Slicing since 1867

[jackknife]

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

The world may be different but the knife is still just a knife. It's a low tech item, no matter how much you want to over complicate it. How much difference is there in cutting a piece of rope in 1858 vs 2015? The steel blade with a sharp edge is still the low tech tool no matter how much the makers and fan boys want to dress it up. Opening up a box, cutting that box down for the recycle bin is low tech. A Russell Barlow from 1870 will do just as good as any Benchmade or Spyderco. Up until the 1980's and the birth of the so called tactical knife market, people used pocket knives that hadn't change much in a century.

The artificially created market has done a great job of convincing people that they need the very latest and greatest. The unexciting truth is, the tool doesn't matter at all if it's well maintained and sharp. Opinel's and knives of that design have been doing the bulk of the peasants work for hundreds foyers and still is a viable cutting tool.

 

[James Y]

The world may be different but the knife is still just a knife. It's a low tech item, no matter how much you want to over complicate it. How much difference is there in cutting a piece of rope in 1858 vs 2015? The steel blade with a sharp edge is still the low tech tool no matter how much the makers and fan boys want to dress it up. Opening up a box, cutting that box down for the recycle bin is low tech. A Russell Barlow from 1870 will do just as good as any Benchmade or Spyderco. Up until the 1980's and the birth of the so called tactical knife market, people used pocket knives that hadn't change much in a century.

The artificially created market has done a great job of convincing people that they need the very latest and greatest. The unexciting truth is, the tool doesn't matter at all if it's well maintained and sharp. Opinel's and knives of that design have been doing the bulk of the peasants work for hundreds foyers and still is a viable cutting tool.

Not saying I disagree at all. I grew up using pocketknives well before the modern 'tactical folder' market began. Any good to decent knife will work very well with everyday cutting needs, and they don't require a 'super steel' to accomplish it. But the difference in society between now and 100 years in the future may well be far greater than the difference between now and 1858. So if a great modern knife design doesn't have the same longevity in years as past knives, that doesn't mean it works any less efficiently as a cutting tool. Of course, next to a club or hammer, the knife is about as low-tech a tool as you can get. I wonder how much people in cities will even do physically for themselves anymore by 2118. Self-driving cars and all that; will boxes and rope be equipped with self-separating technology? Sounds silly now, but you never know...

The modern knife market is more about want than need. And that's OK, too. Better someone who appreciates and uses a good knife, whether a Mercator, a SAK or a Sebenza, than someone who thinks carrying any pocketknife is silly and unnecessary.

Sorry for going way off-topic, Pilsner.

Jim

 

[Pilsner]

Not saying I disagree at all. I grew up using pocketknives well before the modern 'tactical folder' market began. Any good to decent knife will work very well with everyday cutting needs, and they don't require a 'super steel' to accomplish it. But the difference in society between now and 100 years in the future may well be far greater than the difference between now and 1858. So if a great modern knife design doesn't have the same longevity in years as past knives, that doesn't mean it works any less efficiently as a cutting tool. Of course, next to a club or hammer, the knife is about as low-tech a tool as you can get. I wonder how much people in cities will even do physically for themselves anymore by 2118. Self-driving cars and all that; will boxes and rope be equipped with self-separating technology? Sounds silly now, but you never know...

The modern knife market is more about want than need. And that's OK, too. Better someone who appreciates and uses a good knife, whether a Mercator, a SAK or a Sebenza, than someone who thinks carrying any pocketknife is silly and unnecessary.

Sorry for going way off-topic, Pilsner.

Jim

Completely on topic, Jim.

This is a good discussion. Please carry on if further discourse suggests itself.

 

[Gurdygurds]

I think the main thing that some "modern" knives have going for them isn't the super steel, or the bizarre blade shapes or fancy locks, it's the fact that they can be opened, used, and closed, using only one hand. Not needed ALL of the time, but in my experience it definitely comes in quite handy sometimes. Could I get by with nothing other than a Pioneer? Absolutely. Heck I could survive with nothing but a Vic Classic, but there are times that a one-handed opener makes a huge difference when cutting is needed.

 

[Henry Beige]

I got the black painted handle by Kaufman several years ago. When Otter Messer took over the design, I jumped all over the brass one they offered. I find I prefer to carry the Kaufman.

The story as I read it in the traditional forum is that these knives were often carried by Wehrmacht soldiers, but never actually issued to them. In the due course of events, many fell into the hands of GIs, who brought them back after the war. The knife then became a favorite of hoodlum gangs in the Bronx in the ‘50s, and could be bought at the corner store for a buck.

