Opinel?

[quattromori]

Another noob opinel question. I keep seeing people refer to them by size number, but I've been able to find a number on mine. Even when looking at the sales sites, I don't see them listed by any numbers.

Now that is weird. The number is usually stamped on the locking ring. All the "standard" Opinel's (which account for the vast majority of these knives) are absolutely the same, except for two features:
- size, which determines their number (from #2 to #13, if I remember coorectly)
- locking ring (from #6 up, they have it; from #5 down, they don't).
Look better. I can't believe that any Opinel vendor does not state the number, unless (maybe) for a few versions which are only available in one size (usually #8).

Fausto

 

[puukkoman]

Yes, the blade can be removed. First, you pop off the locking ring. Then, you remove the pivot pin, and the blade comes right out.
The numbers are stamped on the metal ring.
Alex

 

[Brasso3]

Wow. I really feel stupid. I've looked for that number for so long, and right there it is. Big as Texas on the locking ring. That's fuinny.

So how do you pop off the locking ring?

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

Why I love Opinel knives, in bulletpoints:

-Readily available where I live
-Cheap, so you can replace them quickly
-Can be modded to your liking
--> this is something that makes you attached to the knives. Same thing goes for Becker knives as far as I'm concerned. I've got different folding knives, few fixed blades,... but being able to modify them for aesthetics or functionality really makes them your knives.
-The grind excells at a large variety of tasks, hence they're such great cutters
-Available in different sizes, making them versatile
-Available in carbon and stainless
-Very lightweight
-Wooden handles --> this is not really an advantage over other knives -even rather a disadvantage-, but I just love the looks of that wood
-The aesthetics, lines of the knives

Some of these things will probably have been said ITT already, didn't read it through yet. Opi's are just amazing if you keep in mind what you paid for them.
I'd love to see an inexpensive Opinel fixed blade with a thick stock, thick handle scales. That would be something...

 

[quattromori]

I've never done it myself, but it can be done in many ways.
David (Obsessed with edges) once showed how to do it with some pliers.
If you don't get any answers here, you can try on the maintenance subforum. Either way, there are videos on youtube on how to do it as well.

I'd love to see an inexpensive Opinel fixed blade with a thick stock, thick handle scales. That would be something...

Honestly, I think one of the keys to the greatness of Opinel's functionality is their thin stock combined with the blade grind. I know it can look too thin, but if you try it on wood, it just works better. There are some FB Opinel's, and even if they're made as kitchen knives, they work great on wood as well.

To the OP, as for not seeing the number on the ring...don't worry. I've seen people searching a whole room for an object they were holding in their hand

Fausto

 

[pertinux]

So how do you pop off the locking ring?

Lock the blade closed. Pull the blade open (with the ring still in the "locked" position).

Search for locking ring; it landed somewhere in the room when it flew off.

~ P.

 

[quattromori]

Lock the blade closed. Pull the blade open (with the ring still in the "locked" position).

Search for locking ring; it landed somewhere in the room when it flew off.

~ P.

Where's the "first put your safety glasses on" advice?

Fausto

 

[MT Damascus]

I don't currently own one or have ever owned one, but I did just pick up a No. 8 for my nephew for christmas. It sharpened up beautifully and seems like a great little knife for the price, 12$ at our crappy local knife store. I think he will like it.


Kris

 

[Galeocerdoshark]

Honestly, I think one of the keys to the greatness of Opinel's functionality is their thin stock combined with the blade grind. I know it can look too thin, but if you try it on wood, it just works better. There are some FB Opinel's, and even if they're made as kitchen knives, they work great on wood as well.

Fausto

I did not mean "thick" as in Becker BK2-thick, rather I meant the thickness of an Opi 12 blade, converted into a fixed blade. That blade thickness, same blade height, somewhat shorter blade and definitely a shorter handle, well... I'd love to see that.

 

[quattromori]

Thanks for the clarification. I often consider the "thick stock mania" a bit far from real use and need...and Opinel knives 8and machetes, for the same reason) are a good example of how a thin blade works best on wood.
Considering their new entry in the "outdoors knife market", I wouldn't be surprised to see Opinel producing a wood handled FB studied for outdoors use as well. Sticking to the strong points of their folders (even the blade shape) and just converting it into a fixed blade should grant them quite a loaf of the market. I would surely get one.

Fausto

 

[crafty]

Got several, both the Carbon and Inox version. Favorite size is the No 9. They're cheap, but high quality. Never found a knife that has similar (cutting) properties.
Only disadvantage is that you can't open it one handed and the wood swells when wet (which makes it more hard to open the knife. If that happens; just tap it on the table and the knife slightly opens, which makes it easier to open).

 

[puukkoman]

To remove the ring, you can use a pair of snap-ring pliers (the spreading kind). Put them in the gap, and spread it apart a little, then it pops off the end.
If you don't have snap-ring pliers, you can just use a pair of needle nose pliers to spread the ring a little. Stick 'em in there and spread it open a bit.

Edited to add: I open mine one-handed all the time. Since I reshaped the handle a little bit, there's enough blade to get my thumb onto, and since there's no spring, it opens right up.

 

[pinnah]

Amazing bang for the buck. Capable of much harder work than their "picnic knife" reputation. The thin blade stock is just right, and the carbon steel takes a diabolical edge.

