Opinel, I just wondered.....

S

spydutch

Joined
Jul 4, 2005
Messages
978
.....how the French coped before the locking ring.

I really like Opinel, but find them look even better without the locking ring.
Just that more basic ;)

At the moment I'm carrying my favourite French pen knive; the Opinel 4.

I get a fairly comfortable almost 2 and a half fingergrip on the little sucker and man, does that mega thin carbon blade get sharp.

By peening the pivot it has a fairly stiff friction action. I guess it's about as save as my Vic Classic.

However I just wondered how them French did it with the bigger heavier blades.

I can't get my Opinel 7 as tight as my 4. How much I peen that pivot.

So I'm just curious how this was done in the past.

Thanks for reading :thumbup:
 
A lot of the time, I don't even bother with the locking ring on my number 8 Opinel. I just use it like a friction folder. If cutting a piece of string, or just opening a package, the dynamics of force on the cutting edge will keep it open. And for fine to very fine cutting, I choke up on the blade, holding the blade near the tip. But if I'm breaking down cardboard boxes or using the knife on attacking zombies, I lock it. But I have to admit for most simple cutting jobs, I don't bother with the lock.

I guess you could say "Locks? We don't need no steekin locks!" :D

I do know what you mean about the number 4. I have a number 4 thats a watch pocket knife, and it's like having a folding razor blade in a pocket. :thumbup:
 
Hi,

Like Jackknife, I don't really bother with the lock ring too much. Unless I'm doing heavier cutting chores. Mine is pretty snug when open.

dalee
 
I am with jackknife and dalee on the this one. If it is just a quick cut or something that is going to have little resistance I don't even bother with the locking ring.
 
jackknife said:
But if I'm breaking down cardboard boxes or using the knife on attacking zombies, I lock it.
Click to expand...

In the old days, the knife might not 've been used much to cut up cardboard and such. I can imagine it being used more for food prep and some simple tasks. As long as you're carefull when you're knife gets stuck in a piece of french cheese ;) ,it'll do fine. So like most people said here, the lock isn't really necessary for most use. Though when they added the lock in the fifties it became an even better design, imo!
 
I just came into two used #8 carbon Opinels. They were used for mushroom hunting by their former owner and are the older ones that don't lock in the closed position. I'm guessing they're at least ten years old. Both have no side to side play and when locked just right are as tight as a drum. Only thing I'm afraid of is having them open up in pocket since they don't lock closed. They seem tight in the closed position and can't be shaken open. What a nice honest knife. I now see why all the hoopla.
 
I agree that locks are not needed, but are nice to have. On my 5? zi use the lock because it is there but on my 4 w/o the ring the only problem I have run into is the blade trying to close when I strop it!!! Havent figured out how to get around it yet... any suggestions? In use, the force is towards the spine.
 
I have a #6 and a #8, neither has a locking ring, and both are very tight.
 
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