8. Carbon. Otherwise, yes.
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Hats off................to Opinel
- Thread starter Chui
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Inox might be boring, but I have a few in Inox. Doesn’t matter if orc blood gets in the joint.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
Johnnythefox
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I was once down to my last bit of water riding through a very remote, dry area of Spain.
I gave most of it to a Pilgrim on the way to Santiago de Compostela on foot who had run out of water and flagged me down, we drank the last drop together.
I couldn't waste any of it on cleaning my knife.
Facts is facts.
Johnnythefox
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I think you’ve sold me on a 10, by the way…It's true!!
I'm gonna carry this one a while and see how it goes. Prayers are welcome. I'll post reports from Mordor.
Zieg
I have decided to carve a canoe paddle out of a 2x8. I sawed out the basic shape, and started rough shaping with a drawknife, but thought the 10 would come in handy for the finer shaping later…
Since when do you need water to clean your knife? Spit on it and wipe it on your jeans like us civilized folk…I was once down to my last bit of water riding through a very remote, dry area of Spain.
I gave most of it to a Pilgrim on the way to Santiago de Compostela on foot who had run out of water and flagged me down, we drank the last drop together.
I couldn't waste any of it on cleaning my knife.
Facts is facts.
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Will Power
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Yeah, stainless doesn't taint foods the way good old carbon imparts its rusty taste on edibles
Johnnythefox
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Have you seen the holes in my Tee shirts from doing that?
Cut my skin doing it once....
Will Power
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Hurrah!
I suspect the present incumbent would prefer to issue a cyanide capsule to most citizens.....ought to sort out the pension debate once and for all
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joeradza
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Just think of it as reverse patina. Wood vs. steel.
Johnnythefox
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I once rode past the Bonne Maman factory in France by chance.The N°10 would reach into the jar better, but the N°9 works, too.
Zieg
Now there is a fun fact...
The Zieg
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And you didn't stop? I rode my bike past the Laphroaig "factory" on Islay once, but it wasn't by chance and I didn't leave until the next day.I once rode past the Bonne Maman factory in France by chance.
Now there is a fun fact...
Zieg
Johnnythefox
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I bet it was fun.And you didn't stop? I rode my bike past the Laphroaig "factory" on Islay once, but it wasn't by chance and I didn't leave until the next day.
Zieg
btb01
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Added a picnic set for my no 8s…….
Those are interesting. I’ve always just use the hard plastic camping utensils you can get at any outdoor store for about a buck each. They’re durable, don’t take up much room in a bag, and you can use the fork and your knife at the same time.
Interesting design from Opinel, though.How about hats ON ….. to Opinel?:
Here is me in 1988, about halfway through the 4-month Legion basic training, at the “Remise des Képis Blancs”, where you were first allowed to don the iconic képi, after completing the “Marche du Képi Blanc” (a forced march, and one of many haha). I would have most likely had an Opinel No. 8 carbone in one of my breast pockets, along with my signing contract. They told us to keep our contract with us at all times, and I took that a little too seriously. After the first few weeks of basic it was a blurry pulp from the gallons of sweat it had been exposed to in my pocket.
We stood there at attention so long before the company commander arrived to witness the ceremony that my hand went numb holding the képi, and when the time came to put it on, I barely managed to do so, and with an extremely awkward motion. I’m still embarrassed 35 years later…
The first day of basic was when I got my first Opinel. They were not issued to us, rather they were purchased for us along with basic toiletries and such, using our own pay, which the lieutenant had access to. Recruits were not allowed to visit or purchase things from the small store on base, as if we had time for that anyway, and our pay was held for us by the lieutenant. Expenditures made for us out of our own money were carefully accounted for.
The lieutenant himself showed us how to operate the Opinel’s locking ring, and we were each given a can and shown how to open it with the knife blade. The tip of mine broke off when I tried it, and I was shocked and disappointed by the apparent cheapness of this knife that was so different from the slipjoints I had grown up with. We were informed that we would need to make sure we always had the knife handy, and that we would especially need it when it was our turn for corvée cuisine (KP) at the farm (see below). I don’t know if this was standard procedure, or if Lieutenant Nichols was just a fan of Opinels.
