Pros: Blade Material, Weight, Overall Quality
Cons: Ease of Opening, None
It's the classic you'be never heard of.
The douk douk is the classic you've never heard of! The douk is a knife with a romantic history, starting in 1929. It was first produced in Thiers, France by M.C. Cogent as an inexpensive utility knife for the average working man. It is comprised of only six parts, and so it is extremely robust and reliable. Upon it's blackened handle is the douk douk, a with doctor representing the Melanesian god of chaos and doom. Intended for the market in the French colonies in the pacific, the knife was however unsuccessful, the natives being none too keen to have the representation of a god of chaos and doom upon their cutlery. However, the knife did have great success in the French North African Colonies, so much so that the term due douk has become synonymous with knife regardless of whether or not it is in fact an actual douk douk. The knife has been used by French Legionaries and Algerian rebels aike. The Algerian rebels could turn this knife into a quasi fixed blade by crimping the metal handle directly below the blade. Made of a c75 carbon steel blade the douk came with a "utility" edge. With some basic stones I was able to put a hair shaving sharp edge within a few minutes...and due to its slightly hollow ground profile this knife is one of the sharpest knives in my collection. My one and only complaint is, that if you cut something greasy, unless you wipe the blade off extremely well, the next time you need to open your knife will be extremely difficult due to the stiff spring and the lack of nail notch or a thumb stud. Other than that I love this knife, and at this price you can get one for your rough tasks and spare your super steel modern tactical folder the indignity.