Mercator K55K Nahkämpfer

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

I would like to thank everybody who pointed out the that Kaufmann translates is one of many words that translates to Mercator. I will make a correction in a later video on the topic. Were they issued. Maybe, maybe not but I lean towards likely but not as standard item; more likely as substitute standard. At the beginning of WWII the US Army put out calls for large hunting knives and pocket knives that fit a very broad category. Bulk purchases were made and soldiers received a wide variety of knives. Any knife was better than no knife. I assume the same thing happened in Germany. After all we know of a similar event during WWII when German soldiers encountered the their first Russian Winter and the German government requisitioned a wide variety of winter clothing to meet the needs of the soldiers. This was a case of a one and done purchase and the specifics concerning the types of coats, gloves, and boots is not clearly detailed. Still later, German soldiers were issued camouflage uniforms that used Italian material in the Italian camouflage pattern. It is safe to assume that if the German Army had a standard pocket knife for issue, they would grab what was available. Sometimes official records are less detailed than we expect or have been lost to ravages of time.

[@wingatebarraclough3553]

And, it could depend on the unit as well. As the logistics situation went from bad to worse, and after the initial advances into the ussr revealed how prepared and equipped the Soviets were, a lot of captured stuff got used, from mess kits to the treasured enamel mugs, many unit commanders and NCOs were more concerned that the troops had a knife, fork and spoon or a sweater than whether it was "standard" army issue. If a soldier was in the "gross Deutschland " division or such, they were a logistical priority. If a soldier was in, say, the 256 (reserve) infantry division, they were of necessity "lower" on the supply chain, with plenty of photos of troops with a fork from home, a sweater from home, a shirt with stripes on it, etc. I'm not aware of an "issue" pocket knife, but these mercators were very common, very much the standard so many reenacting groups strongly encourage portrayals to include a mercator.

[@wingatebarraclough3553]

Also, as for standards for boots, etc, we do have a lot of records.. but, and this gets confusing, items didn't really have a "model 40 tunic", there were a series of published guidelines and standards, and soldiers might be allowed to have their own uniform made according to certain specifications, so you'll see different manufacturers doing slightly different pocket styles, or more "1936" style pants pockets etc all the way to 1945, even after the "model 40", "model 43" etc came along. Those model numbers are more for historical categorization or reenactor description, there's no "model 44 patrern tunic etc" in the German system

[@yigarok]

Another strong possibility is that the German version of the px carrying them or something like that. Another option might be care packages. A soldier writes home and asks for some creature comforts like socks, snacks, toiletries or a knife to help with every day tasks. I’ve bought a few of these knives and have had best results with regard to quality with the black handle and stainless steel blade.

[@jfu5222]

I have a Mercator very much like the one featured, but mine has a red spacer. I got it in a trade for a Swiss Army knife many years ago so I have no idea about it's provenance. A couple years ago I bought my son an Otter brand K55K, other than the black finish and font on the blade stamping it appears identical in construction. The modern one is much more stiff and requires alot of force to depress the lock release. I'm not sure if this is entirely due to wear or if the dimensions have changed slightly. I still carry mine sometimes, usually when I can't have the pocket clip showing on my modern knife due to knife laws when traveling.

[@very5ick112]

i received a buck 110 in the army as a ration

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

I’ve carried these boy and man for 55 years. They’re awesome! Great steel and you hardly notice them in your pocket. Safer than the DoukDouk too. First thing to do is lay the edge back, then you’ve got a razor.👍🏻🙂

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Agreed, These knives just disappear in the pocket and due to the construction and handle material, it only looks better the more you carry it!

[@whitetail7516]

I bought my first kaufmann at an auction for $2.50, they're good thin and light weight. Thank for sharing.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Good deal and a very accurate description. Thanks for sharing.

[@JoseGonzalez-yx6vm]

Sort of like a utility blade knife in its time, thanks for sharing it, Tobias.

[@Mr_Obvious]

I lik I have one and I carry it fairly often. I'm a Sodbuster fan, and to me, it reminds me of a locking Sodbuster.e the K55's. The blades more of a spear point, but it's still a single blade with a full size locking blade. Right up my alley. Not a true Sodbuster pattern for sure, but I really enjoy using it regardless.Still Inexpensive if you go with the regular black version, and made with the common man in mind, as was the Sodbuster and Opinel, which I also carry fairly often.

