Opinel mods

Mr. Chips said:
OK.

How do I post a picture to this forum?
Click to expand...

Sign up for a photobucket account (free), or other similar photo-hosting site. Upload your pics to that site, and then copy the IMG code url for each picture you want to post, and paste the url into your post here.
 
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OK David here's a try at this.

If this works, here is a pic of an Opinel 7 I modified
 
Well actually more than I wanted to include. I am working through learning how to do this.

All the other pics are of my Opinel Mods too.
 
Hey Mr. Chips, those look great. Your artistic talent is evident in those. :thumbup:

Hope you don't mind, I linked a couple of the pics of yours here, from your posted photobucket link (clicked on the 'IMG code' in the 4th-from-top box seen to the right in your linked page; clicking it automatically copies the url, which can then be 'pasted' directly into your post here, using the BF editor):

Great work, Mr. Chips!
 
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David:

Thanks for your help on this.

You have been a great help!

That walnut handled knife has a bit of history. It is an old #8 that one of my daughters found while we were in the woods in a valley between the Selkirk and Monashee mountain ranges in British Columbia about 25 years ago. We lived there at the time. Anyway, I kept that knife and really didn't do anything to it until this year, when getting inspired by the Opinel mods that I saw because of this forum, I decided to go nuts with it.

I totally disassembled the knife and found that the pivot pin was bent, but the steel inner collar, the lock and the blade were good. I put together an oversized block of walnut for the handle and fitted it for the blade and locking system. Then I carved the bearded head on the handle, and reprofiled the blade to make it a better carver. Reassembly and some boiled linseed oil, and there it is
 
I like to do fan whittling, like these:
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and so I change the blade shape of the Opinel and sharpen them with less bevel on the left side of the blade to help with the precise splitting of the feathers. (I am right handed - for lefties it would be the other side).
 
I have a question for you guys.....

I just sanded the butt down on the handle and it appears the carbon no7 uses a stain on the wood because the color varies quite drastically on the parts that are sanded down. What is the best way to make the whole handle uniform in color again?

P1050597.jpg
 
The beech handles on the carbon models aren't actually stained, per se, but the varnish Opinel puts on them does have that orange tint to it. Only way to make it uniform would be to sand the rest of it off. I've heard it goes fairly deep into the wood, so it might take some work. Beechwood itself is also known not to absorb stains or other finishes easily. Member 'Pertinux's post, earlier in this thread, might shed some light on refinishing:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/817090-Opinel-mods?p=10764736#post10764736
 
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Obsessed with Edges said:
The beech handles on the carbon models aren't actually stained, per se, but the varnish Opinel puts on them does have that orange tint to it. Only way to make it uniform would be to sand the rest of it off. I've heard it goes fairly deep into the wood, so it might take some work. Beechwood itself is also known not to absorb stains or other finishes easily. Member 'Pertinux's post, earlier in this thread, might shed some light on refinishing:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/817090-Opinel-mods?p=10764736#post10764736
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I really like that orange tint so I think I'll just leave it the way it is. It actually kind of gives it a worn/rustic look.
 
So you file the tip to drop point a bit, take down the tip on the butt which goes toward your palm and sand a relief where the nail notch is for easier opening (usually a little deeper). Congratulations, you have made the most commonplace Opinel mods. Which of course means the best and most logical mods.

Maybe opinel should try making a knife like this instead of one with a plastic handle. How about a knife like this with a plastic handle? At the same cost as a current Opi of course.
 
Here is my #8, nothing complex, just sanded, stained/waxed and used a lot.

Redheadw8opinel.jpg


also have a #9 that I'm working on and a #10 that I kind of messed up (well, its just a fugly handle mod).
 
davek14 said:
So you file the tip to drop point a bit, take down the tip on the butt which goes toward your palm and sand a relief where the nail notch is for easier opening (usually a little deeper). Congratulations, you have made the most commonplace Opinel mods. Which of course means the best and most logical mods.

Maybe opinel should try making a knife like this instead of one with a plastic handle. How about a knife like this with a plastic handle? At the same cost as a current Opi of course.
Click to expand...

I did not sand a relief for easier opening. Yes I know, it's pretty basic stuff, but it was my first try at modifying an Opinel. So I kept it basic, the forced patina was fun to do. Overall, I'm pleased with the result and I now have a unique Opinel in my collection. Will not be my last ;-)
 
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