A new modern traditional from Opinel - The No. 09 DIY Knife (aka. Couteau Bricolage)

scruffuk

scruffuk

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Jan 14, 2010
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About two months or so ago, shopping for knives at on a French cutlery website, I noticed a pre-order opportunity for the new upcoming knife from Opinel.
As far as I know this is there next knife after their Outdoor/Sailing knife, and it looks like Opinel are keen to keep 'innovating' and also to keep using manmade materials in their new range.

Now, I'm not an Opinel fan, I've tried them a fews times, I just don't like 'em. But this model was significantly different, and novel enough for me to think 'hey, I'll give it a whirl' at least.
So I placed a pre-order, and yesterday my neighbour handed me a package….it had arrived.

I'll let the photo's do most of the talking….



The features:























Sheepish looking blade….



The edge was surprisingly wiry and blunt. It required a good few passes on my Lansky Crock Sticks (25 degrees) to fix it.





Not so sure about the triangular section where the unsharpened rear of the wire stripper section blends towards the plunge line.


The 'switch-sitflyer' composition ;)


With the 93mm Victorinox Alox Solo for comparison


It should make an interesting workhorse, I'll be interested to see how the bits hold up/in the handle, but they do seem quite secure.
It feels a big chunky knife…and shouldn't be too difficult to misplace!

Thanks for looking.

scruff
 
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I soooort of like it.
I bet that plastoid handle doesn't jam up like my wooden one when wet.So that would be a plus.
Wire stripper blade cutouts ...hmmm to be honest are a NO from me.
Those screwdrivers would be the first thing to go missing as well. Although I think the magnetic socket is quite nifty.
I like the review though, a picture speaks a thousand words.
 
Thx for the great review! I think it will get alot of use as a mt. I use the mt's for the site cutter pliers and screwdriver more than anything else.

How does it fair as a knife once sharpened?
 
I'm really liking the overall blase shape on it. I wonder about durability of the hole where the bits go on the end, though. Does it seem like the the bits won't twist inside it and round it out?
 
I like it! I've been waiting for your review on these since the teaser pics a while back. I can imagine these becoming popular with electricians and handymen types. Looking forward to hearing some real world use stories on these, looks to me like a big winner for Opinel! :thumbup:
 
Cool, thanks for posting this, I'm also not a fan and would have overlooked this one. This looks like something I would be interested in. :thumbup:

Now, back over to the wish list thread. :D
 
Great review and thanks for sharing and putting it on the radar.

I don't know? I sort of have mixed feelings on this one, first impression I think cool, could come in handy, but the more I think about it, my needs are generally Phillips, 1/4" or 5/16 hex, only time I really see slotted is to demo something old, still nice to have, too bad they didn't include two double sided bits. Then I step back and take a look at my real world work needs and jobs are time sensitive so 99% of the time using a bit in a impact drill, if I can't use a drill it's probable something small and delicate or in a real tight spot, so bit holder on the side of handle would suit me a little better. Like others I wonder how much torque the hole will take without giving out stripping and rounding out? Wire strippers would be worthless to me, if I'm wiring I would have a pair of linesman to cut the wire, plus I can see those notches catching and snagging on material I was cutting. I really like the blade shape +++ and overall size #9 is my preferred Opinel for work, Opinels 12c27 is great, wish Case would use it as their stainless, still part of me really likes it and applauds Opinel for wanting to branch out and stay currant, I think on the job, sort of worthless to me, around the house or traveling could and probably would come in very handy. Depending on price point, which I assume will be decent, I might check it out, I'm still a little on the fence, but sometimes you try something you think might not work for you and you end up really liking it.

This is my Opinel #9 multi tool :)

Pete
 
Stich2442 said:
Great review and thanks for sharing and putting it on the radar.

I don't know? I sort of have mixed feelings on this one, first impression I think cool, could come in handy, but the more I think about it, my needs are generally Phillips, 1/4" or 5/16 hex, only time I really see slotted is to demo something old, still nice to have, too bad they didn't include two double sided bits. Then I step back and take a look at my real world work needs and jobs are time sensitive so 99% of the time using a bit in a impact drill, if I can't use a drill it's probable something small and delicate or in a real tight spot, so bit holder on the side of handle would suit me a little better. Like others I wonder how much torque the hole will take without giving out stripping and rounding out? Wire strippers would be worthless to me, if I'm wiring I would have a pair of linesman to cut the wire, plus I can see those notches catching and snagging on material I was cutting. I really like the blade shape +++ and overall size #9 is my preferred Opinel for work, Opinels 12c27 is great, wish Case would use it as their stainless, still part of me really likes it and applauds Opinel for wanting to branch out and stay currant, I think on the job, sort of worthless to me, around the house or traveling could and probably would come in very handy. Depending on price point, which I assume will be decent, I might check it out, I'm still a little on the fence, but sometimes you try something you think might not work for you and you end up really liking it.