[@robertbenton1444]

When I was a teenager you could buy them at the army surplus store for under $5, they were great knives

[@brittakriep2938]

Kaufmann is in latin Mercator, the company owner simply translated his name into latin..Was in Renaissance era a common thing, to translate your german name into latin or greek. For example current german minister of defence is a Mr. Pistorius. Pistor(ius) means in german Bäcker, baker in english. Now i wrote Kaufmann, but the factory owner Kauffmann. Up to 1873 , when Standard German was created by german , austrian and swiss scientists, and introduced by the three countries, you could write your name, as you wanted, but after 1873 you no more could change writing of your name, so many german family names have variations. Bäcker, Becker, Bekker, Beck, Bäck- Schmied ( smith),Schmid, Schmidt, Schmitz, Schmitt- Mayer, Meyer, Maier, Meier, Majer, Meyr, Mayr, Mair, Meir.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Cool! I didn’t know that. All these little things makes this knife even more interesting.

[@mercator3609]

👍👍👍

[@mikeborrelli193]

I really enjoy learning this kind of obscure European history. Thanks

[@cmd2four]

Nice review on a great knife. For the money it's a simple but sturdy and easy-to-maintain pocket friend. Interesting that Mercator is Latin for merchant, and the original makers last name Kaufmann in German also means merchant.

[@davidkurle5418]

Very cool piece! Thanks for the look at it, buddy!

[@bdh3949]

I've seen these around but never popped for one. Cool history surrounds this knife as it does for so many knives. Thanks for bringing the facts and speculations about this version to our attention Tobias.

[@bishop6426]

Hi Tobias: Nice ramble. I love my Black Cat knife. There’s something about the utilitarian simplicity that’s so appealing! Great size, nice bail, strong lock, easy to sharpen, feels good in hand….what’s NOT to like. There’s that rumor floating around that The Bronx youth gangs preferred these for their EDCs. See West Side Story. 😊 Not sure about the truth to that, but I guess it adds a certain cachet to the knife. 👍👍

[@hleeky]

i always get such great historical contexts for some of my knives. thank you!

[@blueeyeswhitedragon9839]

I put a add-on thumb stud for one hand opening (no modification required) and I found the knife much more likely to be carried. Their brass and stainless models are also available. P.S. Paul Mears of bushcraft fame had a special run of these knives done for his followers of bushcraft skills. He gave this knife top honors for a pocket, foldable bushcraft knife. The only difference from the regular knives was that "his" knives were painted green.

[@slick_slicers]

I have a couple of these along with a slip joint person. Being so slim, they’re very easy to carry, but not especially comfortable to use. Often, of course, that’s a worthwhile compromise! Thanks for the video.😊

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

I have seen many personal anecdotes of American soldiers talking about the pocket knife that “the Kraut prisoners” hid in their boot or sock. I assumed they had been talking about the Fallschirmjägers gravity knife but now I think it was probably this knife because it would easily be missed on a pat-down. By the time Americans were entering the war, the Germans were wearing a boot more similar to the British “ammo boots” than the jack boots of the early war period. This knife would virtually disappear under the buckled legging. But would be easy to reach when needed.

[@Stans_Cutlery_Universe]

Neat piece, really enjoyed the history of the knife design. Have a great blessed Day.

[@jpwphotographicstudio3891]

The one I have has DRGM on blade and back of handle also has Mercator on same areas. It was my dad's from memory he said his dad gave it to him. It lived in the glove box of every car he had, but he gave it to me think when I was about 12. Holds a good edge polished it up few years back and looks in v good condition. Still has slight wobble in the blade though even after tapping the pin holding the blade. No metal loop hanger though on it, but same lock mechanism as yours.😊

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Sounds like a real treasure. I think you can only solve so much blade wobble by whacking on the pin. Mine was wobbling as much as 1/4 inch either way. I think if I were to continue hitting the pin I would probably either break the pin or prevent the blade from moving at all. Knives this old, deserve to have a little character/blade wobble. As your DRGM is probably even older than this knife, it to deserves the respect to age gracefully. Sounds like a fantastic family heirloom.

[@cloudalien443]

Great piece on my collection list.

[@torsten4757]

Well explained. Greetings from Germany.

[@oldphartsknives]

Great video brother ... If I ever run out of Schrades to buy I would probably lean towards early German knives to collect. There were so many great companies there!!!! Take care Tobias 🙏

[@darundale]

In 1966 my local Western Auto in Woodbridge,Va sold newer versions of this with the same cat logo and K55 for about 2$. There was always a cardboard box with a pile of them to buy.

