Reflections on Opinels.

Jolipapa said:
Since they were first made, never had any report of anything like that. But, as new times asks always to renew things, they made the lockring work both ways, opened and closed. Now any chance of piercing family jewels is just a bad nightmare... :D
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Lol. Still the smaller models don't have the locking ring. :o
 
I've never had an Opinel open or partly open in a pocket in almost 40 years of using them. This includes the smaller number 5's that don't have a locking ring.
 
Woodrow F Call said:
I found myself carrying the Opinel recently. Really a great knife. I find I like the locking ring for when it rides in the pocket. Anyone had any issues with the Opi opening on them in the pocket?
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Like the others who have replied, I've never had an issue. I have, though, forgotten a few times that I had it locked closed and tried to open it while locked. Fortunately it takes quite a bit of pull to pop off the lock ring, so it was never really an issue other than feeling silly. These days I just leave it unlocked in my pocket.

Also, what size do you carry normally. Mine is an 8, but I'm thinking about going smaller.
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I have a couple of 6s that I carry on occasion and like their size. I think an 8 would be too large for my tastes, but I did pick up a 7 this week to see how I like it. Haven't had a chance to put it to use yet, though.
 
My No.8, which is old enough not to have the closure lock, has gotten pretty loose during these dry winter months. At the moment, I can open it with a flick of the wrist. Al the same, it has never opened in my pocket. To be on the safe side, though, I now carry it tip-down.
 
Spent the last week with the #8 that Wurrwulf gifted me and I have really been enjoying it. I wanted to get a feel for it before leaving on business as it will be my companion. I made some mild modifications smoothing out some of the pronounced edges and applying a light coat of stain and wax for protection. I'm looking forward to putting it to continued work in the upcoming weeks. They are definitely both enjoyable and functional knives.




 
That's a nice looking knife. I did the same with my No.8.
image by Six Pound Cat, on Flickr


StoneBeard said:
Spent the last week with the #8 that Wurrwulf gifted me and I have really been enjoying it. I wanted to get a feel for it before leaving on business as it will be my companion. I made some mild modifications smoothing out some of the pronounced edges and applying a light coat of stain and wax for protection. I'm looking forward to putting it to continued work in the upcoming weeks. They are definitely both enjoyable and functional knives.




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Using an Opinel is more of ritualistic experience than most other folders, especially the more modern ones

As usual Carl, I enjoyed you musing
 
This is a great thread. Even better is the original post. I'm another old fart that has aches, creaks, and stiffness that I never dreamt I'd experience. Then again, there was a point where I never dreamt I'd live this long either.

I've had a couple of Opinels for about 5 years. They spend the majority of their time in a drawer where I keep a whole bunch of folders from peanuts to SAKs to 110s to ZTs. I pick something and out the door it goes with me for the day. Often I carry along the same thing for weeks or even months. And there the Opinels sit, a #7 and a #10 in carbon steel. A few times I've brought the #10 on trips, mostly to use as a cooking tool. A few times over the years, the #7 went along to clean some freshly caught brook trout that I liberated from a mountain stream. The operative word here is "few". I have been a knife nut for 6 decades, and have seen Opinels everywhere. I have a buddy, a long term member here, who collects high priced customs and does a lot of bushcraft. His knowledge and knife collection is really impressive. He told me several years back that I was missing the boat because I didn't have an Opinel. Back in the glorious days gone by I had a back to the land good ol' girl / hippie girlfriend that always had an Opinel with her. Always. We were bird hunting with our setters, and she used a razor sharp to field dress some partridges. On a canoe trip to a beautiful Vermont she used the same knife to dress and cut filets out of some gorgeous rainbow trout we'd caught. I can't even list all the things that knife was used for Later on that night, as we snuggled up together next to the campfire and prepared to crawl into our sleeping bag for the night, I teased her about her funky, foreign, granola preparing, hippie girl knife. She got quiet for a minute, and revealed how she once had to put it right next to the eyeball of some aggressive idiot that had picked her up hitchhiking and decided to try something unsavory with her. Bad move, jerkoff. Obviously, she was familiar enough with it to deploy it fairly quickly. I've admired these knives, but never bought any until the two I snagged 5 years ago. I've carried them here and there, but they have mostly been in the drawer.

My plan is to carry one of them every day this week. It will likely be the #7 tomorrow, will work on using the #10 later on in the week. I've got apples, envelopes, cardboard, etc. that need to be tended to. Who knows what else? Before starting this reply, I passed each over the stone a few times, and they are raring to go. Damn shame to let them spend all their days in the drawer.

Thanks, Carl, from another Carl for the motivation I need. This is gonna be fun!!

PS: Did a search and learned more about the Sno-Seal trick. Living in VT I just so happen to have some laying around. Sounds like a good problem solver. Thanks again.
 
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I'm attracted to Opinels, but find that I never carry one. There are just more space-efficient alternatives that compete for my limited pocket space. A Victorinox Cadet, for example, can do basically the same cutting but with drivers, etc. But the Opinel does have an undeniable flavor.

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Yes,without whistle and other additional BS, these serrations maybe work better on rope but they should put out normal blade,with plastic handle,without screwdriver bits etc.Maybe even upgrade the steel a little,on certain models like rwl34 or whatever.I had opinel open in pocket once,but it was summer,and it wasnt used at all so the blade got loose.If you use it and wash it,it wont open in pocket :) ! Best bang for buck knives on market period.They cut better than anything else I have,especially ones in INOX,with excellent toothy edge that works best on soft materials.And if you brake or lose one its not big deal.
 
Spent the last 28 days with the #8 as my only knife. It was used for any and all cutting tasks that presented themselves. It was used to cut so many different materials that I eventually lost track.

It was a pleasure to use and truly earned my respect as a very functional hard work oriented knife. It sharpens easily and holds an edge for an impressive amount of time. The lock ring and blade well were exposed to lots of dirt, sand and rocks but were a breeze to clean up with a little compressed air. The wooden handle is beyond durable and looks next to new after a light coat of oil despite its continued exposure to the elements.

If you have not had the chance to truly put one of these knives through the paces I strongly urge you to give it a shot. I'd bet you will be just as pleased and impressed as I was.

Thank you again Wurrwulf , the #8 is a knife I will truly enjoy carrying and using for many years to come.



 
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I'm so glad that the Opi did everything you needed it to, StoneBeard! You're more than welcome, my friend. I'm very glad that you've become an Opinel convert! The knife looks great with the patina.
 
Well I got bored last weekend and decided to play some more with my #8. I've been wanting a sheepsfoot blade for a while and thought I'd just go for it. I've seen some folks do this and it looked good to me so I pulled out the dremel and about 30 min later had a sheepsfoot Opinel. Not to everyone's taste I'm sure, but I'm really liking it. I gravitate more towards smaller blades and around the 2 inch mark seems to be the sweet spot for me. So cut and shaped the blade, and then ground out the groove in the handle to better access it since the nail nick disappeared. image by Six Pound Cat, on Flickrimage by Six Pound Cat, on Flickrimage by Six Pound Cat, on Flickrimage by Six Pound Cat, on Flickrimage by Six Pound Cat, on Flickrimage by Six Pound Cat, on Flickr
 
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