Mercator Made in Japan?

[Lemmy Caution]

HI All -

I was wondering if anyone knew the story behind the Mercator K55K's that were made in Japan? I have a very old Mercator Style knife made in Japan that is identical (at least physically) to the German ones. It has Japan stamped on the bolster and the cat logo is a bit more angular than the German version. It doesn't have K55K stamped on it. I'm wondering if Mercator ever leased out their manufacturing to Japan, maybe during WWII, or if these knives are just knock off versions. Its funny I've seen people on auction sites asking 75 bucks for these, but I got mine for 10 bucks, so curious about this cloud of uncertainty around them. any ideas?

 

[John A. Larsen]

I have a large Mercator look a like folder, with a 4-inch blade. The only marking is "Protector" stamped on the tang. It is a lock back with the release at the butt like on a Buck 110, and I was told they were very common around Fort Bragg, NC during the Vietnam war, and are thought to have been made in Japan. I think it is more likely that Mercator was copied, rather than being licensed to be made in Japan. John

 

[John A. Larsen]

I just checked on the tag I have tied to the Protector Mercator look a like and see that "Germania" on Bernard Levine's Forum said that "Protector" was a registered brand name of C. Friedrich Ern company of Solingen, Germany. John