Just a fun little project (Opinel)

Galeocerdoshark

Galeocerdoshark

Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
3,132
Hi guys,

Lately, I've been scouting the web and I've been looking at some great Opinel modifications. Ranging from extreme whittling of the handle, to downright altering bladeshape, handle shape, or everything else combined.
I've had this older Opinel n°7 lying around, so I thought I'd give it a shot.
My intention was only to alter the handle. The blade had seen some tough times, so I decided to sand it somewhat to make it shiny again (although there's still lot's of 'noise' in the blade). So, for the handle I wanted it to be a lot darker, and maybe give it some classy look...

Here's what became of it. It's nothing special, but I enjoyed doing it so I hope you guys like it if I take you along with me on the journey :thumbup:

First of all, the handle needed some sanding. I wanted a rounded butt on the handle, so that's what I did.

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The original varnish goes pretty deep though... The typical notch was added as well (best seen in the second picture below)

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When the paintjob is done, it needs some drying... It's starting to look exactly like I wanted it to!

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After the varnish dried up, it looked like this. Pretty much finished, except for one thing.

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A while ago, I came across some decorative pins. Took 'em home because I thought they might come in handy. Well, now they did. In my opinion, they added a nice touch the the knife overall, they made it mare 'antique'...'classy' maybe? You tell me, but I like it.

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And that's it, here's how she looks right now!

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Hope you guys enjoyed it, I sure did. Thanks!
 
Very nice. well done. Thanks for sharing your project :thumbup:
 
very nice work, that pin really sets it off in my opinion. Also i love walnut, and now the dye you used resembles it nicely. great work
 
shrapne1 said:
very nice work, that pin really sets it off in my opinion. Also i love walnut, and now the dye you used resembles it nicely. great work
Click to expand...

Thanks, walnut was indeed what I was aiming for, although it came out just a tad darker than my perception of what walnut should look like. The pin does complete it, indeed.

Thanks to the others for the nice comments as well!
 
Thanks for showing - the Work-In-Progress pics are great .... and the result is just great. I really like that flower-pin in the handle :)
 
Very nice.

What did you use to color it?


The pin has me thinking, hmmm, tacks or screws go in to wood, what a concept. (A new world opens to his previously blind eyes)
 
davek14 said:
Very nice.

What did you use to color it?


The pin has me thinking, hmmm, tacks or screws go in to wood, what a concept. (A new world opens to his previously blind eyes)
Click to expand...

I just picked up my first Opinel earlier this week and am considering adding a brass screw to the end of the handle just to add a little weight. I'm looking to use it as a granny knife in the kitchen and I think a little more weight in the handle would feel nice.
 
Love the pins! Reminds me of how during frontier days knives and tomahawks would have brass tacks to personalize and to provide a better grip. That knife would fit right in.
 
Looks grand. That pin really makes it special. Not overdone or too ornate by any means. Just right as far as I'm concerned.
 
Thank you for the nice comments, people! What would make the knife more beautiful, would be a stellar blade with some filework on top. I'm not thàt crafty so I'll just keep it as it is before I screw things up. As for the paint, it's a paint that is intended to color wooden floors. It's made by a Belgian paint distributer. That's pretty much all I know about it. It seems to be from Novita, or something (site in Dutch, it's the second color in the second row of the 'classics' column, called N°3 Donkerbruin (dark brown)).

Here are some additional pictures by daylight, in my backyard.

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Thanks again for the nice comments!
 
The whole thing turned out good dude! When I did mine I started to take the lock collar off but I was too lazy to mess with it so I just tapped it up. Seems like if you get a few of them you just have to make one individually your own, and they do make for a fun project!
 
That came out really good! I just started carrying a No.8 that I've had in the drawer forever. The brass pins look great too. Looks like something a mountain man or fur-trapper would carry. I may mod mine later, perhaps a lanyard hole would look good too. Thanks for sharing.
-Paul
 
Excellent job on the reshaping of the heel of the handle. Reminiscent of a sodbuster. I really, really like it and will copy it shamelessly on my next Opinel mod.
 
Thanks again! I'm pretty much blown away by the positivity :thumbup:

@Pete, I also took the lock of for the painting and varnishing. I know the drill, too. Got some other stuff lying around that has been waiting for quite a while... I keep quite a few standard Opinel knives too. They're pretty much great the way they are. Projects like this just keep me busy.

@Pinnah, be sure to post the result! I'd be interested in seeing the endresult.
 
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