New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
Moderators: Bill DeShivs, The Motley Crew
Forum rules
There are a few things you should know before posting in these forums. If you are a new user, please click here and read carefully. Thanks a lot!
There are a few things you should know before posting in these forums. If you are a new user, please click here and read carefully. Thanks a lot!
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7391
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
Post by Bill DeShivs » Wed Dec 30, 2020 5:42 pm
Thanks to a very good customer, I have been able to dissect one of the new Hubertus 11 CM lever locks (made by Otter Messer) beside an older Hubertus-made 11 CM.
The Otter knife works properly, although the opening force is rather weak. While they look similar, there are quite a few differences. At first glance, you notice the smooth, well-polished bolsters on the Otter knife. Then, you see there is no "threading" (lines) on the bolsters. The liners are nickel silver, rather than brass. The lever is not the usual German-style lever with the hole.
The blade/backspring stock is thinner on the Otter Messer knife.Taking the knife apart, the first thing I noticed was the waterjet-cut backspring/kickspring combination. It's all one piece, and it is completely over cut. There is no reason to have all the cut out spaces. It will also be difficult, if not impossible to replace the kickspring if it breaks.
Upon further disassembly, I found that the lever spring is riveted into the liner in two places. Only one of these rivets is visible on the lever spring cover. The other rivet is under the cover. Also, the lever spring cover is longer than the original, and is slipped into a milled-out space under the rear bolster. This is also unnecessary, but it does no harm.
The bolsters are actually soldered to the liners, rather than spot welded as on the later Hubertus-made knives. This is an improvement, as the spot welding was not a secure method of attachment.
Over all, the new knives are OK. Quality control seems better than the latest Hubertus made knives. Other than the lever, the new knives look very good.I will attempt converting one of these to shell-puller configuration. I'm sure it can be done, but extra work will be required over the older knives.
Thanks to a very good customer, I have been able to dissect one of the new Hubertus 11 CM lever locks (made by Otter Messer) beside an older Hubertus-made 11 CM.
The Otter knife works properly, although the opening force is rather weak. While they look similar, there are quite a few differences. At first glance, you notice the smooth, well-polished bolsters on the Otter knife. Then, you see there is no "threading" (lines) on the bolsters. The liners are nickel silver, rather than brass. The lever is not the usual German-style lever with the hole.
The blade/backspring stock is thinner on the Otter Messer knife.Taking the knife apart, the first thing I noticed was the waterjet-cut backspring/kickspring combination. It's all one piece, and it is completely over cut. There is no reason to have all the cut out spaces. It will also be difficult, if not impossible to replace the kickspring if it breaks.
Upon further disassembly, I found that the lever spring is riveted into the liner in two places. Only one of these rivets is visible on the lever spring cover. The other rivet is under the cover. Also, the lever spring cover is longer than the original, and is slipped into a milled-out space under the rear bolster. This is also unnecessary, but it does no harm.
The bolsters are actually soldered to the liners, rather than spot welded as on the later Hubertus-made knives. This is an improvement, as the spot welding was not a secure method of attachment.
Over all, the new knives are OK. Quality control seems better than the latest Hubertus made knives. Other than the lever, the new knives look very good.I will attempt converting one of these to shell-puller configuration. I'm sure it can be done, but extra work will be required over the older knives.
- Attachments
-
- IMG_4662.JPG (15.65 KiB) Viewed 4247 times
-
- IMG_4663.JPG (29.16 KiB) Viewed 4247 times
-
- IMG_4659.JPG (28.56 KiB) Viewed 4247 times
-
- IMG_4661.JPG (27.95 KiB) Viewed 4247 times
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
-
- Posts: 149
- Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2016 4:50 am
Re: New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
I’m obviously behind the times about about this. When did Otter Messer start making knives for Hubertus? Are the 11cm knives the only ones they are making for Hubertus? Are the visual differences between the Otter Messer knives and the older Hubertus knives enough to be seen in photos on online sale sites? Sorry for all the questions, but any info would be helpful.
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7391
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Re: New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
Recently.
I don't know.
Look at the above pictures to spot the difference-especially the bolsters.
I don't know.
Look at the above pictures to spot the difference-especially the bolsters.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Re: New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
Thank You for posting the photos and commentary. Is there a good technical reason for replacing the brass liners with n/s? My understanding was that brass was used for cosmetic appeal, but of course is softer than steel. Isn't n/s softer and more expensive than steel?
Thanks,
Jim
Thanks,
Jim
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7391
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Re: New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
Brass is used because it is self-lubricating, and doesn't rust.
Nickel silver has the same properties, as it is a copper alloy. The NS that Otter is using is apparently annealed dead soft, as it is easy to bend (disassembled.)
Nickel silver has the same properties, as it is a copper alloy. The NS that Otter is using is apparently annealed dead soft, as it is easy to bend (disassembled.)
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Re: New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
Thanks again for the information Bill.
Given the relatively high rate of kickspring breakage on Hubertus knives, do you seen any design reason that the Otter Messer knives would be better, other than that they wouldn't slide forward?
Jim
Given the relatively high rate of kickspring breakage on Hubertus knives, do you seen any design reason that the Otter Messer knives would be better, other than that they wouldn't slide forward?
Jim
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7391
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Re: New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
Jim-none.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
- Panzerfaust
- Posts: 1348
- Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2010 10:23 pm
Re: New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
Here is some interesting info from German Knife Shop.
https://german-knife-shop.com/product-c ... /springer/
https://german-knife-shop.com/product-c ... /springer/
Re: New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
Great read, thanks. Taz
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7391
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Re: New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
Tonight I finished a shell puller conversion on the new Otter/Hubertus.
It was considerably different than converting the originals. The kickspring is problematic-they are weak, and not much can be done about it.
I was going to do it without threading the bolsters, but that just looked too plain, so I did some minimal threading. The plain lever just looked wrong to me, so I drilled it.
Added a swedge to the blade.
It was considerably different than converting the originals. The kickspring is problematic-they are weak, and not much can be done about it.
I was going to do it without threading the bolsters, but that just looked too plain, so I did some minimal threading. The plain lever just looked wrong to me, so I drilled it.
Added a swedge to the blade.
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Re: New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
Love to see it Bill, if possible.
"By accepting you as you are, I do not necessarily abandon all hope of your improving"- My Wife (1963-Present)
-
- Posts: 4048
- Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2016 7:18 pm
- Location: Indiana
- Bill DeShivs
- Yes.
- Posts: 7391
- Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:50 pm
- Location: In de lan o' cotton
- Contact:
Re: New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
OK.
- Attachments
-
- IMG_4672.JPG (31.8 KiB) Viewed 4000 times
-
- IMG_4669.JPG (13.48 KiB) Viewed 4000 times
-
- IMG_4668.JPG (17.24 KiB) Viewed 4000 times
Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
http://www.billdeshivs.com
Factory authorized repairs for:
Latama, Mauro Mario, LePre, Colonial, Kabar, Flylock, Schrade Cut Co., Presto, Press Button, Hubertus, Grafrath, Kuno Ritter knives, Puma, Burrell Cutlery.
Re: New Hubertus/Otter lever lock dissected.
Oh yeah! That came out beautiful Bill!
"By accepting you as you are, I do not necessarily abandon all hope of your improving"- My Wife (1963-Present)
- whippersnapper
- Posts: 8430
- Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 12:39 pm
- Location: Michigan