A question for you Opinel guys out there.

Non-traditional knives removed.
 
If it bothers you, then straighten it. Otherwise you will always find a reason not to carry it, and it's worth carrying. Use a vise by all means if you have one, that will give you the best chance of a straight blade and least chance of breakage.

Clamp it between two pieces of wood in the vise and if it doesn't come out completely straight, on the apex of the bend place a thin, think like a matchstick thin sliver of wood, maybe a finger wide. You just want to push the bend slightly past center. That should do it, go slow.
 
I looked at my No.9 and its pretty much centered. I don't think that it's a problem or a reason to get rid of it. Sharpen and use!
 
Out of my 9 or so (?) I have one that looks like that.

No biggie. Just sharpen it up, and use it hard.
 
I have the exact same problem with my opinel, it is a no.8 made from stainless. I use it everyday and it is one of my favourite knives. I would say that the problem does not weaken the blade in my opinion unless you want to pry with it. I love mine and the bend soon becomes a part of the knife, it makes it unique and irreplaceable, I think of it as an idiosyncracy that I love. Use your knife and love its little erks and perks.
James.
 
Well I tried to bend it back the other day and it didn't move at all. I guess it was meant to be bent.
 
where are we..i guess E...as it is carbon steel it should be possible to bend it straight if done carefully...if you mess that up you still can choose C ;)

edit: you will have to bend it more than you need so that it can spring back to straight (again carefully)
 
Bladeboss,

I have 2 knives in my EDC rotation: a beautiful script Buck 500 Duke and an Opinel #9.

The Duke is a sexy knife. For me, it carries a sense of menace and bling. People notice it.

The Opinel....

Well, the Opinel just performs. It's crude. It's clunky. It has none of the refinement of the Duke.

Here's the thing for *ME* and my emotional response. For me, the Opinel reminds me that 90% of knife talk is hype. The Opinel works. It works better than my Duke, actually. The blade shape is more functional, the blade grind slices better, the handle is more comfortable and the joint/lock is more durable. All this is true despite the crude handle, clunky and crude joint and the unfinished grind marks on the blade. The Opinel is just a knife. That's it. It's not pretty. Nobody ohs and ahs when I pull it out. I'm not particularly proud of it. It just simply works.

The bend in your #6 won't affect a single thing about it's function. As others have suggested, I recommend you just use it and beat on it.

You're bumping up against a good reason to hate the little Opinel. That little $12 knife with a bent blade will out perform many (most?) $120 with perfectly centered blade and perfect scales and no gaps. How's that? Sort of a crush to that "You get what you pay for" thing.
 
pinnah said:
Bladeboss,

I have 2 knives in my EDC rotation: a beautiful script Buck 500 Duke and an Opinel #9.

The Duke is a sexy knife. For me, it carries a sense of menace and bling. People notice it.

The Opinel....

Well, the Opinel just performs. It's crude. It's clunky. It has none of the refinement of the Duke.

Here's the thing for *ME* and my emotional response. For me, the Opinel reminds me that 90% of knife talk is hype. The Opinel works. It works better than my Duke, actually. The blade shape is more functional, the blade grind slices better, the handle is more comfortable and the joint/lock is more durable. All this is true despite the crude handle, clunky and crude joint and the unfinished grind marks on the blade. The Opinel is just a knife. That's it. It's not pretty. Nobody ohs and ahs when I pull it out. I'm not particularly proud of it. It just simply works.

The bend in your #6 won't affect a single thing about it's function. As others have suggested, I recommend you just use it and beat on it.

You're bumping up against a good reason to hate the little Opinel. That little $12 knife with a bent blade will out perform many (most?) $120 with perfectly centered blade and perfect scales and no gaps. How's that? Sort of a crush to that "You get what you pay for" thing.
Click to expand...
I'm beggining to think this. You worded it great.
 
This is a great opportunity to try some mods. On my #9, I have created a nice EZ Open notch so I can pinch the blade open. It was always very tight and still is. I also reground the blade shape to be a spear to reduce the heinous amount of belly which seems so prevalent in most clip point blade and which most Opinels have. Now the blade is much shorter than the handle but the knife is a piece of cake to sharpen. I could never keep the tip sharp before.

Great fun to mod a cheap knife. I always use it for steak, making caprese salad, and any other cutting tasks I can think of.
 
I have often been surprised/amazed at how far the blades on the Opinel knives bend without taking a set. I have broken a handle on a #6 but not bent the blade. I would be ok with a bit of a bend on one, so long as it closes all the way.
 
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