My First Opinel

Johnny11758

Johnny11758

Joined
Aug 17, 2004
Messages
465
On Friday, I bought my first Opinel, a No. 9 (I have a size 13 ring finger) at a very hip leather and knife shop on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village in New York City. You've got to see all of the discontinued Buck knives this place has. Anyway, I now think the Opinel is the best value in knifedom. For $18 (I know they are less expensive on the Internet), what a slicer and what a fun knife to open and lock. I bought my Opinel after reading about the many good things about Opinels in this forum. Thanks, folks, for all the good advice.
 
I bought one and wasn't really blown away by it. I forgot about it for a couple weeks and found it covered with rust. :(

I'm not great at sharpening, but my Military slices way better for me.
 
I couldn't agree more. They are a fantastic knife For the money. I have one in my pocket every trip into the woods. I also rotate it as my edc. Easy to sharpen, and great slicer. All my buddies have "super steel" folders costing hundreds, and mine is aways used. Don't want to scratch up a expensive knife. They don't hold the edge all that well, but for the money.... what the he** huh! Enjoy it. :thumbup:
 
I always carry a no7. I've got more expensive Benchmade's , Buck's and Spyderco's. But I always use the opinel. I've also got a spare at home.
 
I own a #7 as well and I love it for the following reasons.
I (like most of you on here) own many knives and a good portion of them are modern (I dont want to use the word "tactical") , it is refreshing to carry and use something that feels more "old world" and the Opinel fits right in there.
With about an hours work I turned my 'Opi' into an antiqued, classier looking knife IMO.
I sanded down the scale to bare wood and gave it a light stain , also sanded the twist lock some to expose the metal , then used cold blue on the twist lock and blade , resulting in a dark blue/black blade (looks very classy) and an antiqued twist lock , adding to the old world appeal.
I finished it off with a few coats of tung oil on the scale and that was that.

Yea these knives arent what I would consider hard users but they sure are handy for small chores , also they are so lightwieght and fit the hand naturally.

I think I paid $9 for mine and would buy another in a hot second.
 
I keep a #8 in my EDC bag, as a back-up to my back-up knives. :) I still need to cut a notch in the wood, so I can access the blade easier.
Has anyone seen the fancy "opinel"?? I don't think they are made by Opinel, but it is the same knife, but with fancy wood handles. Ebony, bubinga, beech wood, and 2 other's I forgot. I saw them at www.beckscutlery.com .



Blades
 
Bienvenue! This probably will not be your last Opinel. They are very addictive, and yes, the value is wonderful. I have #6,7 in carbon. More are coming soon. I am also going to be getting the Opinel Brown Leather Sheath in the near future, but that will be a decent expense, because I need to import it from England (I can buy it direct from OPINEL, but that will be 30 Euro delivered, as opposed to $14 (7-8 quid) from the UK).
 
I keep a #6 Stainless in my lunchbag for cutting apples and chicken. Goes great with my Peak titanium fork and spoon set.
 
Blades said:
I keep a #8 in my EDC bag, as a back-up to my back-up knives. :) I still need to cut a notch in the wood, so I can access the blade easier.
Has anyone seen the fancy "opinel"?? I don't think they are made by Opinel, but it is the same knife, but with fancy wood handles. Ebony, bubinga, beech wood, and 2 other's I forgot. I saw them at www.beckscutlery.com .



Blades
Click to expand...

I have that slim version from A.G. Russell. I like it a lot, but on the page it's listed on it has the Boker and the Opinel name. Anyone know what's up with that?
 
Hey! Where was this store? I have to check it out. The only other place I know selling them is Broadway Panhandler
 
GarageBoy said:
Hey! Where was this store? I have to check it out. The only other place I know selling them is Broadway Panhandler
Click to expand...

It is Native Leather at 203 Bleecker Street next door to Banana Republic between Sixth Avenue and Macdougal Street. Quite a few Buck knives, Spydercos, Victorinox.
 
Johnny11758 said:
It is Native Leather at 203 Bleecker Street next door to Banana Republic between Sixth Avenue and Macdougal Street. Quite a few Buck knives, Spydercos, Victorinox.
Click to expand...

I was going to ask you where it is too. Thanks! I'll check it out.:)
 
J85909266 said:
I bought one and wasn't really blown away by it. I forgot about it for a couple weeks and found it covered with rust. :(

I'm not great at sharpening, but my Military slices way better for me.
Click to expand...

Dude, I have one just for a week, (just got it with my new DC4) and Im new to sharpening as well, but it cuts through wood like few knives can. Im not master sharpener, but it took me only few strokes on the ceramic and a bit of stropping and I got it shaving sharp ( and I dont mean I cut a paper and thought that its so sharp it can shave, I mean I have quite literally shaved with it. As far as the rust go, just dip the blade in white vinegar for a few minutes and than oil it, and you will have no problem.
That said I still think my Mora 511 is a better value knife than Opinel, since it costs just 5€ and the Opinel No 8 is 8,30€ and the 511 has almost full tang + it comes shaving sharp, the blade is a little thicker and longer, so it is more of a outdoors knife. But its quite bulky compared to No 8 and its plastic handle.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top