Hats off................to Opinel

5K Qs said:
My first Opinel (it was a #6) originally gave me fits with handle swelling. Didn't help that within days of its arrival I took it on vacation to a cottage on the shore of Lake Huron in August - heat and humidity very high.
But then someone (may have been J jackknife ) suggested treating the wood around the pivot with Vaseline or beeswax to "waterproof" it. When I got home from vacation, I melted some Sno-Seal beeswax waterproofing for boots into the pivot, and it has worked like a charm ever since. I've picked up several other Opinels since then, treated the pivot with Sno-Seal, and have had little, if any, swelling problems with any of the knives.

Here's what my #6 looks like now. I wanted to sand the handle down to sort of a cigar shape, but failed to plan ahead and ended up with the blade tip sticking out of my modified handle:
View attachment 2174541

So I had to do an "emergency" blade mod that I hadn't planned on. Used a file to try to get a spearpoint blade by taking off the metal marked in red:
View attachment 2174548

Turned out much better than I'd hoped, given my lack of relevant skills:
View attachment 2174558
(Now, almost 6 years later as I look at that first photo, I suddenly realized that I may have been able to keep the original blade intact by just lengthening and deepening the "blade well" in the handle until the exposed tip dropped into it. I think there might have been enough room in the handle for that.)

- GT
Click to expand...

I really like the way that turned out.
 
Henry Beige said:
For some time now, I have had a No.7 sitting around waiting for me to decide what to do with the handle. This gives me some ideas. For a finish, I usually use beeswax. (In Minnesota, everybody has a pot of Sno-Seal sitting around).
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In Pennsylvania too.:) My Dad used it on his boots when I was a little kid. I'm 75 now & I still use it.
 
Ya know, theres one thing about the Opinel's that I don't know if I have ever touched on. Getting older, and having some arthritis in my hands from a lifetime career as a machinist, cranking on milling machines and lathes, some types of moves outright hurts, like pulling open a slip joint pocket knife with a heavy spring. The Opinel, by virtue of it being a friction folder like the Sardinian Resolza, and Japanese Higonokami, is a born old fart's knife. Even an arthritic old crock like me can open an Opinel with no problem. And by the nature of what it is and how its made, you can fine tune an Opinel to your liking. Want it a bit lighter pull? No problemo. Snug it up a bit, also no biggie. Want an easy opener? a bit of sandpaper and time and you can shape the handle anyway you want it.

You could say an Opinel is a blank canvas for the owner to do with it whatever he or she wants. An item for the freedom of expression. And you get the pleasure of using something so traditional that a working guy from 150 years age would recognize it. Like going to the range and shooting an old muzzle loader or cap and ball revolver. Its like taking a step back in time, to a slower and maybe better time.
 
jackknife said:
Ya know, theres one thing about the Opinel's that I don't know if I have ever touched on. Getting older, and having some arthritis in my hands from a lifetime career as a machinist, cranking on milling machines and lathes, some types of moves outright hurts, like pulling open a slip joint pocket knife with a heavy spring. The Opinel, by virtue of it being a friction folder like the Sardinian Resolza, and Japanese Higonokami, is a born old fart's knife. Even an arthritic old crock like me can open an Opinel with no problem. And by the nature of what it is and how its made, you can fine tune an Opinel to your liking. Want it a bit lighter pull? No problemo. Snug it up a bit, also no biggie. Want an easy opener? a bit of sandpaper and time and you can shape the handle anyway you want it.

You could say an Opinel is a blank canvas for the owner to do with it whatever he or she wants. An item for the freedom of expression. And you get the pleasure of using something so traditional that a working guy from 150 years age would recognize it. Like going to the range and shooting an old muzzle loader or cap and ball revolver. Its like taking a step back in time, to a slower and maybe better time.
Click to expand...
- good point, well made, sir :thumbsup:
 
jackknife said:
Ya know, theres one thing about the Opinel's that I don't know if I have ever touched on. Getting older, and having some arthritis in my hands from a lifetime career as a machinist, cranking on milling machines and lathes, some types of moves outright hurts, like pulling open a slip joint pocket knife with a heavy spring. The Opinel, by virtue of it being a friction folder like the Sardinian Resolza, and Japanese Higonokami, is a born old fart's knife. Even an arthritic old crock like me can open an Opinel with no problem. And by the nature of what it is and how its made, you can fine tune an Opinel to your liking. Want it a bit lighter pull? No problemo. Snug it up a bit, also no biggie. Want an easy opener? a bit of sandpaper and time and you can shape the handle anyway you want it.

You could say an Opinel is a blank canvas for the owner to do with it whatever he or she wants. An item for the freedom of expression. And you get the pleasure of using something so traditional that a working guy from 150 years age would recognize it. Like going to the range and shooting an old muzzle loader or cap and ball revolver. Its like taking a step back in time, to a slower and maybe better time.
Click to expand...
You have summed it up well,I sanded down the humps on mine for a more comfortable grip.
If its tight give it the Opinel knock or add an easy open notch.


Improve the blade opening

www.opinel.com www.opinel.com



If you are having difficulties in opening your Opinel, try the Coup du Savoyard® (The Savoyard’s tap), an ancestral tip which has been passed down from one generation to the next.

  1. Turn the rotating lock to free the groove.
  2. Hold the knife by its handle: The rotating lock is positioned in the palm of your hand, the groove is facing downwards and should not be covered by your fingers.
  3. Tap sharply on a hard surface (a table for example, but avoid fragile surfaces which could be damaged)
  4. On impact, the blade is released and opens easily.




https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2381147971910859
 
rZ7wIro.jpg


Mon Opinel et un bout de ficèle - bien équipé pour tout qui peut m’arriver (selon dantzk8 dantzk8 et l’Armée française 🤣🤣)
 
Before I began carrying the N°10, the N°09 was my go to Opinel, but I have not carried one in years. I just tuned up this N°9 so that it flips open and closed one handed with just a bit of resistance and both locks and unlocks with my thumb on the virole. I also filed down the nub on the inside of the virole, making it possible to pop it off the interior collar for cleaning. It is just as I like it . . .

Except . . .

Who can guess what it wrong (to me) about this Opinel? (N.B., it is not the small roll on the edge.). 😉

GpSDEeF.jpeg


Zieg
 
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The Zieg said:
Before I began carrying the N°10, the N°9 was my go to Opinel, but I have not carried one in years. I just tuned up this N°9 so that it flips open and closed one handed with just a bit of resistance and both locks and unlocks with my thumb on the virole. I also filed down the nub on the inside of the virole, making it possible to pop it off the interior collar for cleaning. It is just as I like it . . .

Except . . .

Who can guess what it wrong (to me) about this Opinel? (N.B., it is not the small roll on the edge.). 😉

GpSDEeF.jpeg


Zieg
Click to expand...
😱 😦… inox… the horror..
DrgXpbn.jpg
 
Johnnythefox said:
One of my favourite bits of the film,I use it in the same way when I see something naff.

But in this case for food prep and the like and to save water when out and about on cleaning the knife its not that bad.... 😁
Click to expand...
I will agree that stainless steel can be an appropriate choice sometimes, just (for me personally) not on something classic like an Opinel :thumbsup:.
 
It's true!! 😆 The horror! Caught with an inox Opinel? Was I also wearing a powder blue tux with a ruffled shirt? The inox still cuts like a scalpel, but it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that . . . patina. Not that stainless is bad (think SAK), I just have my 'druthers.

I'm gonna carry this one a while and see how it goes. Prayers are welcome. I'll post reports from Mordor.

Zieg
 
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