K55 Mercator knives

[Captain O]

I have seen these advertised in magazines since I was a boy. I have heard a lot of positive things about these slim carbon-steel knives. (They've been around since 1867). I have been looking at these and have considered owning one for the sheer utility of the implement. Slim, light and the steel takes (and holds) a wicked edge.

Discussion?

[PCwizard]

I have seen these advertised in magazines since I was a boy. I have heard a lot of positive things about these slim carbon-steel knives.(They've been around since 1867). I have been looking at these and have considered owning one for the sheer utility of the implement. Slim, light and the steel takes (and holds) a wicked edge.

Discussion?

The Black Cat K55K is a great knife, I have about 10 of them right now. You can find them with all kinds of advertising on them and in many different colors. A few years back I contacted Otter-Messer the new owners of the Mercator Brand about how to date the old knives. Here what they told me.

Otter-Messer bought Mercator from Kauffmann in 1995, Kauffmann owned the Mercator brand from 1856 to 1995. Kauffmann is now a division of Otter-Messer. From 1891 to 1952 the edge and tang of the Mercator Knife was marked Mercator D.R.G.M. "D.R.G.M.", which means Deutsches Reichs Gebrauchs Muster. In English, this means "Protected Patent under the Reich Government". The D.R.G.M. markings on the handle side used from 1891 until 1952. In 1952, the patent stamping was changed to Mercator-Germany on the side of the handle.

WW2 era Mercator's are always marked "D.R.G.M" on the side of the handle. Post-War 1953 and newer knives always have "Mercator-Germany" on the side. The knives that were made pre-1952 were also about a inch larger than the Mercator's made Post 1953. Also from 1953 to 1995 the spacer inserted at the rear of the knife was red on most of the knives, after 1995 it was change to black, this was done right after Otter-Messer bought the rights from Kauffmann.

I see sellers on eBay say there knife is from WWII all the time and only once have I seen a real D.R.G.M Mercator.

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[Captain O]

They don't really make them like the old ones. I appreciate the carbon steel blades that take a wicked edge. The fact that the newer knived can be had for less than $30.00 is encouraging. Are the new Mercators functional, working knives? I am hoping that this is the case. It they are, they seem well worth the purchase price.

[PCwizard]

They don't really make them like the old ones. I appreciate the carbon steel blades that take a wicked edge. The fact that the newer knived can be had for less than $30.00 is encouraging. Are the new Mercators functional, working knives? I am hoping that this is the case. It they are, they seem well worth the purchase price.

Yes there very good to use, they still make a carbon model and a stainless model. I carry one a few times a month. I love them. there so thin and just disappear in your pocket. They can take a beating.

[Captain O]

Excellent! Perhaps I can afford one in March. I just dropped $74.95 on a Queen Barlow Red Stag (pattern 69 1/2). It will be here soon. It took every cent of disposable income I had.

So many knives... so little money.

[PCwizard]

Excellent! Perhaps I can afford one in March. I just dropped $74.95 on a Queen Barlow Red Stag (pattern 69 1/2). It will be here soon. It took every cent of disposable income I had.

So many knives... so little money.

Captain, PM me your address. I have a Mercator with your name on it.

[tjmurphy]

I have a Mercator with carbon stell blade that my son bought me for my birthday a couple of years ago and like it pretty well. It locks up as tight as any knife I own.

[knife7knut]

Here is a mini version made by Richartz.

[PCwizard]

A year or two ago they released a full and mini size with copper and brass handles. I think they only come in stainless. There really nice I picked them up about 6 months ago. The full size has a lock the mini is a slip joint. They have the Otter Messer logo not the K55K Cat logo.

The photos below are stock, I haven't taken photos of mine yet.

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[vikingdog]

The brass and copper make for a really nice looking knife. I wish they weren't quite so expensive. My friends and I all had "cat knives" back in the 60s. They sold them at the Army & Navy store and they were only a few bucks. I think we altered them into a gravity knife somehow.

[deltaboy]

Another one to buy.

[TonySal]

Like mine alot. Just a bit tough to explain to NYPD if observed....

[Rannard]

AN EARLY MERCATOR LOCK KNIFE


The tang of this knife is marked Solingen Germany on one side and Mercator on the other. Its back is marked Mercator. There are no other marks on it. It is of the usual Mercator design with a bale fitted. The blade and body have many transverse scratches. I imagine the knife is of WWII vintage or earlier, the Germany mark rather than Deutschland suggests it was made for export.

Any information on the manufacturer and date of manufacture would be very welcome.





17 February 2022

[Rannard]

MORE ON MY MERCATOR

Thank you to all for your information on Mercator knives. Mine just has Mercator on the back, no Germany, and has a red plastic spacer so it seems is most likely is 1953 or later. Its length open, not including the bale is 8.9inches (22.6cm). Its length closed again not including the bale is 4.35inches (11.05cm).

This mixture of features makes me wonder if it was transitional production 1952/53.

Most likely this knife was brought back to the UK by a National Serviceman serving in Germany in the early 1950s, when German industry was getting back on its feet after the war.

It is a utility knife, not a fighting knife, only having one edge sharpened.

[Jedwin]

Reviving an old post. I have a few of these knives and really enjoy the history. Here are a couple. One is WW2 or older the other is a post 1952 version.

[Alien883]

They don't really make them like the old ones. I appreciate the carbon steel blades that take a wicked edge. The fact that the newer knived can be had for less than $30.00 is encouraging. Are the new Mercators functional, working knives? I am hoping that this is the case. It they are, they seem well worth the purchase price.

I own few new ones and all of them are very capable knives! Still solid and stout as it can be...I think the new ones come now in SS or 1095. Great history and great story about the original maker...anybody knows where this K55K comes from???! Lol

[Dullest_knife]

I've got a couple I'll have to dig up, an older black one with red spacer with I believe has a cat on it , and a stainless one with an otter.

[TonyS]

K55K comes from the company name and address...

[TonyS]

...and i believe the Germans weren't issued them! Guys brought them home a day carried them in the 1950s tough guy era....

[TonyS]

...and i believe the Germans weren't issued them! Guys brought them home and carried them in the 1950s tough guy era....