About Opinels

thejamppa

thejamppa

Joined
Aug 20, 2009
Messages
2,907
Hello all!

There mgith be some repetition in this thread what older forumite's have read in here during years, especially when it comes chese French knives, so I do apologize for that.

I just recently got Carbon #8 and Carbon #9 (I had to touch up bit #8 as it was nail breaker, now its fine ) I noticed something interesting. When I have Opinel's ZT 0500 MUDD at the desk, I grab most often Opinel #9. I had stainless #8 and it saw usually more action than $30-$50 folder's lying around. I find this rather interesting.

Opinel is somehow so charming in its simplicity. Low price, good ergonomics, excellent blade profile, grabon steel blade. It has no springs, teflon, coating, titanium or any space age stuff.

I've also noticed that blade profile is excellent for slicing but also very good for sharpening. Opinel is easy to get scary sharp even in outdoor conditions.

Heck, now I am fully convinced the greatness of humble Opinel. I probably get Carbon #6, #7, #10 and #12. I already have Carbon #3, #8 and #9. Truely fantastic knives for such low price. Perhaps even #2, #4, #5. Collecting whole current Opinel line up in Carbon. Price is not problem.

Gotta love these knives. I should probably add some pictures later.
 
They are indeed great knives. I've got from No.6 to No.12 and a few others too.
They cut better than some knives that cost many times more.
If you like Opinels have a look at my Svord thread. another great slicer.
 
An Opinel 8 and a Mora 860 have made me question many of my $100 plus purchases!!!
I beat them up regularly and have them splitting atoms after a short time on the stones.
It should be a mandatory purchase for all knife knuts....then compare all future purchases to the performance of the Opinel. It might get some heads shaking.
 
I have an Opinel #6 and a Svord Peasant. Both are great knives for the money and they take abuse and come back very well. I like the thinness of the Opinel and the sturdiness of the Svord
 
I think you summed it up right there with "charming". I'm sure Opinel isnt the only one that puts alot of heart and soul into their knives but Opinels surely come to life in your hand like no other, a very warm welcoming feel.

I recently picked up 2 No. 6 inox models, the trekker (with lanyard) and a polished Bubinga wood model. I'm so pleased with the money I spent, I've gotten a feeling with these Opinels that I've never had with any other knives and I think thats complete satisfaction that I got the most for the money I spent.

I like the thin profile, it reminds you to use the knife for only what its intended for. I've yet to try a carbon steel model and was thinking about a No. 5 but may stay with the 6 for the locking ring. I like this size. I do wish they made the carbon models with fancy woods or colors.

I'll probably be on Opiknife later today ordering a couple others!
 
MACHAVEN said:
An Opinel 8 and a Mora 860 have made me question many of my $100 plus purchases!!!
Click to expand...


You're not alone in that feeling!

I don't think it was an accident of fate that I got into both Opinels and mora's in the very early 80's, and by the late 80's was selling off all my high dollar custom stuff including my Randall's.

After my downsizing, I found that the only knives I was carrying on a regular basis was one of my Opinels, or my Case sodbuster, and if I needed a sheathknife, my Frosts wood handle number 1. For just the pocket jewelery aspect a Case peanut would be tucked in my watch pocket.

You can go a long way, and still find an Opinel will do what you need doing. The only problem is water. I've re-worked several Opinels over the years and I can get them to stand up to being totally submerged for 15 minutes and still function. It can be done.

My other problem with Opinels is, that they are so low cost to get, I end up gifting them out to people who admire their cutting. After a bit of sanding,a hand rubbed linseed oil finish, they are quite nice looking. I just wish they would stop using that horrible orange finish on them. I always ask for a coin back.

Opinels are great knives if you take some care and fine tune them.
 
my only grievances were minor: When you tapped side my Opienls had rang. Oh, well, I place small bike innertube pieced grazy glued at the end and it stopped the ranging sound. Lol, yes, I am anal when it comes to sound :D

Oh, yes... Svord peasant is in order. Sadly I did not found wooden handled ones in reasonable price (well, price was reasonable but its insane to pay $33,50 shipping when knife is around $20) so I ended up black plastic handle one for $16. I hope I shall get it soon.
 
