Opinel Owners?

Joined
May 13, 2018
Messages
8
I'm planning to get an Opinel for an edc, but also to try my hand at some woodcarving. I want to make sure I get the right fit in terms of handle. For anyone with an Opinel, can you tell me which model you have and how long the wood part of the handle is? Thanks for any help!
 
Opinel N° 8.
Handle (including the bolster and ring) is 4 1/4 inches.
Just the visible wood is 3 3/8 inches.

Are you looking at the Carbone or Stainless knives?
 
Opinel N° 8.
Handle (including the bolster and ring) is 4 1/4 inches.
Just the visible wood is 3 3/8 inches.

Are you looking at the Carbone or Stainless knives?

I'm strongly leaning towards carbon. Everything I've read seems to indicate it's tons better for carving.

Buy one of the Opinel #8 Ebauche versions and sand/shape the handle to your liking.

I'm just starting out and a ways away from making a nice handle. Besides, I doubt there's a technique to whittle a too short handle to make it longer. :D
 
I have a no 8 also, it might be a little large for whittling or carving. The handle is easy to sand to your liking though! I would recommend the carbon steel blade, it takes a nice edge:thumbsup:
 
The wooden part of the handles on my 6, 7, and 8 are 3”, 3 3/16” and 3 3/8”, respectively. The metal bolster adds 9/16”, 5/8” and 7/8”. I don’t know how much handle you need in order to whittle. I find they carry more comfortably with the handle slimmed down a bit, especially the flared pommel, which I have done to my 6 and 8. I have left the 7 alone because it is an older one witn a carbon steel bolster and lock ring.

Quite a few members of this forum have done a nicer job of modifying their Opinels, but these should give you an idea. The 6 is my preferred size for carry. The slimmed 8 is more comfortable in the pocket than an unmolested 7.

I have done nothing with any of my blades except to begin to convert the trailing point on my 8 to a drop point. These knives can be quite interesting to play with. The owners , however can be fickle, some of them falling in and out of love several times over the course of a few years.

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My main concern is that the handle would be so short I can only hold it with 2-3 fingers. Based on my research, the No9 would fit comfortably in my hand, but I also think that it would be too big of a blade for carving. I've started to reconsider the SAK Recruit or Tinker for carving (or maybe get a basic Mora) and just get whatever Opinel I like for an edc.
 
I'm just starting out and a ways away from making a nice handle. Besides, I doubt there's a technique to whittle a too short handle to make it longer. :D

The handles on the #8 Ebauche versions are a bit longer than a standard #8 Opinel. The ones I finished are just a tad longer than the standard ones as that size is fine for my L/XL glove wearing hand. The big improvement for me is the removal of the upswept part of the handle at the butt. This removed an area that caused hot spots while working with it.

And honestly, if I can make these 1-handed (Disabled Vet), then most of y'all here should have an even easier time doing it with both hands.
 
No. 6 and up has the Virobloc locking ring.
The wooden handle can work a bit so the action is not consistent.

But they are cheap and perfect slicers so you cannot go wrong with an Opinel.
 
The simplicity of the Opinel is its great strength and appeal. You tend to forget what a fantastic knife they are until you get one back in the hand. Their other plus is a good range of sizes, so whatever your hand type there will be a comfortable size for you. As others show, there's a lot of scope for handle alterations or 'customizing' too. My own favourite is my No.6 stainless in Bubinga wood, just a fantastic food and general knife that s beautifully sharp.

Opinels are like money, you can't really have too much.....:D
 
The handles on the #8 Ebauche versions are a bit longer than a standard #8 Opinel. The ones I finished are just a tad longer than the standard ones as that size is fine for my L/XL glove wearing hand. The big improvement for me is the removal of the upswept part of the handle at the butt. This removed an area that caused hot spots while working with it.

And honestly, if I can make these 1-handed (Disabled Vet), then most of y'all here should have an even easier time doing it with both hands.

What is the Ebauche version? I've only seen the standard on the website and amazon.
 
What is the Ebauche version? I've only seen the standard on the website and amazon.
Carve your own end on the handle.
There is a picture of one, above.
In another thread there are a few examples of what folks have done. Viking and Fisherman busts, Dragon heads, critters ... there might even be a caged ball ...
 
My main concern is that the handle would be so short I can only hold it with 2-3 fingers. Based on my research, the No9 would fit comfortably in my hand, but I also think that it would be too big of a blade for carving. I've started to reconsider the SAK Recruit or Tinker for carving (or maybe get a basic Mora) and just get whatever Opinel I like for an edc.


You are not necessarily stuck with the standard blade size. A lot of guys have cut them down. There is another fairly current thread, not sure if it is this subforum or another, where a guy shortens the blade on his 8 to mimic the stubby sheepsfoot on a dedicated carving knife. All you need is a file and a Dremel with a cutoff wheel. Pick the handle you want, modify it to suit, then trim the blade.
 
The handles on the #8 Ebauche versions are a bit longer than a standard #8 Opinel. The ones I finished are just a tad longer than the standard ones as that size is fine for my L/XL glove wearing hand. The big improvement for me is the removal of the upswept part of the handle at the butt. This removed an area that caused hot spots while working with it.

And honestly, if I can make these 1-handed (Disabled Vet), then most of y'all here should have an even easier time doing it with both hands.
What he said!--All it takes is a four in hand wood rasp and some sand paper and a little time and imagination.--KV
 
Opinels are great like the Mora Champion! Had one in my tool box just this morning to strip a wire on my Harley. I have #8 carbons all over the place just in case.
 
I have a #7 I was trying to make a whistle out of a section of bamboo and I broke a half moon chunk out of the blade, I managed to file it out it’s not pretty but amazingly it still is a very sharp knife.
 
This should help you with the handle size on the #8 Ebauche version.
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I turned one of mine into this. I used an abrasive cutoff wheel to cut the blade to the length I wanted, and the a combination disk and belt sander to shape it.
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O.B.
 
The stainless holds an edge longer when whittling for me. Gets every bit as sharp, as easy. But seems a bit harder and longer edge holding.

I have only 1 #8 stainless. All the rest of mine are carbon.

I think I have 5 of them? I've given both my boys a #7 as starter knives.

Here is my Stainless #8 with a hair off the back of my hand......that I whittled today....

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ACaJiPi.jpg
 
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