Opinel mod ideas | Show me your modded Opinel's

Kevin-B said:
Well after a bit of playing around I managed to make this out of it. I’m happy with how it turned out. The texture is not too aggressive and actually feels rather nice.

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Jigged Opinel!! How great is that!!?? :)
 
Two #12s I tweaked into a sheepsfoot and wharncliffe, along with a stock #12. On the wharncliffe version the pivot pin could not be reused, so I used a piece of 1/8" brass rod. The bail on the sheep is a heavy duty stainless D ring from the local hardware store. Waaaay overkill for the knife perhaps, but it's such a stubby, chunky little guy that I thought the fat bail fit the motif.

https://imgur.com/KM5XWk6

https://imgur.com/SZdndVT
 
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No.08 in walnut, acid washed blade/locking ring with reprofiled tanto blade modded by Matt Henry. He did a few of these on the side for awhile but his primary business took off and he no longer has the time. Glad I got a couple when I did!
 

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Here's a simple mod I did on a No 06 which has a more practical nature to it than aesthetic, but it addresses something that's kind of bothersome for me about Opinels.
When the blade is closed, the edge rests against the wood of the handle inside the kerf. I've noticed it's a problem at times, when the knife gets jostled, that the blade can slip side-to-side in the kerf and the edge scrapes along the kerf. The only Opinel that I don't see this on is the number 12, and possibly because the blade is so stout.
Here, asside from the handle reshaping, you'll see I've installed a #6-32, 3/16" set screw to act as an adjustable blade stop. I've filed down the blade in that area to act as a makeshift kick, which also serves to keep my fingers a little further away from the sharp edge and make for a little more handle room.
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EngrSorenson said:
Here's a simple mod I did on a No 06 which has a more practical nature to it than aesthetic, but it addresses something that's kind of bothersome for me about Opinels.
When the blade is closed, the edge rests against the wood of the handle inside the kerf. I've noticed it's a problem at times, when the knife gets jostled, that the blade can slip side-to-side in the kerf and the edge scrapes along the kerf. The only Opinel that I don't see this on is the number 12, and possibly because the blade is so stout.
Here, asside from the handle reshaping, you'll see I've installed a #6-32, 3/16" set screw to act as an adjustable blade stop. I've filed down the blade in that area to act as a makeshift kick, which also serves to keep my fingers a little further away from the sharp edge and make for a little more handle room.
j8aTxvl.jpg

Y9QLeVz.jpg

KAF51UT.jpg

dDKUoai.jpg
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EngrSorenson EngrSorenson are you an engineer? 😁

Ingenious!

I've noticed this with not just the Opinels but Laguioles also in the past and the tip of the blade rapp shut. I've seen some other members put a little piece of leather to prevent metal to metal contact.

But this is a great mod!
 
euroken said:
EngrSorenson EngrSorenson are you an engineer? 😁

Ingenious!

I've noticed this with not just the Opinels but Laguioles also in the past and the tip of the blade rapp shut. I've seen some other members put a little piece of leather to prevent metal to metal contact.

But this is a great mod!
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Thank you kindly, and I am! though more thermodynamics than mechanics.

I also appreciate the simplicity of the leather solution, and even considered doing that myself, but I also like the idea that the blade will maintain a consistent height as the blade is ground away due to repeated sharpenings. As long as the blade stays in it's current location, the virobloc will still engage fully when it's in the closed position.
 
EngrSorenson said:
Here's a simple mod I did on a No 06 which has a more practical nature to it than aesthetic, but it addresses something that's kind of bothersome for me about Opinels.
When the blade is closed, the edge rests against the wood of the handle inside the kerf. I've noticed it's a problem at times, when the knife gets jostled, that the blade can slip side-to-side in the kerf and the edge scrapes along the kerf. The only Opinel that I don't see this on is the number 12, and possibly because the blade is so stout.
Here, asside from the handle reshaping, you'll see I've installed a #6-32, 3/16" set screw to act as an adjustable blade stop. I've filed down the blade in that area to act as a makeshift kick, which also serves to keep my fingers a little further away from the sharp edge and make for a little more handle room.
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That's freaking awesome. One of my pet peeves in a folder is when the tip hitting is what stops the blade closing instead of a proper kick. I love me a Mercator, but that knife is an example.
Here is a pic of a very beat up Mercator where I have installed a pin to act as a stop in similar fashion to what you did.

I had better pics of better knives I did this with, but Photobucket is holding my pics for ransom now. I can't get them even wading in and putting up with a plethora of nagging ads.

 
I love these modified Opinel threads, amazing what people can create.

Just bought a carbon steel no. 6 for pure modification purposes. Last time gave a spotty/pattern "knife sauce" (lemon juice, vinegar, spicy mustard) to my no. 8 which is nice, but I wonder if I can color it, I have heard meat in particular creates red/purple/blue hues. I wonder if I should just do that, or would a vinegar patina beforehand prevent it?

Anyone have any suggestions for what I should do with it in terms of carving, a small one like a no. 6? I'm no expert carver yet, but I have some basic woodcarving skills, made a lemon, a gnome (most of it, not the facial details, though, but the shape of a gnome, limbs/beard/face is evident) And I'm learning to finish wood, too, so. Something not too crazy, but it doesn't have to be round like a Puukko, (unless you show me something that looks crazy cool). Whatever you think is a good rec.

Also wanting to get into burning wood, ideas welcome there too.
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I like it! I have been appreciating the spearpoint profile more and more as I use SAKs and David Mary more.
I might just do this to my no. 8 instead of the no. 6, though.
 
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