Comparison - Opinel #8 and Opinel Outdoor #8

Carl, these are good points you say there.

I also think, that the serrations are strange looking; I´d prefer the ones that, for example, Spyderco or Benchmade uses on their knives. But a blade swap would be the next option ... taking a good ol' #8 blade and add it on the new plastic frame...
 
Alfredo, this is what I call a bad experience.
Sad that something like this happened. I haven´t used (or even carried) mine a lot. Somehow I don´t get warm with it.
 
Okay, as long as we're talking Opinels and boats, I gotta say this.

So many people talk about how an Opinel caan't get wet or it gets stuck. I've nver had that problem, and I've been fooling around with these Opinels since 1982, when I got my first one and fell in love withhow well they cut. Yeah, the get a bit stiff if they gt wet, but still manageable. Like a tight friction folder that got wacked on a bit hard at the factory. But I've nver had one totally freeze up. I've even experimented with seeing how well the Vasoline trick works, by completely submerging an Opinel in a glass of water for 20 to 30 minutes. Totally submerged. Can't get any wetter than that. Unless I fall into a river, it certainly won't get that wet in my pocket.I was kayak camping once, and Karen and I ran a minor rapid, not even a class 2. Since it was a calm body of water, we hadn't bothered putting spray skirts on our Perception Swify's, and a weird dip put a lapful of water on me. I had a number 8 Opinel in my pocket, and it sat the rest of the afternoon there until we got to the island in the river where we were going to camp. I used the Opinel to do the camp cooking that night, making kabobs from the steaks, bell peppers, and onion we'd packed along. Yes, it was stiff to open that afternoon, but it wasn't like puling open some of GEC's nail breakers or the old WWw British navy knife.

To me, modernizing an Opinel is like messing with the design of the old Volkswagon beatle, or Smith and Wesson revolver. They work very well as made. Sure, they need a little tinkering, but that's part of the charm. They have quirks. It's all part of the character we know and love. Andi states that he can't warm up to it. Well, I gotta go with him. I don't think I'd ever warm up to a plastic handle Opinel. The essence of the thing is missing. It would be like having Rachel Ray around the place, but not being able to cook worth a tinkers d--m. What's the point?

Yeah, I'm an crotchety old fart that doesn't like changes. And Opinel's have wood handles.:)

Carl.
 
Thanks for the comparison uncle Andi! I don't know if I'll be interested but I try to keep an open mind since becoming a big fan of Opinels!
 
Hi,

This is my first time seeing the Outdoor. And while I'll stick with my trusty #6, I can see a niche for an updated version. As long as they keep making the originals.:D

The serrations kind of remind me of a crosscut saw. But I agree with the general consensus that I don't like them either. But if it ain't a bread knife, I don't need them anyway.

I too am disappointed by your unhappy experience Alfredo. Still, Opinel's are a pretty light duty design anyway. So maybe not quite so surprising. And like Carl, I've never had much problems with swelling locking up my Opinels either. And I'm generally too lazy to go to much effort in water-proofing them.:) I maybe won't buy one as plastic isn't really my thing either, but I see a niche for them.

Dale
 
I concur with Jackknife, somebody needs to fill the void left by the twistmaster. I saw some guy trying to sell one at a gun show for 65 dollars. I now initially they were intended as an inexpensive working knife, not a collectable folder by any stretch. The synthetic handle would appeal to a lot of would be Opinel consumers. I'm not saying I disapprove of the wood handles, but I feel that a number of individuals would have a bit of preference towards a more modern synthetic of a sort. Pair that with an Inox blade and you'd have an Opinel, that's even more suitable for adverse conditions.
 
Bump!
I finally tried an Opinel, No.06. I just love this folder!
A friend said to get a carbon blade but I like how Sandvik does their stainless steel. :)
I might try a No.9 or an Outdoor Model.
rolf
 
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Don't mess with a classic. Inox blades, maybe. I handled the switch from carbon to stainless bolsters and lock-rings OK, hardly even noticed it, in fact. A stainless blade might have made sense for the long, damp months when my knives sat around in a fairing pocket or tank bag waiting to be called upon.

But there is really no need to gild the lily.
 
Thanks, Henry.^
I did order an Outdoor model, Red and Brown polymer handle. H&K and Glock know that polymer can be a good thing.
rolf
 
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