Opinel realizes opening can be difficult . If so , you strike the handle end on something hard to start the blade . They call this the 'Coup de Savoyard' .
I love the Mercator. Fun fact that I haven't seen mentioned in a single foreign video yet: With the black handle/golden cat version, the gold to this day is painted on by hand. It's not just beautiful (in my eyes) but also comes from a very traditional shop that works with old machines and handcraft to this day. I appreciate that.
I mentioned that in one video xD but that was this year, lol - and also it's real gold :D I am also waiting for Böker to send me that classic Otter Mercator with a carbon steel blade :D gotta wait untill new ones arrive though D:
There is a video of the MERCATOR K55K knife being manufactured here on UA-cam some place, I have watched it a couple of times. (found it:) ua-cam.com/video/rgiCOg08F7s/v-deo.html
Indeed. And price wise amazing as well. I bought a Mercator 9 y ago for 18€. Now in the same shop they are 42€. Meanwhile opinel is like 1-3€ more for a knife instead of more than double.
Quick tip regarding Opinels: Add a few coats of shellac (or whatever water-resistant coating you fancy) to either end of the handle, and the wood swelling issue you noted will be pretty much eliminated.
Well you ended on a high note with the Mercator, but I'm also a fan of the Douk Douk and Higonokami. I like small, flat knives that don't take up any space in the pocket, the blade steel is very good, and for me the retro appeal is off the chart. Sure, they don't excel in fit and finish, but these knives were (and still are) mass produced in small workshops for early 20th century working class slobs who were one pay packet away from starving to death in a ditch. Function necessarily took precedence over form!
There are also a lot of "fake" Laguiole made around the world, including in France. In fact, anyone in the world can legally make a knife that looks somewhat like a Laguiole and sell it as a "Laguiole" because it is more of a generic term that describes a style and has been legally declared as unpatentable. Traditionally, the original Laguioles are made in the village of Laguiole, or in the city or Thiers. Good French Laguioles are each handcrafted from start to end by one craftsman. The bee is forged with the spring instead of welded on it. A proud & serious knife craftsman stamps his creations with his logo or name, which are registered (or at least mentions "made in France", if not both). They also usually sell their knives with an authenticity certificate, which is also registered and shows the full workshop/craftsman address which is also registered.
I acid/patina the blade and tie a lanyard to it, leave the knot outside the pocket, works as well or better than a clip. Absolutely love the Mercator/Katt55
I agree there are the best, I've had my opinel 9 since I was 12 in the boy scouts. A simple trick to open a wet opinel is to hold it by the safety virole and tap the butt, blade side down.
Same for the carbon blade hot vinegar dip for a natural patina. You can turn an opinel into a lifetime blade with wisdom. And they are still mad cheap compared.
@@demokratiaperemoje yep, little tap inwards to release the hold. Gravity does the rest as the wood bounces back. Never heard of all those tricks, I just sanded my rusty carbon blades and let develop a patina using them carefully. The wet/sticky wood was the biggest issue. Found that tap trick by myself as a kid who couldn't find pliers. Its no gentle man's knife for sure. Its a man's blade. Best saucisson/bottle opener knife 🤣 Its the knife you let the ladies use because its awesome but you know its coming back gonked up or "unuseable" soon enought. Nothing that can't be fixed. Thats why men dont loose their opinels and they last a lifetime lol
I had a Mercator many many years ago but was yet to become a knife nerd. I've been looking at a few handle options recently and after watching this I may well grab one.
I had the same issue with the Higonokami, there was nothing to stop the blade from contacting the inner steel handle when closed. I came up with a cheap and easy solution, I ran a little bit of epoxy down the inside center where the blade edge rests, now it doesn't dull itself on metal, it just bumps against hardened epoxy.
Pro tipp: If you have clipless knives floating around the bottom of yer pocket: Put it in the slim extra pocket, the small rectangular one that sits usually on the right side of yer pants where the entrance of the usual pocket is. It was originally designed to hold pocket watches, but I guess some people call them coin- or change-pockets - which I don't understand because it's a pain to get coins out of there. For me that pocket was always my knife pocket and it can hold many different sizes of blade very well and comfortably, when you put your clipless knife in there with the joint up, then you also avoid lint n such. Knife pockets rule! 🙂
That's actually a really nice lineup. The only traditional pocket knife which is "fairly popular" enough that people around the world could easily buy online and has a following is the Okapi. Nice review of international knives, not something a lot of youtubers do.
You need more subscribers. You're too good... well, maybe not TOO good. You're pretty good... yeah, you're alright. You definitely deserve more subscribers.
Hopefully not while you were standing there wearing a pair of socks and a grin, mac. In any case, it's always good if they don't laugh first thing out of the box[er shorts].
Really stoked on this video. Your style is great and not gatekeeperish - I’m new to knives esp modern folders. Straightforward important info. I felt like the last option was exactly what I’m looking for. I was so impressed. I will continue to enjoy you content sir!
