Opinels not straight??

K

Karambit777

Joined
Feb 15, 2014
Messages
127
Is it just me or has anyone else unboxed an Opinel to find that the blade to handle alignment is off-set a few degrees? I have bought 3 new Opinels (size 2, 8, and 10) and the only with a straight blade is the number 2. Don't get me wrong, these things function great and are the sharpest knives I have ever used, but they're crooked. Anyone else???
 
Do you mean the blade isn't centered when closed or do you mean the blade is not symmetrically ground?
 
If you are refering to the blade and handle making a straight line when open, then my 9 was the same way. I just took a file to the tang and corrected it a little. I didn't really like the pistol grip feel, but I just assumed they were supposed to be like that. I'll probably finish the job with a dremel one of these days, since the file method was quite a slow process.
 
my #10 doesnt open fully straight. its never bothered me personally but ive never had one that wasnt so i guess YMMV
 
Yea I'm talking about crooked blades. When you look down the length of the knife from back to tip (like looking down the sights on a rifle) the blade is clearly warped or offset at the pivot a couple degrees. I'm NOT taking about grind angles.

I was wondering if maybe I got a batch of second hand Opinels.

If this place wasn't so anal about basic members adding pics, then I would show an example. Don't have time for photobucket right now.
 
Opinel's are a mass produced plain jane using knife for the dirty work. In France and other places they sell like hot cakes, they are sold with the idea that they will be used up like a .99 cent screw driver or a Stanley utility knife. Opinel makes something like 7 and half million of these things a year, and ship them to all corners of the globe. Only in American do they get put in upscale kitchen stores and sold as 'picnic knives'.

So they don't take any time to get them perfect, just good enough for the role they were made for. The Opinel is almost like buying a kit car; some assembly required. I have one with a slight warp to the blade, and it makes a bit of a left hand curve as you look down the blade spine from handle to tip. Hasn't affected it in any way, and still cuts like a scalpel.

I'd say use the ever lovin' horse hockey out of it. After all, it only costs what a few cold brewski's do down at the corner pub.

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jackknife said:
Opinel's are a mass produced plain jane using knife for the dirty work. In France and other places they sell like hot cakes, they are sold with the idea that they will be used up like a .99 cent screw driver or a Stanley utility knife. Opinel makes something like 7 and half million of these things a year, and ship them to all corners of the globe. Only in American do they get put in upscale kitchen stores and sold as 'picnic knives'.

So they don't take any time to get them perfect, just good enough for the role they were made for. The Opinel is almost like buying a kit car; some assembly required. I have one with a slight warp to the blade, and it makes a bit of a left hand curve as you look down the blade spine from handle to tip. Hasn't affected it in any way, and still cuts like a scalpel.

I'd say use the ever lovin' horse hockey out of it. After all, it only costs what a few cold brewski's do down at the corner pub.


16402557396_bae911b0fc_c.jpg
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This just about sums it up. I kinda figured this was the case. I was just double checking to make sure I wasn't the only one. I will "use the ever lovin' horse hockey out of it" lol.
 
Karambit777 said:
This just about sums it up. I kinda figured this was the case. I was just double checking to make sure I wasn't the only one. I will "use the ever lovin' horse hockey out of it" lol.
Click to expand...

To tell you the truth I've never actually done the test you did, looking down the knife like gun sites to see if it is straight. I am guessing some of my Opinels are somewhat similar to yours. I bet even some of my better quality knives are... it's just not something I've ever considered. As long as it was centered in the handle, etc, I was good to go.
 
jackknife said:
Opinel's are a mass produced plain jane using knife for the dirty work. In France and other places they sell like hot cakes, they are sold with the idea that they will be used up like a .99 cent screw driver or a Stanley utility knife. Opinel makes something like 7 and half million of these things a year, and ship them to all corners of the globe. Only in American do they get put in upscale kitchen stores and sold as 'picnic knives'.

So they don't take any time to get them perfect, just good enough for the role they were made for. The Opinel is almost like buying a kit car; some assembly required. I have one with a slight warp to the blade, and it makes a bit of a left hand curve as you look down the blade spine from handle to tip. Hasn't affected it in any way, and still cuts like a scalpel.

I'd say use the ever lovin' horse hockey out of it. After all, it only costs what a few cold brewski's do down at the corner pub.

16402557396_bae911b0fc_c.jpg
Click to expand...

Well said!
 
