Opinel?

[bonusmarple]

FYI, to anyone interested, I picked up a set of snap-ring pliers a few days ago. These are PERFECT for removing & reinstalling the locking ring on Opi's. The jaws open up when the handles are squeezed (although the removable/switchable jaws can be installed to do the opposite, as with ordinary pliers). The set came with 4 different jaws; the one pictured is a 45 degree bend, which seems to be perfect for this task.

Got a similar set and they work great. You just need to be a bit careful drifting out the pins but the pliers make the locking ring a snap.

 

[6thtexas]

I have a modified # 8 that I will have in my pocket when we go out to eat. Most restaurant knifes suck when it comes to cutting a steak so I carry my own.

I stripped the wood, reshaped it so it carries better in my pocket, and refinished it with the same stuff I do rifle stocks with (polyurenthane/tung oil mix). No problems now with the wood swelling.

 

[lava_lamp]

Thinking about picking up a Opinel, never handled one or even seen one up close but thinking about EDCing one for awhile. Was looking at a #7 with carbon blade is this a good one to start with....opinions anyone?

Best $10 or so you'll spend. I prefer the beech version.

 

[rarreola]

The wood is not waterproof.

 

[combatjiujitsu]

Thanks for all the comments guys, I learn something new everytime I get on here

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Got a similar set and they work great. You just need to be a bit careful drifting out the pins but the pliers make the locking ring a snap.

On that note (drifting out the pins), how do you recommend going about that? That's something I've considered doing with my 'Carbone' model (pictured previously). The pivot's a bit tight, and I'm giving some thought to removing the blade and cleaning/sanding/smoothing the joint in the handle a bit. And obviously, after that, what's your recommendation for reinstaling the pins (peening them, in particular)?

Thanks. :thumbup:

 

[neeman]

Just to answer the comment the Opinel is not a utility knife

I got my Opinel when I was working in France
Every farmer and worker had one in their pocket for work, cutting anything and everything.

 

[jackknife]

The wood is not waterproof.

Actually, you can make an Opinel quite water proof.

Take a new Opinel, and very lightly sand the outside and inside the blade slot. Brush on a thin coat of Helmsman spar urathane, and let dry. Put a second light coat on. For the blade pivot area, when your done with the urathane, take a paper match and use the torn end to swab a coat of Vasoline jelly in and around the pivot area. Fold a paper towel into fours and wipe out the excess. You now have a water proof Opinel. I've tested mine by dropping it in pivot end down in a glass of water for 15 to 20 minutes, and it still opened right up with no problemo.

I learned the Vasoline trick from some real French guys who carry Opinels. They do the vasoline thing about 1 or two times a week. It works.

Carl.

 

[pinnah]

Actually, you can make an Opinel quite water proof.

Take a new Opinel, and very lightly sand the outside and inside the blade slot. Brush on a thin coat of Helmsman spar urathane, and let dry. Put a second light coat on.

I explored this idea earlier this year with a buddy of mine who is big into woodworking. I described my EDC use of my Opinel, which includes a lot of use in my bike shop. Greasy hands are a part of it.

His advice to me was that spar varnish is great at protecting against water but less good about dealing with oils, including hand oils. He said this explains why spar varnish can come off of oar handles and why things with varnish can feel tacky to the hand when held for a bit.

His suggestion for water protection plus oil resistance was to use Tung oil. That's given me great results with my Opinel. Not totally waterproof but waterproof enough plus wonderful feel in the hand.

Must try the vaseline trick!

 

[bonusmarple]

On that note (drifting out the pins), how do you recommend going about that? That's something I've considered doing with my 'Carbone' model (pictured previously). The pivot's a bit tight, and I'm giving some thought to removing the blade and cleaning/sanding/smoothing the joint in the handle a bit. And obviously, after that, what's your recommendation for reinstaling the pins (peening them, in particular)?

Thanks. :thumbup:

I used a punch set to push out the pin. Tread lightly here so that you don't bend the pin, or at least, minimize any bend. I just hammered it back in after I was finished. On one I had to resize the collar a bit along with a little grinding on the pin to get a smooth action on the knife.