Antonini have 2 models called Caltagirone and Siciliano. Both about 3 inch blades, slip joints with half stops, Siciliano is about £12 and a stiletto shaped blade, rough made but definitely works. Caltagirone is similar but has brass bolsters and a slightly different shaped handle, blade is taller, better fit and finish than the Siciliano and is about £14. Both great traditional knives on a budget.
Best knife on list is the Svord Peasant knife if you skin game like I do. All the blood,guts and fat easily removed since it's easy to dissemble the Svord. Carbon steel and friction blade strong as HECK. Protip of carrying one in pocket is to use the pocket watch pocket in pants with a belt. Holds it in and easy to take out. Or just gave a In the Waist band leather holster for it. Mercator is second best tho if you don't do any of said things listed above.
If you ever do a second part the Okapi and the Buck 110 need to be included. I guess I could have left an encouraging comment thanking you for your hard work on this series and introducing me to some new traditional knives but I feel proper internet etiquette is to tell you what I think you should have done.
Okapi didn't quite make it- I thought about it, but heard they were all trash. However that would be part 2 though- as it would be a service if people knew they were trash. Are they trash? I don't know, that's just what I read.
That "Mercador" at 7.40 surprised me. They used to sell those at the dirty book stores on 42nd St for $4, for that size. Now those bookstores are gone. And I had not seen one of those knives since the seventies. Cool.
Hi, I was at Lisbon September last year. I happen to enter a knife shop and the owner of the shop suggested that I buy a tiny folding knife. Really loved it, but i lost it... happy to see that it actually looks like your laguiole French knife. How i wish I can own one again.
That's a nice collection, you have great taste in pocket knives ! I love the tiny Laguiole, it's so cute ... I'm really sorry you have to pay 15 dollars for an Opinel and 30 dollars for the big Douk Douk, these are way cheaper in France (if you buy them in stores anyway). If you like modern features, the Opinel is a great knife to modify, you can carve the handle and easily add a Qwik thumbstud and a pocket clip if you want. The handle is sentitive to moisture, but as I work in a glass workshop, it isn't much of a problem. You can dry them well, sand the varnish and put a mix of beeswax, turpentine and linseed oil on. It really makes the wood grain pop and makes the knife more pleasant to handle IMHO
First of all, all these knives are great! The only one I have is the Mercator and I love it. You can where skin tight pants and still wouldn’t see it in your pocket. And it locks super super good without any blade wobble. I got it as a Xmas gift last year, and have seriously misplaced it 2 times and it still is with me hahah. Great knife. if I had a choice of one more knife to have from this list, it would be that beautiful one he reviewed first
If you Google Otters website you can find multiple versions of the Mercator, including one with a pocket clip. I think it runs about 40 euros, another 40 for shipping.
Which is over $100 USD with shipping A pocket clip ain't worth $80. I just got something I plan on reviewing soon, that was only $15 that helps the situation.
Advanced Knife Bro I couldn't see spending that much either, and I use a laguiole horizontal belt sheath. Looking forward to seeing what you found. Have a great weekend.
Great video. Minor nitpick, and probably not the first one to mention it: "Laguiole" is pronounced tithout the "oo" sound, as in "La Gee yoll", in fact the locals there pronounce (and sometimes spell) it "Layole", the Opinel is EDC for half of French farmers...
"French person in French land." (Insert eyeroll here) It's also a bee. It's also expensive because the entire Laguiole is made by one person by hand. The forged blade, the scales, the etching of the spine. If you want something made entirely by someone's hand, the whole knife, then buy one. It also has a good background story.
Your Laguiole is the smallest i've ever seen, and does not look like the usual ones. Good ones are bigger, with handle made out of horn, and cost more than 100€ (if not, they are made in china, as Laguiole never put copyrights, most of them are not laguioles) I understand why you did not like yours, but it is considered the classiest french knife (when real one). The opinel review is fair, it is the knife you find in every toolbox in France, usualy old and rusty but still doing the job. But if you have tried the normal size Douk-Douk instead of the small one, you would have liked it better, the blade is wider and better quality than Opinel, i always have mine with me and i love it. Thanks for your review, i was thinking about getting a Higonokami, but now i am going to consider the Mercador instead. 😉
The Old Bear, like the Opinel, come in different sizes. Surprised you didn't choose something more similar in size to make your comparison. Like you, I like both knives, and agree that there are favorable qualities and weaknesses to both.to both. Thanks for bringing this knife to public atention.
Excellent review Sir, your like the Anthony Bourdain of the knife world, I enjoy watching your videos and listening to you. And I'm sick of buying Chinese made scraps too.
I have plenty of those, but this was designed to be a sampling of distinct regional knives from around the world. Sort of- a lot of companies make the Sodbuster- but I did want to have a familiar face or two. Thanks for watching!
