Slicing since 1867

The Mercator is a good looking knife. I must admit I don't own a Mercator, Higo, Opinel, or Svord. I have enough knives and I'm in the process of sorting before the summer purge begins.
 
wQCwTwE.jpg

Great knife. Slices beautifully, locks securely, carries discreetly. Mine is copper. I have a copper pocket hook on the bail now and it hangs upright in my front pocket. It's equally comfortable in jeans, slacks, riding breeches. The blade patina comes and goes depending on what I'm cutting. The handle patina depends on the weather and what I'm wearing and if I use it with gloves. Once the handle's protective coating is worn away (and I helped it along with a wooden spatula and my thumbnail) it begins to develop character.

This video has been posted before, but in case you haven't seen it . . .


In the Netflix series "Babylon Berlin" detective Bruno Wolter has a couple of scenes in which he uses a K55K. It's only a quick glance and there's not much to it, but it was nice that the prodution designer decided to have him carry a period appropriate pocketknife.

Enjoy!

Zieg
 
Last edited:
The Zieg said:
wQCwTwE.jpg

Great knife. Slices beautifully, locks securely, carries discreetly. Mine is copper. I have a copper pocket hook on the bail now and it hangs upright in my front pocket. It's equally comfortable in jeans, slacks, riding breeches. The blade patina comes and goes depending on what I'm cutting. The handle patina depends on the weather and what I'm wearing and if I use it with gloves. Once the handle's protective coating is worn away (and I helped it along with a wooden spatula and my thumbnail) it begins to develop character.

This video has been posted before, but in case you haven't seen it . . .


Enjoy!

Zieg
Click to expand...
Beautiful, man! :)
 
There's a very very good reason old classic's keep going on. They flat out work!

In this day and age of super high tech semi auto pistols, high tech knives with super steels, theres lot of people still using revolvers and old K55 knives. They work. Yes, I'm sure Sal would try to have you believe the Spyderco whatever is a 'better' knife, but a couple generations of German Soldiers and lots of civilians in many countries will testify how effective a Mercator is as a simple rugged cutting tool that gets the job done.
 
jackknife said:
There's a very very good reason old classic's keep going on. They flat out work!

In this day and age of super high tech semi auto pistols, high tech knives with super steels, theres lot of people still using revolvers and old K55 knives. They work. Yes, I'm sure Sal would try to have you believe the Spyderco whatever is a 'better' knife, but a couple generations of German Soldiers and lots of civilians in many countries will testify how effective a Mercator is as a simple rugged cutting tool that gets the job done.
Click to expand...
There are plenty of Spydercos and other folders that, in many, many ways ARE better knives. What knives like the Mercator serve to remind me of is that often I don't need better. Good enough is...good enough. :)
 
W. Anderson said:
I keep meaning to grab up either a copper handled Mercator or a Higo. Maybe this month...
Click to expand...

They are awesome knives to throw in your pocket when you carry a fixed blade because they take up virtually no space. The issue with the Higo is only friction keeps the blade in so you don’t want one with an overly loose pivot.
 
Well hell, son, that thing ain't even got a pocket clip, 'n' where the hell is the flipper? *spits chaw juice on the ground disgustedly* :D

'Tis true, though. Despite the wealth of fancy high tech folders available nowadays, these simple but very functional old school knives (Opienl, K55, Douk, etc.) are still appealing. I wonder which knives of today will still be popular 100+ years from now?
 
G. Scott H. said:
Well hell, son, that thing ain't even got a pocket clip, 'n' where the hell is the flipper? *spits chaw juice on the ground disgustedly* :D

'Tis true, though. Despite the wealth of fancy high tech folders available nowadays, these simple but very functional old school knives (Opienl, K55, Douk, etc.) are still appealing. I wonder which knives of today will still be popular 100+ years from now?
Click to expand...
Benchmade missed a trick when they discontinued the 710 ;)

@Benchmade
 
The K55K is just proof that a simple, well-designed knife will never go out of style.

