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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Lets see opinels - Pic Thread
- Thread starter machine26
- Start date
Frank - thanks for posting this walk-thru - some really good info and nice mods!
I look forward to seeing pics of the completed Opinel.
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2006
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- 116
Thanks Jwren.
I am no photographer, but here is the completed knife. I'm very happy with it.
Frank
I am no photographer, but here is the completed knife. I'm very happy with it.
Frank
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2000
- Messages
- 6,673
No pics, but I thought you guys would appreciate a little anecdote. Right now I'm on vacation in the Austrian Alps. We're staying at an apartment hotel, and cooking most of our own meals. Lunch we've been eating up on the mountain trails. Anyway, the kitchen here has minimal gear and a horrible set of cheap, dull knives. My wife has appropriated my carbon no. 8 and loves it. She's in awe of how well it cuts. 'Course she treats it like any other kitchen knife, getting stuff ALL over it, and just rinsing hot, soapy water over the entire thing when she's done. :-o No worries, though. Yes, it got stiff and a bit hard to open -- but that just lasted till the next morning, and it wasn't THAT hard to open.
I submit that a wife in the kitchen may just be the ultimate test of a knife's ability. And it she were inclined to rate the Opi 8, I'm sure it'd get two thumbs up. But she's not a knife knut and, as just one of those curious 'normal' people who just appreciate a sharp knife when something needs cutting, she just says, "Can I borrow your sharp wood knife?" To me, that's a great testament to the appeal and performance of the best bang-for-the-buck cutter on the planet.
-- Mark
I submit that a wife in the kitchen may just be the ultimate test of a knife's ability. And it she were inclined to rate the Opi 8, I'm sure it'd get two thumbs up. But she's not a knife knut and, as just one of those curious 'normal' people who just appreciate a sharp knife when something needs cutting, she just says, "Can I borrow your sharp wood knife?" To me, that's a great testament to the appeal and performance of the best bang-for-the-buck cutter on the planet.
-- Mark
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2011
- Messages
- 3,525
I finally bought one. Not being too sure about it, I ordered a no.6 because I prefer smaller pocket knives. It arrived today amongst some other stuff.
I am just blown away with the cutting ability of this. I love sharp things and have always been able to get a decent edge on stuff but goodness does his slice well.
Might have to do something about the handle though, looking at all those opinel mods makes me like the idea of a little handle elaboration.. At the price of a pizza as well, doesn't really matter if I screw it up!
Paul
I am just blown away with the cutting ability of this. I love sharp things and have always been able to get a decent edge on stuff but goodness does his slice well.
Might have to do something about the handle though, looking at all those opinel mods makes me like the idea of a little handle elaboration.. At the price of a pizza as well, doesn't really matter if I screw it up!
Paul
I must confess that even while I have Cases, a Laquiole and some other knives I tend to reach for my Opinels when I need something to cut with. A 15 euro knife. If I work with wood then I pick up one of my puukko's, but for anything else it is one these frenchies.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2011
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So I went ahead and did some modification work to the handle of my no.6 and it looks ok. I think I'll maybe give it a stain but I'm not sure what colour.
Before
And after
Not a great deal of difference, but the knife is small so the heel sits more comfortably in the palm when using it.
Before
And after
Not a great deal of difference, but the knife is small so the heel sits more comfortably in the palm when using it.
Nice mods, one and all. I have just my #6 in carbon and the #8 garden knife. The blade geometry on the Opinel blade is awesome, these things slice like nothing else that I own (but to be fair that's not saying a lot 
). Here is my #6 shown with a Queen Country Cousin in linen micarta and Steel Warrior wharncliffe whittler. The #6 makes a great pocket knife, lightweight, comfortable handle and that sharp tipped slicing blade. I am ashamed to admit that, following an outbreak of rust, a large onion died in the making of this patina:
). Here is my #6 shown with a Queen Country Cousin in linen micarta and Steel Warrior wharncliffe whittler. The #6 makes a great pocket knife, lightweight, comfortable handle and that sharp tipped slicing blade. I am ashamed to admit that, following an outbreak of rust, a large onion died in the making of this patina:
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2011
- Messages
- 3,525
Nice mods, one and all. I have just my #6 in carbon and the #8 garden knife. The blade geometry on the Opinel blade is awesome, these things slice like nothing else that I own (but to be fair that's not saying a lot
I'm brand new to them and converted already.
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- May 4, 2010
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- 2,480
I bought an Opinel Slim in Laminated Rosewood/boxwood the other day. Love this slim design and the handle is pretty cool, I would prefer snakewood or something but this was a good cheap alternative to the standard wood. I also prefer a carbon blade but this model doesn't seem to come in carbon so Inox it is! Despite my desires for differnet option I'm very happy with this knife, came sharp and that point is damn sharp!!
Gary W. Graley
“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Mar 2, 1999
- Messages
- 27,427
I have the ebony version and they are a wicked little cutter and fine point, that one looks very nice, great pic's too
G2
G2
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 784
I bought an Opinel Slim in Laminated Rosewood/boxwood the other day. Love this slim design and the handle is pretty cool, I would prefer snakewood or something but this was a good cheap alternative to the standard wood. I also prefer a carbon blade but this model doesn't seem to come in carbon so Inox it is! Despite my desires for differnet option I'm very happy with this knife, came sharp and that point is damn sharp!!
Now, that is a nice handle! I really like the light and dark combination. Not as big a fan of the slim blade as I prefer the more traditional blade shape, but for that handle I'd make due
.John
Gary W. Graley
“Imagination is more important than knowledge"
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Mar 2, 1999
- Messages
- 27,427
Well, while not a work of art, I was inspired this morning to hack at the end of my #6 opi as I have two of those, I felt safe in doing so been watching videos on wood carving this morning, that started it, then my grandsons came to stay for the night while their parents have a nite out to celebrate my daughters' 30th birthday, and so with knife in hand I proceeded to carve away.
NOW, I can surely see that a glove on the part holding hand would certainly be a true safeguard!!! I kept envisioning all sorts of terrible things happening, wood splitting and the knife moving faster than anticipated into my receiving soft skin...ugh it would be a mess, so here's a tip, take great care, limit your blade travel as best you can.
It'll be nice to carry I think, even still,
G2
been watching videos on wood carving this morning, that started it, then my grandsons came to stay for the night while their parents have a nite out to celebrate my daughters' 30th birthday, and so with knife in hand I proceeded to carve away.NOW, I can surely see that a glove on the part holding hand would certainly be a true safeguard!!! I kept envisioning all sorts of terrible things happening, wood splitting and the knife moving faster than anticipated into my receiving soft skin...ugh it would be a mess, so here's a tip, take great care, limit your blade travel as best you can.
It'll be nice to carry I think, even still,
G2
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- Joined
- Nov 20, 2012
- Messages
- 109
That looks really good Gary. Great job.
