Question for Opinel Experts.

[Tim616]

I always carry two knives with me, one tactical type folding knife and another sort of beater knife (and usually more people friendly looking)

I've been considering a red color handle opinel 8; but with a caveat of which I'm not sure it's up to, as I've yet to add opinels to my collection

In my right front pocket I'll probly be carrying an umnumzaan / may rotate often with 943, but as for the opinel I want to carry it in my back pocket.

So my question mainly is will an opinel stand up to being sat on in back pocket carry, will the wood splinter/split or ring lock warp,

or are they stronger than I would expect?

 

[jackknife]

Yes, they are a lot stronger than you think. They will even stand up to being used as a beater. You are going to be very surprised.

Carl.

 

[Bob W]

They are round, though. Probably not the most comfortable thing to sit on.

My suggestion, if you're going to carry two knives when hiking, put the slimmest lightest one in your pocket with a lanyard, and keep the other in your bag.

 

[davek14]

I've wondered that myself so lemme know how that shakes out if you do it.

I back pocket carry at work. I don't sit a lot but sitting on or leaning against something hard would happen often. I back pocket carried a Brown Mule with wood SCALES for some time. It got a couple dings in it but held up well. Back pocket carried a Coal Miner with a polypropene body with no issues.

I'd be scared an Opi would work open and I would sit on something sharp, not round.

 

[Paradiggum]

I carry an Opinel is my back pocket. It sits along side my wallet. It's a #6 so it's not quite as big. It's about the same thickness as my wallet so it just disappears.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

They're very sturdy knives, in spite of what many expect. Not for prying with, but short of that they can handle a lot!

 

[Bob W]

I'd be scared an Opi would work open and I would sit on something sharp, not round.

Starting in 2000, the Opinel knives now lock closed. But yeah, if it were to come open, those things are really sharp...

 

[goodeyesniper]

I've wondered that myself so lemme know how that shakes out if you do it.

I back pocket carry at work. I don't sit a lot but sitting on or leaning against something hard would happen often. I back pocket carried a Brown Mule with wood SCALES for some time. It got a couple dings in it but held up well. Back pocket carried a Coal Miner with a polypropene body with no issues.

I'd be scared an Opi would work open and I would sit on something sharp, not round.

They lock closed very securely. Unless you forget to lock it before you put it away.

That said the round shape could be uncomfortable. I did backpocket for awhile and made it work next to my wallet on the outside, but if it shifted and I sat wrong it could be uncomfortable.