The Nontron has arrived and I used it last night to prepare my dinner so I could get a bit of a feel for it. These knives are "nicer" than the Opinels, in that they are more artistically rendered with obviously a lot of hand work involved. However, IMHO as knives go, they are not
better than the Opinels regarding form, function, and utility.
So, as I put my recent Frenchie knife craze to rest, here
in my opinion (so stow the slings and arrows), is a rack 'em and stack 'em.
Coming in at #1: Opinel, hands down best "bang for the buck". Good quality steel, carbon or stainless, good blade grind (thin and gently convexed), easy to sharpen, hold a good edge, and cut like nobody's business. Some won't like the simplicity of a wood handled knife with no backspring, but through experience I've learned they're plenty tough, besides being light and comfortable to carry and use.
Coming in at #2: Douk Douk. Great little slip joint folder, with a stout backspring, and a nicely ground blade (semi-hollow flat grind, spine is noticeably thicker than the Opinels) of excellent quality high carbon steel.
Again, some may find the Spartan simplicity of their folded steel handles to be a turn-off, and some grip comfort is obviously compromised. On the plus side, it makes them very light and compact for being such a sturdy knife.
Coming in at #3: Laguiole folders, as long as they are one of the better examples from a reputable maker. Considerably more expensive than the two knives above, but worth every penny if you want an elegant, traditional, slip joint folder of exceptional quality. These really are very nicely made knives, the craftsmanship and choice of materials is top notch. Mine have whittled, gutted fish, prepared meals, and just about everything else you could ask from a pocketknife. So don't let their genteel appearance fool you, they ain't scared to get their hands dirty.
Coming in last, but no insult meant by it: Nontron. Steeped in history and tradition, and displaying hand craftsmanship that's rare in this day and age, these are definitely high up on the "cool scale" if nothing else. Their unique qualities would definitely appeal to serious knife collectors, but to knuckle draggers like me who use heck out of their knives, these don't bark any louder than a regular old dog. If an Opinel will do the same thing at less than a fifth of the cost of a Nontron, I'll take the Opinel fishing and spend the rest of the money on beer and bait.
Sarge
