Musings on a humble knife

K

Kazeryu

Joined
Nov 7, 2005
Messages
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It's funny, you know. I have several very nice benchmades: 630 Skirmish, 940 Osborne, 710 "McHenry & Williams". I have a Buck Sirius and a Junkyard Dog 2, and a host of others.

And although I like my fancy knives, I can't deny that the knife I most enjoy owning and carrying is this one:




Yeah, the douk-douk. For some reason I'm just pleased as punch by this knife.

Is it because an LEO would be less concerned by the lowly slip with a stiff spring than by the flippable knife riding close to my hand?

Is it because I don't have to care about my considerably less than perfect sharpening skills?

Is it because I can replace it for less than $20 if necessary?

Is it the slimness of the package? The fact that it's barely noticeable in my pocket?

Well hey now, those are all good reasons. But I think the real seller for me is carbon steel, but maybe not for the reason you would expect.

My father was never around, so it was always my grandfather that I looked up to. Down in his basement workshop, surrounded by the arcane and ancient-seeming tools of a habitual tinkerer and electrician, he was the good-natured wizard of my boyhood. Only vaguely can I remember the first time he showed me how to solder something. So much has been done in that basement over the years! Even today, at the age of 91, he can be found puttering about in his workshop, soldering this and diagnosing that.

I think it's because of that workshop that I've always enjoyed things which show their age, things which have been well-used and are still doing their job even though their era is past. It's less than a year old, but I can't help but get some of that feeling of 'history' when looking at the stains my douk-douk is already collecting.

It doesn't matter if it only costs $20 to replace. I would hate to start all over again with a shiny and new one.
 
Great knife, great story:) Thanks!

I'm in the same boat, I love carbon steel EDC. Sure it stains a bit and it rusts a little if you're not careful, but I love the edge that it takes. I have a non-locking Okapi that I "won" on a thread over a year back that I absolutely love. Talk about cheap! However, the edge that it takes is spectacular. Simple little slippy that'll cut like the devil. I have another little fixed blade knife made by Sarge that a very kindly forumite gifted my wife. She loved that little blade, until I put an edge on it sharp enough to scare her. Now she makes me use it. How will I ever survive?:D Rest assured kindly forumite, I carry it securely in one of my BUS' (butt ugly sheath) and its primary use is to cut hanging threads, open packages, or any other "honey do" that my wife needs of it. I just have to be the one doing the cutting:D

EDC carbon steel rocks:thumbup:
 
I have never handled a Douk-douk as far as I am aware, but I have carried the German lookalike (Mercator lockback) for miles and miles. When I was a teenager these were 'the' pocketknives, and the only "lock Knives" that seemed to be readily available down here. In the '70's I recall seeing them for sale in one old hardware shop for NZ$0.95. They cost more like forty bucks nowadays.

Fantastic knives too!! But their main problem was that they would soon punch a hole through my pocket.

They would suffer all sorts of abuse. I used to carry one on the job when I worked as a fitter. I'd use it for cutting, scraping and all sorts of odds and ends. I even used it as a punch/chisel on occasions for making the first cut through thin galvanised sheetmetal so I could get some shears through the sheet to cut a hole in it. I never broke a blade doing this, but I recall breaking one or two when I was levering. The butt of the handle got a bit mushroomed when hit repeatedly with a hammer.

I've told this story before, but it is a good one. I have an elderly farmer neighbor that carries a knife being a normal sort of a guy. He arrived at the airport about to take a trip, and as he approached the metal detector he realized he had his Mercator in his pocket. He quickly slipped it into his shoe and walked through the detector without making it ring. The outcome could have been disastrous...but it certainly makes a good story the way it worked out.

Many of us like to fondle or own expensive and well-crafted knives, but mostly the extra cost adds very little utility. In my experience a $200 knife is not ten times sharper, better, stronger or more efficient than a $20 cheapie. Neither are you ten times less likely to lose it or have it stolen.

The most important thing is the guy hanging on to the handle.

Here are some Mercators:

Mercator.jpg
 
Funny this thread comes up. I invested in a "Svord Peasent knife" from Ragweed and have been delighted. So much so I have been thinking about getting some Okapi and Opinel knives as the Peasent knife is kinda long in the pocket.

Its shocking how carbon steel pops back to where it should be after it is stropped. I can only imagine how cool these knives are going to look after a few years of regular use.
 
