Douk Vs. Opinel, and VZ58 bayonet

[Madnumforce]

Hi there.

As a french, i would like to see tested two famous knives of my country, just to see how they perform compared to other more expansive designs, and against each other.

I think a challenge between the Cognet's Douk-Douk (12E = 18USD for the basic, 3.5in carbon blade, blued handle model) and the Opinel number 8 (8E = 12USD, 3.15in carbon blade) would be interesting. The Opinel cuts well and the Douk is really tough, but both are very cheap.
http://www.leevalley.com/images/item/gift/33n0710s2.jpg
http://www.opinels.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/opinel8-1.jpg




But i would also like to see tested a VZ58 bayonet. I have three of them, and i really would like to know if they can make good knives. Yes, cause the thing is: they come absolutely dull, with no edge at all! So you would have to sharpen it. The "tang", which is not really a tang, is about 2/3 of the handle long. This handle itself is made in a strange material, like wood shavings compressed and glued together with resin. The blade is pretty thick, about 5mm. The steel seems unknown. But i really ask myself how it could perform. And it's realtively cheap also, about 30E (42USD, even 15E = 22USD HERE (http://www.armes-cornet.com/catalogues_blanche.htm))
http://psmilitaria.50megs.com/images/vz58bay.jpg



PS: Noss, if you want to test the Opinel and the Douk, i send them to you if you pay the shipping. They are easy to find and cheap here, and if i send them to you in letter, i guess it's a gain for everybody: you have the knives for not much, and i have "my" test soon.

[lafayette]

Happy to see there is another french guy here !!!

I am very found of the douk, since it is very sharp and easy to sharpen. It is flat and does take much room. I also like its old fashioned look and all the history there is behind this knife. Just one thing I find annoying : there is no locking system.
Cold Steel just made a copy of the douk (the bushman folding knife), with an excellent locking system and bit bigger. It looks like a very good knife for a little price.

[Madnumforce]

Happy to see there is another french guy here !!!

I am very found of the douk, since it is very sharp and easy to sharpen. It is flat and does take much room. I also like its old fashioned look and all the history there is behind this knife. Just one thing I find annoying : there is no locking system.
Cold Steel just made a copy of the douk (the bushman folding knife), with an excellent locking system and bit bigger. It looks like a very good knife for a little price.

Hey, salut!

Though the Douk have no real locking system, the strength of the srping is enough to avoid it close on your fingers, whatever you might do. And the kind of "two steps closing", because of the slip joint is another security.
And i had in hand the CS folding Bushman, as they call it. In size, and curve of the handle, it looks like the giant Douk, but the locking system is a pain to unlock, you have to pull on the lanyard and close the blade in the same time, IMO it's very awkward. Yes, of course it's very strong, but for the size and designed use, i would prefer a good fixed blade. Heavy, complicated, too big for a folder, that's my opinion. And their new Black Rock Hunter, the butterfly-looking folder, is also an horror in my opinion: each branch have a strong slip joint, the first time i open and closed it, i thought it would cut my fingers! They are really in an inovating trip at CS, but the thing is just that inovation for inovation isn't good till it doesn't serve fonctionnality above all.

[Not too bad, man]

Cool knives Madnumforce. That bayonet looks like it could keep Noss busy for a while. :D

[G. Scott H.]

Bienvenue, Madnumforce. I remember your excellent thread about French knives over at BF. :cool: Good to see you here. When Noss figures out what tests he's going to do on folding knives, I'd love to see the Opinel and the Douk. The bayonet looks interesting as well. Thanks for the suggestions. :)

[Noss]

Madnumforce: Welcome to the forum. I was looking at the Douk-Douk a while back when it was suggested on the old forum. Since I have a little money to spend I'll order one.

[Noss]

i ordered one. Two actually. I like the simple design of the Douk. I keep one or give it away as a gift. The other. Well I'll just see how nasty I can get with it an of course video tape it.

[Thecarotidpulse]

Bienvenue Mad,

Yeah the Opniel is a classic. I like the Douk less, but here in Canada you'll find an opinel folder in every scout store and hardware shop, almost.

It'd be nice to see it go head to head with a Victorinox blade and a Wenger blade...


Woot

[Madnumforce]

Great Noss! Thanks. I'm really looking forward for the torture test of the Douk.

[lafayette]

Madnumforce :

I agree with you about the douk' spring : I never hurt myself with this knife. However, as far as Iam concerned, it is not a knife for a professionnal use.

I also agree with you about the bushman : it is just too big for a folding knife, i'ad rather have a fixed blade for such a size.

Noss : great to see such a knife tested !!!

[G. Scott H.]

I also agree with you about the bushman : it is just too big for a folding knife, i'ad rather have a fixed blade for such a size.




Same here. I have a Pocket Bushman and it's a very solid knife, but I would have been happier if they'd gone about an inch shorter with the blade and handle. That would be about 3.5" on the blade and 4 7/8" on the handle. Closer to the size of a large Douk, actually. :thumb:

[jackmcmanus21]

i always thought the pocket bushman was a little too long

[Macgregor]

Douk-Douks are awesome, I cut myself with them constantly. :p

[Noss]

I got the Douk-Douks in yesterday. I like them. They simple an very functional knives. I gave one away already. The steel takes a great edge and the back of the blade works great on my firesteel. :eek: much better then the scraper they give you.