SHORT: Douk-Douk Knife

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The historic knives series continues!
Designed by French coutellier Gaspard Cognet in 1929 for export to France's Pacific colonies, the Douk-Douk - named after a Melanesian spirit-god - became extremely popular across the French Empire and is still manufactured and sold across the world today.
SOURCES:
www.knifecenter.com/brand/362...
www.countryknives.com/brand-h...
www.insidehook.com/gear/best-...
garrettwade.com/blog/making-o...

[@Case16710]

Loved the Hunt For Red October style transition from French to English!

[@douglasjohnson4382]

… or Judgement at Nuremberg.

[@mattfleming86]

NGL For the intro I briefly thought I was having a stroke

[@CanadianMacGyver]

Then my work here is done.

[@mattfleming86]

​@@CanadianMacGyverI love this channel!

[@Crabby303]

What would happen if you put Gilles and Ian in a sealed room I wonder? Would they collide & annihilate in a bright flash? Or would they be like two tomcats facing off?

[@vernmorris8898]

Ha ha ha. You may or may not belive this as you like but as I read your comment a youtube add was right below it advertising Japanese kitchen knives featuring a picture of a large chefs knife. Lol.

[@mattwilliams3456]

Gilles has made Ian references twice the last few months, once dedicating an entire intro to a forgotten weapons parody. He noted that his French is much better.

[@Crabby303]

I know, I've seen a few now lol, the Monty Python ones are pretty funny@@mattwilliams3456

[@User_Un_Friendly]

Giles: Mini me! Ian: Non! Everyone else: 🤣

[@mattheide2775]

One joint video in French would be awesome. It would sound fantastic and yet not make sense unless taken in context of course. 😊

[@plibani4248]

With these knifes, you have the grandfather (German Mercator - 1867), the father (Japanese Higonokami - 1896) and the son (French Douk Douk - 1929).

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

The Mercator is objectively better. Has a lock, and high carbon steel.

[@jfu5222]

​@@uncletiggermclaren7592I have two Mercators, one is quite old the other new, quality has not changed!

[@teambridgebsc691]

@@uncletiggermclaren7592 yes, but everyone can own a Douk Douk. And the marketing, very clever.

[@wolfgangkranek376]

Look up the "Trattenbacher feitl". First mentioned in 1422, but likely dates back way longer.

[@OoOoOo-we3dn]

@@uncletiggermclaren7592 idk man, the douk douk looks objectivly cooler.

[@EricMBlog]

Nice homage to The Hunt for Red October.

[@peepopalaber]

The Knifes construction is btw. based on the Mercator K55K knife, that was developed and manufactured by Heinrich Kaufmann starting in 1867 in germany, but way simplified to a slipjoint.

[@romteb]

Was the Mercator handle a single sheet of folded metal ?

[@TubeRadiosRule]

@@romteb No, it was sheet metal scales and, IIRC, a red plastic frame. I had one a LONG time ago. My memory may be faulty. EDIT: My memory IS faulty... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercator_K55K

[@jfbft5007]

the Douk-douk original is always available in France, i have a pair for years, blade lose his drawing but not his cutting edge really easy to maintain. It's really a good folding knife.

[@mattschultzy671]

Gilles, I just recently came across one of your videos and was immediately drawn in. Without going into a great deal of detail, let me simply say that I am very much enjoying what you are doing and how you go about it. The videos are fantastic and informative! I hope you are fortunate enough to be able to continue to pursue this interest of yours that just so happens to be of delightful benefit to your viewers as well.

[@teambridgebsc691]

Seconded.

[@fpassow1]

Given the materials, I can see how it might have worked better in a dry climate, vs the originally planned market.

[@User_Un_Friendly]

And here I thought every French person was required to own an Opinel.😛

[@glenndennis6801]

Don't know if it is mandatory but they are a great pocket knife. My father, a fisherman, carried one for years.

[@_f355]

thank you for your videos Gilles, they're very informational and the topics are right up my alley. I wish your channel grows much bigger, it is totally deserved.

[@sharpasfknives]

I love the recent knives content! Thank you!

[@user-qf3ng9ki3p]

Bought one in Paris this weekend as a gift.

[@DK-jt6be]

Great as always!

[@christopping5876]

Excellent video, as per usual.

[@TheKnifeRaven]

This is an excellent video on an excellent knife of history. Cheers!

[@Inflorescensse]

Fascinating. I’d never heard of these!

[@ludditeneaderthal]

In NYC in the 70s, copies/variations of this design were sold as "Tiger" or "Puma". Many a delinquent youth carried them for somewhat less than industrious purposes (myself included, lol). Gave mine up for an Opinel (far more stealthy opening) that i had well into the 90s

[@GunSperg]

Those weren’t copies of the “Douk Douk”, they were copies of the German made Mercator “black cat” knife

[@kutter_ttl6786]

If you're into French knives, you need to own the triumvirate of the Douk Douk, Opinel, and Langouile knives.

