Modifying Opinel handles.

[Johnnythefox]

I trimmed of the top part at the back of the handle,I dont know what its called.
The knife now feels more comfortable in the hand,the Opinel gardening knife is a similar shape.

I used some old wax my mother gave me years ago on the wood afterwards.
Then I tried out a new sharpening stone I bought from a antique shop.

The small opinel with half a blade was given to me in Malta when I admired it in a hardware store,I like to see things being used.
I use that in my motorbike shed for scraping and the like.

 

[eveled]

Nice job, very functional modifications. Some people turn the lowly Opinel into art. These are not mine but I admire them, and hope to find the time to try it myself someday.

 

[Rich S]

Eveled -

Those are beautiful carvings on the Opi handles, but some don't look comfortable to use.

 

[cudgee]

Johnnythefox Like your work, well done. If you really want to make that wood pop, coats of Tru-Oil will bring out every bit of character in the wood. These are a couple of terrible photos, but hopefully it will give you some idea.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Melt some wax into the blade slot to keep the wood from swelling and binding the blade.

 

[sickpuppy1]

Got this off the forum here a while back. Super comfy too!

 

[SwissHeritageCo]

Those are some beautiful mods fellas!

Opie's are still one of my most used blades.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Shaped & sanded up to/thru 600-800 grit, drilled for lanyard tube and finished with polyurethane glue ('Gorilla Glue') applied by hand in very thin layers with an old t-shirt. Also used the Gorilla Glue to bond the brass lanyard tube into the drilled hole.

 

[Johnnythefox]

Nice job, very functional modifications. View attachment 1658352Some people turn the lowly Opinel into art. These are not mine but I admire them, and hope to find the time to try it myself someday.

That is on another level,made me smile,well done.

 

[Johnnythefox]

Johnnythefox Like your work, well done. If you really want to make that wood pop, coats of Tru-Oil will bring out every bit of character in the wood. These are a couple of terrible photos, but hopefully it will give you some idea.

that does look good I have Danish oil will it do the same?

 

[Johnnythefox]

Shaped & sanded up to/thru 600-800 grit, drilled for lanyard tube and finished with polyurethane glue ('Gorilla Glue') applied by hand in very thin layers with an old t-shirt. Also used the Gorilla Glue to bond the brass lanyard tube into the drilled hole.

they look good as well,I would put on a better lanyard though.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

they look good as well,I would put on a better lanyard though.

Yeah, the cord I used is just what I had on hand. It's basically a fob with a simple knot at the end. I tuck the knot inside my belt, which keeps the knife riding vertically in my pocket. Although not the prettiest, it's serves a specific function, which is why it's there.

 

[cudgee]

that does look good I have Danish oil will it do the same?

Depends, if it high gloss finish with polymerizer hardening agent in it, it will. If it is matt finish it will not.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I'd used Danish oil (Watco brand) previously on my walnut-handled Opinel. It left a durable finish and was easy to apply in about 3 very thin coats a few hours apart. But it never really took on a high gloss - always looked a bit drab, and also seemed to collect a little bit of grime if handled with dirty hands. Danish oil 'hardens' in the technical sense, but still doesn't get hard enough to hold a high gloss, it seems to me.

The walnut Opinel in my previous post is the same knife mentioned above, after I eventually sanded off all of the previous Danish oil finish and did further reshaping & thinning of the handle. The polyurethane finish leaves a higher gloss, IF the wood is appropriately sanded to take it (thru about 600 grit or so). And it's hard enough, that it doesn't dirty up like the Danish oil finish did.

 

[scarysamcary]

Got this off the forum here a while back. Super comfy too!

Just did that to a few opinels thanks to seeing you post it. Makes things so much easier with my stubby fingers! Now I wanna try my hand at some of these cosmetic mods.

 

[airmojo]

I just finished my own custom Opinel No.8 with a Sambar Stag Roll handle... I love knives with stag handles/scales !
This could get addicting !

 

[Alberta Ed]

Melt some wax into the blade slot and pivot area to seal the wood and keep it from swelling.

 

[captainbobino]

Airmojo - that’s beautiful.

 

[311climber]

I trimmed of the top part at the back of the handle,I dont know what its called.
The knife now feels more comfortable in the hand,the Opinel gardening knife is a similar shape.

I used some old wax my mother gave me years ago on the wood afterwards.
Then I tried out a new sharpening stone I bought from a antique shop.

The small opinel with half a blade was given to me in Malta when I admired it in a hardware store,I like to see things being used.
I use that in my motorbike shed for scraping and the like.

wow simple yet elegant