-- Mark

Speaking of "bucks", I'm a huge fan of Buck locking folders. Grew up with them. Associate Buck with hunting and all things good. The Buck 110 has the reputation of being the toughest knife out there. But...

I find the Opinels to be tougher. A lot tougher.



Buck 110 and Opinel #10 by Pinnah, on Flickr


When I'm working on my property, I always have a knife in my pocket but I may not always have a pair of shrubbery shears in my pocket. And I certainly won't have a lopper with me unless I intentionally got them out of the barn for a specific task. Still, I'll occasionally come up against a sapling or branch that needs to get cut away. Cutting out a junk maple is typical. This then involves cutting a limb or sapling that could be about thumb thick using the bend and slice method. This may involve getting the blade stuck in the wood and twisting it free.

Pretty much every lock back I've owned has developed play, both lateral and vertical.

No Opinel I've owned has even a tiny bit of play.

My sense is that the inner collar design of the Opinel is simply tougher than 2 slabs that are held together with peened pin. All the force rides on the pin with a lock back where as the round collar of the Opinel design takes some of the load. Another factor is the comparatively thinner blade, which means that some of stress can be absorbed by the blade instead of being concentrated in the joint. Lastly, the camming effect of the lockring takes out any play that does develop.

I've not found a tougher locking folder. Not even Buck. And it's not really close.

 

[pinnah]

Only disadvantage is that you can't open it one handed and the wood swells when wet (which makes it more hard to open the knife. If that happens; just tap it on the table and the knife slightly opens, which makes it easier to open).

Soaking the end of the knife in Vaseline or Mineral Oil or refinishing the handle with better varnish can help with the sticky when wet problem.

You can also tune the pivot friction by sticking a large flat head screw driver in the slot of the inner ring and twisting to open it up.

I can one hand open and hand close my Opinels. The top knife in this picture is a #10 that was modified to something of an easy open profile. The bottom is a stock #8 for comparison.


Opinel #10 (drop point) & Opinel #8 by Pinnah, on Flickr

To one hand open, I pinch the spine of hte blade with thumb and forefinger and then press open the handle with my middle finger. Once it's open a bit, I hook the butt end of the handle against my thigh to fully open the knife.

I practiced on my long drive to work (while driving a standard) and it's now second nature. As others have mentioned, the lack of a spring makes this a safe knife to open and close one handed.

 

[bear5177]

I received a No. 6 Carbon not too long ago and I have to say it's been a great purchase so far. It's low cost and very lightweight. If I'm not mistaken all models are still made in France. Not bad for a company to continue making a knife capable of competing in the "global economy" and still keep production at home. Mine came remarkably sharp from the factory. It's simple design/construction seem to contradict just how rugged it is. And as pointed out by others, very easy to modify/personalize. The thin blade makes it a great slicer. I'm actually going to purchase a larger one soon (maybe No 8) with either walnut or rosewood handle (can't decide!) and with the Sandvik steel blade. A great "bang for the buck."

 

[mnblade]

Honestly, I think one of the keys to the greatness of Opinel's functionality is their thin stock combined with the blade grind. I know it can look too thin, but if you try it on wood, it just works better.

I totally agree. The world does not need another knife with a blade that's too thick to cut efficiently. Viva Opinel!

-- Mark

 

[Brasso3]

How long have they been putting a notch on the ring to keep it locked in the closed position? My #8 doesn't have that feature.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

How long have they been putting a notch on the ring to keep it locked in the closed position? My #8 doesn't have that feature.

According to this Wiki article (linked and excerpted below), that change was made in 2000:

( from site -->: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinel_knife ):

"The locking collar(Virobloc) was patented in 1955 by Marcel Opinel, and is only found on the larger Opinel models (#6 and up). While simple, the locking mechanism is quite sturdy, and converts the folding Opinel knife into nearly the equivalent of a fixed-blade knife for all practical purposes. In 2000 the locking collar was modified slightly to allow the blade to be locked in the closed as well as the open position. This feature prevents the blade from opening by accident when carried in a pocket."

The above statement from Wiki is referenced to and verified by similar info on the Opinel USA 'Opinel History' page.



David

 

[Esav Benyamin]

I have an inox #6 with a walnut handle that makes a nice gentleman's knife. Perfect with a suit, for any office work.

They have a wide variety of designs: filet with a slim profile, garden knife with its spearpoint, saw! and two pruning curved blades.

 

[crafty]

Soaking the end of the knife in Vaseline or Mineral Oil or refinishing the handle with better varnish can help with the sticky when wet problem.

I always use Mineral Oil to prevent that from happening, when it gets stuck again I know it's time to lube her up

I can one hand open and hand close my Opinels. The top knife in this picture is a #10 that was modified to something of an easy open profile. The bottom is a stock #8 for comparison.
To one hand open, I pinch the spine of hte blade with thumb and forefinger and then press open the handle with my middle finger. Once it's open a bit, I hook the butt end of the handle against my thigh to fully open the knife.

Love the top knife! I modified also some to a drop point and added the "notch" in the handle for easy opening, but they're not as easy flicking as my Spyderco's. I'll keep practicing.

Some time ago I was having the idea to make a more "modern" version of it with a handle of micarta and a flipper to the blade... but didn't figure how I would add a lock yet. It's just a great blade, also for projects