Once I saw the history of the Douk-Douk knife, I had to get one, however I did not want one that actually depicts the Douk-Douk Creature itself. I wanted the earliest iterations, which would be devoid of the emblem of the creature.
Long time listener first-time caller. I love your vidjas, the warm the cockles of my cool island heart...or is it a penninsula? Just living on a lie of a man made island. Anyways I have a bit of an odd knife collection myself and I'd be happy to lend a few of them to you for videos if you're interested a few of them could be beat up pretty thoroughly. The knobs I had in mind being a Kershaw RAM Hawk, Cold Steel Triple Action, Bradley Butterfly, Benchmade LFK, CRKT Fulcrum, H&K(Benchmade) Snody folder, and I have some old us made Kershaws (chive, leek, etc) that you might be interested in. Thanks again for the videos!
I'll keep that in mind thanks! I have a small pile of stuff I am working on. I often buy stuff and review it months later... I have a pile of Swiss Army Knives, a Benchmade or two, a few fixed blades, and some Leathermans. Luckily my subscribers don't mind some old stuff. I tend to not have the patience, network, or money to get ahold of the newer stuff.
My favorite is the GEC bullnose 1095 easy to sharpen steel great action good looking polished micarta handles very sharp just ask my bloody fingers. If I had to pick from what u showed the case sod buster is my cup of ☕️.
Everyone has a opinion. Not all of those opinions are valid, no matter what people think. Just tell the truth from your perspective, with your great sense of dark humor. Thanks for the videos.
@@junichiroyamashita Most of the ordinary opinels - the six, the 8, etc all come in a "slim" option which is even lighter and thinner. A slim 8 is basically my favorite knife for cleaning stream and river fish.
I like seeing what others have collected and why.. Not so much into the chaulkboard screetching for leaving out someone's tool de force. I liked the Cudeman, MAM, and Sodbuster here.. and I own none of em. Good job Bro.
I like the Spanish/Corsican style peasant knives and that Portuguese Semi-Opinel thing. Only really excel at peasant food prep tho -- what they were designed for.
Another traditional French knife is the Nontron the company have been making the same style knife since the 1430’s, yes 1430’s. It has a fantastic history and folklore behind it too.
Ain’t $50! Also I was trying to mix up the style a bit, and it looked a little like a sodbuster. I plan on doing a more modern slip joint video in the future.
That Laguiole is so cute... I’ve never seen one that small. A $200 one can be really beautiful, but, they ain’t cheap! I can’t get excited about Duk-Ducks or Hago Nakamis either. The Mam Mam emulates the Opinel, but is more expensive... why? The Opinels are great picnic knives and super cheap. As a food knife they’re hard to beat. A Spanish Laguiole... just no! The Sod Buster is a great German/Austrian design and one of the best golden oldies. The Mercator (Mir-K-Tor, by the way) was probably attractive once... apparently Moses swore by them!
5 years later they are still being made. I own most but my least fav is the Japanese one, it is more a woodworking knife. I like the Svord but it is best with a belt sheath, at which point, might as well carry a belt knife. Just got a Mercator yesterday but they are $70-$100 in Canada which is too high for the materials and construction. My sodbuster has "yugoslavia" on the blade.
I love Mercators as well. They do make a model with a pocket clip, but I have yet to see them from US sellers. As it stands, you have to buy them from Germany and the shipping nearly doubles the price.
One of the best knives made. Still carry mine most days. Great steel, nice and light. I always tie a shoe lace to mine as I've had one dissapear in the grass while hare shooting one night. The shoe lace will lie on top of the grass and makes it easier to find if it falls out your pocket. Or wear pants with decent pockets
you should include the buck 110 next vid. your top 3 are good, the only change I would make is swapping out the Spanish cudman for the opinal. the case sod buster is completely underrated, you rarely see anyone making vids on it.
I have all but two of those knives, the Case is the best working knife, Mercator is best quality, but too skinny for me. For less than $50 you should have included the legendary Buck 110, Hands down winner!!
For everyone saying he should have had a GEC knife, Great Eastern Cutlery is a new company started in 2008 that recreates old-styled knives. It is also an American company. All of the other knives in the video have been made by some of the same companies for a long time and are from countries other than the US. He said in the video he was looking at traditional world knives from other countries. Therefore, no GEC.
I looked into it. 80 euros shipped to the US from their website. By itself it's 40 euros, which nearly doubles the price of the knife- but getting it to the US even for 40 euros does not seem possible.
I'm old, too, and thus, presbyopic... which is why I first read your comment as "traditional wives"! Ha, ha, ha. P.S.- These days, it's hard to make some jokes without their being taken as "loaded". So accordingly, I'll add: no politics intended except for those political-tail-wagging-the-religious-dog types who still list their wives among the servants* and chattel. * BTW, in the Bible, the word "servant" is a euphemistic translation of "slave", according to most responsible scholars and historians.
