Okapi knives

ericnpeterson said:
...Muddy Waters..."Baby Please Don't Go" ...Keith...whips out the Okapi...to open the whisky bottle, then does a one-hand closing of the knife.
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I Love Muddy!
the knife is at 3:15 in the video
[video=youtube;z3Or7huOK7o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3Or7huOK7o[/video]
 
In his new-ish book, Life, Keith talks at length about his time in Jamaica, and about his Okapi knife, which he received as a gift while he was in the islands and then carried for the next 30 years or so. :D

Here's mine. I've carried it for the past couple days, in honor of this discussion. I really like 'em. This one's still pretty stiff (even though I've had it for a couple years), but they eventually loosen up/wear in, to the point where they are easily opened & closed one-handed.

EDC12-11-13.jpg

(cross-posted from the wW thread)
 
So this thread got me to doing a few web searches. I discovered that back when Okapi was still made in Germany, they also produced copies of the French Douk Douk. But given the Okapi ring pull lockbacks are pretty much copies of French African trade knives I guess that shouldn't come as no big surprise. Both countries were just producing cheap goods for captive colonial markets.
 
I've been carrying mine almost everyday since last summer when I first got it. I still need two hands to open it, especially to close when pulling the ring. I don't mind this, it gives a secure feeling. The final snap in my ratchet when it clicks into place snaps like a trap. There's a couple of videos on Youtube of guys opening the one-hand style (whips out like a switchblade) impossible with mine, and no way on a new one either. I've read online where people have said that a Jamaican buddy whipped it out with a "brand new knife" and "yuh just have to know how to do it". They ALWAYS leave out the part about filing down the ratchets so this can happen. Anyway the "whip-out" style looks cool, but I like the ratchet, gives it character, I wouldn't want to file it down just for that.
 
Darn it, you guys just made me order one! But I used a gift card from the company party, so it didn't cost me anything.
Can't wait!
 
Originally I wanted one, passions ebbed, but now you've got me worked up again. I'm going on a work trip, so we'll see when I return.
 
I ordered one yesterday. I used to have one years ago but gifted it to a friend.
 
You can see Keef whip his ratchet knife out in this video at around the 2:00 mark and close it at around the 2:20 mark

[video=youtube;85aCbRjtV9w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85aCbRjtV9w[/video]
 
It's worth noting that, in Keith's book, he definitely comes across as appreciating the utilitarian value of a knife, not just the macho swagger of waving one around like da rude boys. Even talks about his time in scouts and the time he spends camping. He definitely embraces the "be prepared" ethos.

-- Mark
 
Watched the video and came away again feeling the knife is French rather than an Okapi. Maybe if I could stop frame it, I would know better.
 
Sidehill Gouger said:
Watched the video and came away again feeling the knife is French rather than an Okapi. Maybe if I could stop frame it, I would know better.
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I agree, the blade is definitely a different profile. Then again.... Sure, he may have started out with an Okapi given to him in Jamaica, but if you had as much $$ as Keith Richards, wouldn't you buy a nicer (maybe even custom) version eventually, too?
 
A few days ago, a Capetonian friend of mine gave me an okapi as a gift. He whipped the blade open with a quick hand movement. I've been trying to do the same since then but it just seems impossible. I can assure you that no filing of the ratchets was done.
 
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I can close mine one handed, I think it's actually safer that way but I have no idea how to open it one handed.
 
No rachets were filed down.. how is that possible??? Mine is solid all the way (each notch) until it locks into place. I can two-hand open it very fast, almost as fast as using the one hand tech... I avoid the one-hand close as the spring slams it shut, dulls the blade tip.
 
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