Germany's Legendary Knife: The Mercator K55K. (Black Cat) A two-year review! 

Katze is right , but in German its Silberlöwe , an old German Word for Puma ! Your Video is great , thank you very much for presenting our German pocketknive ! 😊

“I like cats….deal with it” that was great! Good review thanks!

I have been carrying one daily for 3.5 years as a pocket knife. It has stayed sharp, developed a wear patina on the blade, maintained its black finish (even if the gold has worn off on the logo), and is still tight with no wiggle. The history of the use among gangsters and hoodlums in NYC is tied to the point that folding knives are legal there only if their blades are

Guten Tag ! 😊

I know the carbon steel is probably better technically. However, I have the all stainless version, and whatever they used for the blade is superb at being stainless. 3 years on mine, and the whole knife doesn't have any spots, or rust on it. I've had it out in the rain, cut limes for drinks, and used it at work. The only differences now from when it was new are, the lock tab and spring inside turned dark grey, the keyring is worn pretty thin, and the knife has fine scratches and polishing all over it. No rust, no loose rivets, no bends or chips and still takes an edge. Just clean it with hot soapy water, and occasionally some cotton with rubbing alcohol to get the gunk out, and wipe it with cooking oil. After that, this knife would probably survive at the bottom of the ocean.

Awesome review of this knife, buddy. I want one! Cheers!

Guten Tag! Kaufmann (German) = Merchant (English) = Mercator (Latin) The K55K has been produced in very large quantities since 1867. Although it was often carried by German soldiers during the two world wars, it was never officially issued, but privately purchased. It was frequently used as a weapon in the Bronx in the 1960s and 1970s. For some time now, a version with corkscrew, awl and can opener is also available.

It's not legal to carry in public without good reason in the UK. You can still own one. The lemon job is cool. I'm intrigued as to why it came out the way it did. Gonna have to try it. You just stuck the blade in a lemon and left it, aye?

I had one as a high school kid in the early 1970s. I lost it a long time ago and have always wanted a replacement because it is so THIN to carry. Now that I'm old and rich I have just ordered an all stainless one, finally, again. Good video.

I like cats myself because I think they’re cute and lovable and I also love knives. At some point I gotta get a Black Cat knife because I’ve always had a thing for European pocket knives.

I have a brass, Otter. I love it.

Fantastic informative video on a tried and tested pocket knife.thank you.paddy.

His majesty the king wants the knife to close on your fingers while you are defending yourself.😊

Great Video!

I have a copper version and love it! I also have the Kat knife and really like it. Mine has a slight curve to the blade though which bugs me. Otherwise I have no complaints with my Kat knife.

00:08:52 Ha! Yes!

Very good knife ! 🇩🇪

The Germans have been using C75 (1075) steel since medieval times when swords were in regular use because 1075 is better for sword making than 1095.

Mate we can have them in the UK we just aren't supposed to carry them unless we have a good reasonl to have one. I carry one most of the time and being out of the age where I get stopped and searched by the police I have never had any trouble.mind you I am a whitean of sixty. I had one of them knives about fifty years ago it was the first lockback I ever saw. It had the cat on it and I think they called it puma but I think that was before the well known sportswear brand.

Forced a patina on my new one, love the thing.

Sehr schoenes Video, vielleicht auch ein bischen History on this knife???>>>LOL Not sure if you mentioned in your video about the great history on this simple knife....I love the fact that even the German Kaiser Wilhelm carried this same knife,,,,it also went to WW1 and even popular in WW2...never been an officially issued Amy knife!! WW2 GI's brought it home and pretty fast it developed a bad reputation, because youngsters in New York started running around with these blades....go figger...lol I hope ya all know where the Cat comes from and why its called K55K!?? If not, here it is: K55K means Kaufman as the first K....the makers last name was Kaufman!! The 55 is the actual house number of the former factory in Solingen Germany and the last K is for Katze,,,which means cat in German....according to the factory history the had a house cat there inside the production halls...lol....And of course the name Mercator which is Latin, stands for KAUFMAN which means trades man....!! Cool, don't ya think!!??

I just got one. I love the classic look and design. Just don't cut live wire with this. 🙂 This, along with the Douk Douk and Opinel are my favorite classic, old-schoole knives.

Great video I just subscribed 😌 And where can I buy it tho?

JMHO forcing patina is "stolen valor" of the knife world. Or claiming something you're not in the case of forced patina and real use. Great video keep up the good work.

get yourself a kiwi stud and you'll be fine.nice vid man.

whats the width of the handle at the widest point?

Cats Rock.

hey im wondering if you or other people here know any thing about the history of these knifes? I have one, it made its way to New Zealand during WWII. it doesnt have the cat or k55k engraved. from photos it seems the engraving isnt engraving rather punched much like MERCATOR on the base of the blade. I'm thinking mine is way older than wwII 1939-1945 perhaps its a 17th century knife. I cant find any info or pictures of older knives. any info would be much appreciated. I'm trying to date this thing..

Dam they cost $80 here in Aus

Sorry . You messed up a beautiful knife .

Never owning a Nazi knife