Douk-Douk Slipjoint with Recovered Beer Keg Handle

Product Description for Douk-Douk Slipjoint with Recovered Beer Keg Handle

Maker: Charlie Ellis (click to see more by this maker)
Item num: 103239
*** This is handmade and one-of-a-kind ***
Blade length: 3.25 in.
Cutting edge length: 3.10 in.
Total length: 8.10 in.
Blade height (at heel): 0.88 in.
Blade thickness (near bolster): 0.13 in.
Blade thickness (at midpoint): 0.13 in.
Blade thickness (near tip): 0.13 in.
Item weight: 4.20 oz.
Shipment weight: 6.0 oz.
Blade: AEB-L stainless with a hand rubbed satin finish
Handle: 304 stainless steel recovered from a beer keg
Style: Slipjoint folder
Description: Charlie Ellis first struck hot steel in 2005, and has since traveled from Maine to North Carolina in pursuit of the perfect blade. In 2007 he enrolled in the Hand Wrought Metals program at Haywood College in Clyde, North Carolina. There he learned a great deal from David Burnette, Mastersmith Jason Knight, as well as a host of others through the school's partnership with the American Bladesmith Society. Since 2014, he has been a full time blacksmith living in the mountains of western North Carolina with his wife and son.
This knife is Charlie's own take on the classic douk-douk knife. The douk-douk is a French-made pocket knife of simple sheet metal construction often inexpensive, yet of good quality. This style of knife has been manufactured by the M. C. Cognet cutlery firm in Thiers, France, since 1929. Originally intended as an inexpensive utility pocket knife for the ordinary working man, the popularity of the douk-douk caused it to be pressed into service as a weapon when necessary. The knife could easily be converted from a folding blade pocket knife into a useful fixed blade knife by the simple process of hammering the ends of the sheet metal handle together behind the blade, locking the blade into a permanent open position.
The blade is well centered and has smooth, consistent action with a firm half stop. It can be easily opened two-handed using the ambidextrous fuller at the top of the blade.
The wharnecliffe blade is formed from AEB-L stainless steel. Many knifemakers and metallurgists feel that AEB-L, with its small crystalline size, tremendous edge stability and toughness, is among the best stainless steels used in knifemaking today. AEB-L was developed for razor blades with a very fine grain structure making it easy to sharpen while maintaining good edge holding capabilities. The darkened finish from heat treat was left on the flats while a hand rubbed satin finish is shown in the grinds.
The handle is formed from 304 stainless steel recovered from a beer keg (yup, you read that right!). The outside of the steel was left untouched so that the surgeon general's warning print from the keg shows. The handle was then lightly satin finished to provide a more uniform look. An integral deep carry pocket clip makes it easy to keep this utility folder close at hand.
This is a unique knife that is begging to be carried and used daily!


Availability: Not currently available