Hubertus, Linder, Mercator, Hartkopf, Herbertz, etc.

[keithw]

Hi all,

Anyone care to share experiences, opinions, etc. on some of the lesser known (at least to me) German knives. I've been looking at some websites, and some of these look like well-made knives, but many are very pricey.

Thanks!
Keith

[TM]

Hi Keith - I don't have much to share in the way of experience, but I've always liked the Hubertus knives that I've seen pictures of. They seem like really nice 'old world' knives ... fat stag and classic shapes. They're out of my price range though.

[Gunsmoke47]

Hey Keith, I only have one. It is a Linder Auto that Kaleb did a number on. It has Tourquoise handles and some very nice filework, (as we all know what kind of work Kaleb does). I don't have a clue what it looked like before Kaleb got through with it and really don't care. I will say this thing snaps open with enough force to take it right out of your hand! I don't know who makes Linder but I was told they were out sourced. Here is a pic or 2. Smoke

[muskrat man]

Hubertus makes a good knife, good steel, good quality, they get two thumbs up from me

Haven't had enough experience with the others to give an honest opinion.

[orvet]

I am not really an auto guy so I don't know about the autos.
I have a Mercator Black Cat. It is a pretty decent simple knife.

I also have a Hubertus fix blade dagger that is real nice. I think I have it in my store now.

[woseyjales]

Kaleb redood a Hartkopf & Co. pen for me a while back in
desert ironwood. I haven't found any additional info on it yet
but I like it. I decided to take it with me to the Blade Show
with a few other knives and strangely a Case club member happened
to ask me if I had brought my Kaleb redo with me.
I need to do some more recent pics, think I'm doing a little
better at shooting them now vs when Kaleb sent this one home.
Both blades stamped with Hartkopf & Co (underlined) over
Solingen (underlined) backside of pen has profile of twin heads (looking left)
over rostfrei. Back of main spear has rostfrei over Solingen w/o underline.

When I first got it came in a navy blue leather knife pouch which had enough wear and tear that I would guess it is probably original but no way to know for sure. After the redeaux I switched to a Case pouch from like a Case Bros in a tin item. Hope Case doesn't mind.

Last two pics are pre Kaleb 'as found' condition.
I had already posted this one along with two German MOPs in the
'Older German Knives' thread before seeing this thread.
P.L. Schmidt and Hoppe Gebr are the MOPs, might be worth your time to go see them. Easier than me finding the pics again!

[knife7knut]

Here's a few stag handled models:

A Bertram trapper with file work.
A Boker trapper.
A Diefenthal multiblade.
A Diefenthal single blade.
An Eye brand single blade lockback
A Hubertus auto
A Hubertus folding bowie.
A Keystone multiblade.

[nextgen]

Nice collection! Somehow I don't see the folding bowie makin it to the EDC rotation

[trail]

I just picked up an Otter Messer rope knife from World Knives. According to the World Knives web site, Otter Messer is the parent company of Mercator. There is an interesting short clip on Youtube showing the Otter Messer plant - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqwXOoHI9gQ

World Knives has a ton of information and links to other sites regarding Solingen knifemaking.
http://www.worldknives.com

As for the rope knife - it is by no means as robust and solid as a Camillus rope knife, but it is beautifully crafted.

[Paul Tummers]

I have a Linder fixed blade hunting knife with an ATS 34 blade, well made, good value for the money.
My general experience with German knifes is, the most are made well, but the way they heat-treath their steel gives me the feeling they could get more out of their blade steel by leaving it somewhat harder.