I modified my opinel

BJE

BJE

Joined
Apr 12, 2006
Messages
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To be fair, the handle has been modified for quite a while now, but I never did anything with the blade until today.

I dropped the tip some so it doesn't curve upwards, it is a straight line down to the tip. I also added a small swedge.

this is how my No.7 looked yesterday
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This is how she looks today
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I really like the blade profile better now, still has a lot of belly but not quite so scimitar-esque.
the mods also effectively dropped the tip in the handle a little further, which is good be ause the tip was flush with the handle in the closed position before due to the handle reshaping.

It is a friction folder since I removed the lock ring and peened the pivot a little, action is tight and smooth with no worries of it opening in my pocket.

The tip feels a little sturdier now, but is pointier than ever, it's like a needle :).
 
Looks good, I have done similar or more radical blade mods. How did you color the handle, I usually burn and oil mine?
 
Opies are a lot of fun to mod. I have posted these before but thought you may enjoy seeing them. A #8 with a Moose handle and a #6 that I turned into a fixed blade for my fire kit.

Best regards

Robin
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Great mod there, BJE! Subtle change but really makes a difference in both appearance and functionality. What tools / methods did you use?
 
I used another knife to carve out rough shape of handle, then followed up with sandpaper and wood stain, sealed everything with some clear polyurethane.

The blade was shaped using a shop bench grinder on low speed, I was careful not to get it hot. Finished with a file to smooth out burrs.

I went back after the pics were taken and enlarged the swedge a bit more, I liked the way the swedge looked and wanted it to be more visible. Looks even better now.

The patina on the blade was earned through use and food prep. Now it will take some time until the shiny swedge and spine develop a patina again.
 
The lock ring was removed with snap ring pliers and pivot tighter with a ball peen hammer and small anvil.
 
Updated pic of bigger deeper swedge, for some reason the pics don't show much depth
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