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Opinel 8: give it time?
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Mingecutter
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- Sep 7, 2011
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I bought an Opinel #7 off the forum a short time ago and really dig it. Never thought I would, really, but other knife nuts always spoke so highly of them. So, I gave one a try...and glad I did. Won't be my last one!
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As for any other knife, in the end it's a matter of pure taste.
But...
On the pure practical side, very few production knives (no matter how expensive, or fancy) compares to Opinel's when it comes to cutting.
So give it time. Maybe it will grow on you
Fausto
But...
On the pure practical side, very few production knives (no matter how expensive, or fancy) compares to Opinel's when it comes to cutting.
So give it time. Maybe it will grow on you
Fausto
When I first got my #8 it stayed in the kitchen, my wife loved it for it's wicked slicing ability when using it on tomatoes and limes. Once I realized it was the best knife I own for actually cutting things, while weighing next to nothing, it went in my pocket. I used mine this morning to unwrap plastic from a freshly overhauled jet engine, cut a custom foam inlet cover for the same engine, and tonight I sliced limes for a Gin & Tonic. I hope it grows on you.
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- Jan 9, 2012
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Like most things time will tell,I gave quite a few away then I listened to Pinnah,GAVE HER A SHOT she failed misserable at work tried it whittling she grew on me then I used her at camp she grew on me some more ,tried a # 9 at work again FAIL just couldn't get a grip on it and she chattered when cutting cold cable and felt awkward so I gave it away,soooo the #7 turned out to be a GREAT kitchen and camp knife.
Bigfattyt
Gold Member
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- Jun 23, 2007
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- 19,272
put a laser edge on it. Take it and whittle some fuzz sticks, or whittle some thing out of wood.
They are lasers for slicing. Fruit. Wood. Paper. Meat. Veggies. Plastic..............
They simply slice like the dickins.
It also helps that they are super light for their size.
Then, there is the comfortable handle (especially in the larger sizes).
I like Slice. Slicey Sliciety Slice!
They are lasers for slicing. Fruit. Wood. Paper. Meat. Veggies. Plastic..............
They simply slice like the dickins.
It also helps that they are super light for their size.
Then, there is the comfortable handle (especially in the larger sizes).
I like Slice. Slicey Sliciety Slice!
lambertiana
Gold Member
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- Jul 7, 2000
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- 9,889
Although I like a lot of my other knives a lot better, I have to admit that this is more due to appearance than anything. Sure, I have knives with all kinds of supersteels that hold an edge a lot longer, but nothing beats my opinels for actual cutting efficiency. They just cut better than anything else I own. The blade geometry may not be suited for chopping through car doors, but in day to day use, they really shine. I use one for fruit every day.
I have 2 Opinel Carbone paring knives and I like them. They are great knives. I bought some of the folders and tried them out. They were not my thing. I gave them to some friends. Just a preference thing. I like the heft of my slipjoints and the use of multiple blades/tools.
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I have several ,but my favourite is my #7..It is an older one and appears to be slightly convex ground?...I eat my meals with this knife and when i leave home every second weekend,this knife leaves with me..Safe ,comfortable and a slicing machine....great knife...................FES
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- Oct 2, 2011
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Christian said it perfectly.
I have a few #6s myself (I like the dexterity of a smaller blade) but I don't carry them really. They don't leave the croft, but when I have work to do, I tend to lift one purely because as many have said before me, they cut so effortlessly. Not what I like to have in my pockets from day to day but a definite workhorse.
Paul
I have a #6 it's not my style of knife to use, though I will own up to the fact that I frequently reach for it for my cardboard cutting duties when I have a lot to cut up. There isn't anything I have that compares to it for slicing through cardboard. For me it's partly because the #6 while perfect length wise for my edc is too wide with how I carry it, lock is annoying to me. And for long term cutting duties, such as cutting up cardboard for a few hours my hand hurts due to the small size.
But if I pick up a #9 or something around that size I probably have the perfect cardboard cutting knife if I wanted pure performance as it probably fit my hand better.
Said all that just to more or less say, while their great knives they aren't for everyone. But you can't deny their performance, they are worthy of that reputation.
But if I pick up a #9 or something around that size I probably have the perfect cardboard cutting knife if I wanted pure performance as it probably fit my hand better.
Said all that just to more or less say, while their great knives they aren't for everyone. But you can't deny their performance, they are worthy of that reputation.
I find that it takes a month or more of solid use for an Opinel to "break in" to my liking. At first, the lockring and joint can be sticky and rough. I usually end up popping off the ring and smoothing things out but it takes some effort to get the ring to work effortlessly while locking up solidly.
And then there's the issue of blade shape and handle shape. I just can't warm up to the clip and always end up filing them down and on the 9 and 10 prefer a little off the back of the handle. For me, it's a labor of love... love for the blade itself. Nothing works wood like an Opinel that I've found. And after that, I've just found I've fallen in love with how the blade handles everything else I throw at it.
My suggestion...
Put your Opinel up against anything else you own for side by side cutting tasks. Give it a chance to talk to your hands. Either it will work for you or it won't and that is really the only measure of things that matters. Pay attention to Garddog's story. Unlike most of us, he actually uses his knives day in/day out for work and found the Opinel doesn't do it for him. (I suspect his fingers have grown square, like is Buck 112 and old LB7s !! ) That matters.
Knives are like shoes. Very personal.
Opinel by Pinnah, on Flickr
And then there's the issue of blade shape and handle shape. I just can't warm up to the clip and always end up filing them down and on the 9 and 10 prefer a little off the back of the handle. For me, it's a labor of love... love for the blade itself. Nothing works wood like an Opinel that I've found. And after that, I've just found I've fallen in love with how the blade handles everything else I throw at it.
My suggestion...
Put your Opinel up against anything else you own for side by side cutting tasks. Give it a chance to talk to your hands. Either it will work for you or it won't and that is really the only measure of things that matters. Pay attention to Garddog's story. Unlike most of us, he actually uses his knives day in/day out for work and found the Opinel doesn't do it for him. (I suspect his fingers have grown square, like is Buck 112 and old LB7s !!
) That matters.Knives are like shoes. Very personal.
Opinel by Pinnah, on Flickr