How old are my Opinels?

[Henry Beige]

A couple of my Opinels, a 7 and a 10, have carbon steel lock rings and bolsters. They were bought after 1972, but probably still in the '70s. My No. 8 has a carbon blade, but stainless for the bolster and lock ring. It antedates the hold-closed notch, which I had not heard of before I joined this forum. I think I saw somewhere that it appeared sometime in the '90s.

Does anyone know when the change from carbon to stainless lock ring and bolster came about? I have gone through the most accessible literature, and nothing jumps out.

 

[leghog]

70s Opinels had stainless collars; however, the best way to date the knife is the makers stamp in the handle coupled with the arrangement blade stamps. Any chance of you posting pics of those?

 

[Jolipapa]

Stainless collar (virobloc inox) appeared in 2006 , before it was nickel plated.
All is here : http://fpanda.free.fr/musee/tableau.html
(lame = blade acier= steel manche = handle virole = lock)
hope this helps

 

[Henry Beige]

Thanks. The chart really helps. No pics are possible at present, until I can figure out how to make Imageshack behave with My IPad.

I have a couple of new ones coming. I look forward to seeing this blocage ferme in person.

 

[leghog]

Here's mine. One of my sisters gave it to me in the 70s.

 

[edbeau]

Leghorn, Nice older knife by the handle stamp and the blade stamp. Nice wood as most Opinels!