Opinel No8 Outdoor Survival Type Knife

Opinels typically don't come very sharp out of box so I wonder about the level of sharpness on the serrations. It would be a pain having to touch up serrations straight out of the box. I love the plastic handle idea, definitely an appropriate upgrade to this classic knife. The whistle and key thing don't impress me much and I've wrestled with monkey wrenches loosening shackles like those, it would snap an Opinel in half.
 
pinnah said:
It's worth noting that France has a strong tradition in yachting and that Opinels have been used by preeminent French sailors.

My take on the Opinel Outdoor is that is was primarily designed for sailors, and is actively sold to climbers.

The shackle key is used as a wrench to open something like this.
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Fittings of this sort (roughly) are used to attach sails to fittings and lines.

Sailors and climbers both have good reasons to like serrated blades for fast cutting of ropes, which can be a life/death sort of thing.

IME, the Opinel #9 (pictured) or #10 make great backpacking knives. They are very light and insanely tough - much tougher than any lockback I've used. Really the best folder I've used in the woods, bar none. IME, the only way to get more rugged is to move to fixed blade, which is heavier.

Outdoor Carry by Pinnah, on Flickr
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I never thought about shackles on a sailboat. Which was silly. I use them for rigging loads. And sailors rig loads all the time.

But then, I’m no sailor. I don’t understand people who call a length of rope a sheet in one place and a gasket in another. I call it rope.

Once I read your post I thought, “On a boat? Better a shackle than a clevis.”

My second thought was, “What a good reason to carry a marlinspike.”

My third was, “Where is that shackle key, on or in the Opinel?”
 
I'm a huge fan of Opinel knives and am interested in those outdoor knives. Specifically I'm curious about the build quality of plastic (potential blade wobble and durability) and the grippiness of the handles. Unfortunately for Opinel though, I have no interest in serrated blades.

Victorinox made a SAK knife with a built-in whistle as well. Now discontinued.
 
neeman said:
you can pick these up for $24
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That's not bad.

Bob W said:
I'm a huge fan of Opinel knives and am interested in those outdoor knives. Specifically I'm curious about the build quality of plastic (potential blade wobble and durability) and the grippiness of the handles. Unfortunately for Opinel though, I have no interest in serrated blades.

Victorinox made a SAK knife with a built-in whistle as well. Now discontinued.
Click to expand...

My CS Twistmaster is very durable and has a rough texture. Maybe a little too rough, but sandpaper could fix it. It's 1/8 plain edge Carbon V. Maybe Opinel will expand this line to something bushcrafty.
 
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