DOUK DOUK owners club

[Barry Rowland]

I need one of these!! 

[Tuisto]

Alright, so I've got one (or two) on the way. I'm excited to try it out and see how it works! I also picked up two Mercator k55ks — I'll check back in when I have them in hand!

[Barry Rowland]

 

[WECSOG]

Alright, so I've got one (or two) on the way. I'm excited to try it out and see how it works! I also picked up two Mercator k55ks — I'll check back in when I have them in hand!

I'm glad you found some! 

[nate j]

Well, I could no longer resist, and picked up a large Douk Douk Le Tiki model.

With its engraved nickel-chrome handle and distinctively-shaped black blade, there’s no denying it’s a cool-looking knife.

The handle is actually quite comfortable, especially given how thin it is and the fact that it is made from a single folded piece of sheet metal.

The bail is well-designed, out of the way when using the knife.  It has enough resistance that it stays put unless deliberately moved, which is good because nobody likes a floppy bail.

Now the big negative…
The flat-ground blade is very smooth and slick, without so much as a nail nick or engraving to give any purchase to the fingers.  Combined with a fairly stout back spring (might loosen up some with use, but don’t think it’s a lube issue as the knife arrived liberally coated with oil), I can see this knife being a real challenge to open if wet, greasy, or oily.

I’ll be curious what Tuisto thinks when his arrives.

Overall, I’m not sorry I got it, and would even be willing to join a Douk Douk challenge at some point.  However, I can’t see this getting much carry or use from me outside of a challenge.  And if someone is looking for a relatively inexpensive single-blade folder, I think there are far better options in the same price range…

[Tuisto]

Oh man, lucky you! Mine hasn't moved from Shreveport in six days now  .

[Rostovsky]

feel like you were living in Micronesia for a second.

rather French North Africa. In Melanesia, the knife was useless and was mainly supplied to French Algeria.

[WECSOG]

Well, I could no longer resist, and picked up a large Douk Douk Le Tiki model.

With its engraved nickel-chrome handle and distinctively-shaped black blade, there’s no denying it’s a cool-looking knife.

The handle is actually quite comfortable, especially given how thin it is and the fact that it is made from a single folded piece of sheet metal.

The bail is well-designed, out of the way when using the knife.  It has enough resistance that it stays put unless deliberately moved, which is good because nobody likes a floppy bail.

Now the big negative…
The flat-ground blade is very smooth and slick, without so much as a nail nick or engraving to give any purchase to the fingers.  Combined with a fairly stout back spring (might loosen up some with use, but don’t think it’s a lube issue as the knife arrived liberally coated with oil), I can see this knife being a real challenge to open if wet, greasy, or oily.

I’ll be curious what Tuisto thinks when his arrives.

Overall, I’m not sorry I got it, and would even be willing to join a Douk Douk challenge at some point.  However, I can’t see this getting much carry or use from me outside of a challenge.  And if someone is looking for a relatively inexpensive single-blade folder, I think there are far better options in the same price range…

I think a Douk Douk Challenge is a great idea, and one I'm completely up for!
As for the slickness you mention, mine is the version that has a black handle and carbon steel blade in the white, with engraving on the blade. I'm not sure if it's the engraving or what, but I get a very secure grip for opening.
Of the single blade knives in your photo, I would choose my Douk Douk over any of them. In fact I bought a Mercator Black Cat and EDC'd it for awhile before buying the Douk Douk, just as a comparison. To my surprise I found myself preferring the Douk Douk. It's not better, nor does it diminish my liking of the Mercator. It just fits my sense of aesthetics and utility a bit better. Either way, now that you have a Douk Douk, I strongly recommend getting a Black Cat if you don't have one already.

[Frenchephaistos]

rather French North Africa. In Melanesia, the knife was useless and was mainly supplied to French Algeria.

Very true. My Algerian friends tell me everyone there had a Douk-douk, it was like the default blade.
However, they stayed true to their original branding despite the flop.
You have to admire the confidence !

