Opinel EDC/hiker?

midnite-penguin

midnite-penguin

Joined
Nov 6, 2007
Messages
244
Hey guys, I just recently got into collecting knives. I view them more as a tool than as collector's items or something recreational, since I do a lot of hiking and camping they are really handy to have.

So basically, I look for knives that are 100% function, and a great value - I actually use my knife and therefor can't justify spending an obscene amount of money since it will probably get damaged or lost before it would go of 'natural causes':D. Not saying people who spring for pricey knives don't use them, I just think theres something nice about a knife that can do anything i need and still not make me cry if it falls off my boat or into a fast river while trying to cross, or any of the other unexpected things that happen out in the bush =).

I picked up a ''Mora(carbon) Clipper'' and I am VERY pleased with it - I carry it on me every time i hit the woods - However since one IS the loneliest number - I'm looking to grab a second knife that i can easily fit into my pocket(the clipper is a bit long since it's a fixed blade). Something that can be a sidekick to the Mora or just be in another pocket in case of emergency and i loose my mora somehow.

I really fell in love with the simplicity and style of the Opinel line-up. They seem(like Mora) to pack a lot of knife for your dollar. Can anyone with experience with these knives tell me if they hold up to basic bushcraft/hiking tasks? I'm a little concerned about how sturdy that ring-lock really is. I'm not Bear Grylls or Rambo, i just need something cheap that works well. Hell i might even pick up another Mora, but I figured since I'm relatively new to knives i would try something new.

thanks for any help in advance!
 
Opinels are great-- if you live in a relatively dry area. I have two. I can open one of the okay if the weather is bone dry. The other is almost impossible to open no matter the weather. The problem is that the wood swells and pinches the blade in high humidity. There are ways to fix this but they've never worked for me. The knives take a scary edge, and I really want to like them, but living where I do, they just don't work for me.

The Victorinox Hiker and Camper are also cheap but highly useful knives to consider.

--And welcome to Bladeforums.
 
I carried an Opinel daily for years while living and working outdoors. Hiking, backpacking, backcountry living at Philmont, and working as a professional archaeologist. It ~easily~ preformed every cutting task ever encountered in a variety of conditions: high-elevation mountains, swampy eastern forests, and southwestern deserts.

Although in the steaming Arkansas heat it did get a bit 'sticky' to open, I never had a time when it refused to open at all. Never had any trouble with the carbon steel rusting either.

My first encounter with Opinel was on a 21-day desert survival program; the instructor carried one.

I still carry an Opinel every day to work, now as a geologist on a drill rig. It's not my pocket carry, but I keep an it in my work bag for a spare.

For $8 each you can't go wrong, IMO. Heck, get the set of 10 at SMKW and bring your price down to $6 per knife. :D
 
midnite-penguin said:
... I look for knives that are 100% function, and a great value - I actually use my knife and therefor can't justify spending an obscene amount of money...
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I'd say you are off to a good start. Opinel, Victorinox, Douk-Douk, Mercator, and, of course those great Mora knives are my favorite "usin' knives."

Buy your Mora knives from Ragnar at www.ragweedforge.com for a fantastic selection, great service, and among the best prices around. Mora knives are very highly thought of by a lot of us.

Go to Smoky Mountain Knife Works at www.eknifeworks.com for good service, good selection, and good prices on both Opinel and Victorinox.

My favorite Victorinox Swiss Army Knife models are the Farmer, the Pioneer, and the Soldier, though there other good ones, too. Stick with Victorinox.

The #8 Opinels fit my hand the best and I like both their carbon and stainless steel blades. I especially like their Garden Knife. That slimmed down handle feels great.

You can get Douk-Douks from Lee Valley Tools and from Garrett Wade Tools. I really like Douks! They are so incredibly simple, yet very sturdy and useful.

Mercators are available from various sources, and they somewhat resemble the construction of the Douk-Douk, but with a back lock on them.

Get yourself a decent 12 inch machete from Ontario Knives while you're at it.

