A project brings peace outdoors - Thanks to my friend Sam

Kevin, you made a great job out of that one :) Thanks for sharing the result. That´s a great looking knife! Congratz, my friend!
 
Thank you to everyone, it means a lot! I know this is a simple project and I made mistakes on the checkering, but it was a ton of fun and I love it.

Next time I will actually research file types and info on how to do different size checkering, and I will draw it out first :)

The knife is absolutely my most comfortable knife by far. Using it feels like an extension of my hand. At only 1.6 ounces it incredibly light for the size.

Truth be told the opinel has always been one of my all time favorite knives but until now I didn't really have one I liked to carry all the time. This one is different.

Thanks to everyone, and again, thanks so much, Sam!

Kevin
 
Kevin,
it seems that, although in the beginning you tried to resist, you always end up walking in my footsteps: first you understood the charm of ebony, now you realize how comfortable is an Opinel...I'm proud of you :D
Next thing, we'll see pictures of you cooking pasta :p
Great job buddy :) (and yes, I know you're laughing...)

Fausto
:cool:
 
Laughing indeed, Fausto :)

This is the best group around.

So lucky to be a part of it.
 
richstag said:
Laughing indeed, Fausto :)

This is the best group around.

So lucky to be a part of it.
Click to expand...

We have to thank you and all the great members here for their contribution and we all need to be honored being part of this community!
 
Checkering - did not see that coming, but I like it. Just got back from an outdoor skills course, and other than my treebeater, my Opinel #8 saw the most use. Great knives.
 
Turned out great Kevin! I like the look and agree it does not need staining. Looks so comfortable with the smooth against the palm and having the checkering to grip your fingers looks great for outdoor activities. Will be interested to here your report on it after some good use, thanks for the updated pics :)
 
Thanks again, you all are great friends. Oh, and hi Unc!

I just realized you all successfully converted me to carrying a stainless traditional !

Crazy! It turns out I'm actually enjoying it! I think it helps that the blade has such a nice finish and really glides through material without a patina.

Maybe I found the one :)
 
Cool! That looks great Kevin, congrats on a sweet customized Opinel :thumbup:

And good on you too Sam!
 
Ha, ha, forgot you weren't such a stainless fan:)

Really glad you're enjoying the knife, let us know how you get on with it over time....
 
Thanks guys :)

Sam, yup I only have a few stainless traditionals. This one is different though. I love this thing. Its actually refreshing. Normally I just don't think stainless looks right with a mirror polish you see on a lot of traditionals. This one with the brushed finish looks wonderful and it really glides through material like wood with less resistance! Its holding a very nice sharp edge! I wouldn't change it to carbon if I could :)
 
That looks great Kevin, It's always a great surprise to see what people come up with on these types of creative ventures. That checkering is quite cool and the simple way you finished the wood seems to make the grain really pop. I like it!

I usually mod all my opinels to be more of a drop point vs the trailing point they come with, I find it makes the tip of the knife a little more useful. I'll also say that one thing I really like about stainless opinels is that they don't have as much of a problem with moisture...I find that on the carbon ones the tang can get a bit of oxidation on it, it makes it tough to swing open, especially if left neglected :o, but no such issue on the stainless models (although the wood still swells).
 
Very true, Vic!! I had thought about the blade, but I like it how it is :)

Yeah, I have tried a lot of the more professional ways to finish wood but for this application I went simple. I like wood handled knives to feel alive if that makes sense. Not stabilized or varnished/sealed in any permanent way.

I weighed this knife on a very accurate scale to a mass of 1.68 ounces. I soaked it in raw linseed oil for 24 hours. Raw linseed oil has no metallic driers or petroleum based solvents like boiled linseed oil. It gets a bad name IMHO, but I believe this is only so because most do not have the time or patience to let raw linseed properly cure. It can take easily two weeks to cure. After the soaking the knife weighs exactly one tenth of an ounce more at 1.78 ounces. That is a lot of oil to take on. After the linseed cures I will give the entire knife, inside and out, a nice coating of renwax to give it additional stability.

Right now I am giving it time to cure.

Thanks again, so much. I would never have had this joy without Sam :)

Kevin
 
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Kevin, it's been a pleasure watching the knife take shape in your hands. sounds like it will be well looked after too:)
 
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