I got my Opinel #7 today, good news! My dog ate it. Bad news.

Rich Davis

Rich Davis

Joined
Mar 4, 2016
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54
He chewed the end so badly that it is now mush. There's no saving the handle so besides tossing it, any suggestions? I've no idea what to do but it's such a nice blade I hate to throw it away. Is there hope? I've not rehandled anything ever so perhaps tossing it is my best option but it's against all my instincts.

Advice welcome.
 
See if you can find a NOS Cold Steel Twistmaster, an Opinel style knife in Carbon V (either 0170-6C or 1095modified carbon steel), with a fiberglass reinforced nylon handle. Your dog might dent it, but that's about all. Ok, you might have to take him in for some dental work if he tries...
 
I made a new handle for one out of a dowel 20 some odd years ago with a coping saw and some files. It didn't have the swell at the end like their handles do, but it was functional. That may not have been a 7, I don't recall. On the flip side, unless it was a limited edition or something, the tools would probably cost you more than replacing the knife if you don't already have them.
 
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Just how much damage did he do? Let his work guide you on how to re-profile the handle, and if necessary, the blade.

My dogs have never gotten to an Opinel, but they have buggered a couple of Moras, both of which are still in use. On the wood-handled 612, I used a length ov bicycle inner tube to cover up the tooth marks. On the Companion, I just de-burred the gouges with another knife, and kept on using it.

Edit: just reread your first post, so it looks as if reprofiling the handle is a non-starter. So here’s another thought, depending on how much of the handle remains, no matter how shredded. Perhaps you could use the fibrous mass as a matrix for an epoxy filler like Marine-Tex (sp?). I have seen some seriously dry-rotted brightwork salvaged to the point of utility with this stuff.

Or, pack some Sugru into the shredded mess and make yourself a new handle that way.
 
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Well let's hope this time is a charm. I could repair the end but the tip sticks out. I don't have a lathe, but I have all sorts of wood I can cut into a block and then shape with other tools I suppose. Padauk is a durable wood but a PIA. Perhaps yellowwood? Edit, not "Yellow wood" but Yellowheart(see pic)

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Yellowheart-1.jpg
 
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Heck, all you need is some 80-grit sandpaper and a sharp file. Or just some Sugru, as Jason suggests.The sandpaper is for the handle. The file is to drop the point of the blade so it doesn’t stick out like on one of my 6s before I reshaped the blade. Actually, I used a Case Seahorse Whittler on that one, not sandpaper.

You might have to go to beyond just dropping the tip to something like a sheepsfoot. If you look around, you will find some threads on modified Opis. You just about have to reshape the handles if you want to carry them in your pocket. Pinnah has done a few, and there are others, both on and off this forum.

A belt sander and a Dremel would allow you to work much faster, leaving you the time and wherewithal to deal with that unfortunate new lock ring that probably came on your No.7.

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justjed said:
See if you can find a NOS Cold Steel Twistmaster, an Opinel style knife in Carbon V (either 0170-6C or 1095modified carbon steel), with a fiberglass reinforced nylon handle. Your dog might dent it, but that's about all. Ok, you might have to take him in for some dental work if he tries...
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Great blades. I have both -- the large is an awesome kitchen/picnic knife; the small(er) a great all-round user.
 
If it was mine. I would take it apart. I would use the existing handle as a patter, so that I got the pivot in the right place. I would glue me up something like this, and have a go at making my own handle. But I enjoy doing that sort of thing. If you don't it wouldn't be worth the trouble. You could buy another knife cheaper.
ddcDbMNBGjwsbEMQVH-A_mDaenYn5Wy6u7zgQl38U_wXVw47CG-9rTJrssVpbIrfUvszgqTIuF6sJlF5P50mOoHY7xjSOOuxUp5Autr04vMGdMaLpLvrMhYuljgosr57AqVuVFZVEE6P9AqUM7KiHZMnf2FgSlJFGKORNStxeNqooXt_Pp6TOVzF5UoU1P0RyNzRM_IT38K5nDg3xdhO8RFGFL0LQxOQSYMl_oz2izElJW4nX-uMGMC989p4qcJKCtaml0fzAnOLv9T_-KvF82jBiByENXUeCWINEjAiBSu9dme7WDkHZ6ejsua67K3zpnrmG7g3QsZvFeVgYz2QkMVJpU64SnyomyEtDHE01rM0XObaov9z6K1MbQmN1ZQLhEVNL7YpziQzY2p3yxVM_zsLzshF9TnBsfIxFfX_DNPIeYN_ftHa3-baPS8gn8NV8ojc8Or5ioZWKEkIjvqDxTmAd7V7FlqwCqICnPC25Sz7aDWycm5FYGEkBuS-bZu7Sv8Kkk780XCuCsrT3UBsdv3H8_nytkXODyq5gq5hNpC_jH4pY00rUt4HAhpoVms-bFRvBTWpW6VbRuVSCfQNOJP37tX3ZyQu6a-YrHgdKyXJwxTY2uGANdD7dG6LVZRfCI4KUyRPs00eUDHqPjCoCyCUejobmYTFMqq5lu8eW5_HA5h35KqWYyiseeA_eCoAjTNDFF5iJFjARr8jNsog-2KN=w800


O.B.
 
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Make it a two piece construction, or rather add some bolsters, cut/trim the bottom half of the scales, add new sections on top. Should work and look good.
 
Pomsbz said:
To be frank, Opinels are practically disposable, be glad the dog didn't cut itself badly on that exposed tip, chuck it and buy a new one.
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chuck it and buy a new one...but not an Opinel. Go for titanium grips this time.
 
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