It's a bit small for my taste. Do they make one with a larger than 3 inch cutting edge? I don't like spending more than $50 for knives with handles and blades too small.
Hey, Chris, do they also have a #21.1 Ballbuster suitable for gifting to a difficult girlfriend on her birthday? I'd definitely pass on any Lorena Bobbitt Signature Edition, though.
The Opinel is a good knife. It's stood the test of time and is very popular today...but... I just don't care for it. I can't really put my finger on why. I think the round handle is a bit bulky when carried in the pocket, and the twist lock is a little clumsy. I don't know. Maybe it just doesn't "speak" to me like other knives do. Because of that, I keep my Opinel in the glove box of the car as an emergency back-up blade. I prefer the MAM knives from Portugal- stainless blade, locking folder, wood handles and lower price than the Opinels. But to each their own- it's hard to account for aesthetics...
Opinel realizes opening can be difficult . If so , you strike the handle end on something hard to start the blade . They call this the 'Coup de Savoyard' .
Or take yours apart and sand, polish, and oil everything so you have a pseudo gravity knife that still locks up securely
I've always known that as " the ship knock "
I love the Mercator. Fun fact that I haven't seen mentioned in a single foreign video yet: With the black handle/golden cat version, the gold to this day is painted on by hand. It's not just beautiful (in my eyes) but also comes from a very traditional shop that works with old machines and handcraft to this day. I appreciate that.
I mentioned that in one video xD but that was this year, lol - and also it's real gold :D
I am also waiting for Böker to send me that classic Otter Mercator with a carbon steel blade :D gotta wait untill new ones arrive though D:
The gold wears off very quick. So one can’t enjoy it for long after purchase.
There is a video of the MERCATOR K55K knife being manufactured here on UA-cam some place, I have watched it a couple of times.
(found it:) ua-cam.com/video/rgiCOg08F7s/v-deo.html
As far as traditional knives go you gotta love the opinel. Very cool piece of history.
Indeed. And price wise amazing as well. I bought a Mercator 9 y ago for 18€. Now in the same shop they are 42€. Meanwhile opinel is like 1-3€ more for a knife instead of more than double.
Quick tip regarding Opinels: Add a few coats of shellac (or whatever water-resistant coating you fancy) to either end of the handle, and the wood swelling issue you noted will be pretty much eliminated.
Good to know!
I just use cheap candle paraffin. Works like magic. Rub it then hit it with a lighter so it penetrates.
Well you ended on a high note with the Mercator, but I'm also a fan of the Douk Douk and Higonokami. I like small, flat knives that don't take up any space in the pocket, the blade steel is very good, and for me the retro appeal is off the chart. Sure, they don't excel in fit and finish, but these knives were (and still are) mass produced in small workshops for early 20th century working class slobs who were one pay packet away from starving to death in a ditch. Function necessarily took precedence over form!
There are also a lot of "fake" Laguiole made around the world, including in France. In fact, anyone in the world can legally make a knife that looks somewhat like a Laguiole and sell it as a "Laguiole" because it is more of a generic term that describes a style and has been legally declared as unpatentable.
Traditionally, the original Laguioles are made in the village of Laguiole, or in the city or Thiers. Good French Laguioles are each handcrafted from start to end by one craftsman. The bee is forged with the spring instead of welded on it. A proud & serious knife craftsman stamps his creations with his logo or name, which are registered (or at least mentions "made in France", if not both). They also usually sell their knives with an authenticity certificate, which is also registered and shows the full workshop/craftsman address which is also registered.
I acid/patina the blade and tie a lanyard to it, leave the knot outside the pocket, works as well or better than a clip. Absolutely love the Mercator/Katt55
Best one? In my opinion the Opinel... Cheap, sharp, good steel, fry the wood and you're good with wet conditions 😉👍
I agree there are the best, I've had my opinel 9 since I was 12 in the boy scouts. A simple trick to open a wet opinel is to hold it by the safety virole and tap the butt, blade side down.
What's the best method to wood stain? Olive oil and bake?
@@Phaminator525 No olive oil plz 😅 use linseed oil, olive oil gets rancid and stinks...
Same for the carbon blade hot vinegar dip for a natural patina. You can turn an opinel into a lifetime blade with wisdom. And they are still mad cheap compared.
@@demokratiaperemoje yep, little tap inwards to release the hold. Gravity does the rest as the wood bounces back. Never heard of all those tricks, I just sanded my rusty carbon blades and let develop a patina using them carefully. The wet/sticky wood was the biggest issue. Found that tap trick by myself as a kid who couldn't find pliers. Its no gentle man's knife for sure. Its a man's blade. Best saucisson/bottle opener knife 🤣 Its the knife you let the ladies use because its awesome but you know its coming back gonked up or "unuseable" soon enought. Nothing that can't be fixed. Thats why men dont loose their opinels and they last a lifetime lol
I had a Mercator many many years ago but was yet to become a knife nerd. I've been looking at a few handle options recently and after watching this I may well grab one.
