Douk Douk

L

LegendTeller

Joined
Jan 25, 2013
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I'm thinking about getting a douk douk at some point for my next knife because I like the looks of them, but I would like to know about some of your experiences with them before I commit to getting one. Do they have blade play at all? I can't stand blade play, especially on a new knife. That's pretty much my main question about them I guess, I would just like to know what people think of them and how good they are, how well they hold an edge, how sharp they can get, etc etc. I mainly want to know about blade play.
 
I only have one (the standard larger size), and it has no play. The back spring is so strong that up-and-down play seems very unlikely, and the pivot is just riveted, so even if you had a little side-to-side you could give the pin a few whacks with a ball-peen hammer to snug it up. I've only had mine for a few months and only used it occasionally for cutting up boxes at work, so I can't speak to long term durability. The blade (1070-ish steel @ around 50-ish HRC) gets scary sharp with no effort. I haven't tested edge holding, since I just give mine a few passes on my crock sticks each night when I carry it. They seem to be nice, solid knives for the price, and they've been around for a looooong time, so I guess they're doing something right. :D:thumbup:

This is the one I have: http://www.bladehq.com/item--Douk-Douk-Folder-Black-Slip-Joint--13391 I dipped the blade in ferric chloride for about a half hour-45min., so mine now has a nice dark gray patina on it.

edit: The FC will also take off the blade etching, so don't use it if you wanna keep that. :thumbup:

Btw, ferric chloride is just the chemical name for printed circuit board etchant, like they sell at Radio Shack. You can buy it in powder form on ebay and make yourself several gallons for the price of a single bottle of ready-made stuff. That's how I do it. Plus, you can mix it stronger if you need to. The pre-made stuff can only be diluted and made weaker.
 
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Mine are tight, with a strong backspring. I only recently began purchasing and using Douk Douks, great tools, I was missing out.
 
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I just got mine today, and took it straight to work after the mail delivered it. I loved it instantly, used it for cutting boxes today. I bought it after a long period of mulling it over about purchasing one. I love the feel of it, and I like the strong spring in it, feels secure. No blade play at all.
 
The Douk-Douk is actually the knife I never got with blade play. Never. And I had several. And if blade play developps over years of hard use... Thanks to the bold pivot pin you can press it on a clean and flat anvil, hammer softly both sides and it starts from new tighter than ever. One of the greatest knives ever produced at the lowest price you don't even dare to imagine.
 
If you find you like the classic Douk Douk, remember you can also get it in a small size, great on a keychain. You can also get its partner L'ecureuil -- the squirrel. Same technology but a thicker blade in a spearpoint. A horse of a work knife.
 
Mine is from a dealer here, sorry if I butcher the spelling. Baryonyx? It came with a checklist to ensure quality, that is cool. The knife is one of the simple pleasures in life. At the asking price you can not go wrong.
 
I have a single Douk Douk, and I love it. Its simple the best looking pocket knife I own, its good looking in its ugliness.

Blade play is zero. Its a great blade steel, takes a super edge and seems to keep it well. It is also likely thicker than you think it is just from pictures, so I would guess its pretty stout.

Now to be honest, as an all around pocket knife that sees use, I have to place it below the Opinel. But it really is about you and where you live and how your knives get used...

The down side to the double D is its very strong back spring, and slick thin nature. It would not be the knife I'd want to pull out of my pocket here and now with outside temps being below freezing, plenty of snow on the ground, and a day of freezing rain. Its hard enough to open the blade in the kitchen with wet hands...add numb fingers to it and I think you have a good chance of going to get a bunch of stitches, if you can even get the blade open.

I put the Douk Douk away when it gets cold. I just think it is far safer this way. Now if you are in the warm sunny south, it may be fine 12 months a year...?

Its a beautiful knife to my eye, rides in the pocket like a steel stick of gum, and when open gives you one sharp blade, and does it with class.
if you call yourself a knife guy you should pick one up just to own, it may or may not fit in with your life style/location...but its very cool.
 
The steel in the Douk Douk alone is reason to choose it over any Chinese Kershaw
 
I've had a new Douk Douk for a coupe of days now, and I'm really loving this knife. l fell for it almost as soon as I got it out of the mailing package.
It's a joy to use, and comfortable to carry in the pocket. I like to look of it, to me it's not ugly or weird looking, I even think the scroll on the blade looks neat.
I'm a fan of European knives anyway, I have a number of French and Italian folders, Italian Stilettos as well. The Douk Douk is a great addition.
 
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