Inox

silenthunterstudios

silenthunterstudios

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Not this past weekend but the weekend before, I took a trip to southern MD. A couple days before, I read about a knife shop in the area. So, instead of traveling to the parks as I had originally planned, I was in awe of the little knife shop for a couple hours instead. I need to reply to the owner about a Bark River Hudson Bay 2, but as I am paying on a custom order, I couldn't buy anything big down there. I picked up a peanut sized Opinel and an Opinel with a lanyard. The tiny Opinel had carbon steel, and I gave it to my father as a very late fathers day gift, it did not have a locking ring. The larger Opinel has a locking ring, and is marked Inox. Both are razor sharp, and the Inox has held up pretty well cutting all matter of vegetation and riding in my fat guy pockets in the summer humidity. I have no idea what number it is. The handle definitely needs a staining.

Can anyone tell me more about Inox?

Oh yeah, I'm guessing that my father will lose this Opinel before the blade can start to rust. Where he loses it is key. If it's in his shop or his house, not bad. If he loses it in his truck, or in the field, yeah, no need for a locking ring, it will be locked shut. I know my pop and knives, but I hope he gets some enjoyment out of it.
 
Inox means stainless steel, it's marked on a lot of french knives to show that they're stainless as opposed to carbon steel


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From the website of the US distributor:

OPINEL SANDVIK 12C27-MOD STAINLESS STEEL (ACIER INOX)

The addition of chrome greatly increases resistance to corrosion caused by moisture. Steels are then called “stainless” and they can be used with fewer restrictions. The stainless steel capable of undergoing the heat treatment that gives it its good hardness is called martensitic. Sandvik12c27 MOD: All Opinel stainless steel blades are modified by adding at least 0.40% of carbon to the "sandvik" blend , giving it a good cutting edge but which explains why knife blades are not totally corrosion-proof. Only a carbon-free steel would be, but it would not have the hardness guaranteeing a good cutting quality and the excellent strength of the cutting edge. More about 12c27 Sandvik stainless steel http://smt.sandvik.com/en/products/...ife-steel/sandvik-knife-steels/sandvik-12c27/
Click to expand...
 
I believe it is Sandvik 12c27. It sharpens easily, has good edge retention, and it's probably my favorite stainless non-super steel.

Sandvik data sheet
 
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I used to use the carbon Opinels, but then I found that the 12C27 actually holds an edge better than the carbon ones. I haven't owned or used a carbon Opinel for many years now. The 12V27 is also used by the Mora blade makers, and Mr. Salvatore Usai who made my Sardinian resolza. It's very good stuff!
 
Opinel's INOX = Sandvik 12C27MOD
Opinel's 'Carbone' = XC90
Victorinox's stainless = X50CrMoV15 (might also be called 'X50CrMo'; hardened to 55-56 HRC); also used by Wüsthof.

I do think Opinel's stainless is hardened higher than their 'Carbone' blades; it does seem to hold an edge longer. Sandvik's own spec for 12C27Mod stainless says it's capable of hardening up to HRC 59.


David
 
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I've had Kershaws and Bark Rivers with 12C27, maybe a couple Bucks too. Great steel, thanks for the information.
 
Inox is an abbreviation of Inoxydable, which I believe is the French spelling. It's spelled inoxidable in Spanish.

Paul
 
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