Otter disappointment

scruffuk

scruffuk

Joined
Jan 14, 2010
Messages
2,679
I've had my eyes on a couple of folders from the house of the Otter Messer, Anchor Knife and Mercator 'Black Cat' for some time now.
These however differ from the aforementioned examples though, they are multitools.

They caught my eye on UK based knife dealers site after seeing the Carl Schielper knife Jack Black was kindly gifted by Duncan.
I thought, hey, they seem to be the same kinda pattern, I should get one.

Well, I got two.

What a mistake.

These have to be some of the poorest quality knives I've purchased in a while. I've been really a taken back by the quality compared to the Otter Messer knife, Uncle Andi gifted me a while ago, together with my Mercator knives (one locking one slip joint). What went wrong?

I'm gonna let the pictures tell the story, but I shall just say, these came today, and I contacted the seller with regards to returning them within ten minutes of receiving them. They are of abysmal quality.







Hmmm...something not right here....



Something really not right....









A closer look at the stainless bladed, bubinga scaled knife:



Hmmm...I think they may have forgotten to grind something here....






















Surprisingly sharp blade!



:thumbdn::(
 
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And the carbon bladed/plastic handled knife:





This one actually has a correctly sharpened screwdriver/wire-stripper tool!





















So, poor fitting scales (too long, misaligned, misshaped, un-uniform, poorly affixed).
Gaps - Baldy riveted/peined construction
Uneven/misaligned/overground springs/blades/layers
Unground tools on the Stainless knife.
Poorly ground tools/blades on both (the awl/marlin spike was decent on both mind)
Incredibly weak back springs on main blade (esp. Stainless)
No blade stamps or etching - Maybe not a deal breaker...but surprising.

I wasn't expecting AMAZING knives, but really, these are so far removed from the workmanly Otter Weber Messer I own.
Perhaps I am being a bit harsh on the Carbon bladed knife, but I just can't bare to keep either these.

I'll stick to Swiss made multi-tools thank you very much!! (Heck, I'd even settle for a crappy Richards camp knife over these!!!)
 
Blimey, that's terrible mate, what a disappointment. Such a shame when a reputable company starts to slide. The lack of tang stamps/blade etches makes me wonder if they are now getting knives made up outside Germany, as some of the other Solingen companies are now doing. There looks to be a world of difference between these two knives and the Otter Webermesser.
 
Really Bad! Is it normal not have the tang stanps on knives not being shipped to the US, or are they just too embarrased to put them on? The wood handled thing (can't call it a knife, just can't) looks like it was smuggled out of the reject bin! Steven
 
Nodding my head in disbelief at such obvious lack of quality. And yes, I too wonder if now they too are outsourcing their knives :-(
 
Ouch!

I recently purchased an Otter knife which had some pretty shaky workmanship too. Grinds in particular I'll post some pic's when the sun doth arise.

Sam
 
Friday Arvo jobs?
They look pretty rough.
If its OK to ask what playing field are we in ball park price wise?
Thanks for showing those Scruff-its very helpful for me as I buy all my knives from a long way away and returning stuff is a TPITA.
 
scruffuk said:
You can see why I was miffed Jack, given where the stainless one was heading :(
Click to expand...

Indeed, absolutely terrible. I can't understand a dealer sending them out like that either, when they're so obviously defective. It's not as if the UK knife dealers are rushed off their feet!
 
Bring your child to work day! Bring your children in and we'll let them make a knife! Then we'll sell the knives for profit! Bwhahahahahahaha!!!!
 
How amazing it would be if someone in Germany decided to model a new company on what GEC has done in the U.S.

-- Mark
 
Clearly these weren't suppose to be sold. But yet they were? By accident? That can be the only thing that makes sense.
 
If there is no branding at all, it is possible the retailer is at fault, & pulling a swifty, rather than the manufacturer.
A retailer can easily buy cheap stuff over the internet, market it as he wishes. Most people won't know.
 
meako said:
Friday Arvo jobs?
They look pretty rough.
If its OK to ask what playing field are we in ball park price wise?
Thanks for showing those Scruff-its very helpful for me as I buy all my knives from a long way away and returning stuff is a TPITA.
Click to expand...

Thank Jack too, he encouraged me to post them up.

The stainless knife was £20, the other £24. I could have got two decent SAKs for that....even here in Blighty.

We have distance selling regs in the UK (no qualms, 7 days to return), but I genuinely think these would fall under statutory rights to return though, for faulty goods (which has a much longer limitation).

Although it's a PITA here too, I shall return em no doubt. It's a pity I have to do so, especially when I received a jacket for work I'm also having to send back for being completely badly sized, with 3/4 length sleeves apparently!

mnblade said:
How amazing it would be if someone in Germany decided to model a new company on what GEC has done in the U.S.

-- Mark
Click to expand...

Plenty of European knife makers are producing knives of that quality. I have some German made knives of good to great quality, easily on par with GEC. But then I also have a German friend to hand select and gift them too me ;)

MrPocketsOfSteel said:
Clearly these weren't suppose to be sold. But yet they were? By accident? That can be the only thing that makes sense.
Click to expand...

It's actually almost typical of lesser UK (knife) retailers to fob folks off with substandard knives. The few good ones don't have these knives in stock....kinda explains why I guess.

abcdef said:
Otterly unacceptable. Someone Otter do something about that.
Click to expand...

How punny. If only I'd have thought of that when titling my thread! :rolleyes:
 
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