Opinel style knife, WITHOUT the wood

G

GarageBoy

Joined
May 23, 2003
Messages
5,952
I gotta say this, I can't take the untreated wood handles anymore. Swells, dries then pivot becomes too loose, too tight. I don't want weird stuff growing on places I can't reach/rust developing.
Is there something with the same thin carbon blade, without the wood?
 
GarageBoy said:
I gotta say this, I can't take the untreated wood handles anymore. Swells, dries then pivot becomes too loose, too tight. I don't want weird stuff growing on places I can't reach/rust developing.
Is there something with the same thin carbon blade, without the wood?
Click to expand...


Would a Sodbuster in CV be any good as a substitute?
 
Used to be, Cold Steel Twistmasters. Have you ever tried sealing the pivot area? Just drip mineral oil onto it, repeat a few days in a row, you'll be good to go.
 
Is the Sodbuster as thin (I never had both side by side)?
I tried the mineral oil, but after a while, I can't get it to stay evenly. (I used it to cut fruits, etc. so it gets wet and slimey)
 
I also do think that there would be a market for a G10 or aluminum handled Opinel. It could even look cool!
 
The Twistmasters were much larger than most Opinels and the handles were Zytel. If you're going to make a true Opinel -- a lightweight, inexpensive knife -- with modern materials, keep them cheap. Perhaps a wooden handle with a plastic or metal bolster for the pivot.
 
GarageBoy said:
Is the Sodbuster as thin (I never had both side by side)?
I tried the mineral oil, but after a while, I can't get it to stay evenly. (I used it to cut fruits, etc. so it gets wet and slimey)
Click to expand...
not quite, but it is full height hollow ground so still works very well (carrying a Soddie Jr. as I type)
 
I don't believe I didn't even realize what I wrote.

It should be a simple job: pop off the ring, push out the pivot pin, cut back the wooden pivot area, insert a square piece of plastic on each side, replace blade, pin, and ring, and you've got a swell-proofed Opinel.
 
The Cold Steel Twistmasters can still be found but they are large, mine picture below is shown with a full size Case Soddie. They are tough however, the locking ring is twice the gauge steel as the Opinel. They can be found with a drop, clip, or tanto blade style. The blade is 3.5" and made from Carbon V.

soddietwist.jpg
 
Yes, those of you who do like the Opinel will probably be happy with a Douk-Douk. It is even more convenient, being very flat, you could forget you're carrying it. It has a strong bail for a lanyard or a dummy cord. The small Douk-Douk makes an excellent keychain knife, since it's tight enough not to fall open on you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top