Lets see opinels - Pic Thread

Got this one in the mail today. My first stainless Opinel. A no. 7 in orange. It's not as sharp out of the box as my carbon Opinels. I will try the ceramic rods tomorrow to see how this steel sharpens. Typicall the carbon Opinels get laser beam sharp after a few minutes with the ceramic rods.

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Looks nice. My stainless opi got insanely scary crazy sharp. From my research the steel was said to be designed for razors.



mr_badexample said:
Got this one in the mail today. My first stainless Opinel. A no. 7 in orange. It's not as sharp out of the box as my carbon Opinels. I will try the ceramic rods tomorrow to see how this steel sharpens. Typicall the carbon Opinels get laser beam sharp after a few minutes with the ceramic rods.

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If I have my info in line on the steel type here is some info for the thread





Kevin
 
Tinbasher said:
I had a play with mine, like the way it turned out.
Richard



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Wow, that is fantastic, I would be proud to carry that, very nice work.

Kevin- I'm going from memory, I couldn't find my source or reference, but 12c27 was the first steel specify designed for knives. If you look at it under a magnifying glass, even after a 600 grit stone it appears smooth almost polished because of the small carbides. Many French knife makers use it, as a preference I like carbon, but if I don't have carbon as a option and it's 12c27 I don't hesitate, I find it performs very well gets razor sharp and holds its edge for a long time, if Case used it I would purchase Case SS knives, it's probably good for my wallet that they don't.

Pete
 
Tinbasher, simply exceptional. I wish I had the skill to make something that refined.

Richstag, cool app!
 
Theese two is what I got. the big one always travel with mi for vakation in other countries so I kan cook proporly.



Bosse
 
Stich2442 said:
Wow, that is fantastic, I would be proud to carry that, very nice work.

Kevin- I'm going from memory, I couldn't find my source or reference, but 12c27 was the first steel specify designed for knives. If you look at it under a magnifying glass, even after a 600 grit stone it appears smooth almost polished because of the small carbides. Many French knife makers use it, as a preference I like carbon, but if I don't have carbon as a option and it's 12c27 I don't hesitate, I find it performs very well gets razor sharp and holds its edge for a long time, if Case used it I would purchase Case SS knives, it's probably good for my wallet that they don't.

Pete
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Pete, I may be nuts, but Since I've been using the stainless Opinel's, I think the 12c27 actually makes a better knife than the carbon steel that Opinel uses. It holds a very good edge, cuts fiberous stuff great, and is pretty easy to sharpen. I've become a convert to the stainless Opinel's.

Carl.
 
Carl, how do you find it in terms edge burrs when sharpening? More like Buck 420HC and less like Victorinox Inox or generic 440A?

My understanding is that the Sandvic can and is hardened higher, like up in the 58Rc range. I believe (could be wrong) that carbone is more like in the 56Rc range.


FWIW, I think I found the secret to using oil based stains with Opinel's hard beech handles. Keep the surface prep to 80grit sandpaper to keep the grain open. Getting better stain penetration this way. Pictures next week (I hope).

Need to grab a few stainless ones to play with.
 
smiling-knife said:
Market day in the south of France
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... I just keep looking at this picture. I'd love to see this selection in person! Even at this distance, each of the knives looks even more appealing in the company of its neighbors.

Sonnemann said:
I got my olivewood #8 in the post today. I am very pleased with it overall; it seems much smaller than the standard #8 and should make an excellent all-rounder as well.
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My son has this same knife, only in the standard beechwood. He uses it as a (discreet) dinner knife, etc. at college, and loves its form factor. I ask to see it every time he's home. I agree, it feels smaller than a standard "8"-- but for me, that's a plus.

phacochère;12140037 said:
01opi.jpg

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I too missed the Opinel locking ring on this one the first time around. Very nice! (As usual.... :))

Stich2442 said:
71E4BA36-8590-4592-A984-ADF36A1B4A99-3570-00000583CF2EC583.jpg
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There it is!

Stich2442 said:
I have another pic post #30 of this thread
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But, see, that was back a whole page. (Ooops. :o)

Stich2442 said:
Sarah, I decided to give it a buff for you so you can get a better look, this time instead of leather, I used a Sunshine polishing cloth.

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Thanks, Pete. I like how the buffing brought the design out more again.

Much to think about. (They don't currently offer an Owl, but there are cats. Hmmmm.)

Tinbasher said:
I had a play with mine, like the way it turned out.

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As well you should. How beautiful!

~ P.
 
Carl, I don't have any problem with 12c27, I think it might be my favorite choice for a stainless, I have 3 knives with 12c27, a Opinel #8, a Boker Vox Gnome, and one of my favorite and sturdiest traditionals my Laguiole En Aubrac, all three have maybe been to the stone once, and periodically touched up on leather, all three razor sharp and keep their edges, the Laguiole is a older one without a kick so a portion of the blade rest on the spring and has never had a problem with dulling or flat spots, the little Boker I used to chop down a 3-4" birch and remained razor sharp. I think as far as a preference to carbon either has something to do what I'm use to, maybe nostalgia, all my childhood knives were carbon Imperials, and/or aesthetics? But the bottom line is 12c27 works well for me. I've been thinking about picking up a olive handled one, also Carl I was wondering if your 12c27 Opi flicks open faster than a switchblade like mine does?

Pete
 
pinnah said:
Carl, how do you find it in terms edge burrs when sharpening? More like Buck 420HC and less like Victorinox Inox or generic 440A?

My understanding is that the Sandvic can and is hardened higher, like up in the 58Rc range. I believe (could be wrong) that carbone is more like in the 56Rc range.


FWIW, I think I found the secret to using oil based stains with Opinel's hard beech handles. Keep the surface prep to 80grit sandpaper to keep the grain open. Getting better stain penetration this way. Pictures next week (I hope).

Need to grab a few stainless ones to play with.
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Like most stainless, I find it to have a more stubborn burr than needs to be taken off. To help wth that, I ease off some on the final sharpening strokes on the stone, and then just strop it, or drag the edge through a corner of a 2X4 piece of wood or handy fence rail. The stainless Opinel is a bit harder to sharpen than the carbon, but I haven't figured pt if that's the material, or the higher RC that the 12c27 is taken to. A couple of different places now I've read where the stainless is taken up toRC 58 vs the carbon at a point or two lower. I know that my better half, Karen, has a stainless 12c27 Frosts mora, and that knife alos holds a better edge than a lot of other more expensive knifes, and is a bit harder to sharpen than my old mora number 1 with it's carbon blade.

Carl.
 
Stich2442 said:
I've been thinking about picking up a olive handled one, also Carl I was wondering if your 12c27 Opi flicks open faster than a switchblade like mine does?

Pete
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No, I've got mine snugged up to use as a friction folder, only using the lock on very rare occasions. I used to have ti a bit lose, and could do what my French friend, Pascal, called the Marseilles wave. But I prefer a snug two handed pattada like action. If I need a quick weapon, that's what my stout blackthorn stick is for. :D

Carl.
 
I found the stainless sharpend easier, sharper, no burr. Pete, your comments on the nice polish is exactly what I found :)
 
A modified Opinel #8



Comparison shot with the new "modern" version of the #8

 
Here is an example of what I mean about the cherry wood. This knife went from this:



To this:



...in one week of work. If you can't notice its more black and dirt filled. But, looking at the feather weight here:



..Yes, I believe it would make a tremendous EDC for the office :)

Kevin
 
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