My niece worked on a farm and lives in the country and carried a #8 for years until one of her dogs chewed up the handle. I brought her a new Opinel #8 in oak on my last visit and she couldn't be happier. I own a #6 and have used it around the house and I do like the ease of sharpening and the excellent edge that can be produced.
 
jacknife said:
They are indeed great knives. I've got from No.6 to No.12 and a few others too.
They cut better than some knives that cost many times more.
If you like Opinels have a look at my Svord thread. another great slicer.
Click to expand...

I mean no disrespect to Sal G. and the fine team at Spyderco and their fans, but if I had to carry a large-ish single-blade folder, I'd much rather carry an Opinel than a thick-bladed Spydie. I'm over fancy locks and one-handed opening and steels. Just give me a great cutter at a great price, something time tested. Opinel does it right.
 
mnblade said:
I mean no disrespect to Sal G. and the fine team at Spyderco and their fans, but if I had to carry a large-ish single-blade folder, I'd much rather carry an Opinel than a thick-bladed Spydie. I'm over fancy locks and one-handed opening and steels. Just give me a great cutter at a great price, something time tested. Opinel does it right.
Click to expand...

So am I.
Still like all my Spydies though. It's only that I don't carry them as often anymore.
Just like Sal says: "All good just different"
 
I stropped my Opinel #8 and few hours later I went to sleep. I wondered why my left index finger feels funny and I turned light and looked: A nice, clean vertical knife cut that had not bled any, but was relatively deep and did not feel anything but slightly funny and not painful.

I tested my stropped Opinels and I must have cut myself without realizing. Man, these Opinels take wicked edge...
 
thejamppa said:
I stropped my Opinel #8 and few hours later I went to sleep. I wondered why my left index finger feels funny and I turned light and looked: A nice, clean vertical knife cut that had not bled any, but was relatively deep and did not feel anything but slightly funny and not painful.

I tested my stropped Opinels and I must have cut myself without realizing. Man, these Opinels take wicked edge...
Click to expand...

Gotta be carefull with those things. In 1983 I had to get 7 stitches in my left hand because I got a little careless with a number 8 Opinel. At the time I didn't even know I'd been cut till a few minutes later when I was wondering where the blood was comming from.:eek:
 
Opinels are great slicers, I have one as table knife to open letters and boxes. They are indeed so easy and fun to sharpen. I tried modifying one so that whittled (rounded) the end of the handle that pokes to your palm. It became super comfortable, but I went a bit over the board and ruined the handle... but hey, it's just 10€ anyway. :D

I've noticed though, that the belly portion of the blade hits the frame and dulls it quite fast. That's kind of shame.
 
I've read about these knives but have never seen one in person until this week. I was running around the Blue Ridge Mts and found a store called the Mast General Store in Valle Crucis, NC. Pretty cool store (they have a post office!) and lots of tourist items to buy. So, I'm roaming and I find a knife display. Several good brands such as Case, Kershaw and Victorinox with lots of slippies. I noticed the Opinels sitting there all alone. I took a look at them and they are nice knives. I got two of the #8s. One was for my son and it had some carvings on the side of the wood handle and the blade had "inox" on it. Mine was a plain wood handle one with "carbone" on the blade. The price was good on both. These are very light and fit my hand just right. They are fun to sit around and unlock, open, lock, etc.... I did a little whittling at the cabin that night on the deck. This knife find made a great trip even better.

I'm back in FLA now and I am going flounder gigging tonight. I'm taking the opinel with me. We'll see how it works.
 
Hi I'm yobbos1 and I can smell an Opinel thread a mile away.:D Love 'em use them like crazy around the house and yard, try carving a pumpkin with one, you'll never go back to anything else. Here's a few of mine.

opinels.jpg
 
Massively good all rounders,lot of charm and function too-that locking collar is genius. Fine outdoor knife for fish filleting or pic-nics, a MUST!
 
Certainly the best knife you wouldn't mind (at least not too much) losing. I have a #9 carbon which slices like crazy, and only cost $14. Maybe the only knife of which I would say that every knife lover should have at least one.
 
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