Can you recommend any folder that outcuts or cuts same as Opinels,Carbon or Inox?

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lonestar1979

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Mar 2, 2014
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I have over 100 folders,and still didn't find folder that cuts better than Opinel.Love Opinels,the only issue that turns me off is when it gets wet,its hard to open or close.If you know of something that performs same or close to it,please let me know!
 
lonestar1979 said:
I have over 100 folders,and still didn't find folder that cuts better than Opinel.Love Opinels,the only issue that turns me off is when it gets wet,its hard to open or close.If you know of something that performs same or close to it,please let me know!
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Plastic handle Opinel?
 
Look up Havalon knives.

havalon-piranta-z-black-pro-hunting-skinning-knife-3.gif
 
I like Opies also, but have found the blade geometry on the Boker Plus Tool Tech City One to be awesome; it is 12C27 stainless hardened to 58-60 HRC. A couple strokes on a hone and it is a razor and has held it so far (a couple months of use).
Rich
 
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There are lots of knives that will - most of them bearing broad FFG or hollow ground blades with quite thin edges. Spyderco has many knives like this. Cold Steel has less, so I'll recommend a specific model from them: the Cold Steel AK-47. The high hollow grind on that blade makes it a damn scalpel.

From Spyderco, try the Military or Paramilitary 2. I challenge anyone to show us a more slicey blade.
 
Get carpenters bees wax at hardware store. I'm told solid floor wax may work even better. Break off a small amount and work into the Opinels joint. Melt in with a hair dryer. This is best done with lock ring off. Search YouTube for ring removal tips. Do this several times to over week and you should get a decent seal on the wood. Retreat as needed.

Mine treated this way stand up to kitchen clean up and hiking in the rain.

No full flat blade I've used matches the thin convex grind of the Opinel.
 
I love my Gardener but rarely carry it anymore. I don't need laser like geometry, as much as people deride ZT's slicing ability my Rexford ZT's and 0562 cut anything I need to and I don't have to worry about them afterwards.
 
pinnah said:
No full flat blade I've used matches the thin convex grind of the Opinel.
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Have you tried the Junior?
This is thin; there's no magick behind it.

Any knife that's as thin behind the edge as an Opinel, and retains that thinness for the same amount of blade will cut as efficiently.
 
stabman said:
Have you tried the Junior?
This is thin; there's no magick behind it.

Any knife that's as thin behind the edge as an Opinel, and retains that thinness for the same amount of blade will cut as efficiently.
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My caly3 (zdp189 version) is thinner behind the edge than my junior. I think to really shine the junior needs a rather aggressive re-profiling. Otherwise it's a great little blade. Very light weight, safe handle design even in slippery conditions and a great handle to blade ratio if you care about that sort of thing. I wish they would make a 'senior' version with a slightly larger handle and convexed blade. That would be cool.

But still, it ain't no opinel. The junior has a 3 mm spine. The opinel is half_ish as thick behind the edge and at the spine.


The only thing I can think of that will consistently out cut an opinel is a box cutter. :)

The case knives might come close. I had a hand me down carbon steel one that had been lovingly sharpened to a razor edge. Very impressive cutter.
 
lonestar1979 said:
I have over 100 folders,and still didn't find folder that cuts better than Opinel.Love Opinels,the only issue that turns me off is when it gets wet,its hard to open or close.If you know of something that performs same or close to it,please let me know!
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That would depend on the cutting task. Or if you want to go further, the grind. An opinel could cut just great through some materials, but not over time. How long do you want your knife to stay sharp? How many folders you has doesn't explain why opinel is best. What do you want to do with it?
 
Agree on the cutting ability of Opinel. I wipe my wood handles with Aussy leather conditioner and as someone else said I work it into the joint as well as the end grain of the handle when the blade is closed. Use them in kitchen all the time and wash them often with no sticking problems.

Tom
 
My Enlan will, but the rather aggressive (brutal?) regrind might have something to do with it :D

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My Chaparral was ok, but I also reground that. I've heard the newer ones may be thinner. Also have a Caly Jr. that came very lean. Then I believe the Nilakka is still the thinnest Spydie, but don't have one.
 
Well, I HAVE MANY SPYDERCOS ,BUT THEY DONT CUT THE SAME, Had Calypso Jr Zdp189 that was maybe close, but none of these knives cut close to Opinel!Geometry on Opinels is just superb, and blade is thin!Maybe some other model, like Chapparell ,but don't have experience with it.Ps. high hollow ground Cold Steel folders are my favorites, theyre like razors but still don't cut as well as Opinels blade, but in my experience cut better than most Spydercos , out of factory,without regrind!The post above,that says the only thing that cuts better is box cutter lol, I agree with that!
 
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The nilakka was thin behind the edge having a scandi grind without a secondary bevel... but it wasn't that thin at the spine if memory serves. The thinnest spyderco to my knowledge was the catcherman which was essentially a folding fillet knife.
 
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