Pre 1955 Opinel

Not related to the title of the thread, but you all reminded me of this.

I got my first Opinel in 1988. It was so different from the slipjoint knives I had grown up with, and seemed so cheap and flimsy - I hated it, and broke the tip off it almost immediately opening a can with it (don’t hate on me - everybody else did it too, without problems). It was stressed to me at the time to ALWAYS use the locking feature.

I managed to eventually get my hands on a Case Mako lockback (which I still have) to replace it. I loaned the Case to a guy who broke the tip off THAT using it as a screwdriver, before I even got a chance to use it myself :mad::mad::mad:… The Opinel got lost or maybe deliberately left somewhere some time in the early 90s, and I filed a point back on the Case some time after that.

Looking back now, I wonder if the Opinel’s steel may have had a flaw in it that caused the tip to break off so easily, and I regret not keeping it. Nostalgia prompted me to get a replacement a few years ago, and I have been pleased with its performance.

If anyone has a picture of a 1988 vintage #8, I would love to see it.
 
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Just Tom. said:
Not related to the title of the thread, but you all reminded me of this.

I got my first Opinel in 1988. It was so different from the slipjoint knives I had grown up with, and seemed so cheap and flimsy - I hated it, and broke the tip off it almost immediately opening a can with it (don’t hate on me - everybody else did it too, without problems). It was stressed to me at the time to ALWAYS use the locking feature.

I managed to eventually get my hands on a Case Mako lockback (which I still have) to replace it. I loaned the Case to a guy who broke the tip off THAT using it as a screwdriver, before I even got a chance to use it myself :mad::mad::mad:… The Opinel got lost or maybe deliberately left somewhere some time in the early 90s, and I filed a point back on the Case some time after that.

Looking back now, I wonder if the Opinel’s steel may have had a flaw in it that caused the tip to break off so easily, and I regret not keeping it. Nostalgia prompted me to get a replacement a few years ago, and I have been pleased with its performance.

If anyone has a picture of a 1988 vintage #8, I would love to see it.
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Opinels excell in one field slicing/cutting if used for that one purpose they will last a lifetime or untill the blade has worn down.

In the Opinel museum many very old knives are on display used in such a way.

Buy a no 7 or 8 and give it another go. 😇
 
Johnnythefox said:
Buy a no 7 or 8 and give it another go. 😇
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Sorry, I guess I have a tendency to ramble on a bit. Clearly my post was too long and boring, and you didn’t make it all the way to the end where I said this 🤣:
Just Tom. said:
Nostalgia prompted me to get a replacement a few years ago, and I have been pleased with its performance.
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I have used it a lot for stripping bark and rough material removal when making stuff out of wood, in the yard and garden, etc. I think it will handle a lot more than just fine slicing tasks.

nkiGZA2.jpg


The patina on this was started artificially with a vinegar-soaked paper towel, but has since progressed naturally. The handle wear is all authentic…
 
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Just had a look through my Opi’s, this one is a #9 that fits the time scale but was probably bought 2012 onwards so it must have been very old stock.

1F76ED64-07FE-45B8-8AC6-5674D8D8E268.jpeg

I carved lots of them around this time, most I've gifted away.

DSC01419.jpg

DSC01420.jpg
 
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I'mSoSharp said:
Not the collar, the end of the handle. The "Coup du Savoyard".

Improve the blade opening

www.opinel.com www.opinel.com

I can't open many of mine with the nail nick either because it's hidden from a worn blade or it's too tight, & that's what I aim for so no accidental openings, I open them by tapping the end of the handle on something hard.
The one's with the blade close cutout are often left a little looser as this isn't an issue but sometimes those need a tap as well as the wood changes.
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Thanks for the correction, memory isn't what it used to be.
 
A very merry Christmas to all.

If anyone is looking for some enjoyable watching after overeating 😄 I can recommend this video about Opinel's history & factories. (French with English sub-titles). 🙂.
14:26 minutes long.


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