Review Opinel No. 9 Carbone: A Knife of the Ancients

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Another thing I seldom mention is that my Opinels are almost all one-hand openers and closers. With the knife in my palm I push the locking ring open with my thumb, swing the blade out, and then lock it closed with my same thumb. Even if the handle has swollen a bit, I can still perform this operation. I'm quicker with my Opinels than with a compression lock Spyderco. (I admit I haven't fiddled a lot with Spydercos as I've only ever owned one, and that only long enough to replace the scales and ship it to my niece as a gift).

This makes my Opinels a bit like those carried by les voyous, but outside Paris, I don't need to worry.
 
I think what's happening here is a bit of a rejection of the review and the reviewers experience and opinion.

While many people see the value and utility of these peasant knives, some do not.

Also, I sorta think some more hands on experience is warranted before passing full judgment, but that is of my own thought process.

I know of many folks around me locally that use these Opinels for opening wine wrapping, hunting, camp kitchen, fishing, or as general pocket utility knives.

They are inexpensive, abundant, work well, and easy for most people to sharpen.

So when many read a review knocking on them, many will reject that opinion.
 
MolokaiRider said:
I think what's happening here is a bit of a rejection of the review and the reviewers experience and opinion.

While many people see the value and utility of these peasant knives, some do not.

Also, I sorta think some more hands on experience is warranted before passing full judgment, but that is of my own thought process.

I know of many folks around me locally that use these Opinels for opening wine wrapping, hunting, camp kitchen, fishing, or as general pocket utility knives.

They are inexpensive, abundant, work well, and easy for most people to sharpen.

So when many read a review knocking on them, many will reject that opinion.
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Did you actually read the review? Assuming you did, your comment is very generous.
 
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Opinels are the best deal going for the money, and a solid knife. I carry one regularly, and own several more.

This review comes from another in a long line of modern knife users who fail to appreciate a tool that’s great in its own right.
 
The Zieg said:
Another thing I seldom mention is that my Opinels are almost all one-hand openers and closers. With the knife in my palm I push the locking ring open with my thumb, swing the blade out, and then lock it closed with my same thumb. Even if the handle has swollen a bit, I can still perform this operation. I'm quicker with my Opinels than with a compression lock Spyderco. (I admit I haven't fiddled a lot with Spydercos as I've only ever owned one, and that only long enough to replace the scales and ship it to my niece as a gift).

This makes my Opinels a bit like those carried by les voyous, but outside Paris, I don't need to worry.
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You got some loose opinels!

My opie's are basically food knives. They are also extremely lightweight... people complain that scandis don't cut food/veg well. My answer is always "pack an opinel".

The other comment about the comfortable handle is underrated. You can actually whittle with an opinel for long periods of time and remain comfy.
 
It's fine to make a review with an unvarnished opinion that you didn't like a knife at the end of using it.

What gets people pushing back is when someone feels they have to gin up controversy with easily disprovable "facts". It's not a review when you do that.

It's fine to say "these affordable pocket knives that you can get for loose change aren't for me but when you insist the knife broke spreading butter or the rolled and chipped at the same time on printer paper you've lost any goodwill that may have been available. And when you double down and explain that anyone who doesn't see things your way is a bit simple well here we are.
 
SharperApex said:
Hi K kvaughn thanks for writing! You make excellent points. I am keenly aware that the knife maker with the largest annual product sales is the traditional Victorinox, not Benchmade, Spyderco, or any of the popular pocketknife makers today. Have I ever owned a Swiss Army Knife? Yes, several, in fact. But would I choose one today over knives with modern blade steels, modern handle materials, and modern designs, including safer lock technologies? Nah, I wouldn’t, but clearly a ton of people do! And that’s great for them. And what I like is great for me! If I wanted a multi tool knife, you can get a Leatherman with a MagnaCut blade. There are manufacturers who make more modernized versions of the SAK, but people still flock to Victorinox! My post is just one old gal’s opinion, written so I can learn and have fun writing. I’m really glad that you enjoy what you do. That’s what this hobby is all about!
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My "hobby" is based on 65+ years of using knives for a tool as opposed to a fashion statement.
 
SharperApex said:
It’s as if the Model T was still being sold right next door to a BMW dealership. You can almost feel a sense of vicarious embarrassment.
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The only thing embarrassing here is the unnecessary hyperbole.

The fact is, they’re still selling knives. They’ve been selling them long before you were born and they’ll be selling them long after you’re dead. Why? Because they’re following the latest knife trend? No. They stick to their wheelhouse and earned a cult following and some respect.
 
Opinel is still around because they are better than most " good enough " blades for the uninformed, a solid offering for what it is to a knife user, A cool history for a collector and people like simple.... I just had a massive brain fart so I'm done........Nuff said......
 
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I found this Opinel more than up to carving this ridiculously small tusked mortis and tenon joint. Cuts wood like butter.
 
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A photo from 2022 when I got a latest haul of Opinels. My wife uses her pink one all the time. My son loves the orange one. The padouk is just for fun, but the one on the right is in my pocket 50% of the year. Here’s what it looks like today:

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