If you were married in civilian life, French, wanted for a petty crime, or were being looked-for for some other reason, they made you join under an assumed name, and the option to choose an assumed name was available to everybody. If you kept your real name though, you were allowed to correspond with the outside world about halfway through basic. They provided Legion-branded stationery and made it a lesson on how to address an envelope and use the French postal system. I got a letter out to my parents (who still didn’t know where I was yet), and asked my dad to send me a GOOD knife with a locking blade. A month or so later a package came in the mail. All incoming mail was screened, so I was called into the lieutenant’s office where he opened the package in front of me. He admired the Case Mako lockback as he handed it over, along with the small tackle box I had asked for (to put my personal items in). He very much approved of the items I had been sent.
The farm:
A large part of the 4-month basic was spent not at the regimental “quartier”, but at a rustic farm compound, or out in the field on forced marches, or on shooting and explosives ranges and such. The 2nd company’s farm - shown in the picture above - was known as La Jasse (now no longer a Legion property).
The Case Mako went on to accompany me on my next 5 years’ adventures, and I still have it.
I’m not sure what eventually happened to the Opinel. Now I am older, I have developed a greater appreciation for Opinels, and wish I had kept my original, broken tip and all…
Really interesting, thanks for sharing.
It’s funny, I have all sorts of knives that cost a lot more than an Opinel, but the Opinel is still one of my favorite knives to cut stuff with.
It's true!!
I'm gonna carry this one a while and see how it goes. Prayers are welcome. I'll post reports from Mordor.
Zieg
I wish Opinel would offer some of their different handle options (premium woods, laminates and such) with the carbon steel blade. Carbon steel Opinels are by far the ones I carry and use most, but I have a handful of stainless models because I liked the different handles.
And you didn't stop? I rode my bike past the Laphroaig "factory" on Islay once, but it wasn't by chance and I didn't leave until the next day.
Zieg
I would have kept riding until I got to the Lagavulin Distillery.
Just kidding, of course. I enjoy both, and would love to visit both distilleries.
This Inox No. 8 was a gift from a friend.
The Zieg
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Easy: Lagavulin and Laphroaig are next door to one another!Those are interesting. I’ve always just use the hard plastic camping utensils you can get at any outdoor store for about a buck each. They’re durable, don’t take up much room in a bag, and you can use the fork and your knife at the same time.
Really interesting, thanks for sharing.
It’s funny, I have all sorts of knives that cost a lot more than an Opinel, but the Opinel is still one of my favorite knives to cut stuff with.
I wish Opinel would offer some of their different handle options (premium woods, laminates and such) with the carbon steel blade. Carbon steel Opinels are by far the ones I carry and use most, but I have a handful of stainless models because I liked the different handles.
I would have kept riding until I got to the Lagavulin Distillery.
Just kidding, of course. I enjoy both, and would love to visit both distilleries.
This Inox No. 8 was a gift from a friend.
Zieg
Johnnythefox
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Very interesting Tom my respect to you.How about hats ON ….. to Opinel?:
Here is me in 1988, about halfway through the 4-month Legion basic training, at the “Remise des Képis Blancs”, where you were first allowed to don the iconic képi, after completing the “Marche du Képi Blanc” (a forced march, and one of many haha). I would have most likely had an Opinel No. 8 carbone in one of my breast pockets, along with my signing contract. They told us to keep our contract with us at all times, and I took that a little too seriously. After the first few weeks of basic it was a blurry pulp from the gallons of sweat it had been exposed to in my pocket.
We stood there at attention so long before the company commander arrived to witness the ceremony that my hand went numb holding the képi, and when the time came to put it on, I barely managed to do so, and with an extremely awkward motion. I’m still embarrassed 35 years later…
The first day of basic was when I got my first Opinel. They were not issued to us, rather they were purchased for us along with basic toiletries and such, using our own pay, which the lieutenant had access to. Recruits were not allowed to visit or purchase things from the small store on base, as if we had time for that anyway, and our pay was held for us by the lieutenant. Expenditures made for us out of our own money were carefully accounted for.
The lieutenant himself showed us how to operate the Opinel’s locking ring, and we were each given a can and shown how to open it with the knife blade. The tip of mine broke off when I tried it, and I was shocked and disappointed by the apparent cheapness of this knife that was so different from the slipjoints I had grown up with. We were informed that we would need to make sure we always had the knife handy, and that we would especially need it when it was our turn for corvée cuisine (KP) at the farm (see below). I don’t know if this was standard procedure, or if Lieutenant Nichols was just a fan of Opinels.
