My First Opinel

MostMenAreRuthless

MostMenAreRuthless

Joined
Sep 27, 2011
Messages
1,864
Ladies & Gents,


You don't see me hanging around this forum all that often--I have owned a few traditional style knives, but I am more partial to the titanium framelocks. However, I have been intrigued for some time now by the Opinel series of knives--they have somewhat of a historical mystique surrounding them so I thought I would give one a shot. I ordered the Opinel #6 carbon steel; at under $14 delivered to my door I figured worst case scenario would be that I dislike and I can give it away.

The knife was delivered yesterday and I have only had a chance to spend just a few minutes with it, but here are my first impressions. It is very light and easily pocketable; the locking ring is very stiff and difficult to engage/disengage, but I figure with time it will wear in; the tip rubs against the end of the handle which is slightly annoying, but I don't expect exact precision for an $11 knife; it cam quite dull and had a partial burr left on one side of the edge--I spent a minute on a DMT dia-fold micro-fine and a leather strop and it is now popping hairs off my arm; nice blade shape--I love the belly it has for such a small little blade.

I need to get outside and use it in the yard, trim some small limbs, cut up some carboard, and use it for random tasks to really get to know if I like it or not, but at that price point it's a cute little keeper.



Shaun
 
I also just picked up my first one, a #7, a few weeks ago and the tip rubs the handle when closing which drives me nuts but like you said it's cheap so can't be to picky. I think I got it for a little under $12 shipped. Do you plan on doing anything to it at all? I want to sand the ends of the handle down to get rid of the sharp edges and a think layer off the whole handle so I can stain it a darker color. I like how some of the guys have turned them into a slight drop point also but not sure if I could do that without destroying the blade. :)
 
jkulysses said:
I also just picked up my first one, a #7, a few weeks ago and the tip rubs the handle when closing which drives me nuts but like you said it's cheap so can't be to picky. I think I got it for a little under $12 shipped. Do you plan on doing anything to it at all? I want to sand the ends of the handle down to get rid of the sharp edges and a think layer off the whole handle so I can stain it a darker color. I like how some of the guys have turned them into a slight drop point also but not sure if I could do that without destroying the blade. :)
Click to expand...

I am planning on just keeping this little animal stock!
 
MostMenAreRuthless said:
I am planning on just keeping this little animal stock!
Click to expand...

I thought I was the only one! I don't have any interest in doing anything to my Opinel 8 other than cutting stuff with it, and sharpening it up from time to time. No mods for me.

-- Mark
 
mnblade said:
I thought I was the only one! I don't have any interest in doing anything to my Opinel 8 other than cutting stuff with it, and sharpening it up from time to time. No mods for me.

-- Mark
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make that 3 of us then. :P no plans on altering my 7 :P except ofcourse patina as i use it mainly as a food knife :P.

Scott
 
Welcome to world of Opinels.

There are mods and there are mods. This is about the former.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/28597626/tuning-opinels.txt

As y'all are finding out, they need some TLC out of the box. They respond even better if they are "tuned up", especially the joint and lock ring. I wouldn't call that "modification" per se. More like, getting more performance out of them.

Like all knife threads, the thread is better with pictures. Please post your new ones.

Opinel #10 (drop point) & Opinel #8 by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
pinnah said:
Welcome to world of Opinels.

There are mods and there are mods. This is about the former.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/28597626/tuning-opinels.txt

As y'all are finding out, they need some TLC out of the box. They respond even better if they are "tuned up", especially the joint and lock ring. I wouldn't call that "modification" per se. More like, getting more performance out of them.

Like all knife threads, the thread is better with pictures. Please post your new ones.

Opinel #10 (drop point) & Opinel #8 by Pinnah, on Flickr
Click to expand...


Pinnah--thanks for the suggestions and the link!

Pics:

Opinel 6 (1).jpgOpinel 6 (2).jpg
 
Welcome to Opi's world, in this part of the world (western europe) they are a real classic, almost everyone knows about them.
The last one I bought and modified, It's a #7 although my favorite size is the #6 because with the mods is going to end around six's size, the point is going to be dropped a little.
P1014463_zpsc5bf4e23.jpg


enjoy friction friends
Mateo
 
TheGoldenWalrus said:
make that 3 of us then. :P no plans on altering my 7 :P except ofcourse patina as i use it mainly as a food knife :P.

Scott
Click to expand...

Well, you may as well make that four of us. I used to play with modding them, changing the shape, lots of sanding down to change the finish. But the last two I've bought have stayed pretty stock with the sole exception of dropping the point a wee bit. These days I just wait until it gets a bit pocket worn and the black lettering is getting worn off, and then I just give it a light coat of clear non glare urethane on the outside.

Carl.
 
Congrats on your first. I use a #8 almost daily in the kitchen. Slice up some fruit and you will quickly see why. I also occasionally carry my #6 when packing light. I forced a patina on the 6 and let it develop naturally on the 8.

8EF7F5A8-B489-4E1A-B3D7-A1B473321EA5-142-000000026EC5A854.jpg


EAF72C74-26BD-4B51-BB5D-A4CE2F518CBA-470-0000002E78437989.jpg


Oh and because of the "blame Carl" thread I now have a #4 en route to me. Thanks Carl. :D
 
Glad you're discovering these intriguing tools. I have a 10 that I use a lot; it's my favorite size. Over the years, I've had many (mostly sizes 8 and 10), and have given them to knifeless friends... but I always get another for myself. Can't seem to be without an Opinel!
 
lutejones said:
Welcome to Opi's world, in this part of the world (western europe) they are a real classic, almost everyone knows about them.
The last one I bought and modified, It's a #7 although my favorite size is the #6 because with the mods is going to end around six's size, the point is going to be dropped a little.


enjoy friction friends
Mateo
Click to expand...

mr_badexample said:
Congrats on your first. I use a #8 almost daily in the kitchen. Slice up some fruit and you will quickly see why. I also occasionally carry my #6 when packing light. I forced a patina on the 6 and let it develop naturally on the 8.



Oh and because of the "blame Carl" thread I now have a #4 en route to me. Thanks Carl. :D
Click to expand...

puukkoman said:
Glad you're discovering these intriguing tools. I have a 10 that I use a lot; it's my favorite size. Over the years, I've had many (mostly sizes 8 and 10), and have given them to knifeless friends... but I always get another for myself. Can't seem to be without an Opinel!
Click to expand...

This is a fun knife to just have around--I have used it to trim a small branch on a spiraea shrub, it has sliced up a pizza box, and it has cut a paper towel roll to make binoculars for my 4 year old.
 
Wonderful knives. Fun to Mod.

Best regards

Robin
A number 6 fixed blade.
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And a number 8 with a Moose handle.
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oh, and it gave me a nice little bite on my first digit because I forgot to close the locking ring when cutting the paper towel roll!
 
The Opinel at first glance, didn't impress me favorably, but I gave them a chance and soon, I really grew to appreciate, the old workhorses for what they were just simplistic, no-frills, knives, that were made with fantastic, edge geometry in mind. I carry my Carbon 06 quite often, and consider it to be a fantastic little EDC knife, I dunno if you can find a sharper knife. I'm glad to hear you're using and enjoying yours.
IMG_0166.jpg
 
Used it again tonight to cut the tips off a tube of epoxy as well as to mill a little more space for the weights in my sons pinewood derby car!
 
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