Otter-messer Brass Mercator

A.L.

A.L.

Joined
Jun 27, 2007
Messages
8,033
Wikipedia said:
The Mercator K55K is a type of pocketknife produced in Germany since around 1867. Mercator knives were primarily produced by Hy. Kauffmann, which was operational from 1856 to 1995.[1] The Mercator K55K knife is still produced in Germany by Mercator, now a division of Otter-Messer.
Click to expand...

I have no idea if the brass version has been done before, but since I saw one available about year or so ago I knew I had to get one. And since I haven't seen anyone posting one here before, I thought I'd write few words about it. :)

First of all, I have to say that when you get this knife it is all shiny and clean looking. With these pictures you are looking at one that has seen pocket sweat, fruit- and steak cutting. The knife's handle comes with some sort of lacquer that prevents the patination (is that the word, hah). Now, if you are clean city boy that lacquer might hold, but if you are like me who gets a little uncomfortable at summer, the thing wont hold forever. So, since I am bit of patina kind of guy, I took some gentle brushing and took the coating off. Now the brass is taking nice color that changes constantly as you carry and use it.

f020Tzs.jpg

(lanyard not supplied with knife)

F4uY3uk.jpg


o7uF6SH.jpg


uPVvX03.jpg

Opposed to the classic Mercator that has "K55K" and leaping Black Cat, brass edition has the Otter-Messer company logo, Otter catching a fish.

V7yzgLf.jpg

Knife comes with small bail that can be used for lanyards or chain attachment.

ULBTXhK.jpg

Mercator is a long and lean knife. I personally love thin and narrow knives, but the length of the handle makes it a bit tricky knife to carry. I have tried carrying it in short chain lanyard hanging free in pocket, or in leather pouch, but I have ended carrying it just simply in my jeans' coin pocket. It peaks out a bit but I haven't seen it problematic.. and it is thin knife anyways.

83LQX8P.jpg

For those concerned about the lockback, knife can be used with very hard hammer grip without compromising the lock in any way. With reverse grip (not the stab grip) you have to be bit more aware.

TaFPfnB.jpg

Size comparison pic with common household item, SAK.

All in all, I really love the brass merc. I don't know if it's psychological effect of the nicer look, or if I just got really nice one, but it feels bit smoother than my ordinary K55K.
I don't know what more to say, it is just a wonderful well built knife! It is very old school, quickly made in factory knife, so don't expect to get anything "high end"... for me personally, that is part of the appeal.
I think that the brass version is maybe three to four times more pricy than the ordinary K55K, but with the price you definitely get something more that justifies the price.

In the pictures I have rounded the tang just a little bit to remove the sharpness of it.
 
Thanks for the thoughtful review :thumbup: That's a great-looking version of a European classic :thumbup:
 
Never had much interest in getting a Mercator until you showed this version. Really like the looks of the brass version better than the standard.
 
When I was a kid, thise Mercator K55's were ll of .99 cents at the local surplus store. Of course this was the 1950's. Of course we had to have one to augment our 'official' scout knives that war carried. We threw them at trees, and otherwise badly abused them. Yet a bunch of rambunctious 12 year old scouts didn't break them.

Very good rugged knives those Merc's!:thumbup::thumb up:

Looking at one, I often get an urge to buy one just for the nostalgia, and the memories. Not to mention they take a wicked edge to rival an Opinel, and hold it for a decent amount of time. They lay flat in a pocket. What's not to like?
 
jackknife said:
When I was a kid, thise Mercator K55's were ll of .99 cents at the local surplus store. Of course this was the 1950's. Of course we had to have one to augment our 'official' scout knives that war carried. We threw them at trees, and otherwise badly abused them. Yet a bunch of rambunctious 12 year old scouts didn't break them.

Very good rugged knives those Merc's!:thumbup::thumb up:

Looking at one, I often get an urge to buy one just for the nostalgia, and the memories. Not to mention they take a wicked edge to rival an Opinel, and hold it for a decent amount of time. They lay flat in a pocket. What's not to like?
Click to expand...

I had one in the early 1960's. It did the job and kept a decent edge. I think I picked mine up at the local Army-Navy Store. That brass Mercator piques my interest in them.
 
Great review A.L.
Been looking at getting a standard Black Cat Mercator but now I think I may try to expand my search for this Brass Otter one ...
If they are even out there in the wild anymore. :eek:
 
Thanks for showing this. Didn't know about the brass handled Mercators but now I am on the lookout.
The K55 sure brings back memories, all the guys had one when I was a kid and yes I remember them for 99 cents at the corner store.
 
The brass knife is appealing. The version available in the U.S. does not have the Otter logo, however, and is only available from a vendor I would just as soon avoid. As cool as it is, I will stick with my Black Cat for now.
 
Thanks guys for the kind words!

Dantone05 said:
Great review A.L.
Been looking at getting a standard Black Cat Mercator but now I think I may try to expand my search for this Brass Otter one ...
If they are even out there in the wild anymore. :eek:
Click to expand...

It seems or I have heard of that they are bit scarce at the states. Otter has their own store but the shipping prices seem steep, obviously, for overseas.
 
There is a statement about contracts for sales in the US on Otters site. There seems to be one supplier which I cannot name because I'm not sure if they are a sponsor of this forums. Just visit their site to find out.
 
hey A.L. I have the k55k and I love it,crazy simple..... anyhow I use a suspension clip to carry mine and it works great....now I am in the process of looking for a brass one ,the latest one I have seen was 80.00 usd so its definitely a little spendy
 
That looks like a neat knife. The original design never jumped out at me, but the brass version really is something else. Looks like Otter makes a Damascus version if price is no object, but the regular carbon/brass version should do nicely.
 
The black version didn't really grab me either, but I bought it as part of a personal survey of ethnic blue-collar knives. Once I got my hands on it, I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. The brass one reminds me a little of the brass Higo No Kami, another knife that surprised me pleasantly when I got it in hand.

I wouldn't want one from the unmentionable US vendor, in part because they substitute their own logo for the Otter logo, but more because I don't like their style of business, and mostly because their price is almost 60% higher than the manufacturer. The manufacturer's site says they won't ship to the USA in 2015, which begs the question as to 2016 and beyond.
 
Hopefully this doesn't break any rules.
If you google "brass otter mercator carbon steel knife" you will find a link to a place in the US that has the ones marked like the review pics,


Edit: ^^^ Their website was incorrect, they did not have them in stock. The other company which marks them differently has a temporary exclusive in the US.:grumpy:
 
Last edited:
Nice knife,but price is too high for what it is nowadays,still its much better and more useful than most tactical knives.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top