Amazing Opinel

S

spydutch

Joined
Jul 4, 2005
Messages
978
Greetings you all:)

As of this weekend I have been carrying my Opinel no. 7 carbon again.
Stayed away from it for a while when joining the SoSak forums and try to go SAK only.

However last weekend I was bored a little and decided to try out my Opinel 4 carbon after reading a story of Jackknife of a man that broke the handle of his Opinel.
Well I put a reasonable amount of force on the little bugger and no flex or crack.
I cut some inch thick branches and some sliffers from a damp piece of wood and the little no 4 kept on cutting.
After that the knife still shaved hair.

And then my dedicated kitchen knife; the Opi 6 carbon I tried to modify the handle but didn't turn out the way I wanted.
I totally ignore that knife and cut everything that has to be cut. Even food on the kitchensink. That knife sure has a patina now.

Last time I tried the knife had become rather dull and could only tear cut paper.
A few sweps almost flat to my Spyderco white pocket stone followed by a stropping on a old leather belt I have hanging in the kitchen and the knife shaved again.

What an easy go lucky knife Opinel is and I just love that old world look of it ( you're European or not I guess. :p)

So back to my no 7 it is.

I guess it's rather water resistant by now because over the course of time it has been submerged in linseed oil overnight 3 times now and I even warmed up some Vaseline until liquid on a tea spoon and poured that into the pivot area.
So I guess I'm ready to go now.

Just this morning I sewed a little canal in the inside of my right pocket big enough to slip the Opi in, so it sits nice and cosy vertical along the seam of my jeans and I won't have to carry a hanky or bandana to keep it that way.

So for the time being it's Opinel 7 au carbon in RFP, SAK Soldier '08 LBP and Alox Classic in wallet.

Just wanted to share a little entousiasm.

Thanks for reading :thumbup:
 
They are a heck of a knife, especially for the money. I've got a NO.7 in carbon and the slimmer handle profile I carry alot and a No.8 in Stainless in the standard shape handle. Both steels take an unbelievable edge really easy and quick and hold it pretty well. They aren't super steels by any stretch, but with that super thin blade shape they get scary sharp in a few strokes so no big deal sharpening a little more often. I have yet to get one unusably dull in one day's use even using them pretty darned hard.

Really nice comfortable handles and crazy light. The No.8 is a good sized handful of knife, easily a full sized steak knife or smallish kitchen knife and it just weighs almost nothing. I carry it for using in Restaurants all the time, a far sight better than any knife I've ever been given in a restaurant for my steak.

Pick one up, their cheap anyway and you won't be sorry.

Syn
 
I should get # 6 and # 7 carbon to fill my collection of # 3, # 8 and # 9. Opinel is indeed one heck of a knife!
 
I started my Opie string with the #6.
Have the #6 carbon in the EDC rotation,
it is chosen in the a.m. more often than
second choice SAK olive Cadet.
Still like my '98 63032cv (which replaced my
'78 22087) and my '82 Queen jack 9105.
Guess the lightweight models drew me in.

I agree, the Opies make a great kitchen knife.
The carbon will grow a patina scary quick.
Think the #7 ss may be assigned to permanent KP real soon.
Cheap enough to not cause a heart attack if/when you
lose it and still brings a smile to your heart when using it.
Now that's what I call 'user friendly'.

Just so happens I got the #6 carbon reshot today after cleanup.
Handle has had some 'pocket wore' sanding to smooth out the edges
followed by some linseed oil and later some renaissance wax.
Opie6cRhsOp180.jpg


Then the higher echelon wood varieties...walnut, oak, olivewood, bubinga.
Guess it's time to try ye olde #08 size. Hope I don't like 'em ! :D
OpiesScrbL06.jpg
 
An Opinel nr. 7 and an alox Victorinox Soldier is also one of my favourite EDC combo's. In the kitchen at home and camping, an Opinel nr. 8 is my work horse. I have several models now, the latest one is a garden knife with sheath and sharpener. Opinels are great knives and cheap.

EDC15-04-2010.jpg


Opinelnr7-1.jpg


Opinelnr7-2.jpg
 
Good story. My #8 Opinel has served me well for a few decades.

I see the new ones lock closed as well as as open, seems like a cool innovation to a classic blade.
 
I've been toting my Opinel no. 8 along with my Victorinox Tourist for a couple weeks now. I've always been mostly partial to multi-blade folding knives (traditional slipjoints and SAKs), but I can't imagine how anyone could find the Opi lacking from the perspective of it being a pure cutter. A lot of guys on other subforums here talk on and on about "hard use" folders - the thing about a properly sharpened carbon Opinel (in other words, a laser), is that with a blade this thin and sharp, you just don't need much torque to cut anything - at least not anything you ought to be cutting with a knife in the first place.
 
I love Opinels, and discussions like this are nice because they help me reaffirm my affection for these simple, elegant tools. My Number 10 is my go-to knife for personal food purposes (and general chores, too, depending on what other tools I may or may not have at hand) every time I go camping. Something about the big, wooden handle, the simplicity of the mechanism and construction, and the very useful blade shape and geometry, just gives a nice feeling while using the thing.
:thumbup: :thumbup:
 
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