Lets see opinels - Pic Thread

[Invoice]

 

[HFinn]

Work in progress. The pommel is still a bit clunky and I cant decide what color I want in the handle. I dropped the point just a bit.

 

[jwren]

Just picked up these 2 (an 1890 and a #9), based on how impressed I've been with my only other, a #6. Wanted something with a little bigger handle for kitchen work.


Both are great, but I really love the 1890. Think I'm going to EDC it for a while, and use the #9 in the kitchen...

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Nice, does the 1890 have a tight enough bind to help keep it open? I guess I'm spoiled by the lock on the rest.

And as a testament to how sharp these can get, one of the tests I do is to see how easily a knife can push cut down through a Q-tip, if an edge doesn't have an adequate profile, it'll just make an indentation and not really cut down through, well, my wife had bought a brandy new kitchen table cloth and WARNED me quite sternly not to damage it, little did I know that during some of my 'testing' the blade had cut down through the Q-tip and then on through the heavy card stock I had it laying on and neatly sliced a few places into the table cloth....at first I thought someone had drew a line until I realized the cloth had just opened a little and I was seeing the table through the cloth !! ouch, so luckily my daughter, good girl that she is, rightly guessed that the table cloth was bought at Kohls, so I zipped there after work tonight and just replaced the damaged cloth before she got back from the grocery store tonight, hopefully averting any undue charges she'd understand and not be too mad, but, not being mad at all is even better Now, as long as she doesn't notice the crisp edges of where the table cloth was folded up, didn't have time to toss it in the dryer and I wouldn't even consider using an iron on it, lest even more damage would come of that! So worse case, she'll just wonder...I hope!
G2

edited to add: I was pretty pleased at how neat a slice or two it made through all the material yes I know, I need help!!!

 

[jwren]

Good story, Gary - these do get insanely sharp
The 1890 has a very firm opening (don't know if they're all like this or not), and pretty decent force required to close it, so the lock ring is not missed on this one. Plus I like the looks without the ring.
The #9 on the other hand has a pretty smooth and easy open and close, not loose, but a little too easy for my tastes, I might try to adjust it a little....

 

[jackknife]

Nice, does the 1890 have a tight enough bind to help keep it open? I guess I'm spoiled by the lock on the rest.

And as a testament to how sharp these can get, one of the tests I do is to see how easily a knife can push cut down through a Q-tip, if an edge doesn't have an adequate profile, it'll just make an indentation and not really cut down through, well, my wife had bought a brandy new kitchen table cloth and WARNED me quite sternly not to damage it, little did I know that during some of my 'testing' the blade had cut down through the Q-tip and then on through the heavy card stock I had it laying on and neatly sliced a few places into the table cloth....at first I thought someone had drew a line until I realized the cloth had just opened a little and I was seeing the table through the cloth !! ouch, so luckily my daughter, good girl that she is, rightly guessed that the table cloth was bought at Kohls, so I zipped there after work tonight and just replaced the damaged cloth before she got back from the grocery store tonight, hopefully averting any undue charges she'd understand and not be too mad, but, not being mad at all is even better Now, as long as she doesn't notice the crisp edges of where the table cloth was folded up, didn't have time to toss it in the dryer and I wouldn't even consider using an iron on it, lest even more damage would come of that! So worse case, she'll just wonder...I hope!
G2

edited to add: I was pretty pleased at how neat a slice or two it made through all the material yes I know, I need help!!!

Now that's funny!!!

I think anyone who has carried an Opinel much at all, has funny stories about the edge being under estimated by someone, if not yourself. Like my brother in law Roger.

I like Roger. Really. He's a nice guy, and will always go out of his way to help you. But he's a non knife person, in spite of my trying to convert him. Well, many years ago, I was helping out in the kitchen over his place with a holiday meal, since I like to play cook. Karen's sister needed a helping hand, so I took out an Opinel and was trimming some veggies for a salad. I set the Opinel down for a moment to get some celery out of the fridge, and Roger picks up the Opinel and goes to slice the ends off some green onion. You know, using the paring knife technique with the ball of the left thumb as the cutting board and pull cutting the material. Two hours, 6 stitches, and a hospital visit later, we had a good dinner. Rog had a big wad of white gauze wrapping his thumb, and a new vast respect of the edge an Opinel is capable of having.

But the salad and roast turkey was delicious!

Carl.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

Kool Carl I bet that's one dinner he'll not soon forget!!!
G2

 

[richstag]

VERY nice! How do you like the light weight of that 1890? Also, have you noticed yet how much better it handles without the lock? Giving your index finger a place to lock in?

To add to your words, my 1890's were all too loose and I tightened them. Its very easy and you don't have to worry about keeping any shape since there is no lock to spin on the pin. Mine is now so smooth and nicely tight. It feels like a 500 dollar knife action.

