Mercator K55K "Black Cat"

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ericnpeterson

Joined
Nov 18, 2013
Messages
209
I just bought this knife and it arrived today, looks pretty cool. Haven't really had the chance to use it yet, I'll carry it to work tomorrow. I like that it's similar to the Douk-Douk (which I love) and I like the lock-back and spear-point on the Mercator. Lock-up is real solid, clicks in with a strong snap, easy to deploy as well, real easy compared to the Douk-Douk. Lots of folks seem to not like the strong spring opening of the Douk-Douk, but I really like it, feels strong and secure. The Mercator wasn't sharp when it arrived, but I took my sharpening stones to it and now it's like a razor. Yeah, the Black Cat is a cool knife, I'm glad I got it.
 
I'd like to pick one up as well. I had a Douk-Douk and loved it, passed it on to a friend and am regretting it a bit. The K55K is definitely on my short list. Did you purchase the carbon or stainless version?
 
I have a carbon K55. The only thing I don't like, on an otherwise very nice knife, is the tip of the blade hits the back spacer.

Very thin and very sharp!
 
vba said:
I have a carbon K55. The only thing I don't like, on an otherwise very nice knife, is the tip of the blade hits the back spacer.

Very thin and very sharp!
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Just to let you guys know, the k55k blade tip is supposed to rest against that spacer. I believe the originals had a red painted/dyed wood spacer, and today they use a black polymer spacer, but serves same purpose. Not good to let blade snap closed, as that will chew up that spacer (wood or polymer). Call it a design flaw or whatever, but it's been that way since they were first being made like a century and a half ago, so just consider it part of their charm. Again... ease the blade down on these knives... which ain't a bad idea on any folding knife :)
 
Jimmy's right. I had a black cat way back in the 1960's, and the tip did rest on the wood end insert. Didn't really hurt anything, just part of the quirks of the knife. Like an Opinel swelling when wet. I do remember that the thin carbon blade was easy to get wicked sharp, and stayed that way for a decent amount of time. Very good knife!:thumb up:

Carl.
 
I know it is supposed to do that. It is one of my pet peeves in a knife. It is true of many, otherwise very good, knives. On an Opinel it isn't as much of an issue since there is no spring. Don't get me wrong, I really love Mercators. I have a couple 15-20 years old and I really like the carbon steel.

Here is one I "fixed". I put a pin in the handle which the base of the blade hits (see arrows). I sanded that notch to "adjust it in" and to make thicker steel hit. This is easy to not get just right. If you do it, make a paper template of the blade to figure where to put the pin.

 
I have three somewhat similar folded-steel handle knives: the Higonokami, the K55K, and the Douk-Douk. All are very cool and have interesting quirks. The thing that prevents me from using the Mercator more often is the lockbar positioning. It's hard to really bear down on it and trust that I won't disengage it, ironically leading me to prefer the Douk or Higo (at least over that particular lockback style.)
 
Love them Mercators. Got a few Douk Douks, two of which are the large and small L'ecureuil (squirrels). The Mercator is handier because I don't have to struggle opening it, especially in cold or wet weather.
 
So how do you like Mercators, Douk Douks vs Sodbusters? Or are they not close enough to compare?
 
I just remove the spacer, problem solved.. you lose the bail though..
Never liked bails anyway,

Kris.,
 
the black cat knives are excellent. here is mine with some other excellent knives
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cchu518 said:
So how do you like Mercators, Douk Douks vs Sodbusters? Or are they not close enough to compare?
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imho this is kind of a broad question that is difficult to answer. every company under the sun makes a version of the sodbuster with different blade steel, handle material and so on.
i will say this from personal experience; if you have to spend more than 20 minutes cutting any sort of fairly durable material like tree seedlings or vines then you want something with a more comfortable handle than a douk douk, higonokami or k55k. a sodbuster might fit but i would rather have an opinel.
on the other hand if you arent going to spend more than 20 minutes cutting unwanted seedling trees etc. then a k55k or douk douk might be the exact thing because they are really really slim and easy to forget you have them.
 
I got the carbon for sure. I was always into stainless, but then when I got a carbon Okapi, that got me into getting more carbon knives. I think I'm preferring them to stainless, except for food prep. I don't like the taste left in the in the food, I prefer stainless for food.
 
Carrying my new K55K today for the first time was nice, cut like a dream and feels good in the hand. I have an injured left index finger that makes it difficult to open my Douk-Douk, so the K55K was great, easy to deploy.
 
I always keep a Black Cat or one of my Douk's (The Original, El Baraka, or Squirrel) in my back right pocket with a longish lanyard clipped to my pant loop. The slim sturdy all metal construction make it ideal as a back pocket knife and the clipped lanyard makes sure it doesn't get left behind somewhere.
 
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