Antonini Old Bear knives vs Opinel vs MAM knives of Portugal

[lonestar1979]

All of these ones are classics,which one of these three is best,and pros and cons of both.All comments are welcome!I like Opinel but an thinking about ordering Old Bear.

 

[OLd_gUY]

To be honest, I never looked into Old Bear but your question got me wondering so I went to YouTube and found a somewhat rambling but informative comparison between OB and the Opinel. The difference of note for me is that OB is sharpened on one side only and is made of 420HC. The Opinel is beveled on both sides and is out of the box sharper - being made of 12C27 which I guess most feel should hold an edge better under heavier (cutting cardboard, etc) use. So, I guess it might get down to intended use, ease of resharpening, etc.
The differences in the locking mechanisms also stands out and I wonder if the tab on the OB might end up rubbing against the leg if carried in a pocket. Of course, in a backpack, it wouldn't matter.
In the video, I liked the overall appearance of the OB better and probably would opt for the Olive wood if I made a purchase based on looks.
But if the deciding factor was a lasting edge under harder circumstances (even slicing salami, which would be important to me), I think I'd go with the Opinel.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth and I'm sure you'll enjoy which ever one you choose.
OG

 

[deltaboy]

I got a Small MAM and they are about equal to an Opinel!

 

[CasePeanut]

Haven’t tried the OB. The Opinels are just slightly better slicers. I have some fixed MAM knives in the kitchen for paring duty and a sheepsfoot folder. The fixed are great for the price. The sheelsfoot folder is nice, but I prefer an Opinel #6 for most things.

@FortyTwoBlades has a great selection of all these different brands.

 

[Henry Beige]

You are not the first to note the similarities among these three knives. Pictured are MAM Douro, medium Old Bear, and Opinel No.8. The MAM and Antonini have handles that are slightly flattened, and so carry easier than an unmodified Opinel. I have about a dozen Opinels, and two each from the other two makers, which should reveal my preferences.

I favor the slightly convex blade of the Opinel, particularly in Carbone. I find it more difficult to bond with the stainless blades, Opinel included.

I have not been tempted yet to mess with the handle of the MAM. The drabness of the Antonini’s walnut handle led me to put the torch to it, with indifferent results. My carry Opinels all get a little bit of torch work after reprofiling.

All three knives are easily up to the moderate demands placed on an EDC, so I will not recommend one over the others, but rather suggest you try all three, and see if you have a preference. They are cheap enough to allow you do do some side-by-side comparisons. They are all a little bigger than I want to carry. My Opinel 6’s get carried a lot more than anything bigger.

 

[Dan of Bazz Clazz]

I cannot offer an opinion as I only have experience with Opinel.
I will say however that my opinion of Opinel - if I were to offer one - and I won't, - is that the brilliance and simple elegance of design, coupled with the price make it a perfect knife.