My Opinel.

[pinnah]

Oh, that's easy...

Two parts.

First, there's no US culture to that knife or anything close to it. IMO, if there is any cultural bias towards something similar it would be towards the traditional lock back (aka Buck knife) or the non-traditional frame lock.

Second, the US is primarily a consumer economy and so the products that win need work as consumer products first and foremost. Self validation of the consumer through association to a known brand and brand loyalty is the number one issue and the second most important issue is a good out of the box experience.


Ignoring non-traditionals, I think the US "Opinels" are things like the Case Sodbuster and Buck Ecolite 110/112. Both of these knives give a better out of the box experience and both have brand name recognition. The Buck Ecolite has a leg up with deep cultural roots to the 110/112 classics.

 

[cards94]

What would be the point when you can buy and opinel?

yea but it's made in france.

 

[pinnah]

yea but it's made in france.

As it should be. It's a French traditional knife, through and through. Just like the Navaja is a Spanish knife.

IMO, the closest thing you can do to match a locking folder capable of work from a US maker with deep cultural ties is to drive to your local *-Mart store and buy a Buck 110. Should be around $40 or less. It's sort of like wood. (They used to have real wood. Now they use something that's sort of like wood, but I digress.)

Just note, that the Opinel has 5 parts total and the Buck 110 has many more than that. Both are sort of crude out of the box but that's what happens in that price range.


Buck 110 and Opinel #10 by Pinnah, on Flickr


Buck 112 & Opinel #8 by Pinnah, on Flickr

Having owned and used both and having been a very proud Buck owner since the 1970s, my choice for pretty much everything (other than hunting) is....





....Opinel.

edc-pair by Pinnah, on Flickr


The convex grind does better at cutting wood (the primary thing I do that's hard on a knife), the lock mechanism/joint is tougher and the Opinel is much easier to carry.

Want to try one of these 'ferin' knives for free? I've got a #8 (modified) going in a Pass Around.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1097460-Opinel-Pass-Around-amp-Walk-About

 

[Astrogator]

Opinel's-----for a hard use, no nonsence folder they cannot easily be beaten.

 

[Grateful]

I will say this though... They are *NOT* for everybody. In cycling, there are people who can change their own tires (few) and those who can not (many). In cross country skiing, there are people who can deal with kick wax (few) and those who rely on skis with fish scales (many). IMO, owning an Opinel is like changing a tire on a bike, or like owning waxable cross country skis. They demand something from you. Out the box, the Opinel is crude, clunky and sometimes not yet really useable. The lockrings need tuning. The edge needs to be set.

But for those who are willing and able to invest some time... Really amazing knife.

They do require a little attention but all I did to mine out of the box was sharpen it. I may have gotten lucky or maybe I am just easily satisfied but mine is put together pretty well. I do smear a little Vaseline into the pivot area once in a while. I let it soak in for 30 minutes or so then wipe out all that I can. So far that's working well for me. Keeps the wood from swelling after I wash the blade when using it in the kitchen. It never swelled a lot but it would get a little stiff sometimes.

Jim

 

[Bobbybirds]

I picked up a couple Opi's while I was in France this summer since they were so darn cheap and everyone talks well about them and I have to say, it has turned into a common carry for me! They really sharpen up well and do everything one needs... Count me as a fan as well!

 

[dogstar]

I'll take everyone's word for it that the opinel is a great cutter, but I wonder why the US can't produce a knife like this. cheap, wood handle, and cuts.

Yes, I wish we had something equivalent in the USA, but there can be only one Opinel, born in France. We have our own iconic knives, but they are not "cheap, wood handle, and cuts." Not as a folder, anyway.

 

[knarfeng]

comment withdrawn

 

[r8shell]

I know I'm really gonna like this knife, but what is up the the upturned point? Any hidden advantage to it?

Look up the No8 Garden folder - dropped point. I'm really liking mine.