I can recommend the Opinel. I always have mine ( a stainless steel number 8) in my backpack for years now. It'simple but never lets me down.
>"not a knife person" ~00:30
-owns like fifty knives
Ok that's true.
I had the same issue with the Higonokami, there was nothing to stop the blade from contacting the inner steel handle when closed. I came up with a cheap and easy solution, I ran a little bit of epoxy down the inside center where the blade edge rests, now it doesn't dull itself on metal, it just bumps against hardened epoxy.
I glued a thin leather strip in mine.
My absolute favorite is the Victorinox 1 in alox. Very slim and light and I don't mind just having a blade.
Pro tipp:
If you have clipless knives floating around the bottom of yer pocket: Put it in the slim extra pocket, the small rectangular one that sits usually on the right side of yer pants where the entrance of the usual pocket is. It was originally designed to hold pocket watches, but I guess some people call them coin- or change-pockets - which I don't understand because it's a pain to get coins out of there. For me that pocket was always my knife pocket and it can hold many different sizes of blade very well and comfortably, when you put your clipless knife in there with the joint up, then you also avoid lint n such.
Knife pockets rule! 🙂
That's actually a really nice lineup. The only traditional pocket knife which is "fairly popular" enough that people around the world could easily buy online and has a following is the Okapi. Nice review of international knives, not something a lot of youtubers do.
You need more subscribers. You're too good... well, maybe not TOO good. You're pretty good... yeah, you're alright. You definitely deserve more subscribers.
Have you *seen* the Mercator Cat review?! That might explain a lot! 😵
"You're too good... well, maybe not TOO good. You're pretty good... yeah, you're alright." that's what she said!
Longest set up for a vulgar T.W.S.S. punchline I've ever seen. Congrats, I guess.
@@frederickj.7136 Iv seen longer (that's also something she said)
Hopefully not while you were standing there wearing a pair of socks and a grin, mac. In any case, it's always good if they don't laugh first thing out of the box[er shorts].
Really stoked on this video. Your style is great and not gatekeeperish - I’m new to knives esp modern folders. Straightforward important info. I felt like the last option was exactly what I’m looking for. I was so impressed. I will continue to enjoy you content sir!
Antonini have 2 models called Caltagirone and Siciliano. Both about 3 inch blades, slip joints with half stops, Siciliano is about £12 and a stiletto shaped blade, rough made but definitely works. Caltagirone is similar but has brass bolsters and a slightly different shaped handle, blade is taller, better fit and finish than the Siciliano and is about £14. Both great traditional knives on a budget.
Best knife on list is the Svord Peasant knife if you skin game like I do.
All the blood,guts and fat easily removed since it's easy to dissemble the Svord. Carbon steel and friction blade strong as HECK.
Protip of carrying one in pocket is to use the pocket watch pocket in pants with a belt. Holds it in and easy to take out. Or just gave a In the Waist band leather holster for it.
Mercator is second best tho if you don't do any of said things listed above.
The Mercator.. I didn’t opt for it on mine but the Otter Mercator can be had with a clip!
If you ever do a second part the Okapi and the Buck 110 need to be included. I guess I could have left an encouraging comment thanking you for your hard work on this series and introducing me to some new traditional knives but I feel proper internet etiquette is to tell you what I think you should have done.
Okapi didn't quite make it- I thought about it, but heard they were all trash. However that would be part 2 though- as it would be a service if people knew they were trash. Are they trash? I don't know, that's just what I read.
You can now get a Mercator Katt 55 with a pocket clip, or tie a lanyard knot that hangs out the pocket.
Great knife to carry, slim, sharp and tough.
I own many pricey folders. Mercator has become my favorite to carry
I love my Mercator. That lockback is so crisp.
I work in the woods cutting timber and I farm. Ive carried a Case sod buster for 40 years and they get used and used hard.. Good enough knife for me.
I got the Opinel for 7 years and it is awesome guys....
That "Mercador" at 7.40 surprised me.
They used to sell those at the dirty book stores on 42nd St for $4, for that size.
Now those bookstores are gone. And I had not seen one of those knives since the seventies. Cool.
I have 2 K55K knives and 1 Opinel. Certainly, the Mercator K55K is the best of choices you showed.
I have a Giant Douk-Douk with a 5" blade. It is absolutely scary looking! Love those traditional foreign knives!👍
Hi, I was at Lisbon September last year. I happen to enter a knife shop and the owner of the shop suggested that I buy a tiny folding knife. Really loved it, but i lost it... happy to see that it actually looks like your laguiole French knife.
How i wish I can own one again.
Great overview. This really helps as I haven't ventured into the world of traditional knives a lot.
