Help with an idea...

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Gary W. Graley

“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Mar 2, 1999
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Fellow tinkerers'

I have an idea, but not sure that the tools I have at hand will cover what needs to be done.

Basically I want to ADD a small pen blade to an Opinel Slim #10 knife.

I use my Opinel slim #10 Olivewood handled knife for my food needs, a lot of apple slicing at lunch every day. The long blade is great for slicing the apple in two and then slicing wedges of the two halves. But I also use another knife to cut out the core once I slice the apple in half.

I'd buy another Opinel Slim to scavenge the blade from that, grind down that blade to a shorter blade and grind in a small nail nick near the spine.

remove the lock ring

Remove remove the pin that holds the blade

Remove the ferrule

Cut a wider slot for both blades to be able to fit into the handle, at the top portion

Cut the slot to allow for the additional blade to fit into the handle, not the full length of the handle.

If need be, cut the slot in the ferrule to allow both blades to pass

Insert both blades, with a thin bronze washer between the blades

Pin it back together

Install the lock ring and if need be, grind down a small half moon into the wood for the nail nick on the small blade.

BUT my tools I have are mainly a dremel

The blade grinding I'll do on my Ken Onion worksharp.

What do you guys and gals think of this kind of mod to an Opinel? I think I'd then have the best of both worlds having that smaller blade for many other tasks as well.

Opi_Apple.jpg~original


G2...still thinking how I may do this...
 
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Gary ,

What is the dimension -measurement of the tang-pivot depth on both blades ?
Wouldn't that have to be the same on both blades to achieve proper lockup on the smaller blade when the ring is turned ?
If the two blades have the same dimensions in the area of tang - pivot I can't see why it wouldn't work with minimal tools , but minor grinding of the outer edges of the tangs might be necessary because you are essentially putting a much wider blade into the pivot area and that might not quite fit into the internal curve of the lock ring .
I'm not sure if I've explained that very well but I hope you get the idea .

Cool project .

Ken
 
Thanks Ken, the blade I'll use is the exact same blade that is currently in the Opinel Slim #10, I have another one inbound that I will sacrifice and take that blade, grind it down to the smaller pen blade and then do an Opi-Frankenstein operation on the knife, as the blades are only 1mm thick, adding one more shouldn't be too hard, but we shall see how well that goes! I need the blade that is inside to remain in it's position since the long groove is made for that blade, so I can't really make the slot for the pivots exactly in the middle, it will be off to one side more than the other. If I'm careful, it may all work out wonderful, if I screw up, it isn't a lot of money involved so I think it's worth the risk. I haven't seen any two bladed Opinel's before so maybe I'll start a trend ;) that is....IF it works out!
G2
 
Well my plan is off to a great start! NOT

My Opinel #10 Slim "BOX" arrived safely today, you read that right, "BOX" I opened the Amazon box, which was still taped up and about 50 times bigger than needed but that's good, inside, there wasn't ANY packing material at all, just the Opinel cardboard sleeve with both ends open and no knife in sight ! ugh!!!

So I get on line, chat with an individual named 'Jimmy' from Amazon, he was able to get another one on it's way, he said 'it is due to arrive on Monday'

I typed back...'Monday?' well if that's the best I guess that will have to do.

He came back a few moments later and said, OK my manager approved to get it out so you will have it on Saturday instead.

Nice, I know "HE ?" wasn't at fault here, just where ever they fulfilled the order they are probably in a terrible rush all the time, but come on, no packing material either? that's just not right, but, things do happen and it will get here when it does.

I was worried at how they may take it when I said there was nothing in the box, but that wasn't a problem, which was also good on them to acknowledge that as well.

My plan is forming, I found some nylon that I'll make a rectangular washer so there is some support between the blades, also ordered some circular saw blades for my dremel so I can slice down through the wood easier. Borrowed some spring clip pliers to help remove the lock ring, I'm pretty set :) NOW to see if it will all come together as I see it in my head.

A guy at work said I should call it the "LunchMate" not a bad name for what she'll be when all is said and finally done.

G2
 
I'm thinking that I'll not attempt this combination, finally got the other Opinel in and she's lovely! Excellent grain on that olive wood there, so I hate to muck it up or even the other one at this point.

BUT I did take the older one and ground down the blade into a wharncliff blade that should work great, I'll just bring along two for the time being :)

Nice swedge grind on this as well, I did mess up trying to grind in a nail nick, I won't bother you folks to view that nasty bit, I did end up getting a nail nick in place that works, just below it, it looks like a gravel pit was once there...oh the humanity :)

Opi_wharncliff.jpg~original


Opi_wharncliff_blade.jpg~original


Nice small blade, with a nice long handle, very good ergo with this setup, for me at least!
G2
 
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