Otter Messer Knife

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colekmiller11

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Nov 26, 2012
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So I think I've fallen for the Otter Messer "Anchor" knife, and really want to order one.I mean, high carbon steel, wharncliffe blade, nice looking scales, what's not to like? So, before I do, does anyone have this knife? Ever EDC it? How does it patina? How is it as far as QC goes? I'm just making sure my money is well spent.
 
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Have you tried doing a search on the Ankermesser?
 
colekmiller11 said:
Yes. I found one post here, but am looking for more peoples opinions. On videos, it's mostly guys speaking in German. I'm looking to find input on this knife as an EDC, not just general info.
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Have you seen this thread - http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ttern-(pic-heavy)?highlight=otter+ankermesser - Humppa is a regular poster here, and I'm sure will be glad to answer any questions that haven't been answered already.

I have an Otter Webermesser, and have been very pleased with it. Great steel, good fit & finish, half-stop, a very nice working knife. I also like the look of the Ankermesser.
 
I keep a used one in my desk drawer. It was used when I got it, so hard to say exactly how old, but there's not much of a patina. Quality is excellent - very sturdy build, stiff springs, no wobble or gaps or other obvious flaws. Steel seems fine, on par with original Old Timer carbon steel blades.

My main gripe, I find the sheepfoot/wharncliffe blade useless most of the time - no belly and no tip.
 
As Jack already mentioned - I´m a big fan of the Ankermesser (Anchor Knife). I´ve used it for some time as an EDC.

I´ve had several during the years. Some with carbon steel blades some with stainless steel blades.

If you´re interessted in the carbon version, I can tell you this. The used carbon steel is C75. It holds the edge pretty nice and sharpens very very easily. THe patina it gets is fine and comes up pretty fast. But you need to very careful. Somehow the steel tends for rust pitting if not wiped dry after use! But if you use it as you should, it will be a compagion for a long time.

About QC: The stainless versions seem always to be a littler better finished than their carbon steel brothers. But they are still great knives, imo. The finishing is not as fine as on Case or even GEC, sometimes a little rough. And a non-centered blade is not unusual on them.

But when you look at the steel liners, and the steel bolsters, there´s no doubt about a real working horse in every way.

Otter do a great job on their knives, if you ask me. For sure, there are others which are finishing finer. But for the price (in Germany) you can hardly get a better Solingen made knife!

EDIT: For their stainless versions they use 4034 steel. Which also takes a great edge and keeps it pretty long. So I think their HT is quiet good!

Just my 2 Cent.
 
I've got an Ankermesser that I carry and use quite a bit (everyone's probably sick of seeing mine by now). It's a great knife. Well built, good steel, and just kinda neat to look at & hold. Can't recommend it enough, especially for the price.
I only wish there was a larger version available.
 

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Alex, there are three different sizes available... here in Germany at least...
 
Really? Interesting.... I've never seen the other sizes of Ankermesser. Good to know! Thanks. ;)
 
They are available in 85mm blade length, 75mm blade length just right now on their german cutlery-HP. I´ve already seen even a bigger one (as far as I can remember).
Maybe one of the two versions are not sold in the US. I don´t know.
 
This looks like a really old discussion on this knife, but I just purchased one and I'm excited to get it in the mail. I love the old-timer look to it. My one question (if anyone is still watching this thread) is has anyone tried forcing a mustard patina on it?
 
I have two of them, different sizes... I have never tried to force a patina on a knife for appearances, so I can't speak to that. I just commented to let you know that both of mine were the sharpest from the factory knives I've ever bought. Open with caution.

I just wish they were lambfoot instead of sheep/ram foot. Mine are very nicely made, with a fairly heavy spring, making the opening probably about a 7 or so.
 
hornetguy said:
I have two of them, different sizes... I have never tried to force a patina on a knife for appearances, so I can't speak to that. I just commented to let you know that both of mine were the sharpest from the factory knives I've ever bought. Open with caution.

I just wish they were lambfoot instead of sheep/ram foot. Mine are very nicely made, with a fairly heavy spring, making the opening probably about a 7 or so.
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Thanks! That's good to know. I'll be super careful when I open the new blade up and test it out. I'm slowly making my way through all the brands that make traditional style knives. I like seeing how they differ and what their strengths and weaknesses are.
 
Otter Messer also now makes the Mercator lockback, formerly made by Kauffman and sometimes known then as the Black Cat or K55K. It is now also available in brass, copper and some other metal finishes. It was often carried by Wehrmacht soldiers, so quite a few fell into GI hands in due course, and were brought home by them.
If you are doing a survey of traditional knives, you will want one.
 
Henry Beige said:
Otter Messer also now makes the Mercator lockback, formerly made by Kauffman and sometimes known then as the Black Cat or K55K. It is now also available in brass, copper and some other metal finishes. It was often carried by Wehrmacht soldiers, so quite a few fell into GI hands in due course, and were brought home by them.
If you are doing a survey of traditional knives, you will want one.
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Don't forget the smalls which are slipjoints.
 
Henry Beige said:
Otter Messer also now makes the Mercator lockback, formerly made by Kauffman and sometimes known then as the Black Cat or K55K. It is now also available in brass, copper and some other metal finishes. It was often carried by Wehrmacht soldiers, so quite a few fell into GI hands in due course, and were brought home by them.
If you are doing a survey of traditional knives, you will want one.
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Thanks! I've been eyeing the Mercator knives available in brass and copper on BladeHQ. I think look pretty classy. It's nice that Otter Messer still makes these knives with the cat illustration on them. They have an interesting history and would be a nice addition to the collection. Maybe I'll even get a antique one some day. That would be pretty cool. I haven't yet delved into buying antique knives. It seems like a deep dark money pit one can fall down. LOL
 
I let the patina form naturally, which didn't take very long.

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They also make a Hippekniep, which would be Sodbuster to us Yankees

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RJA-Design said:
Thanks! I've been eyeing the Mercator knives available in brass and copper on BladeHQ. I think look pretty classy. It's nice that Otter Messer still makes these knives with the cat illustration on them. They have an interesting history and would be a nice addition to the collection. Maybe I'll even get a antique one some day. That would be pretty cool. I haven't yet delved into buying antique knives. It seems like a deep dark money pit one can fall down. LOL
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Not a cat any more. It’s an otter. At least on my brass one.
 
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