If you were married in civilian life, French, wanted for a petty crime, or were being looked-for for some other reason, they made you join under an assumed name, and the option to choose an assumed name was available to everybody. If you kept your real name though, you were allowed to correspond with the outside world about halfway through basic. They provided Legion-branded stationery and made it a lesson on how to address an envelope and use the French postal system. I got a letter out to my parents (who still didn’t know where I was yet), and asked my dad to send me a GOOD knife with a locking blade. A month or so later a package came in the mail. All incoming mail was screened, so I was called into the lieutenant’s office where he opened the package in front of me. He admired the Case Mako lockback as he handed it over, along with the small tackle box I had asked for (to put my personal items in). He very much approved of the items I had been sent.
The farm:
A large part of the 4-month basic was spent not at the regimental “quartier”, but at a rustic farm compound, or out in the field on forced marches, or on shooting and explosives ranges and such. The 2nd company’s farm - shown in the picture above - was known as La Jasse (now no longer a Legion property).
The Case Mako went on to accompany me on my next 5 years’ adventures, and I still have it.
I’m not sure what eventually happened to the Opinel. Now I am older, I have developed a greater appreciation for Opinels, and wish I had kept my original, broken tip and all…
I was doing a UN Military transport job as a civilian leading convoys in Bosnia.
I resupplied 2 REP many times including booze for Bastille day when I was asked to do a special run for them,I was invited to the party but had to get back.
The food was really good,though I once had a bowl of vinaigrette mistaking it for cold soup,I blame the chef, I said is it soup he said Oui
Everyone seemed to be carrying massive Rambo type knives which they eat their meal with.
I was surprised when the officers came over shook hands with me and said thank you,British officers would never do that to a lower rank.
I was intimidated at first but I found them a really friendly bunch, always asking me to bring them things from Split as they had nothing not even a shop nearby.
They couldn't get over the fact I was unarmed without an escort,but I knew any trouble and they would have protected me if they where around.
I also felt save with the Canadians under McKenzie
The French Canadians less so they had a chip on the shoulder speaking English the mission language (as I found to my cost when they deliberately wouldnt understand me in a dangerous situation).
All the Nordics where reliable as well,the British where good but not helpful even though I was a ex Brit soldier myself.
I remember entering the camp once everyone had their head down,I said what's up?
They said we have to paint our vehicles white,I said all the UN vehicles are white.
They said "white is the colour of surrender, we dont surrender".
Gets me every time thats the spirit I like.
I was the only civilian ever drove with the international platoon,here I am posing with Ukrainian Paras,I did a lot of delivery's by myself it was a bit risky.
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Must have been a misunderstanding…
”Soupe” was synonymous with “chow”. Maybe he thought you were asking if it was dinner time
I missed out on deployment to Bosnia because by then I was a short-timer. They asked me to sign for another three years so they could send me, but by then I had other plans, and said no.
I have been hemming and hawing about mentioning my Legion experience here on BF. I have prepared a brief, sanitized account though, highlighting the traditional knife aspects. I may have to go ahead and post it, now that I have opened my yap about it, just to put to rest any ideas that I’m some kind of Rambo…
.I think I will find a text hosting site and post a link, maybe.[I have decided not to, sorry]
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Johnnythefox
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That explains it,thanks.
Must have been a misunderstanding…
”Soupe” was synonymous with “chow”. Maybe he thought you were asking if it was dinner time
I missed out on deployment to Bosnia because by then I was a short-timer. They asked me to sign for another three years so they could send me, but by then I had other plans, and said no.
I have been hemming and hawing about mentioning my Legion experience here on BF. I have prepared a brief, sanitized account though, highlighting the traditional knife aspects. I may have to go ahead and post it, now that I have opened my yap about it, just to put to rest any ideas that I’m some kind of Rambo…
I think I will find a text hosting site and post a link, maybe.
Tom fire away (see what I did there) I am always interested in other peoples military service and story's, I meet a lot of bluffers/walts in England.
In Bosnia I learnt a lot about other country's culture/food/ethics just by visiting the military they had out there and seeing how they behaved.
Some very funny storys as well.
like a Norwegian army movement controller shouting/angry at me over the phone when he couldn't understand my neutral English accent accent "cant you speak English" (I was trying to get a flight out of Sarajevo) "I am English" I said he went very quiet...
btb01
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- Jul 26, 2008
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- 7,669
Easy: Lagavulin and Laphroaig are next door to one another!
Zieg
I knew they were close, but I checked Google maps before I posted earlier, and I hadn’t realized they were that close! I’d love to visit there someday.
Henry Beige
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I came to this party late, but my first reaction was “INOX”, before I saw the other responses. It is a shame that Opinel does not put Carbone blades on their special woods or handles, like the Slim or the garden knife.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.).
Zieg