Man, I am another fan of the Douk Douk (thanks Sarge). They're light and easy to cary, but have an edge that is phenomenal.
 
The simplicity and old-fasioned looking patina on the carbon steel are reasons why I'm so fond of Opinels. I have a douk-douk also, but so far I haven't touched it for anything other than sharpening since my Opinels are a little smaller and comfortable in my hand. You can bet I'll crack it out again after this thread, though!
 
meg154.jpg

kat knife is by mercator - i have owned a few over the years - good basic knives. also known as the model K55
 
I agree with many of the sentiments here. Between my collection of Moras, Opinels, and my new Okapi, my Tosagata Hocho and Old Hickory kitchen knives, and my Benchmade 710 in D2 (not to mention my HIs), I think I have more carbon steel blades than I do stainless. There are great edges on all of them, which owes more to excellent and excellently-treated steel than it does to the sharpener's (me) meager skill.

My stainless blades are no slouches, but there's just something about non-stainless that just grabs me.
 
Kazeryu said:
It's funny, you know. I have several very nice benchmades: 630 Skirmish, 940 Osborne, 710 "McHenry & Williams". I have a Buck Sirius and a Junkyard Dog 2, and a host of others.
Click to expand...

We share similar tastes...I have a 630 and a JYD2. Have been looking for a 940DM too...(rare!)


And, of course, love douk-douks! :thumbup:
 
Now I'm wishing the smaller douk-douks were more readily available in Canada. Something 3" or smaller would be nice for everyday carry.
 
I rather like my big ring locker Okapi. I've carried, and traded, far more expensive knives. But the basic working knife keeps finding its way into my pocket. Maybe it's a yearning for simpler times. Maybe it's because it's good in the kitchen and cheap to replace if lost. Either way, I don't feel underknifed. How can that be? It doesn't contain G-10, titanium or ZDP-189. I must be some kind of caveman.

Frank
 
i'm carrying it's new cold steel brother, the kudu as i type.
833915_oi.jpg

an okapi on steroids.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
from cold steel:
The Cold Steel Kudu, takes some cues from its South African competition, but our version is vastly superior. Ours has a Krupp 4116 Stainless steel flat ground blade, heat treated to Rc 56-57 for better edge holding ability and ease of re-sharpening, and a thin razor sharp edge.

For safety, we have thoroughly tested the locking mechanism and are well satisfied it will hold the blade rigidly open until you decide to close it by pulling up on the ring attached to the back spring.

The handle of the Kudu also reflects our dedication to making an effective and affordable folder. It’s made of 43% glass reinforced Zytel®. This material has proven to be extremely strong, and is stiff enough to compliment the blade and spring when locked open. Plus, the gripping surface has a wood grain texture for traction and features an attractive polished steel Kudu horn emblem for a little extra flair! We think the Kudu represents an unbelievable value. It’s ready for anything and makes a wonderful work knife, utility knife, bait knife, or hunting knife.

Specifications:
Blade: 4 1/4"
Overall: 10"
Thick: 2mm
Weight: 2.4 oz.


20K $7.99

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

i also have a proper okapi, and one of the earlier european versions. the CS one is cheap & cheerful & i don't mind if i lose or break it, the others were a bit more difficult to get, so they mostly stay home.
 
How is the edge holding capability of that CS Kudu? How does it compare to the carbon steel of the okapi? Does it pop back after a good stropping?

Inquiring minds would like to know once you give it a once over. :D
 
the kudu is kinda on light duty at the moment, cutting thru string, light small stuff (ie. para cord & nylon climbing rope), tape on boxes, and opening the odd package or two, so far it has not required a major sharpening and seems to do ok with a few passes on the pocket crock sticks to bring it back to a working sharp. the okapi originally had a very poor 'edge' on it & required some work on the lansky diamond thingy to bring that one decent. it also only requires a light touchup honing on occasion. i still prefer carbon steel over stainless. having said that, if i have any carving in wood to do i break out the carbon steel opinel or the marjacq as they take a better edge and feel better carving, the ring get in the way a bit on the okapi/kudu. around the kitchen i use a gaucho knife for steak on occasion, and have a frost mora scandi for general purposes. i don't count the damascus steel japanese chef's knife as that is stictly thin kitchen stuff & only 16 layers plus not a 'humble' pricetag - it does good paper thin cuts on stuff tho.......
 
It would be great to trade a high end art folder for a case or three of opinels or douk-douks. :D I don't know why, it just hits my funny bone.
 
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