It is not a big deal, less is more.

 

[bonusmarple]

Just to answer the comment the Opinel is not a utility knife

I got my Opinel when I was working in France
Every farmer and worker had one in their pocket for work, cutting anything and everything.

I agree here. Hell yes it is a utility knife. I think it was an old post by jackknife, he did two things to the Opinel to get it ready. First, polyurethane the handle. Second, smear petroleum jelly in the joint. This makes it about as waterproof as it gets.

Edit, he posted the same thing above.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I used a punch set to push out the pin. Tread lightly here so that you don't bend the pin, or at least, minimize any bend. I just hammered it back in after I was finished. On one I had to resize the collar a bit along with a little grinding on the pin to get a smooth action on the knife.

It is not a big deal, less is more.

Thanks! :thumbup:

 

[pinnah]

Just to answer the comment the Opinel is not a utility knife

I got my Opinel when I was working in France
Every farmer and worker had one in their pocket for work, cutting anything and everything.

Neeman, I'm the person who made that comment so I guess I ought to clarify. I think the issue might be the changing meaning of the term "utility knife" in the US, as opposed to the phrase "a very useful general purpose knife".

I think the Wikipedia page captures most of what I think of by the term "utility knife". See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utility_knife

The only addition I would make is that I think inexpensive plastic handled "tactical" style liner lock knives are often sold in US hardware stores as "utility" knife, so I would definitely add that type of (non-traditional) knife to the bucket of "utility knife".

In this light, I stand by statement that the Opinel is no utility knife. In my experience, the positive lock of a small traditional lock back "folding hunter" style knife can be used as a "utility knife". The lock back is much more positive. With the Opinel, I always need to check and recheck that the lock ring hasn't moved and loosened up - and it often does.

This doesn't mean that I think the Opinel isn't a wonderfully useful all purpose knife. It is. But I think that of the slip joints that I own too. For example, I love traditional 4 blade camper knives and find them to be wonderfully useful all purpose pocket knives. Wouldn't call them "utility knives" though.

BTW, last week I said I would take my Opinel on a backpacking trip with my son. I did. It worked great. Nothing like it for the weight. But like any other knife, it has limitations that should be considered and balanced against other factors.

 

[jackknife]

I explored this idea earlier this year with a buddy of mine who is big into woodworking. I described my EDC use of my Opinel, which includes a lot of use in my bike shop. Greasy hands are a part of it.

His advice to me was that spar varnish is great at protecting against water but less good about dealing with oils, including hand oils. He said this explains why spar varnish can come off of oar handles and why things with varnish can feel tacky to the hand when held for a bit.

His suggestion for water protection plus oil resistance was to use Tung oil. That's given me great results with my Opinel. Not totally waterproof but waterproof enough plus wonderful feel in the hand.

Must try the vaseline trick!

You missed something there, pinnah.

I never said spar varnish, I said spar urathane. There's a big difference. Spar urathane is putting a plastic coating over the wood, sealing it way better than any varnish. I've tried the tung oil, linseed oil, and most other stock finishes. They all fell short in water proofing the wood. Spar urathane is water proof, does not get tacky in hand, and when mixed with a pinch of white playground sand, gives a great non slip grip when used under wet conditions.

Carl.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Just to answer the comment the Opinel is not a utility knife

I got my Opinel when I was working in France
Every farmer and worker had one in their pocket for work, cutting anything and everything.

I've been using mine as my pocket knife on the farm and it's worked great for EVERYTHING. I've whittled the ends of poles for reinforcing wire fencing, cut tons of hay bale twine, and plenty of other tasks and it has yet to shy from any of them.

 

[Will Power]

The thing about the utility of an Opinel is its simplicity,form and function. Solid wooden handle, pivot ,locking collar and very good sharp thin blade carbon or stainless. Strong but lightweight, not much to go wrong either. Add to this a variety of sizes, different woods (check out some of their hardwood Bubinga handles, very nice) I've even got a horn handled Opinel filet- and you have a proven wining formula. Extremely popular in France, Europe, US and many other places besides. Factory, farm, workplace, kitchen and trips. Used by people in all walks of life, a really admirable design.