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Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 4:06 pm
by Termite
Recently picked up a Mercator fixed blade knife original Bowie 7 in all I can read is about the small folding mercator's does anybody know anything about their fixed blade knives history I cannot find anything
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 4:28 pm
by Steve Warden
Sorry, I have no help to offer. But that sure is a nice looking knife!
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 4:30 pm
by doglegg
Simple and elegant. That is a really fine looking fixed blade. Just enough of every thing.
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 4:36 pm
by samb1955
Nice knife but all I've seen are the folders, good luck.
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 4:49 pm
by Termite
Steve Warden wrote:Sorry, I have no help to offer. But that sure is a nice looking knife!
Thanks
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 4:53 pm
by Mumbleypeg
Probably contract made by a Solingen maker. Do an ebay search for “Original Bowie Knife” - you’ll find at least a half-dozen of these, all marked “Original Bowie Knife” like yours, and “Solingen”, but with various different companies’ marks.
Ken
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 5:06 pm
by Termite
doglegg wrote:Simple and elegant. That is a really fine looking fixed blade. Just enough of every thing.
Thanks
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 5:09 pm
by Termite
Mumbleypeg wrote:Probably contract made by a Solingen maker. Do an ebay search for “Original Bowie Knife” - you’ll find at least a half-dozen of these, all marked “Original Bowie Knife” like yours, and “Solingen”, but with various different companies’ marks.
Ken
Thanks I've searched everywhere I can't pick up one bit of evidence of any fixed blade knives through that company . I guess this is what makes it all interesting seek and find.
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 6:25 pm
by EyeBJoe
I may be off the mark on this but most of the Mercator knives I have seen were offered under the "Otter" logo, which was one of the brands manufactured by Gebruder Berns of Solingen. Below is a little info. from their Solingen website. Still doesn't say much about fixed blades.
Round about 1840 the Berns brothers established the company Gebr. Berns in Königsmühlein Solingen, a region of Bergisch Land. They manufactured pocket knives with brand OTTER-Messer in a very little factory. The fish-otters, living in the streams and brooks next the little factory, gave the figure and the name OTTER for brand name. At that time, only simple and strong pocket knives were manufactured in many different versions, finished with wooden scales, all hand made grinded, stropped and polished! In 1847 OTTER-Messer appeared first as a registered trademark. In 1867 and 1887 more entries in trademark registers followed. In course of time, economical and social changes,the company moved to Höhscheid (near the centre of Solingen). Mr. Rainer Morsbach overtook the trademark OTTER and knife production in 1989, when Berns brothers closed the company. Since this time the traditional OTTER-knives were manufactured in Solingen-Merscheid. OTTER-Messer GmbH is set up end of 2010 and at the end of 2011 Mr. Frank Rommel overtook the company from Mr. Morsbach. In August 2012 the company moves to Solingen-Ohligs. The knives are mostly fitted with carbon steel blades (mat. no.2003/C75) and wooden scales, or fitted with stainless blades but all knives are hand made manufactured and hand stropped. The delivery range enlarges and includes today knives for household, florists, gardeners and industry in well known Solingen industrial quality. Hand made in Solingen/Germany
Joe D.
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 7:01 pm
by Termite
And thanks for the info I came across something similar to that still couldn't make anything about fixed blades it just seems it's not there if it is going to be a tough one
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 7:12 pm
by Quick Steel
I made out the cat on the tang. Question: does Solingen appear on either side of the knife? I ask because it may have been subcontracted elsewhere. In any event I did come across a Mercator fixed blade Hunting knife so fixed blades, though uncommon, were evidently occasionally made. As you may already know, the handle is made of Red Stag. Sorry not to be of more help.
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2019 7:19 pm
by Bastler
Perhaps this video by Herr Schmalhaus will answer some questions regarding the Mercator folder and Otter Messer. I believe that your knife is a different Mercator altogether.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfFZbXBhBf0
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Wed May 01, 2019 2:14 am
by Termite
Quick Steel wrote:I made out the cat on the tang. Question: does Solingen appear on either side of the knife? I ask because it may have been subcontracted elsewhere. In any event I did come across a Mercator fixed blade Hunting knife so fixed blades, though uncommon, were evidently occasionally made. As you may already know, the handle is made of Red Stag. Sorry not to be of more help.
Yes it does read solingen Germany
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Wed May 01, 2019 2:23 am
by Termite
Bastler wrote:Perhaps this video by Herr Schmalhaus will answer some questions regarding the Mercator folder and Otter Messer. I believe that your knife is a different Mercator altogether.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfFZbXBhBf0
It is very faint under the cat I can read k55k
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Wed May 01, 2019 2:39 am
by Termite
Termite wrote:Bastler wrote:Perhaps this video by Herr Schmalhaus will answer some questions regarding the Mercator folder and Otter Messer. I believe that your knife is a different Mercator altogether.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfFZbXBhBf0
It is very faint under the cat I can read k55k
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Thu May 02, 2019 11:18 pm
by Bastler
Rainer Morsbach uses the k55k mark. Here is a link that might be helpful, if your German is better than mine.
https://www.katzek55k.de/
Re: Mercator fixed blade
Posted: Thu May 02, 2019 11:52 pm
by Termite
thank you I think that will be very helpful might find a Target where I can find the beginning of it it's not as early as I thought it was but not too bad