Opinel lock

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FireDragon76

Joined
Jan 21, 2016
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I got a new Opinel a few weeks ago. It's a #6. I mostly bought it to collect after watching Nick Shabazz rate it as the best traditional knife. I've seen it before, it's an iconic design, but I didn't know much about it.

My problem with it is that the ring lock is stiff. Is this normal, do they break in over time? The stiffness is a turn off and disuades me from using it as an EDC. Especially because locking it involves putting your fingers near the blade.
 
It could just be a matter of humidity making the wood swell, and so the lock ring is harder to turn. Opinels (like some of the doors in my wood framed house) can be stiffer when it's damp, and swing open when it's dry. There's a whole process some folks use to wax the pivots to try to stabilize this, but I haven't bothered.
 
The Opinel was invented in the late 19th century, and sold for many years without a lock. The locking mechanism was invented in 1955, and only locked the knife open. I think the locking ring was further (unnecessarily) modified to lock the knife closed about 20 years ago. I NEVER lock my knife closed, and rarely lock it open. If the knife is used properly, it will not close on you in use.

Incidentally, I think the No. 8 is a better size for a pocket knife. That's what I have, and it's my second favourite knife.
 
I had this issue on my No. 10. The problem went away after a buddy pulled it open with the lock ring engaged to keep the blade shut. The lock ring went flying off the balcony into the neighbor's yard... after retrieving the lock ring and forcing it back into place it fit perfectly - still has resistance when turning but can be turned smoothly enough that I won't slice off my own finger when trying to lock the blade with wet hands.

The No. 12 I just received has the same issue and I haven't had the heart to do the same thing to this one yet...

-edit- nevermind, apparently my No. 10 has the old lock with the two-way ring. o.O
 
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I have one with the locking closed feature, which I too thought unnecessary. I really tore up my thumbnail at the store before I realized it was locked closed.
As I recall the thread Gary linked, Opinel later did something to limit the travel of the locking ring, which could be undone by taking the ring off and dremelling something.
 
I took the lock ring off of my Number 8.
I never locked the blade (open or closed) anyway.

FireDragon76 said:
The stiffness is a turn off and disuades me from using it as an EDC. Especially because locking it involves putting your fingers near the blade.
Click to expand...
No reason at all, at all to put your fingers where the blade can bite you when applying the lock.
(Truth to tell, I'm not sure how the blade could bite you when you're twisting the lock ring ... unless you are holding the blade in your fist and squeeze too hard)
You should be ale to move the ring with the thumb of the hand holding the knife. (using the slot) If not; you have two hands. Use one hand to hold the knife and the other to turn the lock ring.

By the way, You're "putting your fingers close to the blade" when you open and close the knife, too.

Forgive me, but I fail to see the issue. The blade on an Opinel has no springs to hold (not lock) the blade open or closed. Unless you are applying pressure to the spine of the blade, it isn't going to close more than half way by gravity, - and that is if the pivot is a lot looser than I've ever seen on a friction folder (to include a straight razor)

There is on reason to fear your Opinel.

The normal cutting action forces the blade open; not closed. (and not just on an Opinel.) A blade lock is not necessary.
The Opinel number 5 and under do not even have the ring-lock.
Prior to 1955 none of the Opinel had a locking blade.
It was added (on sizes 6 and above only) only because of "lawyers" (note quotes) fears of liability if someone got seriously hurt.
(Completely ignoring the fact that no one had in the 60 plus years the knife had been in production, at that time.)
 
I live where it is generally very dry. When I bought my #13, it was very stiff, but after a few months here it would swing open and shut freely. So freely that I appreciate the locking shut feature as much as the locking open. In fact, it no longer has enough resistance to hold the blade open against gravity if you hold it out edge down. Believe me, you do NOT want that 10" blade swinging shut on your fingers.
 
The previous responders have touched on a number of issues with Opinel, which have been discussed at length on this forum. However, I do not think they have hit on your problem, which sounds like a lock ring that is too tight a fit on the bolster, making it hard to turn. Some of them come that way. It may or may not loosen up over time. You could try moving that process along by lubricating the interface between the lock ring and bolster.

If oiling it doesn’t get you where you want to go, you can try spreading the ring slightly for a looser fit. I have used a duck-bill pliers with very thin jaws, but you could get the same result by twisting a wide-bladed screwdriver in the gap. The ring will want to spring back to shape, so you have to spread it far enough to take a set, but not so far as to give a sloppy fit. If you go too far, you can crimp it back with pliers. If you somehow manage to wreck the ring, now you have a pure friction folder, not such a bad thing.
 
The ring is fairly firmly secured, and you can't just twist it with finger pressure, the metal is too polished and slick. So I end up using a nail to catch the end of the ring, but that doesn't inspired confidence as you don't get alot of control and it is close enough to the blade to be a concern.

I will try working in the lock, carefully.
 
FireDragon76 said:
The ring is fairly firmly secured, and you can't just twist it with finger pressure, the metal is too polished and slick. So I end up using a nail to catch the end of the ring, but that doesn't inspired confidence as you don't get alot of control and it is close enough to the blade to be a concern.

I will try working in the lock, carefully.
Click to expand...


I’m sorry. I forgot to mention that you need to remove the lock ring to work on it. The easiest way for me is to use snap ring pliers. Other methods will work, but stand a greater chance of launching the ring into the ether, where you may or may not find it again. If you need to work with the blade open, protect it and yourself with a simple sheath made of cardboard and tape.
 
Henry Beige said:
I’m sorry. I forgot to mention that you need to remove the lock ring to work on it. The easiest way for me is to use snap ring pliers. Other methods will work, but stand a greater chance of launching the ring into the ether, where you may or may not find it again. If you need to work with the blade open, protect it and yourself with a simple sheath made of cardboard and tape.
Click to expand...

I put some Penzoil 10W-30 on the lock and worked it back and forth a few dozen times. It seems to be working better now. I had initially lubed it with 3 in 1 dry lube (teflon), and that didn't seem to be cutting it. It seems you have to grip the lock in the blade slot with your thumb, but it works, and as long as you are careful, the thumb isn't too close to the blade.
 
As a very long time user here's my advice: dry the knife near (but not too close) a heat source for all a day long. Then sink it in a mix (50/50) of linseed oil and turpentine for a night. As pointed out by r8shell it could be
a problem of humidity. If it doesn't work then you have a knife made in France. A problem, no solution.

Dan.
 
Henry Beige said:
The previous responders have touched on a number of issues with Opinel, which have been discussed at length on this forum. However, I do not think they have hit on your problem, which sounds like a lock ring that is too tight a fit on the bolster, making it hard to turn. Some of them come that way. It may or may not loosen up over time. You could try moving that process along by lubricating the interface between the lock ring and bolster.
Click to expand...

The lock ring being too tight is exactly the problem I was referring to on my No. 12. As it stands it can only be engaged two-handed, and with difficulty at that. Due to the ring being so tight, having the lock fail to keep the blade open is the least of my worries.

I'll give a few drops of oil a shot...
 
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