[nate j]

I think a Douk Douk Challenge is a great idea, and one I'm completely up for!
As for the slickness you mention, mine is the version that has a black handle and carbon steel blade in the white, with engraving on the blade. I'm not sure if it's the engraving or what, but I get a very secure grip for opening.
Of the single blade knives in your photo, I would choose my Douk Douk over any of them. In fact I bought a Mercator Black Cat and EDC'd it for awhile before buying the Douk Douk, just as a comparison. To my surprise I found myself preferring the Douk Douk. It's not better, nor does it diminish my liking of the Mercator. It just fits my sense of aesthetics and utility a bit better. Either way, now that you have a Douk Douk, I strongly recommend getting a Black Cat if you don't have one already.

Interesting, and making me think my next purchase should be a Douk Douk model with engraved blade.

Of the knives in my pic, I would have to say the Buck 110LT is perhaps the best all ‘rounder IMO.  It’s the same blade as the standard 110, except with more of a matte or stone-washed finish; and a lightweight, grippy zytel handle.  While fairly light for a knife of it’s size, it is a bit bulky in pocket.

[Tuisto]

I also like the idea of a Douk Douk challenge! Perhaps we could do like a 'peasant knife' challenge, which would also include that nice Case Sodbuster you've got, Nate, or the Mercator k55k 'Black Cat', or an Opinel, or South African Okapi, etc. etc. Are there any other standards that jump out that I've omitted?

[WECSOG]

I also like the idea of a Douk Douk challenge! Perhaps we could do like a 'peasant knife' challenge, which would also include that nice Case Sodbuster you've got, Nate, or the Mercator k55k 'Black Cat', or an Opinel, or South African Okapi, etc. etc. Are there any other standards that jump out that I've omitted?

Higonokami. Also Svord.

[Tuisto]

Okay, so they arrived. Here are some photos and initial observations. I have owned a lot of different knives in my life. I've always been somewhat of a collector (see photos below of a select few of my favourites). I don't say this to boast; I say this to foreground my decades of experience with many different folding knives from many companies... The Tiki and Baraka were the scariest knives I have ever attempted to close. They were so stiff that I couldn't find an angle to place my hands such that they were not in the path of the closing blade... And since they were so stiff, I didn't trust the half-stop to stop the blade from closing entirely. The only saving grace was that they were the dullest blades right out of the box of any knife I've ever purchased — the Tiki wasn't even ground on one side of the blade  . Oh, and the Tiki left weird black stains on my fingers when I attempted to close it. Hopefully they will ease up over time. And I can always sharpen them. Right now I'm not sure the price is justified, but check back in in a week. The Mercator is a clear winner at this point.

I'm editing this to add that the Mercators both came ridiculously sharp right out of the box. And I mean like stupidly sharp (even the stainless one).

And there's a bonus of my Sebbie since it got left out of the family photo.

[nate j]

Right now I'm not sure the price is justified

Pretty much where I landed.  Glad they arrived, anyway!

[Tuisto]

Okay, I've been using the Mercator more and more and I absolutely love this blade. No wonder it's been an EDC staple for like eight generations... It may replace all other knives I own. I've already bought four replacements just in case and am looking around for the brass-handled version. I'm editing this to add that the k55k has a stainless version, which I think can be extremely valuable for a daily-use blade.

[WECSOG]

Okay, I've been using the Mercator more and more and I absolutely love this blade. No wonder it's been an EDC staple for like eight generations... It may replace all other knives I own. I've already bought four replacements just in case and am looking around for the brass-handled version. I'm editing this to add that the k55k has a stainless version, which I think can be extremely valuable for a daily-use blade.

Both the brass and copper versions (carbon) are available on Amazon. As is the steel version with stainless blade.

I've considered getting the copper one.

[Tuisto]

Oh man, thanks so much for letting me know! I've actually been looking around for a stainless brass one but am not even certain that such a thing exists. It looks like there's a copper damascus one on Amazon, too...

[WECSOG]

Oh man, thanks so much for letting me know! I've actually been looking around for a stainless brass one but am not even certain that such a thing exists. It looks like there's a copper damascus one on Amazon, too...

Yeah, there's a pretty decent variety on there.