Opinel Knives

Maybe not the strongest lock around, but IMO one of tbe most secure and tactile, can even be locked/unlocked one handed, and closed and locked one handed, which to me is a more importsnt safety feature than one hand opening...an open knife is pounty and sharp!
 
I have all kinds of slip joints and I think the Virobloc does a great job keeping the blade open and shut. I also routinely use an Opinel number 4 which has no lock and it doesn’t open or close on me unexpectedly, so I feel very comfortable with the pure friction folder, as well.
 
VIROBLOC!!!! Not VIBROLOC! Nothing vibrates here!

And yes, they are awesome knives. And cheap, even if you choose the fanciest knives. They are some of the best slicers out there.

Truth to be told, the wood does not get along well with humidity, because it swells and makes the knife hard to open. The latest sinthetic handle models don't have this problem. But they also don't have the same feeling as the wood handled ones. Some people seal the end of the knife with linseed oil and other products but I have never tried.

I always wanted to reuse the blade of one of my Opinels and make a Micarta handle, but if I wanted to keep the VIROLOC feature, the handle will need to be roundish, at least in the pivot area. And I was certainly hoping to make it flatter.

Mikel
 
Delgadonine said:
And I buy only American Made
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I saw a few statements on this forum like this:
''I only buy US made knives because I support US economy …etc''.
I always wanted to ask that person:
-what car do you drive?
-what flat TV do you have?
-what clothes washing machine do you have?
-what clothes drying machine do you have?
-what dishwashing machine do you have?
-what refrigerator?
-the watch you have on your wrist?
Etc…etc

Please; don't get offended. I'm just curious.
 
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TheOne45 said:
I saw a few statements on this forum like this:
''I only buy US made knives because I support US economy …etc''.
I always wanted to ask that person:
-what car do you drive?
-what flat TV do you have?
-what clothes washing machine do you have?
-what clothes drying machine do you have?
-what dishwashing machine do you have?
-what refrigerator?
-the watch you have on your wrist?
Etc…etc

Please; don't get offended. I'm just curious.
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The only items on your list of mine that aren't made in the US are my two TV's, and my wristwatch (Swiss made by a traditionally US brand that got bought by the Swatch Group). I know it's not practical (possible?) to buy everything US made, but I will support my country to the extent that I am able. I've been a lot of places, and nowhere I've found can hold a candle to what we have here. We need to fight and work hard to preserve it.

PS: two words that will change your life: Speed Queen!
 
Culprit99 said:
nowhere I've found can hold a candle to what we have here
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Hard to imagine where have you been. Up to the north... Sweden, Netherland, perhaps Germany or Denmark? France is also a very nice place.

I wonder what native and afro americans would say. I hear they went (or stil do in some places) through some tough times.
 
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TheOne45 said:
I saw a few statements on this forum like this:
''I only buy US made knives because I support US economy …etc''.
Click to expand...

The most important point here, and let me be clear, is that discussion of the "goodness" or "badness" of the country of origin is not germain to the discussion of the product.
It's an opinion, and political at that, because the concern is no longer about the knife, rather where the money is going.

I don't particularly care if John Smith won't buy a $14 French-made knife or not.
What I care about is that it's an excellent knife with a long history and a fascinating, well-earned cult following.
Great tool, worth owning. Send your money where you will.
 
Well, here is my No9.
I did some minor modifications to make it more to my leaking.
I lowered the tip, made a choil and polished the blade.
The handle was just experiment with spray paint and 6 or 7 layers of CA glue.


I also have No8 and No10 and I'm about to order No7.

I do have a small complain though...
When modifying my No9 I had to dissassemble it. I discovered they hammered the ends of the pivot pin so it gave me some work with a dremel.
I wonder why they did this because the pin can't go anywhere because it fits tightly in handle holes and there is also a locking ring.
I just inserted a new steel pin without hammering it and the knife works just fine.

They all are very nice knives. I like the steel and ergonomic of the handles.
The price is a joke. My No8 was little more then 8 euros.
 
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EngrSorenson said:
I have all kinds of slip joints and I think the Virobloc does a great job keeping the blade open and shut. I also routinely use an Opinel number 4 which has no lock and it doesn’t open or close on me unexpectedly, so I feel very comfortable with the pure friction folder, as well.
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I've been using a number 5 now for some years, the last size up with no lock. Strait friction folder. So far, aside from it doing all I ask of a pocket knife, theres been no problem using daily. But then its in rotation with a Sardinian Resolza, and a Japanese Higonokami, all strait up friction folders, so I am used to the platform. I actually prefer a friction folder over a slip joint.

And remember, all Opinel's prior to 1955, were friction folders. It was in 1955 that a lawyer gave some advise to Marrsel Opinel that they needed a lock on the blade.:rolleyes: After all, millions of users had been using Opinel's since 1890 with no locks at all, and they still had all their fingers.
 
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EngrSorenson said:
I have all kinds of slip joints and I think the Virobloc does a great job keeping the blade open and shut. I also routinely use an Opinel number 4 which has no lock and it doesn’t open or close on me unexpectedly, so I feel very comfortable with the pure friction folder, as well.
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I have Opinels #7 and #4, and I hold/play, carry, and use #4 more than #7. I didn't expect #4 to be my favorite Opinel when I purchased it.
 
vinprom said:
I have Opinels #7 and #4, and I hold/play, carry, and use #4 more than #7. I didn't expect #4 to be my favorite Opinel when I purchased it.
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With numbers 6 and 8 on hand, I didn't expect to fall in love with the non locking number 5 like I have. Weird. Those smaller Opinel's are beguiling the more you handle and use them.
 
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