I moved up to the slant after Shaving with the Merkur 180 long handle for 3 years.  Most say that this is not a beginners razor.. And I agree with them. That being said, it is an excellent razor.  I tried the short handle 37c but I prefer the longer handle.. I Like to get a grip with 3 fingers. The only other real slant out there is the ikon and that is like $175 .. All the reviews I've read say that it is comparable to the Merkur (37/39c) but three times the price. Now my best "desert island" shave is 39c, Treet blade, Arko soap.