What's the consensus on the 23c? I actually find the handle on the 38c a little short. I understand the 23c is lighter but that doesn't seem like a big issue to me?
From the side it looks like there's a gap between the blade and the bottom plate? Again, my best guess is worn threading. That could affect the angle of the blade and make it feel dull/useless. Try using a shimmy?
Pot metal razors aren't built to last. Buy another razor, maybe consider something made of better metals if you want it to last more than five to ten years. I have a 23c and it's a decent razor, but if you're in the market for something inexpensive, Michael Freedberg from YouTube recommends Razorock razors over the 23c. For a brass-made razor, there's the inexpensive Fatip razor which some might refer to as "aggressive", others call it a smooth shaver. Just be prepared for the possibility of imperfections in plating, and sometimes the blade has a tendency to misalign if your razor isn't perfect. iKon has some razors with aluminum heads if you're willing to spend a little more ($70-80), these are more durable than pot metal razors but you have to make sure you don't over-tighten them as you can strip the threading. You can always go the vintage route and get a Gillette if you don't mind hunting one down and using an old, previously used razor. Most of the Gillettes have brass-made razor heads. I never use my 23c anymore because I have a perfect Fatip Grande in gunmetal and a 24k gold plated Joris.
If you want to stick with a merkur. Here is a inexpensive option. I have this razor and it shaves well. It's on sale right now at Amazon
This is the one I bought - although I live in Australia so amazon is a no-go for me (shipping is often double the price of the item). EBay had them locally for double that price, which I unfortunately had to pay in order to get the razor sooner rather than later!
If you can get a vintage Gillette , I just recommended to another member this razor. It's a Gillette Tech. And it shaves better than the merkur. It's lighter and gives a smooth shave
I'm not seeing anything that looks odd compared to my 34C.Considering that you've been using it for 5 years with no problem I would doubt that the issue is technique related. All Merkur safety bar heads(except slants of course) are the same, so when comparing different models your basically looking for one with a handle that you like. Is there any wiggle in the top cap when you have it tightened down? as someone else suggested you could try shimming it to see if that makes a difference.
IIRC, the "long handled" Merkur razor is the 23c. The 34c, as I understand it, has a shorter handle. The heads might be the same, but don't quote me on that. You might find this video interesting, comparing the Razorock Mission to the 23c/180.