Yeah... it was an interesting detour. I'm looking for some other world cheapies for another video.
That's a nice collection, you have great taste in pocket knives !
I love the tiny Laguiole, it's so cute ...
I'm really sorry you have to pay 15 dollars for an Opinel and 30 dollars for the big Douk Douk, these are way cheaper in France (if you buy them in stores anyway).
If you like modern features, the Opinel is a great knife to modify, you can carve the handle and easily add a Qwik thumbstud and a pocket clip if you want.
The handle is sentitive to moisture, but as I work in a glass workshop, it isn't much of a problem. You can dry them well, sand the varnish and put a mix of beeswax, turpentine and linseed oil on. It really makes the wood grain pop and makes the knife more pleasant to handle IMHO
What is the Price of opinel and douk douk in store ?
Good call with the Otter Merc.
I enjoyed this video, thank you for doing it. I like those types of knives too, I have 4 of those pictured. :)
Laguiole for ever. But yeah i got one for 150chf and 370chf its for life just beautiful but yeah have many other knives lile crkt for all-around stuff
First of all, all these knives are great! The only one I have is the Mercator and I love it. You can where skin tight pants and still wouldn’t see it in your pocket. And it locks super super good without any blade wobble. I got it as a Xmas gift last year, and have seriously misplaced it 2 times and it still is with me hahah. Great knife. if I had a choice of one more knife to have from this list, it would be that beautiful one he reviewed first
If you Google Otters website you can find multiple versions of the Mercator, including one with a pocket clip. I think it runs about 40 euros, another 40 for shipping.
Which is over $100 USD with shipping A pocket clip ain't worth $80. I just got something I plan on reviewing soon, that was only $15 that helps the situation.
Advanced Knife Bro I couldn't see spending that much either, and I use a laguiole horizontal belt sheath. Looking forward to seeing what you found. Have a great weekend.
Like the best : douk douk, HIGONOKAMI, Mercator, opinel and then laguiole
Love the knives that have a history to them. Good video.
I bought my CASE Sod Buster in 1970 for about $6... still have in and the leather sheath it came with...
Great video. Minor nitpick, and probably not the first one to mention it: "Laguiole" is pronounced tithout the "oo" sound, as in "La Gee yoll", in fact the locals there pronounce (and sometimes spell) it "Layole", the Opinel is EDC for half of French farmers...
"French person in French land." (Insert eyeroll here) It's also a bee. It's also expensive because the entire Laguiole is made by one person by hand. The forged blade, the scales, the etching of the spine. If you want something made entirely by someone's hand, the whole knife, then buy one. It also has a good background story.
Thank you I understand how it’s made.
They are the bees of childeric which were used as a heraldic symbol by Napoleon I
Your Laguiole is the smallest i've ever seen, and does not look like the usual ones. Good ones are bigger, with handle made out of horn, and cost more than 100€ (if not, they are made in china, as Laguiole never put copyrights, most of them are not laguioles)
I understand why you did not like yours, but it is considered the classiest french knife (when real one).
The opinel review is fair, it is the knife you find in every toolbox in France, usualy old and rusty but still doing the job.
But if you have tried the normal size Douk-Douk instead of the small one, you would have liked it better, the blade is wider and better quality than Opinel, i always have mine with me and i love it.
Thanks for your review, i was thinking about getting a Higonokami, but now i am going to consider the Mercador instead. 😉
The Old Bear, like the Opinel, come in different sizes. Surprised you didn't choose something more similar in size to make your comparison. Like you, I like both knives, and agree that there are favorable qualities and weaknesses to both.to both. Thanks for bringing this knife to public atention.
I've been REALLY into the Martins from Portugal lately. (Similar to MAM but they make some fancier ones) But your list is great. I need a Mercator.
Do you have to buy them from overseas?
Mercator is a good pick but a little disappointed the douk douk didn't make the top 3. It's just a fun sounding name.
I might pick up the larger one and change my mind.
Advanced Knife Bro its for sure better than mercator which had vertical blade play in two cases.
Excellent review Sir, your like the Anthony Bourdain of the knife world, I enjoy watching your videos and listening to you. And I'm sick of buying Chinese made scraps too.
I have plenty of those, but this was designed to be a sampling of distinct regional knives from around the world. Sort of- a lot of companies make the Sodbuster- but I did want to have a familiar face or two. Thanks for watching!
Once I saw the history of the Douk-Douk knife, I had to get one, however I did not want one that actually depicts the Douk-Douk Creature itself. I wanted the earliest iterations, which would be devoid of the emblem of the creature.
Very cool take on less known (or at least less known to me) traditional knives. Thanks for some choice entertainment!
Trying to choose some interesting knives versus ones everyone would expect.
Advanced Knife Bro thanks for doing so. I am newer to traditional knives, it helps me learn. Enjoy your weekend!
