Colonel666 Knife Guides: Heinrich Kaufman - Otter Messer

Heinrich Kaufmann - Otter Messer Heinrich Kaufmann & Son founded in 1856. They produced an affordable variation of the 1884 Locking Fish Folding Knife made by Russell. Russell stopped making these in 1933 (bone grips). The 1884 model folder was then made by Bõker as well as Kaufman, similar types made by Gaston (Douk-Douk). They were distributed to Dutch/German colonies and annex countries like South Africa, Far East and British India. The Dutch East India Company brought these to Cape Town and this is where the logo "Mercat" was styled. The K55 logo is a "feliform" and not actually a "cat" called a "Lake Cat" by Afrikaans. The Mercat (Meercat) lives locally in the Kalahari Desert (Botswana) in groups called, gangs, mobs, clans. The Mercat is in the carnivoran Mongoose family. It can run at speeds of 20mph, and has a long thin tail that tapers to a point that helps it balance when it stands erect. A popular attraction at the Stuttgart Zoo also.

In British India the 1884 model folding/locking fish knife "Old No.55 India Brand" well known among poor natives and local crime elements. The Okapi is marketed in a similar way with logo of an animal unique to the area. The Otter-Messer picked the "Otter" which they saw swimming around their area as their logo.

Distributing locally, within Switzerland too, and Austria. Eventually reviving the manufacture of the Mercator pocket knife in 1995 when Heinrich Kaufmann stopped. Inexpensive handle material with a Solingen quality blade made it affordable to all. With sheet-brass handle with no added grip panels originally was painted black (Mercator). The K55 is branded with a reversed "Crazy" monogram capitol "K" which is a unique aspect of brands. This identification branding was used by ancient Romans on slaves as well as livestock. The Otter Warenfabrik-Messer is run by Rainer Morsbach and Frank Rommel. The handle is formed from a single piece of steel, with a spacer at the end where the lanyard bail is attached. The thin, steel handle is available in black coated, colour anodised or bonded synthetic finish. The blade, spring and locking bar are held in place by rivets. Otter Knives have been manufactured since around 1840, with the trademark registered in 1867. The Solingen company has changed ownership and manufacturing location several times over the years. Established in 2010, Otter-Messer GMBH now manufactures Mercator brand knives.

Besides Mercator knives, the large product range includes kitchen knives, hunting knives and many models of folding pocket knife. A single large 3-½" long blade and some were available with a marlinspike, and a can opener by Robert Klaas.

*Otter Marlin Spike with 666 NYC holster*

Handle materials available include, bubinga wood, olive wood, rosewood, bone and stag horn. Blades are made of C75 carbon steel or 4034 stainless steel. C75 carbon steel is unalloyed steel with a fine molecular structure and gives an extremely sharp, long lasting cutting edge. The 4034 Stainless steel option is an alloy containing more than 11% chromium, which prevents tarnishing or light rust. Carbon steel pocketknife with lockback blade variation has a tin can opener, corkscrew with helix construction and awl for loosening knots and piercing holes. Heinrich Kaufmann was a steel exporter in 1860's. Factory location (1884) in Solingen at Rheinstrasse 12-44 in 1922 then registered September 11, 1928.
In 1939 relocated along Gasstrasse.

*Old No.55 India Brand (1884)
*Kauf-Mann (1896) *Mercatores (1898) *Kaufmann (1903) *Double Kaufman (1903) *Mercator (1903)
*Mercaknife (1924-1925)

Other versions of the company name were also registered between 1896 and 1911.

Landser Style Pocketknives:

Anyone who has spent any time in the field will know the value of a good serviceable pocketknife, and the "Landser" was no exception to this rule.

The pragmatic efficiency of the German Army, it is somewhat surprising that we can find no evidence of these useful tools being standard issue item. There is no mention of them in either equipment lists or Soldbuchs.

They were privately purchased either from home, or from their "Marketenderwäre" (PX goods). The knives with known wartime usage fall into general categories:
1) Heavy-duty knives made for field.
2) Penknives
3) Field Knives

The grips of the knives were of wood (pear, walnut, or maple), or metal (steel or brass), and all of the specimens in this study had some type of maker's name or logo stamped on at least one blade then reproduced a great deal since the 40's, (Anton Wingen Jr.) Most of the reproductions of this style originate from Pakistan or India and some of them have been in the collector market long enough to attain a certain amount of credibility. Some of the characteristics of these repros are: *Waffenamts too large. *Pressed instead of ground blades. There is a variation the "French Occupation Model" that has a corkscrew and Maple grips marked "ROGISO SOLINGEN ". Previous types lack the reinforcing bolster and has walnut-like grips, nickelled rivets, two blades and a can opener. The main blade is marked "KAUFMANN K55) followed by a "Crazy K" monogram. Aug. Müller & Söhne (Solingen) Landser type folder had a can opener and dates from 1941, utilizing zinc liners and rivet washers. Carried by the "Sudetengau" in Czechoslovakia. It is possible that these variations of Landser knife were Czech-made. A lock-blade style was popular before WWI. Blade etched "Andenken an die Westfront" and the bust of a soldier and marked "ELAST"Germany. with corkscrew.

This knife (below) has a single large 3-½" long and some were available with a marlinspike, and a can opener by Robert Klaas. but without the can opener and marlinspike.