The key to a good Youtube video is several things.
You’re like great writing, sharp clear photography, competent editing and attention to pacing.
An interesting topic.
A handsome clear communicator as a host.
Ok yeah, those are all good things for a video to have.
But I mean more like a funny thumbnail where I make a farty face or get kicked in the balls
face.
and point to something.
I know I haven’t been great on that in the past, so this video is an examination on how
to improve the videos and channel.
I'm also aware that I put the name of the product usually in the still and title, and
I’ve noticed my boy wranglerstar does none of those things.
And while we sit around and wonder how I’ve been doing Youtube wrong let’s look at the
dimensions of this classic German knife like the overall length and weight.
In his 940-1 video he took one from the Jaws playbook and waited halfway through before
revealing the knife.
Blade size and cutting edge.
However he had an interesting story before hand, so that made up for it.
Handle size and grip area.
I mean I may as well go ahead and say it now.
The Mercator K55k.
Spine thickness and handle thickness.
There goes the SEO and I've ruined the whole flow of the video.
tallness?
You’re like I remember a time when a man would just tell me to buy something I already
have 10 of, without making a dumb face or doing a weird voice.
Why can’t I just look at a man’s hands for 20 minutes, comforted by all the umms
and repetitions in his limited vocabulary.
God question Like umm I don’t know man.
The Mercator k55k is a classically designed German knife that the wikipedia page written
by probably a reliable source says it was made there since 1867.
You can find lots of sketchy info by googling it- mostly people repeating the same stuff
they read on wikipedia- and some eBay listings where it looks like people took sandpaper
to some of the current models and let it sit in the rain for a week.
The K55k can be had in multiple handle material variations like brass or copper and in a stainless
or carbon steel blade.
I bought the carbon one.
The K55k features a spearpoint, well I guess product descriptions call it a drop point-
but I think it looks more like a spearpoint blade flat ground and made from a from satin
finished carbon steel.
And it's my video and I guess I could call it a karambit and you couldn't do shit about
it.
The k55k was sharp out of the plastic packaging- however if I'm going to flip it for $200 on
eBay I'll have to use it first.
Now wheres my electric sander.
The blade locks into place with a lock back mechanism.
You can use the nail nick or just your fingers to open it- whatever makes you feel better.
Lockup seems strong and it's resistant to spine whacks.
It's about comparable to my spyderco lock backs in terms of pressure required to close,
and is nice and rounded with no sharp edges.
The handle can be had in multiple variations of materials but mine is the folded stainless
steel covered in black paint with a running LOL cat on the side.
The handle is constructed in a very similar way to the Douk Douk, a folded piece of steel-
however the fit and finish and attention to making sure theres no owie parts on the handle
is much better.
It's almost like they wanted their product to look like it hadn't been in a junk drawer
for 30 years right out of the packaging.
The back of the handle has a plastic spacer so when the blade closes it has something
nice to rest on that doesn't ding the blade- a lot of these traditional slip joints usually
have the blade hitting a standoff or liner- which dings your blade if you're not careful.
You know like me.
There is no pocket clip, but theres a loop metal thing, so you can dangle it from something.
There are some rivets that hold the pivot and backspring in place.
The handle is very comfortable and fits my hand well, should work for slightly larger
hands too.
Comparison.
Out of all the budget traditional, less modern, style knives I have purchased this year- this
knife is probably the most well rounded.
It has a nice blade shape, doesn't feel cheap, it locks up strongly- and has a great personality.
It would work into my every day carry rotation if it had a pocket clip.
The handle is a little thin- so if you prefer a more bulbous backend, opinels may be better.
Like this opinel no 8 here.
I prefer the K55k, sometimes called the black cat... the opinel has a nice thin carbon steel
blade too and is French.
Which is better France or Germany.
I hear controversy also helps videos too.
How about the most obvious comparison.
The Douk Douk.
There'a a world of difference in the overall appearance and finish between the two.
If Douk Douk had any sort of quality control, other than it opens and closes- it might be
different.
I plan on getting the bigger Douk Douk in the future mostly because I like wasting money-
but more to see how consistent Douk Douks QC is.
Umm one more.
How about the Cudeman classic.
This one is nice, but has a very strong back spring- not good for knife novices.
It has a nice comfortable handle too.
Still the Mercator is the nicest out of these knives overall.
It can be had for $25 easily- and a little more if you want brass or copper or less if
you steal it.
If you're looking for a good pocket knife under $50 this is a good candidate if you
don't mind the lack of a pocket clip, and also like cat pictures.
It has a very thin profile and slides in the pocket easily.
You you meow if you lose it you won't feel bad meow replacing it.
It comes in stainless too if you use it in wet conditions often.
Of course theres nothing wrong with wiping the blade down, and the patina that comes
with a carbon steel blade either.
But maybe there's something wrong with you.
If you like these sorts of reviews check of my others, watch my comparison video where
I pit the black cat against several other blades.
I mean their not fighting or anything, but I just didn't want to use the word compare
twice in that last sentence.
Comment, meow that like button, thanks for watching.