Review on Merkur Progress Adjustable Safety Razor with Extended Handle by Trevor Palmer

I was very disappointed when I received this razor. There was some blistering on the chrome handle and the plastic handle (sorry but utterly absurd) had a thin crack as if overtightened during assembly. The handle is very light, with no knurling, and the head is relatively bulky and heavy. At first it seemed poorly made, poorly designed and unbalanced. I bought another one that was better. Despite the handle's sleek look, the ribs running the length of it help keep it secure (along with the end resting on my pinky). My first few shaves weren't very good. But once I got used to it, the results were really good and I started to feel some affection for it. If you can find a Parker option I would go with that instead. It's the same straight razor with a knurled and stronger handle and a metal handle (instead of plastic) for less money. But for obvious reasons, they sell out fast and are hard to find. If you get Progress, get the long-handled version. He's already quite unbalanced with a delicate grip and a heavy head. I can't imagine Progress with a short handle. If you like compact heads and big heads are harder to shave under the nose, don't get these either. Not as bad as the Merkur Futur (or its clones), but there are far better models out there for those tough challenges. Also remember that you need good eyesight (or glasses) to properly close a razor or read a scale. If your eyesight isn't perfect and you don't want to wear glasses to prepare for a shave, you might want to look elsewhere.