My first Opinel, is it something special?

Bigfatts

Bigfatts

Joined
Mar 12, 2012
Messages
2,453
So I was in a favorite gun shop today and seeing his selection of locally made custom knives got the itch going so I started looking for something I could afford and saw an nice looking Opinel sitting all neglected in the back of the case. At $13 I decided "What the heck, I don't have one of those." So I bought it. I didn't notice until he handed me the box that it is, apparently, a special edition. A 500 year commemorative of Christopher Columbus coming to America, so made in 1992. It has a mirror polished blade, a nice etching on the blade, handle is Rosewood and it is numbered. Knife is brand new, box is a little worn on the edges. Is this something collectible?







 
Relatively low serial number - I've seen some in the 4000 range. I don't know how special, but it is good looking.
 
No idea about the worth of the knife, but it sure is a nice find and certainly a collectible - even if the value is not particularly high.

Very cool knife. Congrats on the find. :)
 
You got a deal for sure. $13 is the price of a standard Opinel.

I see an Italian shop has them for sale for 95 euros. I disremember the rate of exchange, but that's more than $100.
 
knarfeng said:
You got a deal for sure. $13 is the price of a standard Opinel.

I see an Italian shop has them for sale for 95 euros. I disremember the rate of exchange, but that's more than $100.
Click to expand...

Yep. In today's exchange rate that would be $125.00
 
Yup I would either sell it for more Opinel's or display it. Personally I probably lean more towards the latter, don't know why but something about that Opinel looks nice to me and I typically don't like the look of them.
 
Apart from the serialising & etching, it has had a proper polish, which is quite a bit of work. I have polished an opinel 8 myself. Definately an upmarket knife.
 
Bob6794 said:
Yup I would either sell it for more Opinel's or display it. Personally I probably lean more towards the latter, don't know why but something about that Opinel looks nice to me and I typically don't like the look of them.
Click to expand...

I've been thinking the same thing. I typically don't like the look of them but this one is nice. Maybe it's the rosewood? I don't know if I will keep it long term or not but it will be on display in the mean time.

Thanks for all the info guys! I didn't think it would be worth much, $100 is way more than I thought.
 
mtangent said:
Apart from the serialising & etching, it has had a proper polish, which is quite a bit of work. I have polished an opinel 8 myself. Definately an upmarket knife.
Click to expand...

That's for sure. And it's a real mirror polish at that. That's what originally caught me eye.
 
The knife is beautiful! Love the shield, the blade finish, and the wood.

The "commemorative" etch on the other hand... What the heck did Opinel have to do with Christopher Columbus???
 
Something special? Oh yes!
For $13, boy am I envious.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top