Long time listener first-time caller. I love your vidjas, the warm the cockles of my cool island heart...or is it a penninsula? Just living on a lie of a man made island. Anyways I have a bit of an odd knife collection myself and I'd be happy to lend a few of them to you for videos if you're interested a few of them could be beat up pretty thoroughly. The knobs I had in mind being a Kershaw RAM Hawk, Cold Steel Triple Action, Bradley Butterfly, Benchmade LFK, CRKT Fulcrum, H&K(Benchmade) Snody folder, and I have some old us made Kershaws (chive, leek, etc) that you might be interested in. Thanks again for the videos!
I'll keep that in mind thanks! I have a small pile of stuff I am working on. I often buy stuff and review it months later... I have a pile of Swiss Army Knives, a Benchmade or two, a few fixed blades, and some Leathermans. Luckily my subscribers don't mind some old stuff. I tend to not have the patience, network, or money to get ahold of the newer stuff.
My favorite is the GEC bullnose 1095 easy to sharpen steel great action good looking polished micarta handles very sharp just ask my bloody fingers. If I had to pick from what u showed the case sod buster is my cup of ☕️.
3 vids on 3 days! You’re spoiling us.
Probably two coming up... but if I can get three done, I'll do it.
I would tend to go with the Opinel, Mercator, Case Sodbuster or Svord Peasant
Everyone has a opinion. Not all of those opinions are valid, no matter what people think. Just tell the truth from your perspective, with your great sense of dark humor. Thanks for the videos.
Thanks man... other people opinions help to inform your own, even if you don't agree with them.
The laguiole segment had me in stitches 🤣
The Mercator is around with clip as well, I think made by Otter knives.
The Mercator comes now with pocket clip!😃
Opinel makes "slims" which are *perfect* throw-in-the-tackle-box-and-forget knives.
?
@@junichiroyamashita Most of the ordinary opinels - the six, the 8, etc all come in a "slim" option which is even lighter and thinner. A slim 8 is basically my favorite knife for cleaning stream and river fish.
authentic higonokami are each handmade by one smith in japan, so the defects are a little charming
I like seeing what others have collected and why.. Not so much into the chaulkboard screetching for leaving out someone's tool de force. I liked the Cudeman, MAM, and Sodbuster here.. and I own none of em. Good job Bro.
100 dollars...used!!! Love your dry humor bro. Gets me every time
Any takers???
Nice accentuate the significance of the cultures in a pocket knife collection.
Interesting vid.
I swear you have some of the best, sassy commentary I've ever heard.
Thank you!
Good review but, I don’t know, I’m just kind of worried about how your sensor is handling color rendition in the direct sunlight
I wouldn't worry about this. I changed the colors in correction software Apple Color, which has nothing to do with the actual color the camera sees.
It’s very cool video! Sod Buster is My favorite on Your list
I like the Spanish/Corsican style peasant knives and that Portuguese Semi-Opinel thing. Only really excel at peasant food prep tho -- what they were designed for.
Not for fine cheeses- like American cheese shit.
Another traditional French knife is the Nontron the company have been making the same style knife since the 1430’s, yes 1430’s. It has a fantastic history and folklore behind it too.
I'll have to check out that Mercator. No Boker Slack in the mix on this one? Still an entertaining and informative vid!
Ain’t $50! Also I was trying to mix up the style a bit, and it looked a little like a sodbuster. I plan on doing a more modern slip joint video in the future.
Doh! Missed the $30 budget.
I think I've seen 'em new at pretty close to thirty bucks on eBay, T. and Bro'. It got my attention there. Let us hear about it if you get one, T.!
Re: "Boker Slack" -- Do you mean as in 'Urban Trapper', Tyler?
Nope, Boker Slack is a slip joint designed by French knife maker Raphael Durand. tinyurl.com/yauxan5l
That Laguiole is so cute... I’ve never seen one that small. A $200 one can be really beautiful, but, they ain’t cheap! I can’t get excited about Duk-Ducks or Hago Nakamis either. The Mam Mam emulates the Opinel, but is more expensive... why? The Opinels are great picnic knives and super cheap. As a food knife they’re hard to beat. A Spanish Laguiole... just no! The Sod Buster is a great German/Austrian design and one of the best golden oldies. The Mercator (Mir-K-Tor, by the way) was probably attractive once... apparently Moses swore by them!
Love opinal knives, unusual locking mechanism but razer sharp and classic rural design
Opinels work great on ferro rods due to the sharp 90deg back of the blade.
60 years ago in London the mercator cost me 3 dollars loved it.
Nothing Beats the sodbuster for me
Fun Fact: The Sodbuster is a german invention. There are early sodbuster types in German, called "Hippekniep" or "Taschenschlachtmesser"
Great vid!
