Douk-Douk
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (March 2008) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
(Translated from fr.wikipedia.org/Douk-douk)
The douk-douk is an inexpensive French pocketknife, of simple sheet-metal construction. It has been manufactured by the M. C. Cognet cutlery firm in Thiers, France, since 1927.
Contents |
[edit] Design Origins
The external engraving of the douk-douk was createdin 1929 for sales to France's colonies on Oceania. The handle depicts a "douk-douk", or Melanesian spirit incarnation. This design was originated by Gaspard Cognet, who chose this emblem from an illustrated dictionary. Later other designs such as the "El Baraka" and "Tiki" were developed for other regional markets, particularly in French Algeria, and even down into Sub-Saharran Africa.
[edit] Description
The douk-douk is a very simple slipjoint knife, having no locking mechanism, but only a very strong backspring to bias it towards opening and closure. It consists of only six parts:
- A folded sheet-metal handle, which is very slim
- A carbon steel blade, of a soft and easily-sharpened steel, generally of the "Turkish clip" profile reminiscent of a scimitar. The blade has indentations at the back, and is decorated with acid-engraved arabesques. The blade has no nail-nick, but is easily grasped for opening since it tapers at the spine.
- A strong backspring
- Two rivets (one to hold the blade, the other to hold the backspring and bail)
- A metal bail or lanyard loop
The cutlery firm of M.C. Cognet has continued to build the knife up to the present day, using the same simple methods. Today they are offered with several decorative designs, stainless or carbon steel blades, in three different sizes.
[edit] Variants
Current variants
- Sorcier -- black handle, engraved with the image of "Douk Douk", a Polynesian mythical figure
- El-Baraka -- nickel-plated handle, engraved with a Berber star (allegedly marketed to Muslim colonies in North Africa where the humanoid figure of the Sorcier model would be culturally inappropriate)
- Tiki -- engraved with a Polynesian tiki idol
- L'écureuil -- nickel-plated handle, engraved with a squirrel. Primarily marketed within France. Unlike most other variants, L'écureuil has a spear profile blade.
Out-of-production variants
- (several variants of the Douk-Douk are no longer in production)