[@wcropp1]

Interesting bit of local history from my neck of the woods. Happy to see I'm not the only knife nut around 😆. Thanks for sharing!

[@bunsonhoneydew9099]

I bought one as a kid in junior high school from a comic book ad. Great carry knife because it is so thin and nobody knows you have a knife.

[@MrRugercat45]

Wow, these are so nice, I had wanted one for well over 30 years and my stepdaughter bought me one for my birthday a couple years back, I love it. Mine’s a new one but that’s ok, you’ll be happy with that one I bet. The old time cutlers knew what they were doing with the good carbon steel and super simple construction. These actually were designed in the 1800’s and honestly they are so modern that I could see these being next year’s model. Love you videos, take care.

[@bobbyking3503]

Thanks for the great video on one of my favorite knives! Yours is in great shape compared to ones I've ran across at shows/Flea Markets. I have several variations -- Otter Messer ones -- but only a couple of somewhat rough copies of the Kaufman originals. I recently purchased a stainless one with a pocket clip (Chicago Knife Works). Makes a great EDC! -- Have a great day my friend! :)

[@bobgartin4165]

Great review. These are really good knives. I have the black one and also a copper handled and a brass handled with a damascus blade. All good knives.

[@rogerbuss807]

Great review, I have a new Otter Messer. Light weight and very Slicey.

[@stevehanner824]

Sharing to my group!

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Thank you. Really appreciate it.

[@propblast82nd]

Those are really historic knives , I was going to one some years ago but never got around to it

[@brittakriep2938]

German Otter company produces them still.

[@mercator3609]

Amazon

[@SeanT_1967]

Great topic for a Video Tobias…!!! These are great and very interesting knives….!! I’ve got one that stamped W. Germany… so I’ve a rough idea date wise, as to when it was made…. Great knives… and super Slicey..…!!! Mine’s a carbon steel blade and takes a fantastic edge…👌🏻 Enjoyed this Tobias… many thanks…😎❤️👌🏻

[@HeavyMetalHiking]

A knife that has haunted me for a long time... Should I buy it or should I not... It is pretty cool anyway, and you got a nice “original” one! Thanks for a great video on a really interesting folder!

[@piperkennard1039]

Very interesting thanks for the history brother. Neat knife 🤙

[@brandyhouston2105]

Thank you for the education. 😊😊

[@dunkellu]

mann kennt dieses messer auch als " Kaiser-Willhelm-Messer ". es war zu kaiser wilhelms zeiten so beliebt und günstig das fast jeder damit rum lief. folglich hatten es auch viele soldaten mit auf dem schlachtfeld und in den schützengräben. zur not ersetzte es den grabendolch und diente der verteidigung. ich persönlich habe jetzt kein historisches " cat-knife " aber eine neue schwarze version, eine aus messing und eine große version mit dosenöffner, ahle und korkenzieher (standartausstattung der meisten alten taschenmesser). otter hat diese version vor ein paar jahren neu aufgelegt. ich bevorzuge das mercator in meinem edc weil es schön flach ist. und weil es eine art deutsches opinel ist. schönes video.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Vielen Dank, ich wusste nichts von der Verbindung zu Kaiser Wilhelm Thank you, I did not know about the Kaiser Willhelm connection

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Google Translaotion: This knife is also known as the “Kaiser Willhelm knife”. It was so popular and cheap during Kaiser Wilhelm's time that almost everyone ran around with it. As a result, many soldiers had it with them on the battlefield and in the trenches. If necessary, it replaced the trench dagger and was used for defense. Personally, I don't have a historical "cat knife" but I have a new black version, one made of brass and a large version with a can opener, awl and corkscrew (standard equipment of most old pocket knives). otter reissued this version a few years ago. I prefer the Mercator in my EDC because it is nice and flat. and because it is a kind of German Opinel. nice video.

[@LeashMechanic]

I have the black one and love it, it’s really cool! Only thing is it was the last knife I purchased before learning that it’s blade length is illegal here so I stopped carrying it and now it just sits in a drawer as part of the collection :(

[@bunsonhoneydew9099]

I used to carry one in the 1970's because it was so thin. You have one of the cool ones with the smaller button lock. All the black paint wore off mine too. Some of the new pre-patinaed copper models look nice and the Ruthenium model, what even is that?