Opinel ❤️
5 years later they are still being made. I own most but my least fav is the Japanese one, it is more a woodworking knife. I like the Svord but it is best with a belt sheath, at which point, might as well carry a belt knife. Just got a Mercator yesterday but they are $70-$100 in Canada which is too high for the materials and construction. My sodbuster has "yugoslavia" on the blade.
When is part #2 coming?
Learning more slowly thanks
Love the mercator
It's a great one!
Hey, a good knife is the Victorinox Solo with alox scales
I love Mercators as well. They do make a model with a pocket clip, but I have yet to see them from US sellers. As it stands, you have to buy them from Germany and the shipping nearly doubles the price.
I’ve since been told that Harry Epstein carries them in the US for about $40 now
One of the best knives made. Still carry mine most days. Great steel, nice and light. I always tie a shoe lace to mine as I've had one dissapear in the grass while hare shooting one night. The shoe lace will lie on top of the grass and makes it easier to find if it falls out your pocket. Or wear pants with decent pockets
C'mon! Part II! Let's go! This was a great vid!
you should include the buck 110 next vid.
your top 3 are good, the only change I would make is swapping out the Spanish cudman for the opinal.
the case sod buster is completely underrated, you rarely see anyone making vids on it.
You should try the brand Taramundi, handmade knives makes in (Asturias) Spain. Lots of customs and really good steel. Regards
The cudman has become my favorite from your list.
My wife bought it for me a few weeks ago
It’s a real nice modern example isn’t it
Advanced Knife Bro
I play with it all the time, my wife keeps telling me to put it away a grab my knife
Beat me to a joke, Abner.
Frederick J.
It was too easy to let it just lay there.
Lol
I have all but two of those knives, the Case is the best working knife, Mercator is best quality, but too skinny for me. For less than $50 you should have included the legendary Buck 110, Hands down winner!!
For everyone saying he should have had a GEC knife, Great Eastern Cutlery is a new company started in 2008 that recreates old-styled knives. It is also an American company. All of the other knives in the video have been made by some of the same companies for a long time and are from countries other than the US. He said in the video he was looking at traditional world knives from other countries. Therefore, no GEC.
Otter just came out with a mercator that has a pocket clip :) I sadly sold mine, but watching your vid I think it's time to get a new one.
I looked into it. 80 euros shipped to the US from their website. By itself it's 40 euros, which nearly doubles the price of the knife- but getting it to the US even for 40 euros does not seem possible.
I like your approach to videos Man !!! Good job.. Keep it going Sir. Just great, what I can say more.. cheers !!!
Good video ,I like them all ,being old I like old traditional knives
I'm old, too, and thus, presbyopic... which is why I first read your comment as "traditional wives"! Ha, ha, ha.
P.S.- These days, it's hard to make some jokes without their being taken as "loaded". So accordingly, I'll add: no politics intended except for those political-tail-wagging-the-religious-dog types who still list their wives among the servants* and chattel.
* BTW, in the Bible, the word "servant" is a euphemistic translation of "slave", according to most responsible scholars and historians.
I'm a slave to knives.
For EDC I found the Opinel#6 better for me than the #8. I don't even know it's in my pocket. Need to get a Merkator sometime though.
Would love to see a second video on traditional knives!
big noob question here.. what is the loop for? (8:16) the loop on the but of the knife
Easy pull from pocket or attaching a lanyard. It’s called a “bail,” if you’d like the term for further internet research.
@@AdvancedKnifeBro thank you!
For your info: there is a mercator with a clip. Really good knife for the price.
Great video, top three look great I'm going check them out. Do think you'll ever review Buck knives?
I probably will... I'll do the 110 at some point, and maybe a fixed blade like the 119.
One of my favorite traditionals is the GEC #71 Bullnose. $55 and it's a better sodbuster than the sodbuster.
It's a bit small for my taste. Do they make one with a larger than 3 inch cutting edge? I don't like spending more than $50 for knives with handles and blades too small.
I believe the #21 Bullbuster is what you're looking for if you can find one. $60ish and a 3.5" blade.
Thanks man!
Hey, Chris, do they also have a #21.1 Ballbuster suitable for gifting to a difficult girlfriend on her birthday? I'd definitely pass on any Lorena Bobbitt Signature Edition, though.
The Opinel is a good knife. It's stood the test of time and is very popular today...but... I just don't care for it. I can't really put my finger on why. I think the round handle is a bit bulky when carried in the pocket, and the twist lock is a little clumsy. I don't know. Maybe it just doesn't "speak" to me like other knives do. Because of that, I keep my Opinel in the glove box of the car as an emergency back-up blade. I prefer the MAM knives from Portugal- stainless blade, locking folder, wood handles and lower price than the Opinels. But to each their own- it's hard to account for aesthetics...
Thanks for the great video. Your review is missing two knives, Old Bear and Portuguese Martins. They also deserve attention.
My fingers crack horribly in winter too. Leaves nice smears of blood on my knives, so I can look crazy tough.