[@faisalfayyaz3749]

great work keep up the good work love your videos.💯

[@ShootingUtah]

Buying one for sure!

[@20chocsaday]

Thanks for turning up that flick knife. The shape of the blade is the type that was presented rather abruptly to my throat in a North African port with the recommendation that I buy it from the scamp holding it. The handle, I think, was white. He had to walk backwards holding the knife against my throat or lose a customer. He lost the sale.

[@Legitpenguins99]

Wow, that's a bold move walking into a blade at your throat

[@20chocsaday]

@@Legitpenguins99 It was probably something to do with the way I would treat a potential customer. We agreed on that, I think, gentle persistence. I was warned that the first price would be about 3* the final price. But in this case I wouldn't have wanted it anyway. Not even for a penny.

[@neilfurby555]

Wonderful…Gilles could make a video of watching paint dry into an entertaining and enlightening epic! Just keep them coming.

[@darrensmith6999]

Brilliant! Love the French Opinel knife too (:

[@anstef1485]

Excellente vidéo Gilles.

[@JohnnyWednesday]

Gilles : This is how you pronounce my name, I understand that it can be difficult for some. Gilles : Speaks in fluent French

[@terrydavis8451]

I literally went right to the web and bought one while watching this video. Great stuff Giles (I hope I spelled that right)

[@alessandrovella3819]

Thanks

[@tamasmihaly1]

I love that. “ It’s made of mild steel to make it easier to sharpen” .

[@loopernoodling]

Opinel FTW! I have Opinel knives that I got in France back when I used to go grape-picking (le vendange) in the mid-1970s, and I still use them every day!

[@dourmoose]

I have a few versions of this knife. I don’t carry them very often but they are pretty cool with an interesting history

[@Dee_Just_Dee]

Oh, very neat knife. Thanks for bringing it to my attention. If I were to collect knives rather than just using them, I would want to display a Douk-Douk along with a Buck 110 and an Opinel No. 8. Incidentally, Opinels are fun little knives with their all-wood handles. I picked up an Opinel about 20 years ago, sanded its handle into a horn shape and stained and varnished it, just because I could. Also I can't help but love their unique "collar" locks. Almost worth doing a video on. 😉

[@lukehorning3404]

Very interesting Thanks

[@louisriverin2295]

Gilles, est-ce ton record pour ta vidéo la plus courte? 😉 Toujours très intéressant - Merci de nous partager tes passions et ton savoir !

[@donjones4719]

Nice "The Hunt for Red October" reference with the intro. Very subtle.

[@ypaulbrown]

fantastic, I found out what he photo I have is, Douk Douk dancers......and learned about a great knife......cheers from Florida, Paul

[@lagos8010]

Before this video finished I had gone online and ordered one of these

[@styraxopoponax8294]

To anyone who is going to rush out and buy one - keep it extremely clean, they will stain and rust with the slightest bit of moisture.

[@stefanusswanepooel8834]

I still got my knife, carried it for years as my EDC.

[@Warcrimeenthusiast]

I have carried mine everyday for the past 25 years

[@truebluemiata]

I've got a sheep's foot blade on mine. Very practical if you're not slitting throats!

[@jack1701e]

Hehe that Red October style intro was great :)

[@todkapuz]

i love the opening reference (after the test pattern that is). ^_ ^ i need to watch that movie again..

[@makoyoverfelt3320]

I literally just finished your sextant video and came to see what to watch next, perfect timing.

[@griffin5226]

It's interesting how similar these are to the German otter messer. Perhaps a video comparison is in order?

[@nishidohellhillsruler6731]

Now I remembered I forgot my enciclopedia of "The World of Knives" when I last moved... The Douk-Douk is featured on the folding knives part if I recall correctly.

[@Laundry_Hamper]

WHEN ONE DOUK SIMPLY ISN'T ENOUGH

[@keithagn]

Interesting story! Thank you! Regards from the Left Coast of Canada 🇨🇦 (B.C.) 😅

[@a.pseudonymous2384]

À la poursuite d'Octobre rouge is such a good film

[@mannywilliams6409]

Somewhere in my collection I have A knife made by MERCATOR of Germany that looks similar to the Douk-Douk except the blade is a spear point and it locks.

[@lars75au]

I bought a couple of these, a small and a large after reading a William Gibson book featuring a Douk-douk. Pattern Recognition I think.

[@howardmaryon]

That was so interesting, can you look at the Japanese equivalent, the Higonokami? It has history and is still made by the original family.

[@thezieg]

Whew! For a minute there I thought my French was going to pot. Then I realized you weren't speaking French.

[@terrypitt-brooke8367]

Un autre video très riche! Mais quel couteau d'achèter--Douk-douk ou Opinel?

[@OnTheRiver66]

Thank you for this video. I have heard of this knife, but knew very little about it. I would love to have one of these but have too many knives already.