This is my Opinel #9 multi tool :)

Pete
Click to expand...

Aha, that explains my other post...

Paul
 
I really liked that when I first saw it, but the more I looked at it the more I was reminded of pink flamingos on the lawn in a trailer park.

My initial attraction, and others reactions show that there is a yearning for plastic handled Opinels though. I hope they keep trying.

How about taking the most common mods like an easy open notch and sanding the knob facing your palm down and doing it up in plastic. I'd buy it in a heartbeat, even if it was a bright, gaudy color.


Where's Pinnah?
 
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Thanks for the comments folks.

cchu518 said:
How does it fair as a knife once sharpened?
Click to expand...

Its taken a great edge. 12c27 is a VERY popular steel in France, they know how to make the most of it.

bwperdue said:
I'm really liking the overall blase shape on it. I wonder about durability of the hole where the bits go on the end, though. Does it seem like the the bits won't twist inside it and round it out?
Click to expand...

Its the blade shape that sold me Blaine. I've seen countless Opinel mods on the blade, and a fair few changing it into a shape not too dissimilar to this one.

The hex bits are certainly not a friction fit, but I believe they shall hold up well.
The magnet is quite strong and they seat into the hex fitting well over 3/4's of the way up the hex shaft.

As others have eluded, a workman is likely to have the tools of his trade to hand, if he's doing serious work anyway.
This fits into the same kind of niece as a Swiss army or Camp knife I suppose….with the added interest of the bits not being there when you actually DO need them…. ;)

Kidding! :D

They are seated home very tight in the recesses, and are retained with a LOT of friction AND two lugs which 'snug', the bits into place.

Truth be told, it is probably a little gimmicky….and the French have stiff competition form over the border before they can be taken seriously as multi-tool manufacturers ;)
 
Great review! I'd never carry one but it looks pretty cool, especially the blade shape. Enjoy your blade!
 
I like the blade shape, handle I am so-so about. Would it be possible to transplant the blade into a standard wood handle?
 
I don't know.

I like Opinel's, and love the history and utility of the basic peasants knife with the added ring lock. But I don't know about this one, much mixed feelings here. The old Opinel is a little finicky, kind of like the old VW bugs with an air cooled engine that needed a little more attention than the 'new' stuff. But that was always part of it's charm, the quirkiness. The character of it. And like the old bugs, the wood handle Opinel has it's share of character in spades. But this one seems kind of gimmicky, to use another posters term. I hope it goes well, as I'm rooting for Opinel all the way. It's a tough world market these days, and I guess in the face of the jack of all multi-tools that are masters of none, Opinel has to compete.

I wish them well.
 
Thanks for the detailed report.

I think I'm going to have to get me one of those when they become available to the hoi polloi. Looks like a great knife to have when doing fixits around the house. Looks like it will fit nicely into the tool pocket of my carpenter jeans, as well.

Excellent.
 
Looks like a good alternative to turning screws with the tip. Believe me many who tote Opinels (my dad included) carry them due to their inexpensive, and replacable nature, my Dad's tip has been chipped a bit, and blunted from turning screws with it. He needs something like this. He seriously doesn't care though, and many people I know who don't share my enthusiasm for knives, do things with them that would make us cringe. Especially with cheap knives like Opinels. I like Opinels though, and really enjoy them. They're ideal for a lot of things, with their super thin blades. Still for a lot of individuals this would be a good option IMHO. Now if they'd just offer the standard, mundane, run of the mill Opinel, with a synthetic handle, I'd buy several. Inox would be fine.
 
I like the blade shape and I wish opinel would make. plastic handels like that. On there popular model's. I do like the yellow for some odd reason.
 
Hopefully they will offer one minus the wire stripper notches. I love the steel, love the blade shape. With or without the screw drivers, I would like one with just the stainless blade and plastic handle. It would make a great no maintenance canoe/fishing/camping blade.
 
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