Third Party Press

German Soldiers Pocket Knife

pzjgr

EOD - bombs and bullets
Here is another neat knife I picked up...not military issue, I guess they were private purchase, but were often carried apparently.

This one is a Mercator, I think another popular one was "Cat" or something similar....

Good bread bag stuffer!
 

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Cool, that one probably a vet bringback from pocket litter. My understanding is that they make these today. Very popular then and now, and I think that DRGM marking confirms it as most likely WW2 or earlier. :thumbsup: D.R.G.M. = "Deutsches Reiches Gebrauchs Musterschutz", which means it is a patent protected design under the German government / Reich. "Reich" also translates to realm or applies to a kingdom or government.
 
I like these knives as well. The maker is Heinrich Kaufmann & Söhne KG of Solingen also known as India-Werke. Mercator is one of their trademarks. As was the "running cat" with K55K (second K reversed) marking also found on these folding knives. Yours is one of the early pattern knives with the outer frame fabricated from a single piece of folded over sheet metal. Knives manufactured after the First World War have the outer frame crafted from two sheets held by rivets. These came in a variety of sizes and examples with multiple blades (awl, can opener, corkscrew, etc) can also be encountered. Black painted versions of the "running cat" knives were made well into the 1990s.
 
I like these knives as well. The maker is Heinrich Kaufmann & Söhne KG of Solingen also known as India-Werke. Mercator is one of their trademarks. As was the "running cat" with K55K (second K reversed) marking also found on these folding knives. Yours is one of the early pattern knives with the outer frame fabricated from a single piece of folded over sheet metal. Knives manufactured after the First World War have the outer frame crafted from two sheets held by rivets. These came in a variety of sizes and examples with multiple blades (awl, can opener, corkscrew, etc) can also be encountered. Black painted versions of the "running cat" knives were made well into the 1990s.

Wow, great info, thanks for posting!

So this is WWI era? I would have never guessed that....very interesting. I remember seeing a running cat version I think in Angolias's book of German equipment, so when a buddy of mine picked this in a group of misc stuff, I grabbed it....never really saw another in the wild...
 
Brings back some memories. Had one of those lock-back black cat knives back in the 60s. Silver blade as I recall with metal handle.
 

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