.
Buy the 34C for most hands and as a first razor, and the 23C if you have large hands or need reach. Merkur lists the 23C at 104 mm and 61 g against 81 mm and 78 g for the 34C. The 23C reaches further and weighs less, while the 34C packs more mass into a shorter grip.
A heavier razor does more of the work, so you press less. A lighter one asks you to hold back pressure yourself, which is a habit worth building but a harder one to learn on day one.
Pick the 23C if your hand overhangs a short handle or you shave legs and larger areas, where reach matters. Pick the 34C if you want the razor to carry itself.
Both take any standard double edge blade, and both shave the same because the head is the same closed comb design.
Merkur 34C HD: what the name means
Merkur’s own product page says fans call the 34C the HD, short for Heavy Duty, a nickname it earned in the 1980s from its weight. The razor is sold as the 34C, and the HD tag is community shorthand.
So a listing for the 34C HD and one for the 34C are the same razor. If an HD version looks different, check that the model number reads 34001 on Merkur’s site or 34C on the listing before you buy.
For finish wear, handle feel and blade pairings on this razor, read the full Merkur 34C review. If you want the argument for why it is the default pick, the piece on the Merkur 34C as the default recommendation makes it.
The 37C slant does one job well
The 37C twists the blade inside the head so it slices at an angle instead of scraping straight across. On coarse or wiry growth, that cuts the effort of a pass.
It is not a first razor. The angled head punishes pressure and feels sharper than its mild reputation, which is a useful reminder that mild vs aggressive razors comes down to head geometry rather than branding.
Skip it if your growth is fine or your neck flares easily.
Merkur 37C vs 34C
The two razors are built the same way. Merkur lists both at 81 mm and 78 g, both are two piece, and both pair a brass handle with a chrome plated zinc head.
The difference sits entirely in the head. The 34C has a straight cut closed comb. The 37C twists the blade into a slant bar, and Merkur says fans call it the sledgehammer for wiry, dense beards.
If your first razor is a 34C and three light passes leave coarse stubble behind, the 37C is the logical next purchase. If you have not yet shaved without nicks on the 34C, wait.
The Futur is the odd one out
The Futur is adjustable, heavy, and far larger in the hand than anything else here. Manufacturer figures put it well above the 34C in weight, and you feel every gram of it.
Turn the dial and blade exposure moves from mild to genuinely toothy, so one razor covers a three day beard and a daily touch up. The clip on cap loads faster than a three piece, though smooth chrome gets slippery once lather reaches your fingers.
If that flexibility is what you are after, compare it against the wider field in our picks for the best adjustable safety razor.
Merkur Futur review: what Merkur says it does
Merkur has made the Futur since 1986. You clip the blade in with its Duo Clip, then rotate the handle to change the blade gap. Merkur suggests a large gap for long hair and a gentle setting for the daily face shave.
The cost of that flexibility is mass. At 129 g and 108 mm, the Futur weighs about 50 g more than the 34C and runs 27 mm longer, and the matt chrome finish sits on a zinc body with no brass in it.
Buy it if you already know you want one razor to cover both a quick weekday shave and a heavy weekend one. Skip it as a first razor, because you will spend the first month learning both the angle and the dial at once.
Which Merkur to buy first
Start with the 34C: its mass does the pressing and two piece loading means one less part on a wet sink. The 37C and Futur punish angle errors faster, and only the Futur raises a budget question. Otherwise, take the first row that fits you.
| Your situation | Buy this | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|
| First safety razor, average hands, normal beard | Merkur 34C | Short handle feels cramped for large hands |
| Large hands, or you shave legs and need reach | Merkur 23C | Lighter at 61 g, so you must control pressure yourself |
| Coarse, wiry stubble and a few months of technique | Merkur 37C | Slant bar punishes pressure and a loose angle |
| You want to change aggressiveness without changing razors | Merkur Futur | Heaviest of the four, and the highest price of the four in Merkur’s shop |
When to move from one Merkur to the next
Stay on the 34C until you can finish a shave without a nick for several weeks running. Stubble it will not clear points to the 37C, and wanting a mild pass on tired skin plus a heavier one on weekends points to the Futur.
Otherwise, spend on blades. The guide to finding the right safety razor blade is the next read.
For how head geometry decides aggressiveness across brands, see open comb vs closed comb razors and blade gap explained.
Merkur razor questions
Is the Merkur 34C or 23C better for a beginner?
Either shaves the same because they use the same closed comb head. Pick the 34C for a short, grippy handle and two piece loading, and the 23C if you have large hands or prefer a longer handle.
What is the difference between the Merkur 34C and 23C?
They differ in handle and weight. Merkur lists the 34C at 81 mm and 78 g, two piece, and the 23C at 104 mm and 61 g, three piece. The head is the same closed comb design.
What does HD mean on the Merkur 34C?
HD stands for Heavy Duty. Merkur says fans gave the 34C that nickname because of its weight. It is the same razor sold as the 34C, model number 34001.
Is the Merkur 37C slant too aggressive for daily shaving?
It is fine daily on coarse growth once your technique is settled, but the angled blade is unforgiving of pressure. If you still press down or your neck reacts easily, stay with the 34C.
Does the Merkur Futur replace owning several razors?
It can, but not as a first razor. The dial runs from mild to aggressive, so one razor covers heavy growth and light touch ups once you know your preferred exposure. The trade off is size and weight.
