If you don't have an Opinel...

Here is a nice limited one (the only limited Opinel I have), for the 1994 D-Day anniversary. Polished and illustrated blade:

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I believe the carbons are 1095 and the stainless 12c27. By the way check out some of the more recently produced stainless Opinels, the steel is as good if not better than the carbon.
 
Dagon said:
Here is a nice limited one (the only limited Opinel I have), for the 1994 D-Day anniversary. Polished and illustrated blade:
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That is truly awesome.

By the way check out some of the more recently produced stainless Opinels, the steel is as good if not better than the carbon.
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Carbon steel rules all. ;)
 
>> Here is a nice limited one (the only limited Opinel I have), for the 1994 D-Day anniversary. Polished and illustrated blade:
>That is truly awesome.

The price was still reasonable as "limited" in this case meant "limited to a few thousand knives" :-)
Anyway, I simply had to have it the moment I saw it in the shop!

> I recently bought a no12 when I was in France. Big beasty!

As I wrote somewhere in this thread, try using it as a chef's knife, it works marvelously at the barbecue for example.

> Has anyone here ever broken an Opinel by cutting something?

They have quite a good reputation in that respect.
 
I love my opinels, but they don't fare too well in China. I brought a #8 to give as a present to my grandfather, and the handle swelled shut due to the humidity and needed pliers to open every time. Then there's also the rusting. He used it as a food prep and fruit cutting knife, except that he didn't bother to wipe or wash it and it rusted like crazy. Eventually I gave up and told him to keep it locked open and rub it down with sandpaper once every few months. Maybe I should've given him a stainless mora instead. :p
 
If you like the design you can avoid some of the shortcomings of the wood by hunting down a Cold Steel Twistmaster. It is a more modern version if the Opinel. I reaaly like mine for a camp knife tho it is a bit large...that is a full sized Sodbuster posing with it...

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Nobody rips off other people's designs quite like Cold Steel. I must admit they have an unnerving tendency to improve on designs I thought were near perfect.
I have never used a Twistmaster but the Pocket Bushman and the Okapi copy are actually better than the knives that inspired them IMHO.
 
Here is mine, patina and all:

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I am planning on getting one of the new ones that locks closed.

Mine also has the problem with humidity and tightening up.

What do you want for that price. It is not a Sebenza. Mine sharpens up real nice.
 
Here's my #10.

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It's taken a lot of batoning and chopping without issues, along with more mundane and practical uses like cutting apples, carving wood and cutting up boxes.

Dagon said:
> Has anyone here ever broken an Opinel by cutting something?

They have quite a good reputation in that respect.
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Loaded question. I can't recall anyone on the forums breaking an Opinel by cutting something. Which makes me wonder why, if the geometry of an Opinel was sufficient enough to not break, why do they use knives with such obtuse geometry day to day? Either they are using the knives differently or they aren't thinning out the other knives for some unknown reason, which is what I'd like to find out. That's like using an axe to whittle a tent peg when you have a Mora on your belt.
 
I cold blued my first Opinel carbon blade and have not oiled it for years, neglect it like hell. No rust. I use mine as a utility knife for really nasty stuff.
 
yobbos1 said:
Nobody rips off other people's designs quite like Cold Steel. I must admit they have an unnerving tendency to improve on designs I thought were near perfect.
I have never used a Twistmaster but the Pocket Bushman and the Okapi copy are actually better than the knives that inspired them IMHO.
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Everybody copies designs...how many of the big name custom makers have copied the Loveless designs over the years? How many rip off Black's original design?
 
Mineral oil IS a petro product.
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Thanks for the info. Regardless, it is safe to use mineral oil for food prep knives. But I wouldn't use 3-in-1, wd40, or anything like that. Also, it doesn't get rancid or spoiled like vegetable oil.

Has anyone here ever broken an Opinel by cutting something?
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Nope, and I've been carrying Opinel knives for over 15 years.

Are you guys buying these direct from Opinel, or through some other retailer?
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Smoky Mountain has the best selection and lowest prices. Ragweed Forge has a good selection too, worth adding an Opinel or two if you're ordering some Mora knives. And AG Russell has an unusual Opinel for sale, a more slender design in Bubinga wood.

Buncha ungratefull,snooty,a$$holes...
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That seems unnecessary, and unsuitable for the General forum. :thumbdn:
 
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