Otter MercatorK55 Black Cat Knife - A True Classic EDC Folding Knife

[@juanj.robles207]

Definitely grew up with one of these in my pocket back in the 60's, in NYC. We called them "CAT KNIVES" and everyone had one. Was replaced with the Buck 110 for the rest of my life when I joined the Army. One of the great advantages was you could throw it away if the NYPD showed up and you were not out a lot of bucks. great memories.

[@ctsnider88]

I have seen one of those when I was a kid. My dad who worked as a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts, always kept me with a fresh Buck knife and a Swiss Army Knife.

[@walterschiller8281]

I bought one of these and just received it. For the price seems like a good knife and usable.

[@jmc8069]

Brian, thank you for your review. I agree that this 150-year-old design is functional. I think that I will add it to the collection. Thank you and God bless.

[@anangryranger]

A genuine old classic folder indeed. Glad you found it during the reorganization operations! Thanks for the demo/review. I'm sure many folks might not know of this old design. Carried one in my uniform pocket for ages, until lost in the field on a training exercise. Had other folders, and I just didn't replace it.

[@albertlevy3721]

When I was a teenager living in New York, everyone I knew had one of those in their pocket. In the 70's you could pick them up almost anywhere for around 7 to 10 dollars.

[@bobjones9727]

Ditto

[@drewpifer6082]

That's awesome !

[@waynepalmer6743]

I just payed $35 and it’s still a good deal

[@garethbaus5471]

​@@waynepalmer6743 Depending on exactly when in the 70s the $7 to $10 price was normal the current price might actually be a slightly better deal adjusting for inflation.

[@waynepalmer6743]

@@garethbaus5471 it’s a goo knife I own two

[@rooftopnegotiator3562]

My older Brother used to work at a Mill in Western Mass they used these for opening Boxes at the Mill used to get Crates of these things, they were built and Colored White with "William Kenyon" on them, my whole Family used to use these for our Hunting Knives, they are the best

[@5dbcooper]

Audio- ok 👍

[@firearmsolutions46]

I bought one in 1969 at Zerns Farmers Market in Gilbertsville Pennsylvania for $3.50 when I was 17

[@Frugalphilly]

Fond memories of Zerns !….I bought mine in Atlantic City for 8.00..lost it…now time to get another.

[@firearmsolutions46]

@@Frugalphilly Birdsboro here

[@eileensalimbene4264]

No South Bronx jokes folks!

[@arunkumar5710]

Where can I buy this? I have to have it shipped to India.

[@tomasinacovell4293]

Very nice, but batoning with a folding/automatic knife is like abusing screw drivers for crowbars etc, if it's life or death have at it but you're supposed to at least own a machete for that.

[@17cmmittlererminenwerfer81]

Using this as a bushcraft knife is silly. That's not what it's for, in the least. This is a German military pocket knife from over a century ago. It's not a pocket hatchet or campfire-starter.

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

And yet it worked.

[@bluecow2655]

Put me in the stop beating on your knife crowd. If you live in an area that doesn't have small wood or in wet environments that you "need" to get to the inner dry would, and you don't have a light axe of hatchet as your 1st cutting tool, you might want to think again. The K55K is a great knife. It is like having the most used kitchen knife, the paring knife, in your pocket. Put aside STF. or EOTWAWKT. fantasies, and think about real world everyday tasks. Opening packages, cutting string/rope, salami, cheese, biscuits, hard rolls, spreading mustard, pealing and slicing potatoes, carrots, apples, cleaning fish and game, ... Yes, it is just carbon steel, and maybe even a little soft. That too is a blessing. No need for ceramic/ diamond stones to keep it sharp. You can touch up the edge with a smooth flat rock you picked up out of the creek. Great review as always. One of the best things about you is that you actually use the knives. No this is the box it came in, oh look the waxed paper that it was wrapped in. WAXED PAPER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.

[@aliendoomsyndrome]

I love the black cat knife, it definitely has a cool factor that not many new knives can match.