Kevin

Just picked up these 2 (an 1890 and a #9), based on how impressed I've been with my only other, a #6. Wanted something with a little bigger handle for kitchen work.


Both are great, but I really love the 1890. Think I'm going to EDC it for a while, and use the #9 in the kitchen...

 

[deskil]

It lives in a side pocket of my lunch kit and only comes out to eat.

 

[Blue Sky]

...my 1890's were all too loose and I tightened them.

Dumb question maybe, but did you just peen down the pivot pins or did you have to give them a squeeze first?

 

[jackknife]

Dumb question maybe, but did you just peen down the pivot pins or did you have to give them a squeeze first?

Actually it's very easy. No squeezing at all. If you have a vise, just lay the bolster of the knife on the anvil part of the vise, with the rivet head making contact with the vise on the underside. Then take a hammer, and tap the top side end of the rivet a few moderate sacks. Try the action. If still too loose, tap it again. This should snug it up.

If you don't have a vise or anvil, two hammers will do. Use one hammer on a table top as an anvil, and the other hammer to tap with. Just make sure the rivet is sitting on the hammer on one side, with the other end of the rivet facing up so you can tap it to peen it down some more.

Carl.

 

[richstag]

Thanks for that, Carl.

Its also extremely easy to grind off the domed head, punch out the pin and put a new pin.

I love how easy these knives are to work with.

Kevin

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Just a plain Jane #8 carbone, but it's one of my favorite knives.

It's started out super blunt, I mean it literally had long flat spots on the edge. I sharpened it then forced a patina. Got tired of that, stripped and polished it after thinning the entire blade and putting a ridiculous 16° inclusive edge on it. It's closer to the geometry of a straight razor than a typical knife, but if I'm realistic about what I use it for (opening packages, cutting bass wood and leather etc...) the edge maintains just fine with ChromOx stropping.

Those special wood models are stunning. I only wish that Opinel would follow Mora and make some carvers!

 

[jwren]

VERY nice! How do you like the light weight of that 1890? Also, have you noticed yet how much better it handles without the lock? Giving your index finger a place to lock in?

To add to your words, my 1890's were all too loose and I tightened them. Its very easy and you don't have to worry about keeping any shape since there is no lock to spin on the pin. Mine is now so smooth and nicely tight. It feels like a 500 dollar knife action.

Kevin

Thanks Kevin - but I feel I should thank you! It was your pics and thoughts on the 1890 that convinced me to give it a go
Glad I did.
Love that I get so much blade in such a light package, and it carries great in pocket too, just long enough to stay upright, and you really barely know it's there. I really like the #9, but you're right - with the lock ring-less 1890 my hand just locks right in, really fits like a glove. :thumbup:

 

[jwren]

and putting a ridiculous 16° inclusive edge on it.

I only wish that Opinel would follow Mora and make some carvers!

+1 That would be sweet!

On a related note, don't know if anyone has a BIG chunk of change burning a hole in their pocket or not, but I was speaking with the fellow where I purchased my Opinels, and he said later this year (fall?) they'll be getting in a limited number of ebony and Damascus #8's - you don't even want to know the $$$ (but they look oh so sweet )

 

[stvpourciau]

Oh yous guys ^^ I like the bare handle look of the 1890 myself but you can always pop that lock ring off, snug up the hande and never put it back again

that's what I did my #9.

I much prefer the asthetics, handling, action, and carry of it without the ring.

 

[jwren]

Oh yous guys ^^ I like the bare handle look of the 1890 myself but you can always pop that lock ring off, snug up the hande and never put it back again

that's what I did my #9.

I much prefer the asthetics, handling, action, and carry of it without the ring.

Very true! But I also like the cherry wood and the goat skin sheath that came with it

 

[stvpourciau]

Very true! But I also like the cherry wood and the goat skin sheath that came with it

Oh boy, now you just reminded me of why I wanted to buy one when I 1st saw them.. I likes me that goat skin sheath.

Thanks for givin' me the urge to spend my scarcely expendable $$$

just can't do it lol, do you know if those pocket sheaths are availabe seperate; they are pocket sheaths aren't they?

 

[jwren]

Yes, pocket sheath (no belt loop).
They do sell separate sheaths, but not exactly like this one, as far as I know.
The nicer ones I've seen though are belt type sheaths. The only pocket type I saw I believe was synthetic leather....

 

[stvpourciau]

Yea that's a no go on me, haven't seen any other sheaths quite as nice ass that one. I wonder if they have just as many sheaths as knives or if they order them from some other company.

If I find an adress for them, i'll write and ask.

Now I have something to look up tomorrow lol.