Ok... Let me just get this right out there from the git'go. What you are about ready to see is nothing even close to Pipeman's amazing work, which really is among the nicest looking Opi mods I've seen. Go here if you want to see something worth looking at:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Another-Christmas-Opinel-modified-FINAL-PICS
Otherwise, here is a much more meager modification with much worse photography.
My daughter got me an Opinel #9 to fit between my #10 and #8. I thinned out the #10 a lot and got it down to Buck 110 size. It's pocketable but really still just a tick too big for EDC use. On the other hand, I find the #8 blade to lack the belly I prefer, especially in the kitchen. I'm hoping the #9 is my "goldilock's" size. Here they are side by each.
opinel-set by Pinnah, on Flickr
I left my latest #8's handle entirely unmodified. I've gained a new-found respect to the traditional shape of the Opinel handle. Two things stand out when I compare them to my more modified and thinned #10. First, I get a lot more control from the full round fore part of the handle. Second, leaving the full amount of kick on the butt end gives my pinkie something to wrap around, again giving better control. I wanted to shorten the #9 a bit and round off the sharp top back end while leaving as much of the kick as possible. Here's a more direct shot of the butt end of the handle.
opinel-9-handle by Pinnah, on Flickr
I'm finding this pretty much as easy to carry as the #8 but much nicer to use, especially in my big hands. My EDC pairing.
edc-pairing by Pinnah, on Flickr
Thanks for looking.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-Another-Christmas-Opinel-modified-FINAL-PICS
Otherwise, here is a much more meager modification with much worse photography.
My daughter got me an Opinel #9 to fit between my #10 and #8. I thinned out the #10 a lot and got it down to Buck 110 size. It's pocketable but really still just a tick too big for EDC use. On the other hand, I find the #8 blade to lack the belly I prefer, especially in the kitchen. I'm hoping the #9 is my "goldilock's" size. Here they are side by each.
opinel-set by Pinnah, on Flickr
I left my latest #8's handle entirely unmodified. I've gained a new-found respect to the traditional shape of the Opinel handle. Two things stand out when I compare them to my more modified and thinned #10. First, I get a lot more control from the full round fore part of the handle. Second, leaving the full amount of kick on the butt end gives my pinkie something to wrap around, again giving better control. I wanted to shorten the #9 a bit and round off the sharp top back end while leaving as much of the kick as possible. Here's a more direct shot of the butt end of the handle.
opinel-9-handle by Pinnah, on Flickr
I'm finding this pretty much as easy to carry as the #8 but much nicer to use, especially in my big hands. My EDC pairing.
edc-pairing by Pinnah, on Flickr
Thanks for looking.
