Opinels, anyone collect them? Modifications?

M

manowar669

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Oct 1, 2002
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I know they're all about the same, just different sizes and woods. A few different steels. I'm just wondering if anyone collects them? Any modifications? As cheap as they are, grinding, sizing, staining are all possible, and with little financial risk. Lets see your mods.

BTW, I just got two No 6 knives, one in olivewood with stainless blade, and one regular carbon No 6. They didn't come really sharp, but they are now. Pretty impressive slicers really. I can't believe I'm carrying a $10 knife, when I once carried a $300 Sebenza.
 
:D
I love Opinels, and totaly hear you about leaving the expensive knives home to take a cheapo Opinel. The thing is, they're so freaking awesome. Elegant, light weight and super sharp, these babies perform ANY task with tremendous success. I also find the carbon blades very tough.
They always come rather dull too. That's alright, since I prefer my angle on the edge, rather than the factory edges other companies put.
 
Amazing bargains for what you get; great quality, and neat design too. No mods here, simply because I haven't had time.

thx - cpr
 
No mods but I made a neck sheath for mine.It's a stainless #7.
P8150571.jpg
 
Razorsharp1986 said:
They always come rather dull too.
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Not always - I got a #4, #6 & #9, the #4 was shaving sharp when it arrived, the other 2 were shaving sharp once I had finished sharpening them. Now I have ordered a stainless #8 - at the price they are why not? :thumbup:

I like the very cheap and simple design, I especially like the cheap price and I love the slicing ability. These knives are so cheap but work so well. Of course if you lose or break one then you will be pissed off, then you will order a replacement and you will get over your loss. If I lost a $400 knife then I wouldn't get over it so easily.
 
I have several of them.

Do try three alternative Opinels:

1. The quite big #12 is an excellent outdoor cooking knife.

sk1.jpg


2. The "slim" version of the #8 - in fact a cheap gentlemeny slicer. It's the top one in the picture, lovely in olive wood:

gamme_eff_olivier.jpg


3. The more upmarket #8 with polished blade and blonde horn tip handle. Suddenly the humble Opinel gets the class of a laguiole! Very nice, and the handle has less issues when getting wet:

zCC1974_1.jpg


I now have a recent special one on order, the layered #8 "Old School":

Opinel-knives-No-8-old-school-folding-knife-6-1.jpg
 
I have what I'm calling the "Coghlan Hybrid" no. 7. It's got the slim handle with the standard, carbon blade. Bought it at Sportsman's Warehouse. All I've done is sharpen it and put some simple semi-circular jimping on the back of the blade. I need to get some more and try some other things.
 
I saw the "Old school" knives on Opiknife when I ordered my 2 knives. I like the handle, but I'm not sure I like the polished blade. I thought of buying one anyway, and switching blades with a carbon model. I'm worried the blade might be loose after the switch. Also, the pivot pin appears to be peened in on the small end, so that might present a problem also. Ideas?
 
I have a No.12 in my tool cupboard somewhere on which I've been sanding and rasping the handle to a more curved shape with finger grooves. I should get on with finishing it some day, cheap fun to pass the time really. Used to have a No.10 as a cheap beater knife too but that one is lost since long ago.
 
Mine is at home so no pics... but I modded it by shaping the handle and staining it to show the grain better , also blued the blade then polshed it to a beautiful light blue/black patina. Also added a brass tube for a lanyard.

It came out pretty nice IMO and does not look like our typical $12 knife :D










Tostig
 
opinels.jpg


About half of mine, the prettiest ones.:) I have one mod but I don't have a pic right now.
 
I have several, but my favorite is a No. 6 that I reshaped the handle on. I put a light stain on it, and put a nice patina on the blade with vinegar (or ketchup.. I cannot remember). I'm at work, so the only pic I have is a craptastic one... it is the bottom right knife.

soddies-1.jpg
 
yobbos1 said:
opinels.jpg


About half of mine, the prettiest ones.:) I have one mod but I don't have a pic right now.
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Hey! I think it's pretty neat that you were able to get them all to balance like that!! :D

I have several, but the only mod I did was to carve out some space in the handle and install a thumb stud on the blade of one of them to make it a one-handed opener. Works great but looks off-balance. I never carry that one.

Stitchawl
 
Nothing too fancy, but here is a no. 12 modified a bit. I've used it a fair amount out in the yard, it's a good working tool. The handle was sanded and boiled linseed oil applied.

op12a.jpg

op12c.jpg
 
LastXJ said:
I have what I'm calling the "Coghlan Hybrid" no. 7. It's got the slim handle with the standard, carbon blade. Bought it at Sportsman's Warehouse. All I've done is sharpen it and put some simple semi-circular jimping on the back of the blade. I need to get some more and try some other things.
Click to expand...

I have one of these also, cool little knife.

I did a forced mustard patina on the carbon blade and sanded the handle (I didn't like the Coughlans logo on the handle) I then put a little English Chestnut stain on it followed with a coat of tongue oil...I really like it now.
 
Spydie said:
I have one of these also, cool little knife.

I did a forced mustard patina on the carbon blade and sanded the handle (I didn't like the Coughlans logo on the handle) I then put a little English Chestnut stain on it followed with a coat of tongue oil...I really like it now.
Click to expand...

Try and get a pic of that, I would like to see it.
 
I'd actually like to cut out a finger choil and install a thumb stud, but something screams heresy at me.
 
Well, not a large collection but I have a few in the safe including: some #8's; a couple of #12's; a mushroom knife and a few others including the Blond Horn #10, which is a very classy knife
http://opinel.com.au/Giftware.htm

The only one I use is a 40 something y.o. #9 that I bought for $5 - so worn I had to replace the hinge pin and it's now "as good as new" again. What I realised only recently was that the traditional Opinels are convex ground - which goes a long way to explaining their excellent performance and edge holding

I haven't modded any but have commisioned a double sheath for a #12 and folding saw - the conversation with my leatherworker went like this

Me "Well they're too big for the pocket and while I can carry them in a backpack that's not really convenient when hunting firewood"
Heike "So you want a double sheath for these knives when you go camping"
Me "No - I don't go camping anymore and anyway I don't intend to ever use these knives"
Heike "You want a sheath for knives that you will never use?"
Me "That's right"
Heike "You won't use these knives but you want a pratical sheath so you can use them?"
Me "Yep"
Heike - shakes her gorgeous head and gives me a 'you're nuts" look- "OK - I'll have something for you but it won't be till after New Year"

I never even asked her for a price - she tends to undercharge and I usually end up paying her more and tick her off for not charging enough - rare to find someone with the creativity and talent to interpret a concept and create something beautiful. Will post pics when she's done

Now I'll need to find a suitable competition knife or machete to go with that amazing Emu-leg leather - and give some serious thought to something she can come up with for that exquisite rayskin she showed me.
 
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