Merkur 38C HD Barber Pole or Edwin Jagger De89lbl

I've only been using a DE for about a month now and started out with the Lord L6. It shaves okay but I want something a little better built. The handle is a little too thin and light as well.

After reading as many reviews on Amazon as I could as well as here, I'm thinking of getting either the Merkur 38C long handle barber pole or the Edwin Jagger DE89lbl. Is there any reason to choose one over the other?

Some of my concerns on each.

In some of the reviews of the Merkur there were reports of the threaded stud breaking if the razor gets dropped.
Actually finding a EJ DE89lbl in stock somewhere. I've read the other EJ's use the same head but have a different handle. Does the different handle material (ivory, ebony, octagon etc) affect the weight much?
Handle thickness compared to each other and the Lord L6

Also any recomended stores that carry both. I don't want to wait 3-5 weeks (in the case of the EJ) to order from Amazon.

Edit to add:
Is there anywhere that sells just the handles if I wanted to change it or maybe get another one for the L6?

 

Get the EJ, way better build quality and the way the head is designed and polished it gives a very smooth shave. It also seems to work well with quite a few different makes of blades for me.

 

Another vote for the EJ here.

As for handles... I don't know for sure so I will check when I get home, but there is a chance a Gillette handle might fit.

Also, you could check with cooncatbob, he does handles.

Another option that I would look at if I were just wanting more heft is a shade tree fix... go to the hardware store and find a short length of brass gasline fitting and use it as a sleeve over the stock handle, fixing it in place with marine epoxy. It won't be pretty but it will be cheap.

 

I've been leaning toward the EJ. I do like the look of the texture on the barber pole though. Any good online stores that carry the EJ? I've found a few but know nothing about them. It would be good to hear of reputable places that people have dealt with.

 

I would go with the 38C because it has great balance and the Barber Pole handle looks and feels awesome in my hand. The EJ's plating is better and the shave will be slightly smoother. If you have average or big hands then I recommend the 38C. Both are great razors, you can't go wrong with either one. I believe westcoastshaving sells both.

 

You can get them from West Coast, Bullgoose, Lee's, Em's, Classic Shaving, QED, most any of the wet shaving vendors have them.

 

I have both except my HD isn't the barber pole. I'd go with the 89 if someone put a gun to my head and said, "choose."

Along with those vendors, amazon.com had them for sale at $26 shipped with a free pack of blades. As much as I love our vendors.....it IS the same razor no matter where you get it.

The HD is a fine razor too but I think the 89 wins in my book. YMMV and I don't think you'll go wrong in either choice.

 

If you have to have the barberpole style handle buy the Merkur, otherwise buy the EJ, the level of quality is so much higher.

I wish EJ had a Slant

 

EJ because of the excellent quality!

 

Barber pole. Because it's bigger. And big things are cool.

 

no joke needed

I would say the Edwin Jagger... just because I dislike the merkurs.... can't get a nice shave

 

Thanks for the opinions everyone. I'll probably order the EJ this weekend. I checked out the handles offered by cooncatbob. They're very nice. If the stock EJ handle is too slick for me I'll just get one of his.

 

Not a terrible idea but I haven't had any grip issues. CCB makes some really good looking and high quality stuff so don't let grip be an excuse, just plan on it sometime if that is your want

 

Yessir. I didn't know he makes EJ threads? I don't know the size of them but i know the Gillette heads have different size threading than a merkur . I have an extra merkur laying around on a handle that is no use to me . But sure does look PURTY.

 

Ordered an EJ DE89BA11 from Razor Blades & More this morning. It's got the barley texture on the handle. Comes with 10 free personna blades to try out. Hope it gets here soon.

 

That's a razor I'd like to pick up myself, congrats.

 

I've got both. Most people lean tword the EJ. I prefer the Merkur by a hair. I like the weight and it just feels better in my big hands. It's a case of "which one do you want to use today?" There's no wrong choice.

 

I love my ej89l ( lined) but if they had it when I ordered I would have got the barley ej , my favorite blade paring with the ej89 is the voskhod YsMV

 

Can't wait for it to get here. I ordered it from west coast so there shouldn't be any shipping delays to where I'm at due to weather. I wouldn't even dream of ordering/tracking a package from NY for at least a few weeks.