I just might have to break down and get one.
 
G. Scott H. said:
Well hell, son, that thing ain't even got a pocket clip, 'n' where the hell is the flipper? *spits chaw juice on the ground disgustedly* :D

'Tis true, though. Despite the wealth of fancy high tech folders available nowadays, these simple but very functional old school knives (Opienl, K55, Douk, etc.) are still appealing. I wonder which knives of today will still be popular 100+ years from now?
Click to expand...

I’m guessing the Spyderco Endura will still be around. Those k55ks will probably be around in another 100 years too. Opinels sure as hell will.
 
Where abouts would I look for something like this? I have seen some old german folding knives in the Deutsch Optik catalog that I liked. I guess I'll just google it if I feel inclined to do so.
 
The Mercator is the earliest folder in my memory, my father had one looong ago.
They have always been fairly common here particularly with farmers. I still occasionally get an old digger wanting an old, loose,very well used Mercator sharpened.
 
Lapedog said:
I’m guessing the Spyderco Endura will still be around. Those k55ks will probably be around in another 100 years too. Opinels sure as hell will.
Click to expand...

I would imagine that the Endura, Delica, and Dragonfly may still be around in years to come. All 3 are basically the same knife except for the size difference.

I like to think that the Sebenza would still be around too.
 
Fantastic. I just put this knife (the plain stainless handle version) and the "anchor" knife in my wish list.
 
jackknife said:
There's a very very good reason old classic's keep going on. They flat out work!

In this day and age of super high tech semi auto pistols, high tech knives with super steels, theres lot of people still using revolvers and old K55 knives. They work. Yes, I'm sure Sal would try to have you believe the Spyderco whatever is a 'better' knife, but a couple generations of German Soldiers and lots of civilians in many countries will testify how effective a Mercator is as a simple rugged cutting tool that gets the job done.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure that we can compare the situation with modern knives to the old classics, because the world is completely different than it was back then. Everything is moving faster now, and the percentage of the general population that carries and uses a knife as an essential tool on a daily basis (in first-world countries, anyway) is far smaller. And most people would consider the cost of modern knives as way out there. I've heard it said that the average person in today's modern world processes far more information in one day than the average person in the 1700s or 1800s processed in a lifetime. That doesn't always mean better or worse, just different.

TBH, I don't know if any folding knives will still be made 100 years from now, except for maybe (hopefully at least) SAKs. But Victorinox is a manufacturing Goliath. It really depends on which other companies will still be around by then, and who is still buying their products. And when things change nowadays, they can change very suddenly in terms of manufacturing and trends. If society as we know it is still here 100 years from now, it'll be more different than we can imagine.

The Mercator looks interesting. I've had some interest in trying one out now and then for years, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. The great thing about them is you can try one out without breaking the bank.

Jim
 
Last edited:
James Y said:
I'm not sure that we can compare the situation with modern knives to the old classics, because the world is completely different than it was back then. Everything is moving faster now, and the percentage of the general population that carries and uses a knife as an essential tool on a daily basis (in first-world countries, anyway) is far smaller. And most people would consider the cost of modern knives as way out there. I've heard it said that the average person in today's modern world processes far more information in one day than the average person in the 1700s or 1800s processed in a lifetime. That doesn't always mean better or worse, just different.

TBH, I don't know if any folding knives will still be made 100 years from now, except for maybe (hopefully at least) SAKs. But Victorinox is a manufacturing Goliath. It really depends on which other companies will still be around by then, and who is still buying their products. And when things change nowadays, they can change very suddenly in terms of manufacturing and trends. If society as we know it is still here 100 years from now, it'll be more different than we can imagine.

The Mercator looks interesting. I've had some interest in trying one out now and then for years, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. The great thing about them is you can try one out without breaking the bank.

Jim
Click to expand...
Very good post, thank you for that. A few days in and I am loving this knife. Recommended. :thumbsup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top