[@NelsonZAPTM]

Solengen of Germany make a very similar knife called Mercator. It has a mechanical lock on the spine. I wonder who copied who?

[@Myer5Hertz]

Red October vibe in the intro?

[@bradjohnson4787]

I have a German knife very similar (the point is like a table knife)!

[@deadhorse1391]

Reminds me of the German “ Black Cat” knives

[@jaygrizzel4883]

I keep my doodoo knife next to my toilet.

[@VeraTR909]

Ow the test tone at the start was really loud, it could be turned way down

[@SandrasSpicySpanishSalami]

I have one and use it to slice plug tobacco! ❤

[@gregatcheson3793]

Was the mouth zoom-in and back out a reference to "the hunt for red october"?

[@CanadianMacGyver]

Indeed it was :P

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

As interesting as ever, thank you. There is a very similar designed knife sold in Australia and New Zealand, with a design feature that makes it OBJECTIVELY superior to this "cut off your own fingers" French design, namely a solid and successful lock at the hinge that stops it from opening or closing. It also has a high carbon steel blade, which makes for a sharper edge and retention of the sharpness.

[@kutter_ttl6786]

Are you talking about the lockback design, or is it something else that's unique to the knife?

[@Zbigniew_Nowak]

I wonder how popular this Douk-Douk is compared to the Opinel, because the latter has a safe blade lock and honestly, I only knew the latter from French knives.

[@Swingingbells]

What's the name of this OBJECTIVELY (lol) superior knife?

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

The locally built one is a copy of the German Mercator. I have held one of each in my hand and compared them, the German one's engineering finish is better, the local one has a fully enamel coated handle, outside and inside. They both have a high carbon steel blade, nothing to choose between them on that count. The blade quality, and the lock, MAKE them, as I say, objectively better.@@Swingingbells

[@Swingingbells]

@@uncletiggermclaren7592 thank you kindly for the info ^_^ I just thought it was very funny that you put "OBJECTIVELY" in all-caps in the middle of your comment. Not trying to be mean to you about it.

[@ashman187]

Enjoy your brief introduction intro.

[@Fedoratip79]

I'm not surprised they did poorly in 'nesia, it's not a machete or a fishing knife.

[@hkbandit1]

I'll have to get one and see how it compares to an Opinel.

[@kingsbury26]

I have both, Opinel is much lighter in construction. The blade of this is thick and robust. The spring is so strong that my wife is unable to open the knife there is no nail nick, so not only a safety measure but also it stays where I leave it!

[@hkbandit1]

@@kingsbury26 good to know, thanks!

[@alphadawg81]

Looks allot like a lesser copy of the Kaiser Wilhelm knife. Considering the Black Cat was created ~50 years earlier and had a backlock.

[@tommyadkins844]

I can see why thoese knives were used in Algeria the carbon blade make them very sharp.

[@keithmoore5306]

Gilles, how about going over issued personal kit of the empire over time, there's almost nothing beyond the general mess tin great coat water bottle etc. type descriptions on what was issued during different time periods!

[@Zbigniew_Nowak]

At the beginning of this video I was scared - you know why?

[@ktm8848]

i remember when i was kid i found one in the house of my maternal great parents i stole it and took with me to the school and i got caught 😅

[@ianstobie]

Perhaps the original marketing plan to export the knives to France's colonies in Melanesia mentioned at 0:52 didn't go very well because they weren't all French colonies. Fiji for instance was Fijian, then a British colony, and then Fijian again. So never French. Vanuatu was a joint British-French colony called New Hebrides from 1906 until independence. North Africa was, as you say, a different proposition, and much more French. Algeria was administered as an integral part of France, with many French settlers, from the mid 19th century till independence in 1962.

[@VerdantMachine]

Isn't there a Japanese version of these? Usually made with brass? Looks very similar but I can't recall the name

[@CanadianMacGyver]

Do you mean a Higonokami?

[@plibani4248]

With these knifes, you have the grandfather (German Mercator - 1867), the father (Japanese Higonokami - 1896) and the son (French Douk douk - 1929).

[@garrockwaters304]

Higonokami

[@mattwilliams3456]

I’m quite disappointed that there was no baguette or cheese slicing demonstration .

[@thurin84]

looks like a german kat knife.

[@andrepohle7485]

otter messer mercator? 😮

[@2degucitas]

I can tell by your accent you're from Quebec

[@rockets4kids]

I see what you did there...

[@markworden9169]

Neeto

[@1verstapp]

>'made in france' written in english.

[@murunbuchstanzangur]

Nicholas rossi? Is that you? This persona isnt more beleivable than the whole arthur knight sham to be honest.

[@aaronrowepalmer]

Just do one nice video that isn’t so eurocentric. Your audience might enjoy it.

[@andrewemery4272]

Intro is in a dead language...

[@A407RAC]

HON HON - je parles BON francais xD

[@stupitdog9686]

Ya .... looks like a reasonable light, cheap, shitty knife ... Like 100's of others .... Big Deal...