[@lanedexter6303]

Take a lesson from Felix Immler. If you must baton a folder, then partially fold it before hitting it.

[@derauditor5748]

"Kaufmann" (Merchant) was the original Company. Translated into Latin it makes "Mercator". And the "g" in Solingen is spelled hard like the "G" in "Gulf War"

[@EricW4445]

A perfect blend of function, form and industrial manufacturing simplicity. I have been carrying a cat knife since I was a kid in the 1960’s.

[@rocar716]

Have carried a mercator for nearly fifty years have skinned thousands of fur bearer in nz with them theyre the main go to for that job good carbon steel. Gutted and broke down hundreds of dear and pigs with them too. And good ol green river with rose wood handle

[@miketyree9652]

I carried one all thru highschool in the 70's. I used it to retain my lunch money on a few occasions.

[@dylanrichey9501]

I carry one everyday love the the black cat

[@tedbigger8615]

My comment on batoning. It’s YOUR KNIFE! I really don’t care what someone else does. I baton because I don’t like using an ax. But it is individual decision. Some people really need to get a life.😂

[@paulhelberg5269]

I carried one of those in my back pocket all through junior high and high school. It cleaned a few bluegills and sunfish over the years and helped me start a few camp fires as well. Mostly it saw service as a handy utility knife. I still have one in my pile of knives next to some old swiss knives and other pocket knives. Good knife.

[@ramonarroyo5573]

Lol I pay $5 for one brand new when i was 16. had it for a long time. Trowing it, and broke it lol . Going to get another one so lite you forget you have it.

[@garethbaus5471]

I always considered battoning to be a stress test more than an actual practical task. A knife that can survive being violently bashed through wood is more than tough enough to survive normal use.

[@isaacs_knives_and_knowledge]

Neat little knife. I read about these in the book The Tactical Knife by James Morgan Ayres

[@allenelam6135]

Very cool old design. Thanks for sharing it. I had completely nforgitnabout these knives. I had one when I was in the service. Did a couple dumb things with it and destroyed it. Just never got another one. Started into American made knives.

[@EricW4445]

Otter messer manufactures the Mercator cat knife now. They offer several different versions, copper, brass and stainless steel handles, with or with out pocket clips, smaller non locking and even multi tool ( sort of) versions too. Check out their website or ebay.

[@glenmo1]

WOW thanks ..always wanted one since I was 8 YO! Back in early 1960s ! Saw them in local CT store named CALDOR DEPT STORE ..early 1960s .I did confiscate my dad's " cousin Willie's Stainless steel hunting & fishing knife " .still own it !

[@beerdrinker6452]

Interesting. Thank you.

[@staceyroberts9177]

Well if you are in a survival situation, need to make a fire, have limited dry wood, and this is the only knife you have then you may want to have batoning in your woodcraft skills.

[@Wideranger]

Love the fatwood storage system!

[@jerryrigger3040]

I think I had one over 30 years ago? Batoning: I don't mind watching you doing it during testing, I don't care if others do it, would never do it if I only had one knife with me. If you are planning on doing much batoning, get a Froe!

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Never say never ;-)

[@Jaden48108]

Never met a knife I didn't like. This one offers a lot of bang for the buck. Not bad for $36.

[@ianrawlings2546]

Gotta love, "some of that knife stuff"!

[@IsaiahGonzalezofficial]

I’m in the south Bronx and carry one

[@MrDDiRusso]

It is possible to baton with a dull butter knife.

[@rtaylor61]

Green wood or dry?

[@canadafree2087]

Yup, a survival teacher who's name I can't remember used to do this as a demo.

[@eileensalimbene4264]

Flag on the moon! My husband is ROTFL

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

That one is from James Yeager

[@mortykatz8818]

Looks like a really nice knife

[@czed7515]

I have one with a pocket clip on it. Has been my edc for at least 3 years. It has a very dark thick patina. The pocket clip is the stoutest clip I've had on a knife.

[@trapperscout2046]

I love collecting traditional knives. I might pick up one of these and try it some time.