Another great bargain knife is the Bushman from Cold Steel. I've heard the Bushman Bowie is not up to the same standards as the earlier standard Bushman, though. Cold Steel's cheapest knives with those paracord-wrapped handles seem to be made in China.
 
Excellent guys, thanks for all the input.

It's unfortunate that the Opinels swell with moisture, Is it just when the air is thick with moisture? or is it if they get wet as well?(that sounds like a stupid question, but it's pretty dry where i live - except i want something i can dive into water with as well.

I might just grab another Mora, the Mora 2000 has caught my eye. And I have a loyalty complex (i'm on my 3rd Volkwagen, and nobody understands why i like them, hell - i don't even understand why i like them sometimes lol).

And then sometime around Xmas grab myself a victorinox swiss army knife to beat on.

Thanks for those links Dr. Mudd , i like that term 'Usin' knife' as well, perfectly describes what i need.
 
It's unfortunate that the Opinels swell with moisture, Is it just when the air is thick with moisture? or is it if they get wet as well?
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The wood is lightweight and porous, so it can absorb moisture from any source - sweat, rain, humidity.

I actually had a problem with mine occationally while working in the desert. The blade would loosen and semi-open in my pockets. The newer models lock closed as well as open, so it's no longer an issue.

And getting sand in the ring sucks.

i want something i can dive into water with as well.
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I would probably skip the Opinel if it was intended as a dive knife. :D I think those plastic-handled stainless Mora knives would be better suited for that. SAKs are stainless, so I wouldn't anticipate any problems with those either.

SAKs are probably the most common knife carried by serious backpackers and hikers. I especially like the one-hand models with the locking blades.

I know you like the Mora choices (so do I), but have you seen the AG Russell Bird and Trout? With the locking sheath you'll be much less likely to lose it, and therefore less likely to need two knives.
http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_...s/a_g_russell_bird_trout_with_vg10_blade.html
 
Nice suggestions, I really dig that G. H. Russell 'Boat knife', not sure if it's related to the ones in you're link.

I don't really like the tactical look with the high-tech sheaths. I'm more into the 'less is more' type of thing you can wear on your neck. Not that the knife you suggested is tactical looking, just a parameter for future suggestions.

I wouldn't really be using it as a 'dive knife' , my example suggested that but it wasn't my intention. I just didn't want a knife that swells since i like to hike in crappy weather and sometimes jump into rivers without stripping down first(dont ask:confused::D) so i need a knife that isn't negatively effected by moisture.

thanks for the suggestions again, i'm still weighing out options - theres so many nice inexpensive knives - it's a relief from my other hobbies where it seems like there are no great values anymore.
 
I really dig that G. H. Russell 'Boat knife', not sure if it's related to the ones in you're link.
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You're thinking of D.H. Russell. AG Russell does sell DH Russell/Grohmann knives, but they are no relation. AG is in Arkanasas, USA; D.H. was in Canada.
 
This has been covered before but might be worth going through again. The Opinel grip can be sealed to prevent wood swelling. I live in the tropics and humidity here for a few months each year is very very high. In the dry season we have quite low humidity. I have epoxy sealed my Opinels and they show complete stability from season to season and I have no problems opening them.

I have one Opinel that I have relieved and sealed that can actually be flicked open, regardless of the humidity. Out of the box they can be a problem but it is easy to deal with.
 
Opinels are very good knives that can be made better by a little sanding and some Helmsman Spar Urathane.

Take off the locking ring and use some 220 paper to sand out the blade slot and arond the blade pivot. You can sand the whole knife while you're at it to make it a custom for you. The factory finish on them really sucks. When you get it all down to bare wood, use some Minwax stain of what ever hue suits your taste. I usually go with Golden Oak. After staining leave it sit for a few days then finish with two thin coats of the spar urathane.

I do my opys this way and I've tested them by dropping in a glass of water for several minutes and not having a problem opening or closing. It may get a little stiff, but not bad. Also you can "adjust the blade tension easier by using a very large screw driver and putting it in the blade slot up by the blade and twisting VERY SLOWLY a little to make it easier. The Opinel is very adaptable to be adjusted and modified by the owner.