I think some of you are talking about this:
The blade of my Opinel is not level with the handle, it appears that the knife does not open fully. Is this normal?

Yes! The Opinel folding knife was designed that way. While opened, the tip of the blade will be approximately level with the center of the ferrule's rivet. In addition, the ferrule (under the safety ring) will protrude around 1/16 inch out of the wood to prevent the back of the blade (and the pressure of the cut) from pressing against in the wood. This is not a defect, it's only a very clever design from Joseph Opinel 120 years ago....
opispecs1_large.gif
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http://www.opinel-usa.com/pages/opinel-faq#.VNEc0Gh4pcQ
 
I've never checked the blade centering down the length of any of my four but all work very well for their price points. :thumbup::D

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They're pretty much the first knife I recommend someone try if the person is new to knives; sort of a right of passage if you will. ;):cool:
 
Czechmate said:
I've never checked the blade centering down the length of any of my four but all work very well for their price points. :thumbup::D

15398148537_778df65828_c.jpg


They're pretty much the first knife I recommend someone try if the person is new to knives; sort of a right of passage if you will. ;):cool:
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I really like the way the handle on the bottom knife looks. Is that part of a standard model, is it more expensive to get it that way?
 
RedLynx said:
I really like the way the handle on the bottom knife looks. Is that part of a standard model, is it more expensive to get it that way?
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All started out as plain jane Opi's; I did the blade and handle reshaping mods with a rotary tool and hand sanding etc. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::cool:

It's actually coated in ACU green paint from a rattlecan (multiple coats) and has held up well to carry and use. :cool:
 
Czechmate said:
All started out as plain jane Opi's; I did the blade and handle reshaping mods with a rotary tool and hand sanding etc. :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::cool:

It's actually coated in ACU green paint from a rattlecan (multiple coats) and has held up well to carry and use. :cool:
Click to expand...

Very cool!
 
Funny Opinel story with a point.

One of my loves is Vespa motor scooters. Old and new, working on them and riding them. There's a Vespa club here in Washinton D.C. "The Saints." We all get tougher for rides and such. One of our members is a French guy that was born and raised in Paris. Pascal.

One day, he tells me that his father and older brother are coming to visit, and we should do lunch. Okay. They get here and we all meet up, and I ride my scoot over to the BBQ place were we're meeting. During lunch, I take out my Opinel to use, and the look and smile, and I hand it over for them to see. I was very proud of the way I'd sanded and varnished the handle to get rid of the ugly orange finish they use. I'd dropped the point of the blade and did some mods.

Pascal's father and brother both look at it, and smile a very strange smile, shaking htier heads like they are mystified abut something. The dad says something to Pascal in rapid French that I can't follow, and ask what was up. The dad looks at me and asks "Why take this care with an Opinel?"

He tells me that back home, they just used the Opinel until it's scrap, then buy a new one. If it gets dull when they are out, they just sharpen it up on a curb or cement walk or brick wall. He thought it funny that we'd take the time to work on a knife that in France is seen by many as little better than a gas station knife is seen here.

All things in perspective.
 
jackknife said:
Funny Opinel story with a point.

One of my loves is Vespa motor scooters. Old and new, working on them and riding them. There's a Vespa club here in Washinton D.C. "The Saints." We all get tougher for rides and such. One of our members is a French guy that was born and raised in Paris. Pascal.

One day, he tells me that his father and older brother are coming to visit, and we should do lunch. Okay. They get here and we all meet up, and I ride my scoot over to the BBQ place were we're meeting. During lunch, I take out my Opinel to use, and the look and smile, and I hand it over for them to see. I was very proud of the way I'd sanded and varnished the handle to get rid of the ugly orange finish they use. I'd dropped the point of the blade and did some mods.

Pascal's father and brother both look at it, and smile a very strange smile, shaking htier heads like they are mystified abut something. The dad says something to Pascal in rapid French that I can't follow, and ask what was up. The dad looks at me and asks "Why take this care with an Opinel?"

He tells me that back home, they just used the Opinel until it's scrap, then buy a new one. If it gets dull when they are out, they just sharpen it up on a curb or cement walk or brick wall. He thought it funny that we'd take the time to work on a knife that in France is seen by many as little better than a gas station knife is seen here.

All things in perspective.
Click to expand...

They make GOOD gas station knives in France! :thumbup:

Sorry, I mean petrol station knives. ;)
 
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