 

[pinnah]

Yes, I wish we had something equivalent in the USA, but there can be only one Opinel, born in France. We have our own iconic knives, but they are not "cheap, wood handle, and cuts." Not as a folder, anyway.

Case Sodbuster.

 

[herisson]

This, exactly (notice the similar blade, by the way... just for fun)

 

[herisson]

I know I'm really gonna like this knife, but what is up the the upturned point? Any hidden advantage to it?
The upturned point is the classic "yatagan" shape. Mr. Opinel chose it (I suppose) because of its versatility (and attitude, he can't fool me...). But he flattened the clip quite a bit by the way.... It is a splendid, elegant and "do it all" blade. Now, due to the thinness of the blade, the tip is a weak spot (like when you're opening canned beans...). The Gardener is a more robust, more versatile version. In my opinion, it's a very well conceived knife. It's also more "plain Jane" which will not appeal to everybody. As a Frenchman committed by nature to beauty, wine and poetry, I will go all the way with the swoopy, subtle and elegant yatagan shape. It's hard to beat this classic, black, little beauty (N°8, 12C27 blade, ebony handle), isn't it ?

 

[willc]

Opinels are really great knives, I have 2 No.8's that are over 20 years old and they still are great slicers.

Recently I picked up a few in the INOX stainless and they too have impressed me.
They sharpen up as easy as the carbon and I think they get just as sharp.
All around a wonderful working mans knife with no pretense of anything else.

 

[mykel m]

Well I got my carbon #6 the other day & after feeling the top part of the fish tail dig into my palm I sanded the top of the tail down & added an EO notch while I was at it.
But once I got it sanded nice & smooth and a few coats of boiled linseed oil applied,I decided it was too smooth so I added some grip with a soldering iron.
I love the simplicity of a friction folder & understand their limitations & I gotta say the French made Opinel is a great knife for the money.
My first Opi mod,woohoo.Next up a # 8 or maybe a Svord,I've been wanting to mess with one of them too.

Shown with a #15 Boys Knife for size comparison.

 

[herisson]

Nice "jaguar" Opinel ! The fish tail pommel is actually the "so, so" part of the knife. Deserves a mod.

 

[zippofan]

A No. 8 always lives in my Scouting bag, and I really like the fancy handled No. 6's I've picked up over the year:

The Bubinga was the sharpest out of the box, the others (olive, walnut) need a little sharpening, otherwise they're sweet :thumbup:

 

[jackknife]

Well I got my carbon #6 the other day & after feeling the top part of the fish tail dig into my palm I sanded the top of the tail down & added an EO notch while I was at it.
But once I got it sanded nice & smooth and a few coats of boiled linseed oil applied,I decided it was too smooth so I added some grip with a soldering iron.
I love the simplicity of a friction folder & understand their limitations & I gotta say the French made Opinel is a great knife for the money.
My first Opi mod,woohoo.Next up a # 8 or maybe a Svord,I've been wanting to mess with one of them too.

mykel, I love what you've done with that!!!

I never thought about the soldering iron trick, I have to try that. And the knife looks sooooo much better without the lock ring. Good job!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Carl.

 

[Whitedog]

Opinels do what a knife is for -they cut stuff very well. Fun to mod. No big money loss if you don't like them.

 

[whetrock]

I'm going to have to try the EZ open mod. I like Opinels, seeing as they are cheap enough to tinker with, without feeling too badly if something doesn't turn out just right, and also they're more than serviceable in their, own stock form. I've given them to friends of mine who weren't "knife people" with favorable response.

 

[DansKnivesAndStuff]

The Opinel knives are just amazing. But you gotta be careful with em' or you might slice right through your finger! My Opi #7 was my first carbon steel knife (and current edc) and it's just really special to me. Just the right size for pocket carry, and it fits my hand almost perfectly. The only complaint I have about it is the that the tip is just so dang thin. But that's just personal preference. I don't think you can get a better pocket knife for the money.