[@heikoplotner2636]

War 1870/71 1914/18 1939/45.

[@rubiconoutdoors3492]

The Buck 110 pocket knife killed the most people in pocket knife history, and was the preferred knife of gangs, hells angles, hunters, woodsmen. It was also the most common.

[@Bman-xy2vh]

What's the electronic gadget on your necklace?

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

My wireless microphone ;-)

[@jamesaigler285]

Thanks for the info

[@rpc717]

LOVE this knife!

[@scenicdriveways6708]

Nice video, thanks for sharing it. I have the same exact Otter MercatorK55 Black Cat Knife, and it's the only folding lock blade I'll ever consider carrying, and I only carrying it when fishing or hunting. My EDC's are a Victorinox Swiss Tool X Plus Ratchet multitool and my Victorinox Huntsman pocket knife. I never leave home without them.

[@namasbouer4075]

Ironically I believe this knife would not be legal to carry in its native country because it has a backlock

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Not surprising

[@drunk_by_noon9231]

Not having a lock just makes the knife more dangerous

[@mattzee6287]

I probably wouldn't baton wood with mine. But, if I were stuck in a situation that had me gutting a deer, it would be comforting to know this can baton wood. I gutted a deer w a $3frost cutlery knife once. It was way too difficult. (I left a buck 119 at home, because I was in a hurry to get to friend's house to go hunting tomorrow)

[@matthaft2048]

These are really great for slipping in a boot if you have to go somewhere that you’re gonna get frisked at the door. The thin smooth profile practically disappears even if they go down to your ankles………or so I’ve read….👍🏻😉

[@lostinthemoonlight]

Any cool daggers?

[@garygrinkevich6971]

Great knife i'm a sucker for a cute animal on a deadly weapon, buck, benchmade, colt very cute stuff excellent design.

[@johnpetry6753]

Did you notice when cutting. The thumb pushes onto the locking mechanism enforcing the lock up. Also in Viet Nam soldiers slipped these in their jungle boots.

[@terrancecoard388]

I can confirm they were popular in Brooklyn back in the early 70's and could be picked up in any Five and Dime or corner store. There is a street name for it but it escapes me. Possibly the 55Hundred.

[@silvanigra]

That protruding lock-back lever always made me think it would easily disengage accidentally in use. Is that possible? How safe is it?

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

It’s pretty stiff.

[@iammwen5883]

If my dad had caught me batoning with any of my knives, he would have batoned me.

[@robertdiehlbob4917]

Would that spine work to spark with flint (not fero rod) to get a ember for fire?

[@anthonytuccillo6274]

Yes, as long as you use the original carbon steel versions of this knife. The stainless ones will not spark flint.

[@robertdiehlbob4917]

@@anthonytuccillo6274 thank you. that’s what I was thinking

[@johnpetry6753]

These would make a good knife in a billy pot kit. Especially the stainless one.

[@redsorgum]

I have the stainless steel version.

[@davidno1minton997]

Badass,knive

[@philneidig7830]

What? No aerodynamic/ balance test...

[@SurvivalOnPurpose]

Not usually on folders

[@slick_slicers]

I’ve a few of these, and have them because they remind me of the Higonokamis I collect. I’ve always held that you should use the right tool fo the job (a saw for logging, an axe for splitting and a knife for cutting), but that assumes you have the choice! A survival knife needs to do everything, so is a compromise.

[@Mario-z3p]

Also known as the “Kaiser Wilhelm messer”

[@m.j.morshead]

Reliable little rabbit knife,shame they are way over priced at the moment as I was thinking of upgrading from the carbon steel to stainless,rabbit blood is rough on the carbon folders when you can't clean them straight away.

[@waynepalmer6743]

If you think about it. The k55 comes off the line at the sologin plant in Germany. It is an intergral knife. It is a genuine peice of ( germacana) if you will. Any other integral knife made in Germany at the world famous sologin plant would cost $$$. It’s a good knife for what it is. I own one.

[@kueppi96]

The City these knives come from is called Solingen