I know there's a rumor around that I love peanuts. Okay, I will admit that there is a great deal of truth to the rumor, and I actually do have a peanut in the pocket as my walking around the wilds of suburbia knife. It does all I wish of a pocket knife that remains un-noticed in the pocket until needed. Cuts string, breaks down boxes after a shopping trip to Sam's, opens my mail, makes hot dog sticks for the grandkids. Most of all, it opens those plastic blister packages.
But, I admit the little thing is a bit challenged sometimes when dealing with food or some camp chores. Sometimes, a bit longer blade is needed. Then I go for my second favorite pocket knife. The funky Opinel.
I've never really figured out why I've had a love of these things since 1982. Maybe it's the funky European design. I have a history of loving funky weird European stuff like old VW beetles, and Vespa motor scooters. Or maybe it's the old backpacker in me always looking at weight. A number 7 or 8 Opinel is insanely light weight for their size, and even rides in business casual, or dress pants very well. One could carry a number 7 Opinel in suit pants and not notice it.
Or maybe it's the mechanically simple design of it. Like kind of a genius of simplicity. No springs, no spacers or liners, no parts that are not absolutely needed for the function of the thing. Spartan purity is a phrase that comes to mind. Not to mention a convex ground blade that is a wicked slicer and dicer.
Or maybe it's the ease that they can be personalized by a little sand paper and stain. Reshape the handle to whatever suits your fancy. I've seen some Opinels that were transformed into works of art with interesting carving. The Opinels is like a blank canvas of the knife world.
Or maybe it's that carrying an Opinel is like carrying a folding kitchen knife. Lord knows I have two Opinel fillet knives in the kitchen drawer that I use to bone out chickens that are going on the Weber, or butterfly a fish rather than fillet it. The needle point and thin blade of the Opinel fillet knife makes short work of butterflying even a large fish like a blue or Rockfish. No meat goes to waste. And the olive wood and bubinga on the fillet knives seem more resistant to water when washed off in the sink.
I think I could probably go the rest of my life with a peanut in the pocket and an Opinel on deck staring by. Wait, I've already been living my life with those two knives. Before Jamie gifted me the damascus peanut, I was carrying my chestnut 'nut as my edc, and a number 8 Opinel in the glove box of my truck. Once in a while I'll play around with another knife, but my 'nut and Opy are constant. As much as I love my little pocket fixed blades, the insane Maryland knife laws make them risky. Maryland allows any folding knife with no blade length limit because of the pen knife clause. But concealing ANY fixed blade, no matter how small, is a felony. A number 12 Opinel in a pocket is okay, but a pocket puuko with a 2 inch blade is a free ride in squad car.
Peanuts and Opinels. A heck of a combination.
But, I admit the little thing is a bit challenged sometimes when dealing with food or some camp chores. Sometimes, a bit longer blade is needed. Then I go for my second favorite pocket knife. The funky Opinel.
I've never really figured out why I've had a love of these things since 1982. Maybe it's the funky European design. I have a history of loving funky weird European stuff like old VW beetles, and Vespa motor scooters. Or maybe it's the old backpacker in me always looking at weight. A number 7 or 8 Opinel is insanely light weight for their size, and even rides in business casual, or dress pants very well. One could carry a number 7 Opinel in suit pants and not notice it.
Or maybe it's the mechanically simple design of it. Like kind of a genius of simplicity. No springs, no spacers or liners, no parts that are not absolutely needed for the function of the thing. Spartan purity is a phrase that comes to mind. Not to mention a convex ground blade that is a wicked slicer and dicer.
Or maybe it's the ease that they can be personalized by a little sand paper and stain. Reshape the handle to whatever suits your fancy. I've seen some Opinels that were transformed into works of art with interesting carving. The Opinels is like a blank canvas of the knife world.
Or maybe it's that carrying an Opinel is like carrying a folding kitchen knife. Lord knows I have two Opinel fillet knives in the kitchen drawer that I use to bone out chickens that are going on the Weber, or butterfly a fish rather than fillet it. The needle point and thin blade of the Opinel fillet knife makes short work of butterflying even a large fish like a blue or Rockfish. No meat goes to waste. And the olive wood and bubinga on the fillet knives seem more resistant to water when washed off in the sink.
I think I could probably go the rest of my life with a peanut in the pocket and an Opinel on deck staring by. Wait, I've already been living my life with those two knives. Before Jamie gifted me the damascus peanut, I was carrying my chestnut 'nut as my edc, and a number 8 Opinel in the glove box of my truck. Once in a while I'll play around with another knife, but my 'nut and Opy are constant. As much as I love my little pocket fixed blades, the insane Maryland knife laws make them risky. Maryland allows any folding knife with no blade length limit because of the pen knife clause. But concealing ANY fixed blade, no matter how small, is a felony. A number 12 Opinel in a pocket is okay, but a pocket puuko with a 2 inch blade is a free ride in squad car.
Peanuts and Opinels. A heck of a combination.
He does have a second favorite. 
