Otter Ankermesser another typical German pattern (pic heavy)

Thanks Jimmy.
Here are some pics of mine. Maybe Andi or someone else can comment on them?

Just states "rostfrei"
iz3k.JPG


Not flush...
lwbe.jpg
 
Galeocerdoshark said:
Thanks Jimmy.
Here are some pics of mine. Maybe Andi or someone else can comment on them?

Just states "rostfrei"
iz3k.JPG


Not flush...
lwbe.jpg
Click to expand...

Rostfrei is German(?) for Stain Free. I had always believed, from people in the "modern" parts of the boards, that the term was synonymous with cheap, inexpensive junk. That is until some of my friends here pointed me in the right direction. The designation obviously does not preclude a knife sporting it from being junk though. :(

I'm curious to know if what your pics show are, in fact, the standard of quality for these knives though. If that's the case I'd buy a different knife. Those gaps just kill it for me.
 
I'm thinking the knife pictured above is German, but likely not made by Otter Messer. Maybe something offered by a competitor, and meant to be very basic, down to the bone basic, as to be very inexpensive. Here are a few pics of the Otter I received yesterday....

6tmwrm.jpg


20pbjw7.jpg


2h685lv.jpg


2u5q6g8.jpg


afehqr.jpg


As simply a nicely assembled old school workman-like knife... These Otter Messers seem real good and can be had at a fair price. German made with old school methods and having old school feel at a good price, one can forgive a little rough around the edges, imo ;-)
 
Last edited:
Galeocerdoshark said:
I see, thanks for the comparisons. Well, I guess I'm on the lookout for a real Ankermesser by Otter then :)
Click to expand...

Here in the US they can be had for 30 to 35 dollars... and with you already being in Europe... I imagine the price should be very reasonable.... they just are not expensive knives at all. Good luck in your search. As for the one you got... if it's a good user... then all is still good for that purpose. And even as a collectible... if you get the Otter Messer version, then you now have a start of an anchor knife collection... having different versions :-)
 
PocketKnifeJimmy said:
Here in the US they can be had for 30 to 35 dollars... and with you already being in Europe... I imagine the price should be very reasonable.... they just are not expensive knives at all. Good luck in your search. As for the one you got... if it's a good user... then all is still good for that purpose. And even as a collectible... if you get the Otter Messer version, then you now have a start of an anchor knife collection... having different versions :-)
Click to expand...

Yep. I got this one for around 15 Euro, which is -considering the F&F- quite a lot. Especially if you see you can get an Opinel at a much higher quality level for a lower price here (7-8-9 euros approx.). I'll have to keep an eye out for a good deal on 'em ;)
 
Galeocerdoshark said:
Yep. I got this one for around 15 Euro, which is -considering the F&F- quite a lot. Especially if you see you can get an Opinel at a much higher quality level for a lower price here (7-8-9 euros approx.). I'll have to keep an eye out for a good deal on 'em ;)
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I thought. I'm sure whoever made your knife is a far far smaller maker compared to Opinel. Still, for that money I expect at least Opinel quality.
 
It may have been made to sell inexpensively... but, the seller just sold it at a much higher than fair price range. I was watching a video on youtube, and it was about the anchor knives. It had something about a painted anchor... but the entire video was in german... I don't understand german, lol. Still fun to watch... but would hae been better if I actually understood what it said! ;-)
 
Gentlemen - first of all: Sorry for being late. Next thing is the great interesst in this old thread - thanks for reanimating and for some nice comments, as well as for the critical ones - only then a good discussion will be there.

Well - first of all here are some comparison pics about my Ankermesser (= anchor knife) I own. It´s the stainless version and made by Otter. This is the biggest of the Ankermesser made by Otter

Open in comparison to my #15 Scout Knife



Closed with Peanut, #15, Otter Ankermesser and regular sized Case Soddie for better size comparison



As I´ve already mentioned some posts before, the Ankermesser are now made by Otter and Löwenmesser has them in store as well. Lütters & Cie. too. Other versions were formaly available. Usually german cutleries stamped their knives with company logos or some engraving. I´ve never heard about one made by "Canon" - not a german maker I know - but maybe... These knives seemed to habe been copied during time.

