Simple, functional and robust – the Mercator knife has offered these benefits for over 100 years. Even though it wasn't designed to be an army knife, it quickly gained acceptance in Emperor William's army. This was also the time that created the name "Emperor William Knife". Today, it is used worldwide and distinguishes itself with its narrow, rugged design in everyday life. The knife is available in three colour variants, in the classic black, red or blue. The blade is offered in a choice of either stainless steel or carbon steel. It is lockable, which facilitates safety in working with it.
We recommend our matching leather cases in the colours:
Natural
Black Dark brown
The American GI's brought this Mercator knife to America after World War II. There it became famous under the name "Black Cat Knife" and is still cult there today. The designation K55K means "K" for Kaufmann (the original manufacturer), "55" for Hochstrasse 55 (the original company address) and "K" for the symbol cat. The embossing is stamped under the press and after powder coating it is painted by hand as in the past.
We recommend our matching leather cases in the colours:
Natural
Black Dark brown
Patinated Mercator knife Unique craftsmanship from Solingen Experience the legendary Mercator knife from OTTER in an exclusive patinated version! Each knife is unique, handcrafted in over 50 precise steps. Start your journey with a masterpiece from the traditional blade city of Solingen. Unique patina The brass handles are patinated using tried-and-tested techniques from the art of sculpting and innovative, specially developed processes by Sebastian von hartaufhart from Düsseldorf. This creates unusual structures that make each knife a unique and unmistakable piece. The patina develops with use, giving the knife a very individual character. Look forward to a knife that lives and ages with you! Exclusive details The hartaufhart/OTTER logo and the serial number are initially invisible and only become visible through the natural wear and tear of the patina with use. This gives the knife a special charm and increases its uniqueness.Scope of deliveryMercator knife with patinated brass handle High-quality leather case in natural or black Care oil (Ballistol) for the carbon blade Craftsmanship in perfection The Mercator knife undergoes over 50 manual work steps: 20 steps in Solingen at OTTER for preparation 12 steps in Düsseldorf at hartaufhart for customised patination 20 steps in Solingen at the OTTER manufactory for final assembly and sharpening Please note: Each knife is unique! The product photos serve as sample images. The colour, structure and intensity of the patina may vary.
The Mercator and OTTER knife, these two expressions are tightly connected. Now there is also a knife that displays this connection. We have reissued the Mercator in its historical form. Instead of the classical black steel casing, the handle is now made of brass. The elegant look of the metal is completed by the embossed OTTER design. This Mercator knife possesses all the properties you have come to value, in spite of its elegant appearance. It is small, functional and reliable. This model is the larger, lockable brass knife. The blade is available in a stainless or carbon steel option. The Mercator brass has been honoured with both the Design Plus and the FORM# Award 2015.Please note: Since brass is a very soft material, small toolmarks from the knife manufacturing are hard to avoid. These are not defects, but rather witness to the individuality of the knife.
We recommend our matching leather cases in the colours:
Natural
Black Dark brown
Brass and damascus – this knife will not only make collectors' hearts beat faster. We have reissued the Mercator in its historical form. Instead of the classic black steel case, the handle is now made of brass. The Damascus steel blade makes the pocket knife a real eye-catcher. The elegant look is completed by the embossed OTTER. Despite its elegant appearance, this Mercator knife also has the usual qualities: it is slim, functional and reliable. The Mercator knife with brass and damascus has the same size as the classic, large Mercator and can also be locked. The leather strap with brass eyelet is included. We use Damascus blades forged from low-alloy cold work steels (1.2842/1.5634, 75Ni8). The hardness is around 61 Rockwell. Please note that the damascus we use is not stainless.We recommend our matching leather cases in the following colours:
Natural
Black Dark brown
Brass and damascus – this knife will not only make collectors' hearts beat faster. We have reissued the Mercator in its historical form. Instead of the classic black steel case, the handle is now made of brass. The Damascus steel blade makes the pocket knife a real eye-catcher. The elegant look is completed by the embossed OTTER. Despite its elegant appearance, this Mercator knife also has the usual qualities: it is slim, functional and reliable. The Mercator knife with brass and damascus has the same size as the classic, large Mercator and can also be locked. The leather strap with brass eyelet is included. We use Damascus blades forged from low-alloy cold work steels (1.2842/1.5634, 75Ni8). The hardness is around 61 Rockwell. Please note that the damascus we use is not stainless.We recommend our matching leather cases in the following colours:
Natural
Black Dark brown
The Mercator and OTTER knife, these two terms are closely connected. Now there is also a knife which shows this connection. We have reissued the Mercator in its historical form. Instead of the classic black steel case, the handle is now made of brass. The noble appearance of the metal is completed by the embossed OTTER. Despite its elegant appearance, this Mercator knife also has the usual features. It is slim, functional and reliable. This model is the small, non-lockable brass knife.
We recommend our matching knife holsters in the following colours:
Natural Black Dark brown
Simple, functional and robust — the Mercator knife has offered these benefits for over 100 years. Today, it is used worlwide and distinguishes itself with its narrow, rugged design in everyday life. Now, we added a stainless steel clip to our classic. Whether on belt, trouser pockets or backpack, thanks to the clip you quickly have your Mercator knife on your fingertips. A must, not only for outdoor enthusiasts.