Now all that being said, I'd chose a sak ofsome sort to back up a mora on a hike/camping trip, with very strong prefference toward the alox handle saks like a Victorinox soldier or Wenger SI. I have a Wenger SI and love it. Te Victorinox soldier does not have a lanyard attachment, and since I do alot of boating, that is a deal breaker with me.

Also- like Dr. Mudd said, check out the French Douk-Douk, and the 12 inch Ontario machete. The Douk-Douk is a slicing machine and its flatter in the pocket than the opy. Their're all so low priced you can get one of each to try out.

I don't believe in spending alot of money for a Knife anymore either. I used to buy customs for high dollar, but I got over it after I found out they don't work any better than an Opinel, and in some cases not as good.
 
I wonder if soaking the handle in linseed oil would stop the moisture absorbing thing?
 
Slightly OT: someone should build a plastic-handled Opinel, or maybe a wood handle with plastic pivot bushings.

I know they can be made pretty water-resistant...I just don't have the time to do it.
 
Here are some folders and fixed blade knives that might work for you. I'm guessing the Fallkinven knives are a bit too expensive but they'er certainly well made.

Columbia River Convergence Plain Edge 4-1/4" Blade
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CR6853


Columbia River Self Sharpening " Edgie " Folder w/2.9"
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CR6442


I've had a Boker Gemini for several years. I use it frequently. It has held up very well.
Boker Gemini Stainless Blade Locking Liner with Clip
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=BO90

Columbia River Corkum First Strike Fixed 3.13" Blade
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CR2703

Columbia River Corkum First Strike Fixed 4.5" Blade
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=CR2705

Fallkniven Hunter
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=SWEDH1K

Fallkniven F1
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=SWEDF1EK
 
Very helpful posts!

I love working with wood projects big and small, and was thinking to myself that I could probably just refinish the handle and polyurethane it a few times - but thanks for confirming this trick.

My only other main concern is the durability of the twist-ring, does it have a tendency to develop a bit of slop over time? or become rusted in place? I love inexpensive quality knives, but one pet peeve with my gear is if it develops any wobble/slop, that's why I tend to go for fixed-blades over folders(even though nice folders rarely develop that slop).
 
Midnite-penguin, it would really help if you would set an upper limit on what you wnat to spend.
 
Well, I'm just bargain hunting right now - So probably anything under 30 bucks.

I don't like folders - at all(other than opinels and SAKs) I just don't like the look or feel of a folder, and I've had bad experiences with them(probably because they were cheapies, but hey, my cheapie fixed-blades have all been gold).

Xmas is coming up so I'll probably be swinging for something more pricey, the Grohmann boat knife has really caught my eye, so that might be the one - or perhaps the Mora 2000, even though i prefer wooden-handled blades with leather sheaths - I just dig the feel and look a lot more.

Sorry if i'm leading you in circles here Rich, it's really not a big deal anyway - i just wanted to check out some great bang-for-buck knives that you guys sapport.
 
midnite-penguin said:
I look for knives that are 100% function, and a great value - I actually use my knife and therefor can't justify spending an obscene amount of money since it will probably get damaged or lost before it would go of 'natural causes':D. ... I'm looking to grab a second knife that i can easily fit into my pocket...
Click to expand...

If you're not married to the idea of a lock, you should check out a Case sodbuster junior in their "CV" (carbon) steel. Mine is super. Since the handles are delrin, it'll never swell like an Opinel.
 
mnblade said:
If you're not married to the idea of a lock, you should check out a Case sodbuster junior in their "CV" (carbon) steel. Mine is super. Since the handles are delrin, it'll never swell like an Opinel.
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The carbon Kissing Cranes and Boker Gaucho sodbusters are very nice too, and about the same price as an Opinel. That said, my Oplinels will out-slice any other knife I have ever owned. My Opinel paring knife is the most often used knife I have.
 
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