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

You can use polymorph plastic pellets heated in a pan with water and make a custom moulded plastic handle.

You can stipple it afterwards with a sauldering iron.

This takes next to no skill!!
 
Repaired this lost cause 1821/41/51 musket with bondo. Never thought it would work.
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They are certainly cheap enough to simply replace, but keeping the blade for a future knife build project seems like a no-brainer to me.
 
DB_Cruiser said:
They are certainly cheap enough to simply replace, but keeping the blade for a future knife build project seems like a no-brainer to me.
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But will it keal? :)

It's a good blade and making a handle isn't something I've done but I have everything as far as tools go except for a lathe, but that's not needed so there's that. Looking around at what I have, a piece of curly cherry or black walnut might look good.
 
Sand the handle to a shape, and if the blade ends up being too long dremel or file it to spear point.
 
First of all, I hope your dog is okay. The handle looks like it can be salvaged. Maybe fix the damaged parts with epoxy resin if you can. Making a new handle would of course be the coolest option. You have the hardware and locking ring from the old knife so making a new wooden handle from that should be achievable.
 
Doesn't matter what is done to the handle, if you can't keep your dog from chewing on sharp things, it will happen again and bad stuff will ensue (mostly for the dog). Be a better pet owner and then worry about knives.
 
craytab said:
Doesn't matter what is done to the handle, if you can't keep your dog from chewing on sharp things, it will happen again and bad stuff will ensue (mostly for the dog). Be a better pet owner and then worry about knives.
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I'm in complete agreement with craytab craytab (a rare and deeply unsettling experience for me) on this. The issue here shouldn't be worrying about replacing an Opinel, it should be worrying about that poor dog.
 
evilgreg said:
I'm in complete agreement with craytab craytab (a rare and deeply unsettling experience for me) on this. The issue here shouldn't be worrying about replacing an Opinel, it should be worrying about that poor dog.
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Oh don't be so dramatic! It's happened before :D.

But yes, worry far more about the placement of your knives (keep them where a dog cant get them), or the control of your animals, than refurbishing a cheap throw away knife. The negligence could have caused serious injury (this also applies to children).
 
Made this knife for a lady bout 3-4 years ago. Recently her puppy got ahold of it while it was in its sheath. She didn't mention if the puppy got hurt. Might of been self corrective behavior once he got through the welt. Built her a new sheath:

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There was a small amount of rust down at the tip end of the knife I cleaned up too so it probably did get some saliva on there.
 
A.L. said:
Sand the handle to a shape, and if the blade ends up being too long dremel or file it to spear point.
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Great answer. If you end up shortening the handle while sanding it to a non-damaged and pleasing shape, just shorten the blade. I've made watch pocket knives out of shortened #6 Opi's and I've shortened the handle on #8 Opi's to make them more of a civilized pocket knife.

If you decide to make a fixed blade out of it. There is a quick and dirty way to go about that. Get some heavy wire, like thick enough to barely fit through the pivot hole. Feed it through and make two equal lengths coming off the blade. Then twist the two strands together by putting the ends in a vise and twisting the blade. Twist it up as hard and solid as you can, use a crescent wrench on the blade to twist it when nearly done. Voila, half-assed stick tang. Set the blade itself down into the handle you use a little bit and glue it all up solid in there.

I used to drill a hole through the handle, insert the "stick tang", and fill it up with poured pewter.
 
Dr Heelhook said:
First of all, I hope your dog is okay. The handle looks like it can be salvaged. Maybe fix the damaged parts with epoxy resin if you can. Making a new handle would of course be the coolest option. You have the hardware and locking ring from the old knife so making a new wooden handle from that should be achievable.
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He's completely fine That's a pic as my avatar from his younger days. He chewed the end of the handle like a bone and never touched the blade, which is why this is a humorous thing. English Springer Spaniels, a very young one especially are high energy/easily bored critters. I won't repeat that same mistake twice!
 
Rich Davis said:
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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I would toss it in my tool box. I usually have a knife on me when using tools, but it would be there should I need it.
 
I have always fantasized about buying an stainless opinel (just to keep it prettier for longer) and substitute the handle for one made of homemade micarta. Reusing the locking ring and all. This would be the perfect oportunity to do it!

I would say go ahead and rehandle it. You could do it with some basic tools and whichever wood you like from your current stock. Oil finish is all you need.
 
What I've seen done before (I think... maybe it's just a construct of my brain) is a folded brass handle (kinda like a mercator) which looked really neat.
 
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