About the anchor inlay - It´s usually made of brass and not painted on the handle.

Some of the samples shown here in this thread are completelly unknown to me.

Jimmy yours shown up there is definitelly made by Otter in Solingen. It seems to be the medium sized version. :) Great knife :D

And yes - "rostfrei" means "stainfree" or better "rust free" this is propably a copy made anywhere... :confused:

@Meako: No "sheepsfoot" is not a german word - but just a small mistyping... :rolleyes:
 
Thanks for the extra info, Andi. As for the specimen that I received, it's about 3.5" in closed condition. If mine is considered medium, how big are the smaller and bigger ones in closed condition? I think a 2.5" or 3" version would be kind'a cool, imo :-)
 
Perfect Andi! Thank you for taking the time to take these photos. I love the anchor inlay and the information you have shared definitely makes the ankermesser a must for me,

Cheers
 
Toddwalla said:
Perfect Andi! Thank you for taking the time to take these photos. I love the anchor inlay and the information you have shared definitely makes the ankermesser a must for me,

Cheers
Click to expand...

I´m glad I could help :) Every knife nut should have an Ankermesser!

Jimmy, I hadn´t had the small version of the Ankermesser. But you can see how big the large versions are, when you compare it to a regular size version. But I gonna check out how big the Otter Ankermesser in small size are.
 
ib9f8x.jpg

In a post I put up earlier in this thread, I posted a pic of a Cannon brand (made in china) anchor knife. In this post, I show another pic I have found online of another anchor knife. This one is branded 'Linder', but not sure if it is German made (though Linder itself is a german company). Anyhow... I do notice that this one seems to have a non flush anchor, where as the Otter Messer is flush. Makes me wonder how many firms make thia pattern knife (in germany and elsewhere).... hmmm? :-)


Btw... the average kind of wood used by Otter Messer of Germany to make their anchor knives seems to be Bubinga wood. I believe that is what my specimen has, but not really sure, since I have never encountered Bubinga wood before. My unferstanding is that it's a pretty tough wood, and that it makes for a good knife handle. My particular specimen's wood grain is definitely straight and just overall bland, but considering this is a basic workmanlike knife... it looks fine. Would love to see Otter Messer offer this knife in natural bone and/or buffalo horn... even if this would add 5 or 10 bucks to the price.... It would give me a reason to add others to the collection, since I like them so much :-)
 
Last edited:
Well, Otter offers a knife pattern like the Ankermesser in natural bone. But not with the anchor inlay - but the same frame and blade shape...

Here´s a pic of mine :D

 
Humppa said:
Well, Otter offers a knife pattern like the Ankermesser in natural bone. But not with the anchor inlay - but the same frame and blade shape...

Here´s a pic of mine :D

Click to expand...

Oh... cool! So, they don't grace this one with a brass anchor... I mean... that anchor shield makes it an anchor knife :-) Still cool :-)
 
After reviving this thread to bug Andi for some comparison photos and failing at the 3 knife experiment, I am happy to say that I am now the proud owner of an ankermesser! I was downtown today with some friends and we happened to stop into this little "hipster boutique" store that just happened to carry the Ankermesser! They also had Douk-Douks, and hignokamis, but that they had the Ankermesser was serendipitous! I was able to buy a knife that I have been longing for for quite sometime, and avoid waiting for it to be delivered!

The knife is sweet! The fit and finish is exceptional (I have heard varying impressions). The knife is solid with nary a gap. It is much heftier than I was anticipating, but all the better for a work knife. The flat grind was easy to sharpen up and the thicker (than most of my trads) stock of the blade is awesome for hard work.

So thanks Andi for introducing me to the Ankermesser! I love it...now for the obligatory pics (I'll try and get some better ones soon):

C5A9139B-1B82-47C7-AD5B-D76AD9312164_zpsvswzxgom.jpg


9ED62980-06B7-43B7-AA01-44C9ED670CD4_zpspwsyknzj.jpg
 
Welcome to the Anchor Knife Club :)
Btw, the bolster on ours seems longer than on mine, I wonder if yours is the medium or larger version? I believe mine is the 3 1/2" version.
 
Last edited:
This is a very appealing pattern.....may be putting one on my wish list! Thanks guys!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top