If you like these knives, you might like Douk-Douk and Opinel to be sure, but also Antonini Old Bear, MAM, and Okapi, particularly the Biltong, as well as friction folders like Higonokami and the Svord Peasant Knives.

BTW, many of these can be tuned for one-handed opening. I have even heard it said about the Mercator, although it was not readily apparent to me how it is done.

 

[The Zieg]

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.

I'm one of those using revolvers, too! The most "advanced" firearms I own are a 1911 pistol and an M1 rifle. I suppose the most modern is my Ruger SP-101 (a revolver). And it's traditional knives I like to pair with them, of course.

Zieg

 

[jackknife]

I'm one of those using revolvers, too! The most "advanced" firearms I own are a 1911 pistol and an M1 rifle. I suppose the most modern is my Ruger SP-101. And it's traditional knives I like to pair with them, of course.

Zieg

I actually don't even own a single semi auto firearm. Just revolvers and lever action rifles. Didn't set out to have it that way, just ended up that way. Maybe all the cowboy and cops and robber shows I watched as a kid! Kind of a "what would Joe Friday or Matt Dillon carry?" kind of thing.

 

[deltaboy]

I need to get one I been looking at them.

 

[CookieRawwr]

Cool I am going to get one of those k55k's when I get my SAK explorer from Blade HQ. And heck for like 15 bucks extra I'll add a Higokonami as well, those look neat. I currently have my Benchmade Adamas stashed in my EDC bag, but with those first two, the SAK and K55k, added to it. I should be ready for anything.

 

[Pilsner]

Well, I’ve been using it all week. It is a really great knife, perfect slicer. It’s developing a patina, which I’m actively encouraging - Gin & Tonic, anyone?

It is an old fashioned knife, but compared with a really old fashioned type, such as a friction folder, I can see that this design must have been mind blowing in the 1860’s. Other than using it as a pry bar or whacking the spine, for a cutting tool I don’t think it would be much improved by modern technology. Everybody should buy one, NOW!

 

[Case C.]

Why are people talking 1800’s and knives. They go back to Asia for aeons. Europe and others were very late to the game. Asia was using metal when the rest of the world was still at sticks and stones level.

 

[Pilsner]

Why are people talking 1800’s and knives. They go back to Asia for aeons. Europe and others were very late to the game. Asia was using metal when the rest of the world was still at sticks and stones level.

Because we are talking about the Mercator K55K, a knife first produced in the 1860’s. It would help if you read the thread before commenting, or at the very least read the OP.

 

[I'mSoSharp]

I have a well used Mercator as I like slim knives, very good basic lock knife, the pivot can be tightened as it's a rivet but a bit of up & down play on the lock might have to be lived with, no big deal.
As for the Douk douk & Higonokami some time spent gently squeezing the body together to get it as near (but not touching) the closed blade is time well spent to neaten it up. The Mercator was good as it came.
The Douk douk has a soft carbon blade & needs regular sharpening if used a lot, it sharpens up easily & despite this I carry one quite often.
I have a couple of Higos that get carried but only in a pocket slips, they are very sharp & even though the rivet pivot can be tightened to make it harder to open I like the pivot easy open in a slip case, personally I couldn't carry one loose in my pocket. As mentioned a bit of something soft wedged in the handle stops the edge contacting the back especially if it's a steel bodied one.

 

[afishhunter]

I don't like traditionals all that much but I too have been strongly contemplating to at least add one to the collection, I am torn between a Buck 110 (to go along with the one I plan to gift) or a Lionsteel CK Slipjoint. I'm not even sure either one counts as traditional, but compared to what I have now..I consider them that. I am leaning to the Buck since (to me, and probably a lot of others) is a pocket knife staple.

The Buck 110 is considered a "traditional" knife.
The Lionsteel CK Slipjoint also qualifies since it is not one hand opening and does not have a pocket clip. As for its screwed construction ... well ... I forget the name of the company at the moment, but they made screwed construction slipjoints from the 1910's(?) until they went under during the Great Depression, so that construction method can be considered "traditional" as well.

Even if you decide on the Lionsteel, get the 110 as well. Everyone needs at least one.
After 45 plus years of carrying one (or an Old Timer 7OT) I can tell you that when you carry it in your belt, you will not notice the weight.
If you want an upgraded steel, both SK Blades and Copper and Clad have SFO's with upgraded steel, (C&C also has them with 5160 blades) and different handle choices.