- Joined
- Nov 29, 2000
- Messages
- 1,889
I was reading some reviews on a Hungarian knife-related website when I stumbled upon some Spanish Opinel clones I've never heard about:
http://kesportal.hu/2009/11/07/extremena-–-reszkess-opinel/
These knives are apparently made with a wide variety of blade and handle shapes, in multiple sizes, with and without an Opinel-style ring lock, which according to the reviewer is called Giroblock. Since Opinel's Virobloc as far as I know is still patent-protected, I wonder if the locking mechanism is leased from Opinel or is different enough to have its own patent.
The pictures in the review do not show all the varieties and sizes available.
The blade steel is either carbon steel or 440A stainless.
The Extremeña is apparently a brand of Martinez Albainox company. While searching for that company I found out that it has another brand/line called MAM which includes some Opinel-like and other style penny knives.
It seems that penny knife style pocketknives other than those made by Opinel are still popular in the 21st century. It would be interesting to know in which countries are they sold the most (Latin America?, Africa?).
According to the review these knives are even cheaper than Opinels, but they do not seem to be widely available in most parts of Europe.
I would gladly buy several of these Extremena or MAM knives (sheepfoot, leaf, navaja bladed ones) to try out if they were available from a US distributor or seller.
P.S.: I still like my Opinels!
http://kesportal.hu/2009/11/07/extremena-–-reszkess-opinel/
These knives are apparently made with a wide variety of blade and handle shapes, in multiple sizes, with and without an Opinel-style ring lock, which according to the reviewer is called Giroblock. Since Opinel's Virobloc as far as I know is still patent-protected, I wonder if the locking mechanism is leased from Opinel or is different enough to have its own patent.
The pictures in the review do not show all the varieties and sizes available.
The blade steel is either carbon steel or 440A stainless.
The Extremeña is apparently a brand of Martinez Albainox company. While searching for that company I found out that it has another brand/line called MAM which includes some Opinel-like and other style penny knives.
It seems that penny knife style pocketknives other than those made by Opinel are still popular in the 21st century. It would be interesting to know in which countries are they sold the most (Latin America?, Africa?).
According to the review these knives are even cheaper than Opinels, but they do not seem to be widely available in most parts of Europe.
I would gladly buy several of these Extremena or MAM knives (sheepfoot, leaf, navaja bladed ones) to try out if they were available from a US distributor or seller.
P.S.: I still like my Opinels!
Last edited:
