Opinels

L

L2bravo

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Jun 14, 2013
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I have never laid eyes on one in person. Are they cool little knives? It would seem that they have a big following. Tell me about the different steels that they use as well, if somebody can point me in the right direction. Also, do these knives actually last a little while? Or are they made very cheaply? Thanks for the opinions.
 
If you search on 'Opinel' in the Traditional forum, as well as here in Maint, you'll find LOTS of threads on them, with a ton of inspiration for mods and such. As to your questions:

  • Yes, they're definitely cool little knives, and their following (worldwide) is huge. ;)
  • Steels used are Sandvik 12C27Mod (stainless) and XC90 (in the 'carbone' models). The Sandvik stainless is perfect for these knives; takes a very fine edge and is quite durable at thin edge angles. The XC90 blades also take very fine edges, but seem a little more delicate at thinner edge angles. Doesn't seem quite as hard (RC) as the stainless, in terms of edge stability.
  • They can last quite a long time, as with any knife, so long as it's treated like a knife.
  • Yes, they are made 'inexpensively'. But, that's part of the beauty of them, at about $15 for the most popular models/sizes. Opinel put the money where it counts (blade first, and the pivot/lock). The blade grind is pure genius, with a thin convex overall; a slicing dream. Handles are extremely basic, and can be customized easily. :thumbup:



David
 
OwE pretty much covered it; the rest is meticulously detailed in Opinel threads. Just wanted to to chime in, because I bought a wad of them a generation ago just because they were cheap and have discovered that it's hard to find a better tackle-box blade, fish-cleaner, or camp/food processing knife anywhere. Anywhere. Thin enough to slice whatever whatever's reasonable to cut without being flexible enough to look back at you while it does it. Did I mention backpacking? They weigh nothing. Do I sound like a shill? Sorry.:o But I do love a bargain.:D
 
Designed to cut stuff and cut it well. Sharpen easy. All kind of mods you can do to one. A good solid knife. They don't have that damned tactical look to them.
 
Get you one! I have a #6 in carbone, and it is my EDC and does anything I need a knife for. I have to check to see if it is in my pocket as it just disappears when put in there. Almost no weight and can shave hair. All you need to sharpen one is the bottom of a coffee cup ring! Great little knife.

Blessings,

Omar
 
Number 8 in carbonne

opinelcarbon_zps1169c3b1.jpg
 
Thanks guys, I guess I will be getting a few. They sound pretty awesome.

Singularity, will this one whittle???
 
We started to carry these at work and I picked up a No.9 "carbone" had some difficulties putting a good edge on it but its a neat knife overall. Greatly prefer the stainless steel for its edge taking abilities. It's a must have knife.
 
They look pretty dang neat. I would assume that old skool Arkansas stones would be enough on them? I am getting the stainless ones. I'm going to get a 7.8. and 9, just for starting off, and seeing what I like. Or are there other suggestions? I am all ears. I will be using these to cut boxes and such, on occassion.
 
L2bravo said:
They look pretty dang neat. I would assume that old skool Arkansas stones would be enough on them? I am getting the stainless ones. I'm going to get a 7.8. and 9, just for starting off, and seeing what I like. Or are there other suggestions? I am all ears. I will be using these to cut boxes and such, on occassion.
Click to expand...

On the stainless model, Arkansas may or may not work well. The coarse/soft Arkansas stones sometimes have trouble with some stainless blades, not necessarily all. At finishing stages, the hard black or translucent stones should be OK. My favorite for the Opinel stainless is wet/dry sandpaper (SiC or AlOx). The abrasive handles it easily, and the wide range of available grits makes choosing a favorite finish very easy, from coarse/toothy to high polish. The upside either way is, as thin as these blades are, they don't need a lot of grinding or re-shaping to get a decent edge on them. Any modern or synthetic stones should handle these easily.


David
 
Just got a No. 7 & No. 8 in Inox - love 'em.

Used the No. 7 today to help with repairing a vacuum cleaner power cord. Beautiful!
 
Are they awesome? Yes, buy 5 now. Great slicer, amazing cheap user knife or even a gentleman folder. It's not threatening if that's a concern and you can get them in any size and a bunch of colors now too, they make fancy horn handled ones, an aluminum i think and they have a few varieties. This one is a carbone clip point that I modded into a drop point which I like a little better.
These knives are my commonly carried edc blades, the opinel has seen the most use out of all of them. I know all these knives are robust and well built and will take a beating and they do get used a lot, but the opinel gets beat on hardcore. I want to use it until it breaks then make a new handle or reprofile the blade and keep on using it. Recently it's taken a leave of absence and has been my lunch knife for work. Now that i just took it back out to sharpen it though i wanna use it more. The best thing about them is you can get the carbon steel which takes a very nice edge and holds it pretty well and the patina, oh the patina. I enjoy seeing that on a knife or trucks...I like when things have "character"
2013-09-01_03-12-39_689_zpsec203ffe.jpg
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I've spent a great deal of time modifying my no.8

My Opi started out as a curiosity to me. I just had to have one based on rep and popularity. Didn't take long before I was sharpening it as a hobby, just to see how sharp I could get it. The "carbone" will indeed take a screaming sharp edge. I never really cut anything with it in that configuration though aside from hair. I'm sure it would easily roll at 14° inclusive.

Now I've modified it for carving duty. Made a sort of folding wharncliffe wood carving special out of it and it absolutely excells at the job. For carving I use a translucent Ark which is perfect. This knife is what made me love the Arkansas stone.

IMAG1434_zpsbea82331.jpg


IMAG1433_zps24d29931.jpg


Every knife fan should try one. :thumbup:
 
L2bravo said:
I have never laid eyes on one in person. Are they cool little knives? It would seem that they have a big following. Tell me about the different steels that they use as well, if somebody can point me in the right direction. Also, do these knives actually last a little while? Or are they made very cheaply? Thanks for the opinions.
Click to expand...

Want to try one before you buy? You shouldn't. They're inexpensive enough that you can get a few in different sizes to see how you like them.

But, if you want to try one, I have an Opinel Pass-Around going on a modified #8 carbon.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1097460-Opinel-Pass-Around-amp-Walk-About

By all means, jump on in. Might have to wait till winter to get your hand on it and that shouldn't stop you from getting one.

My take is that the #6 is sort of like a small peanut or stockman or other traditional pocket knife.

The #8 is the most common size and for good reason. It is something like a folding paring knife and IMO the first that is really useful for food and heavier work. Very close to a Buck 112 or Buck 500 in size.

The #9 is my preferred size. I have XL hands and it's the first one that gives me a full 4 finger grip.

The #10 is a brute. More like Buck 110 in size.

Here's a shot of the knife in the pass-around.


Opinel #8 Drop-point 2 by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
L2bravo said:
They look pretty dang neat. I would assume that old skool Arkansas stones would be enough on them? I am getting the stainless ones. I'm going to get a 7.8. and 9, just for starting off, and seeing what I like. Or are there other suggestions? I am all ears. I will be using these to cut boxes and such, on occassion.
Click to expand...

At the risk of repeating myself from other threads, I've sharpened, by hand, for the last 40 years, virtually every knife steel sold-up through 154-CM-on Arkansas stones. They are not made for profiling. Even the soft ones are too fine for excessive grinding. The "boutique" steels, with such high carbide content their hardness exceeds that of novaculite quartz, of course, do not respond well to them. You wouldn't expect them to do so. The latter I learned from a greater source of metallurgical knowledge than myself.
The Opinel should not present any problems on Arkansas stones. For actual use, you won't need any higher than the white hard. If you want a finer edge, the black hard will do admirably, if you want to show off-translucent. The last one does a helluva job polishing the lower-carbide steels. Just don't drop the bevel angle too low for its intended use. Opinels tempt you to make them into razors. Edges can roll.
Have fun.
 
They are indeed "cool little knives." They are fantastic knives, very traditional and simple (only five parts!), and very durable. One point I'd like to make: I'm all for modding in any way you want, but if you decide to mod your Opinel, at least don't remove/round-off the pointed end of the butt! I see a lot of people do that here. It is designed for a purpose:

[youtube]73U1PhWMzEM[/youtube]
 
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