We recommend our matching leather cases in the colours:
Natural
Black Dark brown Dark brownas well as the knife holster in the colours:
Natural Black Dark brown
Mercator meets Buckels – Two Traditions Go for a Picnic! The Mercator with a folding Buckelsblade is a practical addition for any knife enthusiast. This knife combines the versatility of a folding blade with the wide, rounded shape of a Buckelsblade, making it ideal for easily spreading butter or jam on bread or rolls. The blade is made from high-quality stainless steel, ensuring durability and excellent cutting performance. The sturdy folding mechanism ensures safe handling and allows the knife to be stored compactly and transported securely. With the backlock the blade can be securely locked when not in use, minimizing the risk of injury. The sleek and compact design typical of the Mercator makes the knife a versatile companion for home or on the go. The durable metal casing ensures a long lifespan. The embossed and hand-painted Otter adds additional charm to the Mercator Buckels. Thanks to its compact format, the knife is ideal for camping trips, picnics, or travel, but it can also be used in the kitchen or at work. Despite the rounded blade tip, this knife is NOT a children's pocket knife!We recommend our matching leather cases in the colours:
Natural
Black Dark brown
The Mercator is a traditional German pocket knife. With this new copper handle we gave it a new and exclusive look. Although the slim handle and classic blade were not changed. The embossed OTTER logo completes the extraordinary appearance of this knife. The Mercator copper is available with either a carbon or a stainless steel blade. The knife is also equipped with a leather strap to secure it against loss. This is the larger, lockable model. Please note: Since copper is a very soft material, small toolmarks from the manufacturing are hard to avoid. These are not defects, but rather witness to the individuality of the knife.
We recommend our matching leather cases in the colours:
Natural
Black Dark Brown
Copper and Damascus – this knife will not only make collectors' hearts beat faster. The matt copper and the expressive damascus turn what was once a simple working knife into something very special. The structure of the hand-forged carbon damascus is shown to its best advantage. Our damascus is made in Germany. The Mercator knife with copper and damascus is the same size as the classic, large Mercator and can also be locked in place. The leather strap with copper eyelet is included.
We use Damascus blades forged from low-alloy cold work steels (1.2842/1.5634, 75Ni8). The hardness is around 61 Rockwell.
Please note that the damascus we use is not stainless.We recommend our matching leather cases in the colours:
Natural
Black Dark Brown
The Mercator knife is a traditional German pocket knife. With the copper handle we have given this model a new appearance. The proven, slim handle and the classic blade shape have not been changed. The noble appearance is completed by the OTTER embossed into the handle. The Mercator copper is available both with stainless and carbon blade. This knife is the small, non-lockable form of the Mercator.
We recommend our matching knife holsters in the following colours:
Natural Black Dark brown
Simple, functional and robust — the Mercator knife has offered these benefits for over 100 years. Today, it is used worlwide and distinguishes itself with its narrow, rugged design in everyday life. Now, we added a stainless steel clip to our classic. Whether on belt, trouser pockets or backpack, thanks to the clip you quickly have your Mercator knife on your fingertips. A must, not only for outdoor enthusiasts.
We recommend our matching leather cases in the colours:
Natural
Black Dark brown Dark brownas well as the knife holster in the colours:
Natural Black Dark brown
Known as the "Black Cat" knife by American GI's after World War 2, the Mercator still enjoys an excellent reputation among knife enthusiasts worldwide. The black box with the golden cat belongs in every enthusiast's collection.In cooperation with Woodlore, an exclusive Mercator model with the unique handle box in reed green and the cat painted in black was created a few years ago. A new chapter in the more than 140-year history of the Mercator knife, to which OTTER knives could add another highlight. The Mercator K55K "Cat Reed Green" won 1st place in the "Classic" category at the IWA Knife Award 2023.The blade is available from us in either 1.4034 stainless steel or C75 carbon steel.
The perfect gift for any collector of historical knives.
A "legend" has returned. The 4-part Mercator pocket knife was produced more than 60 years ago by the Kaufmann und Söhne Company in Solingen. We have brought the knife back to life based on faded yellowing drawings. It is built to include 4 tools, just like in the olden days. A lockable knife blade, the awl for loosening knots and punching holes into leather and fabrics, the can opener, and a corkscrew. It takes more than 120 work processes for its manufacturing. Everything is crafted by hand. The awl and the can opener are forged on belt drop hammers, rough-ground and then finally fine-ground. The core in the corkscrew helix prevents the "crumbling" of the cork. The blade is made of carbon steel which holds its edge well, is sharpened and then receives another dry-fine grind. The handle, made of blued steel, doesn't have the non-rust properties of modern coatings, but it gives the knife a high-quality appearance. All these are properties that can hardly ever be found in the knives of today. The blade steel is C75 carbon steel.
We recommend our matching knife holster in the following colours:
Natural Black Dark brown
Our remake of the popular classic. The new Mercator Multi is much smaller and lighter than its predecessor. With a blade length of 7,5 cm it is a handy every day carrier. Like the bigger version it has a corkscrew. Instead of an awl it has a bottle opener which can also be used as a screwdriver. With this combination the small Mercator Multi is a multifunctional knife for daily routines as well as outdoor activities. The blade steel is either carbon or stainless steel.
We recommend our matching knife holster in the following colours:
Natural Black Dark brown
The small knife from the Mercator series has the same properties as its big brother, but it is not lockable. The blade is optionally available in stainless steel or in carbon steel. The robust powder-coated metal handle is available in two colour variations, in the classic black or in blue. Thanks to its flat design, the small Mercator is a handy knife that could fit into pretty much any trouser pocket.
We recommend our matching knife holsters in the following colours:
Natural Black Dark brown
The small knife from the Mercator series has the same properties as its big brother, but it is not lockable. The blade is optionally available in stainless steel or in carbon steel. The robust powder-coated metal handle is available in two colour variations, in the classic black or in blue. Thanks to its flat design, the small Mercator is a handy knife that could fit into pretty much any trouser pocket.