Review on 🪒 Adjustable Safety Razor, Merkur Progress MK-500001 by Brooke Abrahams

I started shaving DE with a Merkur 34C in college in the 70's; I still own it and it still shaves and looks like new. I can't count the number of blades that have gone through this razor! I also have Futur, 23C and 34G. I've always wondered about this weird razor with a plastic handle on the bottom, ended up breaking it and ordered it. I almost always use King of Shaves to shave and have been for 20 years. At its lowest setting, this razor cut through my beard like a future. I don't have a stiff beard and my skin has been a bit saggy lately so I found 2.5 to 3.0 was best with the Astra blade. Two things I really dislike about it and why it will never become a regular one. Razor: 1) Deft as a whistle. I didn't really bother with the sleek chrome finish until I used it for the first time. Any soap or lube is generally on hand and this will be a handful. I've found it's sturdiest for me when my pinky is down under the plastic dial. I don't like the thought of dropping a razor-sharp device on me. 2) very cumbersome to change blades. You have to turn this plastic button a few turns before the change in feel indicates that it has loosened the crown for good. I've seen others state that 13 turns is required, but I think that's more. And of course, after inserting a new blade, it takes the same number of turns to put it back again. It is intended to be fully tightened, which corresponds to Setting 1, and then loosened to the desired head setting. 3) For some strange reason the head only fits on the razor in one direction for the head adjustment to work properly. There is a triangle on one end of the razor and there is a notch on the detachable head. When changing the blade, both must be on the same side, otherwise the adjustment system will not fit. I do not regret the purchase, but it will not change every day. Razors, especially DE and straight razors, are such a subjective purchase. Although I could use it every day, there are better razors out there, including Mercury.