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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Any love for small Opinels?
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Henry Beige
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On the few occasions I have gone looking for it, the No.5 has been hard for me to track down. I have a 3 and a 4, but don’t carry them much. The 6 has proven about right for me, once I have slimmed the handle. At least I didn’t feel the need to trim the handles on the 3 and 4. I’d still like to try a 5, but I’m not burning to do it.
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I've used both a number 4 and 5. They are great little knives for light pocket knife duties like sharpening a pencil, cutting off those plastic price tag things, opening an Amazon box, cutting any kind of light string/twine/fishing line. You can drop them in a shirt pocket and forget they are there until you need sharp edge. Its like having a little strait razor in your pocket that is so light it feels like its going to blow away in a breeze.
They do cut like the dickens.
They do cut like the dickens.
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I use duct tape.
hornetguy
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I haven't tried it on an opie, or any other knife, but it might work to use a piece of shrink tubing... slip it over the knife, shrink it, and trim it to fit. The knife should slip in and out of it easily.... just a thought. I still haven't had my coffee yet, though...
edit: something similar to this. It's not an opie, but you get the idea....
edit: something similar to this. It's not an opie, but you get the idea....
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Do the smaller knives not lock closed, or do you have a knife from before they incorporated that feature?
The smallest I have is a #9!
Henry Beige
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I don’t see the need for it. In fact, I don’t see the need for the post-1990 closing notch. Many of my Opis are older, don’t have the notch, and still don’t open up in my pocket. I have an 8 that gets so loose in winter that it will fall open. I just carry it tip down. No problem. The others remain snug enough that they don’t flop open even when they get dried out.
The closing notch itself was the answer to a question that nobody was asking except lawyers. After 1990, it became possible to lever the ring off the knife by opening the blade. Many of those lock rings disappeared forever in the grass or under the tool box. Thus were many Opis converted back to pure friction folders, which some contend is their natural state anyway. The No.5 and smaller do not have a lock ring at all, and don’t really need it. Me, I like the Virobloc, which is the feature that captivated me when I got my first Opi. For my money, 1955-1990 was the golden age for Opinel. The changes since then have just been annoying and pointless.
The closing notch itself was the answer to a question that nobody was asking except lawyers. After 1990, it became possible to lever the ring off the knife by opening the blade. Many of those lock rings disappeared forever in the grass or under the tool box. Thus were many Opis converted back to pure friction folders, which some contend is their natural state anyway. The No.5 and smaller do not have a lock ring at all, and don’t really need it. Me, I like the Virobloc, which is the feature that captivated me when I got my first Opi. For my money, 1955-1990 was the golden age for Opinel. The changes since then have just been annoying and pointless.
THIS!!!!!!
In the past 40 years that I've been carrying Opinels, I've never had one open in a pocket. If they get a little loose, they get snugged up with a hammer to the rivet. I never even use the locking ring 80 to 90% of the time.
In my mind, every change that has been made to Opinels from 1890 on, has been because a lawyer answered an unasked question. From 1890 to 1955, they didn't even have the locking ring, yet they grew in popularity in spite of that.
Yeah. I'm paranoid that way. I won't even carry a Svord Peasant loose in my pocket and they can be adjusted to close real tight. I always use a pouch, usually clipped in pocket.I worry less about locking open, actually. I have control of the knife then.
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I might have to pick up a no. 4 to try out. No. 7 seems to be the sweet spot for me but I never seem to mind the chance to try something new. I added a No. 2 to an order recently because it bumped me up to free shipping. I’m enjoying it more than I thought. An added bonus is that it fits in all the tiny pockets some of my pants have. We womenfolk can’t always accommodate a full sized pocket knife.
Here is my No. 7 and No. 2
Here is my No. 7 and No. 2
The Zieg
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I have the full line (sans N°13) and never use anything smaller than 6.
Hickory n steel
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I've been interested in one of the little guys, but I don't think they come in carbon steel.
I hate it when a company uses a lot of Carbon steel but chooses to only offer a certain model in SS, most often I hold off on said model till carbon is offered.
I hate it when a company uses a lot of Carbon steel but chooses to only offer a certain model in SS, most often I hold off on said model till carbon is offered.
I do believe some of the smaller ones are offered in carbon. But when it comes to Opinel, the stainless ones actually perform better. The modified Sandvik steel they use combined with their jeat treatment, makes one wicked sharp blade that is just as easy to sharpen as the carbon ones but holds the edge longer. If there is one knife I prefer in stainless, then it is Opinel.
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No.05 Carbon Steel Folding Knife
The No.05 folding knife is a great size for small pockets, making it a convenient everyday carry. The No.05 may be on the smaller end of the folding knife range, but comes complete with the signature sharp Opinel blade and varnished comfortable beech wood handle. Due to the size, this knife does...
www.opinel-usa.com
That is not the case. Opinel does make the smalls in carbon.
Hickory n steel
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I was thinking about the little #2, but I looked and apparently they do offer even the in Carbone.No.05 Carbon Steel Folding Knife
The No.05 folding knife is a great size for small pockets, making it a convenient everyday carry. The No.05 may be on the smaller end of the folding knife range, but comes complete with the signature sharp Opinel blade and varnished comfortable beech wood handle. Due to the size, this knife does...
That is not the case. Opinel does make the smalls in carbon.
I had only seen the keychain version in various colors which I'm pretty sure only come in SS.
I just may have to order a #2 in carbone.
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No.02 Carbon Steel Folding Knife
The No.02 is our smallest folding knife (since the discontinuation of the No.01 in the 1930's). Small in stature, but highly efficient, the No.02 is small enough to slip into even the tiniest pocket, so it can follow you everywhere. This tiny knife is excellent for small tasks like opening...
www.opinel-usa.com
Here ya go.
Hickory n steel
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Yeah, I just looked and realized this.No.02 Carbon Steel Folding Knife
The No.02 is our smallest folding knife (since the discontinuation of the No.01 in the 1930's). Small in stature, but highly efficient, the No.02 is small enough to slip into even the tiniest pocket, so it can follow you everywhere. This tiny knife is excellent for small tasks like opening...
Here ya go.
I had only seen the colored keychain version before.
Thanks.