Douk Douk Giant

In 1929, the busy French Colonies in the Pacific seemed to be an ideal market for an inexpensive but sturdy pocket knife. Gaspard Cognet, working in the south of France, designed a knife with a folded steel handle, a slip joint spring, a sharp carbon steel scimitar blade, and two rivets to hold it all together. With the bail on the back end, we have a grand total of 6 parts! 

Hoping to have a hit in Australasia and the Pacific Island colonies, Gaspard looked through images and pictures from the area. He decided on a dictionary picture of the Douk Douk (a Melanesian spirit) to tailor his knife for the market. Stamping a line drawing of the god into the handle and etching some very French stylized designs (and the Douk Douk name) into the blade would make it a sure thing. Unfortunately the Douk Douk was the god of chaos and doom, making the indigenous population afraid to use the knife.

 Sales were, mildly speaking, disappointing. The French colonists loved it though, and the knife became wildly popular in North African colonies like Algiers. It then moved north and found even greater popularity throughout the Middle East and Indochina in the pockets of travelers and merchants. By the time the Douk Douks returned home in the backpacks of French Foreign Legion soldiers, it was relatively unknown by the French people. 

Ours is the (very) large version, with a stiff two handed, two stage open and close. The blade is still carbon steel, meaning it will darken, pit, or rust over time [especially if exposed to water) but can be touched up for hair splitting sharpness. This knife is definitely not for kids... Maybe not for adults either! If you are intimidated by intimidating knives, this is not for you. If you need to cut down a sequoia, or want an awesome conversation piece, look no further. Still made today like the first, in the hills of France by the Cognet family, your Frick & Kewel Douk Douk comes in special packaging with a Douk Douk sticker to show your love. 

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