Opinel mod... Fail?

M

mrszeontestpilot

Joined
Mar 28, 2012
Messages
382
I decided to modify the handle on my Opinel, and just went for it. I'm not so sure I like how it turned out. Then again, it's not a knife I carried anyway. This is the second one I've modified. The first one I just did some woodburning on it, and then sealed it.

Before:
I liked how the wood grain looked, but still not my cup of tea to carry.




I wanted to slim down the sides a bit, make them flatter. I whittled them down, but left the other areas alone.




Then I took the woodburner to it, to make a sort of jigged effect. At this point, I think it looked fairly decent.








I even added my username initials.


Then I decided to make it black... I added a blue tint that you can't really see. This is probably where I went wrong. Probably should've left it natural.








I haven't really sealed it yet. Maybe I should try to undo some of it, but then I'm not sure it's really worth the hassle, if even possible.
 
I've also moded a couple of my Opinels (6&7) with locks; flattened the sides like above, made an easy opener cut out at the nail nick, painted the handle black, drilled a lanyard hole and put on a lanyard. Now they are great looking knives and cut like a razor after honing them to about 15-12 degrees/side and finishing with a 1000 grit Smith's ceramic hone and 1500 grit emory on a stiff board. Opies are fun the play with/mod and cheap. Love them.
Rich
 
If you don't like the colour, sand it off and use Fiebings leather dye, "I put that S### on Everthing" .:D

Best regards

Robin
 
Not really sure how you wanted it :D
On the shape, I've seen many Opinel modded to a flatter profile, some people find it more comfortable in hand.
You can easily mod the color by sanding it and trying again.
As for the jigging, I don't know what you hadin mind. Jigging wood is not that easy. Maybe a thin file would be a safer bet (and allow you to do some checkering at least). I will search for a picture of Kevin's knife to show you what I mean :)

Fausto
:cool:
 
You sure won't be the first one to discover Opinel's Beech being difficult to stain or color. It took your coloring much more where you had whittled it. That might be because it is rougher there.

I wouldn't call it a fail as it is. If I wanted to play more I would sand the color off (or mostly off) while sanding the sides flat. You did a great job on rough shaping the sides.

I myself like to knock off a little of the point at the base away from the slot.

Then sand all over to get an even finish and it will color more evenly (I think).

(edited to add)

The sides look great and would probably give a great grip. The problem being the coloring taking more there. Some people rough sand beech only and do not go to finer grits so as to leave the grain open to take stain. I've sand blasted it and had it soak up stain really well. If you go to finer grits sandpaper it doesn't take stain well at all, and it's always blotchy.
 
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