[@saschabadcat7034]

❤ I Love My Black Cat...My EDC...i have an Reproduktion from OTTER.Carbonsteel Blade.Have make self a cool Black finish with vinegar!

[@sonnysantana5454]

the old K-55' was 1' of the most popular knives of the late 60's and very early 70's in nyc and the cheap but damn near everybody had 1' the wooden handle-007' knife no relation to the spy

[@moregrouchy]

Yes! All over NYC, gas stations, delis, hardware stores, everywhere. And I forgot about the 007's, both were dependable cheap lockblades. Never hitchhiked without one.

[@paul8158]

Kaufmann translated to latinized is mercator, that simple. He didn't wanted to have Kaufmann Germany as a brand for international exports so it was Mercator Germany.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

Thanks! A couple folks have pointed this out. Really appreciate the info. I learn something new every day.

[@Sicarius888]

I had it as kid and lost eventually. I sometimes think about getting it again for nostalgia, but can't decide. I'm worried it will be a disappointment now that the price is close to 50 EUR and I got used to quality of modern folders for that price.

[@brittakriep2938]

German troops got before wwl a folder as part of regular equipment. But not this one. This Soldatenmesser ( Taschenmesser/ Sackmesser) was copied in better quality by swiss troops ( which became over decades the famous red gripped folder). I (german) have read, that at start of wwll Organisation Todt ( or something similar) confiscated a lot of Mercator folders, among other folders, to sell it to Soldiers or members of Reichsarbeitsdienst or similar organisations. A note to wwl german trench knifes: Some had been based on german bayonnet, others on Nicker ,a small hunting/ Edc knife, once popular in southern Germany and Audtria. Btw. Genick means neck.

[@mannywilliams6409]

I wish they continued to mark the handles like that on knife made later. Mine just has a plain red handle.

[@richardmcginnis5344]

i have an old kaufmann but its a kamp king style knife with a marlin spike

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

They made multiple versions. The spike version is much more scarce than this one.

[@godel3081]

The pronunciation for "Navaja" is nah-VAH-hah with the strongest sound on the second "a". Just wanted to let you know. Thanks for the video.

[@jimmyj4811]

I like mine!

[@sergeyleopard8872]

Ich liebe alte deutsche Messer - sie sind Geschichte. Aber jetzt werde ich wahrscheinlich lieber einen Poket Bushman Cold Steel kaufen, der diesem Messer ähnlich ist. Es ist haltbarer und vielseitiger . Aber auch aus deutschem Krupp-Stahl, nur in Taiwan.😊

[@tarstakars]

I've had one of those knives in my collection for 50 years apparently the color of the end cap mean something, mine is red some are black and I've never had that fully explained but it is a good knife.

[@michaelhale265]

I have a well worn MERCATOR that has a wooden end cap and also the K55K and 'cat' logo are missing from the handle? Otherwise it's exactly the same size and specs' as the one shown here in the video. Maybe someone may know what this means in terms of the items manufacture date?

[@jfu5222]

I have one with the red spacer, I was hoping for an explanation as well.

[@whitetail7516]

I just looked online and they have a brass or copper handle OTTER-Messer Mercator knife. They look nice. It looks like they're a smaller knife. I'm not sure yet.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

I have seen those. They are very tempting. I'm taking a time out when it comes to these for fear of buying "one of everything!"

[@whitetail7516]

@@KnifeChatswithTobias Ya I already have an old one and a new one. So I know what you're talking about.

[@danewood2309]

the K55K Blackcats are still made and sold by Mercator, but only in the original large size, the otter stamped stainless, brass and copper handles knives are available in Large and small sizes

[@pwa8453]

Mercator knives were not issued to German soldiers. They were cheap, practical knives many bought privately and took with them.

[@KnifeChatswithTobias]

My point was if it was an issued item it was because the German Army needed a bunch of knives real fast and they were there. I believe I mentioned there is no existing evidence of them being issued but the allies thought they were. Militaries from around the world have often "issued" non standard items as a substitute when the required item was in short supply. It was a very common knife. This is all part of the history of the knife.

[@pwa8453]

@ that´s very well possible. The guys from Otter Messer know the story best, I assume. Greetings from Germany and thanks for your good work!

[@jamesd4923]

During world war two did japan make any.

[@louisrauzi3872]

Carried one at work to cut plastic wrapped pallets, why? Cause I couldn't carry my better knives cause my co workers always borrowed. No way they're touching my benchmade