My Douk Douk is perfect example of HEAVY pull, lol!...

PocketKnifeJimmy

PocketKnifeJimmy

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Aug 4, 2013
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So, here I am wiping down and getting to compare some of my knives in my collection. This is something I get some enjoyment in doing, it really teaches me something about these knives when I do this task. Anyhow, the French made Douk Douk is likely my cheapest made knife (though it's not flawed in it's simplistic design). In hand, even the German made k55k oozes quality when compared to the Douk Douk (imo). When wiping down the Douk Douk, I really was able to realize that, compared to my other knives, it has the heaviest pull and closing tension. The only ones that compare, are two other French made knives.... my Laguiole and my French made anchor knife. All French, all heavy pulls.... hmm :-)

Oh,btw... my easiest pull knife is French as well.... my Opinel... But, that ain't fair! lol! ;-)
 
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You really nailed one of the features that makes me love the Douk-Douk extremely : almost locking action on what is just a slipjoint... Some other brands do that, but not many. A bear-trap spring belies to some extent the saying "a folding knife is a broken knife". Anyway, "the stronger the spring, the more pleasant to use". That's my saying... And the Douk is so easy in a pocket that I can't resist adding that ridiculous picture (but it's true and I'm happy whenever I realize this little blade is riding along with me, without me even being aware of it...).
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Yeah, I agree that the Douk Douk's high backspring tension is very likely a built in safety measure... It really is not likely to ever snap onto your fingers (if somehow you managed to do so, there would be no fingers, lol!). It not only has that heavy spring tension, but also that very solid half stop. Though I do prefer the k55k design... the Douk Douk is a welcomed design in my collection. I have wanted diversity and am surely finding that with all these knives from different countries in this world :-)
 
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I can only applaude your refreshing curiosity and love for diversity. And taste you have much.
 
Oh, being that I mentioned the German made k55k in this thread, I should mention, (for those that may not be familiar with them), that the polymer spacer on the oposite end of blade hinge side, is not just a spacer. It also acts as a blade stop, keeping the blade edge from coming in contact with the metal frame on closing. It works well, but will get damaged if the blade is released onto it under momentum of the blade spring. Though I do not let any blade spring back into closed position, all the more reason to make sure the k55k blade is eased back into it's handle. Anyhow, whether a pocket knife has a kick, or not, easing back to closed position will be best on any knife :-)
 
I can only appreciate your keen eye regarding the backstops : i myself checked out in awe that some very traditional manufacturers of Thiers do incorporate synthetic backstops in their knives. Very nice knives with that, but this Nylon (?) liner makes me cringe. And I got some extremely beautiful knives where the blade just hits steel on closing. Yikes and over Yikes... Hence the Nylon stoppers, maybe. Poor choice, if there ever was one. Geez, it just needs a correctly designed kick instead. We knew this and made it consistently even for the cheapest knives just some decades ago. I'm pissed...
 
Yeah, I fully understand what you mean. The Laguiole was designed without a kick, but I guess I can understand why so many are probably still made where the blade rests against the backspring. People often collecting such knives, want tradition to be kept on board. So, if it had no kick, many of us want that to keep the design authentic. The Otter Messer company of Germany could probably design the k55k to have no need for the plastic spacer... maybe just making the knife entirely out of metal, but would then be altering a design that has, for the most part, been unchanged for well over a century. I, for one, am glad that tradition still plays a part in the manufacturing decisions of some of these knives. Never had a vintage k55k, but I have read that the spacers back then were made of red painted wood. I guess I can live with the current black colored plastic ones of today. And just like back then, the spacer acts as the blade stop/edge protector... I find that to be okay on this proven old timer ;-)
 
I'm way less compliant with tradition than you seem to be. Maybe that's because I'm a peasant at heart (to some extent) : that thing costed me a lot of dime, it has to do some work now (as much as possible and even more...). Traditional manufacturing tried to combine for the best : reasonable use, reasonable longevity and available materials. Nowadays, makers should understand that there is no longer a "need" for pocket knives but instead, a very strong "love" for them from a much narrower (but very strongly buying) market. There's no longer any room for shoddy (but working) products. It's interesting (but sad) to see that some of the oldest names in French cutlery produce only kitchen and table cutlery nowadays. Americans seem to give more love to their tradition...
 
Just thought about a recent visit to the sporting goods section of a famous "big box store". The person that was letting me handle some of the knives in their display, kept wanting me to see other knives... all modern in design, and all made in china. This person just could not understand my wanting to look at the old traditional stuff. I walked away with two very reasonably priced swiss army knives... those old fuddy duddy things that have been around for a few generations now. I guess I am simply getting older and more nostalgic (read stubborn) day by day, lol! ;-)
 
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Stubborn, old and nostalgic is the way to go. No doubt at all... Old fart speaking ! But I am goddamn right (old fart still speaking...)
 
lol!!!... Yes, my friend... We can be nostalgic if we want... let no man (or woman) ever take that away from us :-)
 
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The smallest Douk, the one showed in my coin purse is 3" 1/2 closed. Deploys full 3" of razor sharp 1/8" thick blade. I love a lot of knives but this would probably be the one you'll have to pry from my cold fingers. It's a kind of perfection...
 
Have to admit the Douk grows on one. When I go out for rough farm work it is the one slipped into my back pocket; seems indestructible and holds a good edge.

Tom
 
The Douk-Douk is one of the few slipjoints I'd call a "hard use" folder. I really am impressed by how it nearly locks open. I think the K55K outclasses it though, but there's no reason you can't own both. The Douk is just very interesting in it's own right. The K55K is just more efficient IMHO. I don't believe anybody is too good for a SAK. They just work. People I know, give me a hard time over mine, until they need to borrow it.
 
I've been looking at these folded metal handled knives, as well. I don't think I'll buy one because the handles don't look very comfortable for long stints of wood working.
 
I love my Douk Douk, and those uncomfortable metal handles come in super handy at my job, which requires me to wear scrubs, easiest knife I have ever carried in scrubs, the Douk is almost perfectly flat and makes a perfect knife for hospital use.
 
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