Mora vs Opinel

J

jerm03

Joined
Apr 27, 2011
Messages
89
I have never owned either, but just ordered a Mora for my wife to try in the kitchen.
Has anyone compared the two brands, and what is your assessment?
Both have excellent reputations, and yet they are very inexpensive.

I am looking at an Opines folder with approx 4 inch blade.

Excellent and inexpensive just makes me jump with joy. Or almost.
Thanks,
Jerry
 
Opinels are all extremely good slicers, edge retention on the stainless isn't amazing, but the carbon models are quite good. Very keen cutters.
 
It is hard to compare a fixed blade to a folder.....

But both have great value, and take a great edge. The only thing I noticed with Opinel is eventually, the metal will thin down, and it will not lock.
 
I have an Opinel No. 8 and No. 9, as well as a Mora Clipper. High carbon steel in all versions, easy to sharpen to a razor's edge. Just have to ensure you thoroughly dry the blade after cleaning & washing. Do not let water remain on the carbon steel, it will rust fairly easily. I keep an extremely light coat of mineral oil on the blades, and it keeps the rust at bay....also the mineral oil is food safe for kitchen use. Just be sure to fore-warn your wife, these knives do get RAZOR SHARP,.....my wife has become wary, she has cut herself a few times. The Opinels I have are folders with the locking cam mechanism, the Mora, a fixed blade. You could probably get these in stainless steel versions. Don't think you will be disappointed if you try these knives.
 
They don't have much in common. One is a folder and the other a fixed blade. They are both great users.
Buy both !
 
Thanks for the replies. I ordered the Mora in carbon steel with a slight guard.
I appreciate the mineral oil tip. I had seen that a few days ago, but had.never thought of it. It is better than Mobile 1, which I use on my SA handguns.:D

My EDC is a SAK and I am wondering if the Opinel would not be bulkier for pocket carry if it had a 4 inch blade. Any of you carry an Opinel?
Thanks,
Jerry
 
I used to carry the No 8 Opinel but quickly switched to the No 6. The No 8 gets used mostly for picnics and such. I sanded down my opinels and finished them with some watco and wax. I put thong holes in too, but have never used them.

opinel.jpg
 
jerm03 said:
I have never owned either, but just ordered a Mora for my wife to try in the kitchen.
Has anyone compared the two brands, and what is your assessment?
Both have excellent reputations, and yet they are very inexpensive.
Click to expand...

Both are worth owning and are cheap enough so that there is no good reason not to own them. Both come in stainless and in carbon steel.

The Mora knives are more friendly for certain dirty tasks because they don't have anywhere for gunk to get trapped. The carbon Mora knives take a wicked sharp edge.

The Opinel knives fold up and disappear into a pocket, I have found myself needing a steak knife, remembered there was an Opinel #6 (carbone) in my pocket, got that out and ate the steak, rinsed & dried my #6 and put it back in my pocket. After about a year & a half my #6 Carbone & #9 Carbone Opinel knives are still free of rust (there is some patina on my #9, but that is OK by me). My Inox #8 with walnut handle is a very nice knife too, takes a sharp edge and works well - needs sharpening more often, but I don't have to worry about rust (not that I worry overly about that with my carbon knives).

Ordering a Mora to try was a good move, now go order an Opinel to try as well - don't worry, if you don't like it you aren't much out of pocket. If you do like it then you'll probably be ordering a few more.
 
I love both. Mora offers a lot of different models to choose from (though sticking to a general theme) and Opinel produces a number of sizes variations and the option of fancy or plain handles. Both companies offer the choice of stainless or carbon steel. With how inexpensive both brands are there's no excuse for having several from each brand. ;):thumbup:
 
Thanks, Guys,
You have convinced me to now order an Opinel.
Thinking in terms of rust and that mineral oil is good to prevent while being safe, I don't have any but is there a reason olive oil would not be as good? Might taste better if I did not cut my tongue.:D

Regards,
Jerry
 
jerm03 said:
Thanks, Guys,
You have convinced me to now order an Opinel.
Thinking in terms of rust and that mineral oil is good to prevent while being safe, I don't have any but is there a reason olive oil would not be as good? Might taste better if I did not cut my tongue.:D

Regards,
Jerry
Click to expand...

Vegetable oils will break down faster than mineral oil. If you use and clean your knife on a daily or semi-daily basis it probably won't have an effect. But over the period of a week or more the mineral oil is much better. I think Baby's oil is mineral oil. Good mineral oil shouldn't have or impart a taste. Many of the Opinels use Sandvic stainless steel, very similar to the Sandvic in Moras. Let us know which ones you got.
 
I have an Opinel fixed paring knife - it's great!
I also have Mora Classic #2 & #3 knives in the kitchen for jobs that need more than a 3" blade.
 
Bo T said:
Vegetable oils will break down faster than mineral oil. If you use and clean your knife on a daily or semi-daily basis it probably won't have an effect. But over the period of a week or more the mineral oil is much better. I think Baby's oil is mineral oil. Good mineral oil shouldn't have or impart a taste. Many of the Opinels use Sandvic stainless steel, very similar to the Sandvic in Moras. Let us know which ones you got.
Click to expand...

$5 at Wal*Mart or the local pharmacy will get you a big bottle of mineral oil that will easily last you years. Look for it in the--*ahem*--laxative section. I guess it has that affect if you take a big swig of it. :eek: It's harmless in small quantities though, and is commonly used as a lubricant for food service machinery.
 
I don't have an opinel (I need to get one) but I use a Mora Clipper as my main outdoors knife. I use it for everything food prep, delimbing, help with wood processing (mostly making shavings), whittling, cleaning fish, cutting cord. I gave mine a good workout this weekend and before I went to sleep saturday it still was able to shave hair on my arm.

campingmay007.jpg
 
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