SAKS vs Opinel for EDC

[_Wraith]

I haven't tried an Opinel yet, but it doesn't seem like the Opinel competes with SAKs, especially since the SAK is typically valued for the tools other than the blade.

I've been thinking about getting a Opinel #6 or #7 to, perhaps, carry in addition to my SAK.

I would highly recommend getting an opinel. The #7 or #6 will both serve you well.

 

[jazub]

SAK for me.
The utility of blade/awl/bottle opener/can opener is something I have grown very accustomed to in daily life. I have been gifted two opinels but they feel unwieldy in pocket, slow to use, and thus serve no greater purpose or conveniance than one of my modern locking folders so they never make it out of the house.

[Plus SAKs look way cooler -not opinion, fact!]

 

[jackknife]

SAK for me.

I have an Opinel or two around, and I've carried them on and off for over thirty years. I love the way they cut, and few are equal to the slicing ability they have. But for everyday pocket carry, I'd go SAK if it was between the two of them. For the price of an Opinel number 8, you can get a Victorinox recruit that has two blades, screw drivers can opener, bottle opener, and the tweezers/toothpick. Plus you get something the Oinel never had; water resistance. I finally got tired of the waxing, oiling, varnishing trying to keep the wood handle of the Opinel swelling. I got tired of the finicky nature of the Opinel.

Not to mention that too many times having a simple tool like a screw driver or light pry tool was worth it's weight in gold while out someplace far from home with a mechanical problem. SAK's are too handy to be without. Unless you have a Leatherman on hand.

 

[Gary W. Graley]

I would highly recommend getting an opinel. The #7 or #6 will both serve you well.

well, it would seem you have your answer in your own recommendation you provided to supergnat

BUT, for myself, I do carry both an Opi and a few SAK's, very handy knives all, and affordable and easy to carry; my daily carry, while it may appear to be much, is actually less than I use to carry, so, I am getting better...at least my family thinks so

Pardon the flipper on the side, if it's any consolation, that is no longer with me...(another is inbound to take it's place though...)

Opinel #10 Slim in olivewood, SAK Executive, SAK Pioneer ALOX one of the best IMNSHO...and a very fancy Case Peanut

G2

 

[pinnah]

I haven't decided which brand I like more so I thought I would ask you guys for your opinion. Which do you like better and why?

Let me rephrase the question. Which one do you carry more often as an edc.

Different questions, IMO.

In terms of brands, Opinel is a knife company. Victorinox is, what?, a life-style consumer products company that sells watches, luggage and, can you believe it, fragrances.

In terms of EDC knives, the standard Opinel knife is a single blade locking folder while the standard SAK is a multi-layered "camper" style slipjoint with some assortment of tools. In this light, this is a very basic distinction.

The thing with EDC discussions is that they hinge 100% on personal preference and style. There's no single right answer any more than there there is on such personal preference issues as boxers or briefs, beer or ale, coffee or tea and on and on. If your preference is to carry a single knife and you really want the extra tools on an SAK, the Opinel will frustrate you. If you like the utility and ergonomics of a single blade folder, then you'll be frustrated by an SAK in your hand. And if you want the utility of a good single blade knife and you want access to tools, you might consider thinking of this as a both/and question instead of an either/or question and slip a small SAK like the Classic or Executive in your off pocket as a companion to your Opinel like this...

Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

Did you catch that the scissors based tool isn't a Victorinox? That's a separate discussion.


A few more thoughts on the differences between the knives.

The Victorinox SAKs are ideal consumer products, and I mean that with a great deal of respect. They are incredibly consistent and easy to use. They are effective, as is, right out of the clam-shell and they can be put in a desk drawer, forgotten for a decade and picked up to be found just as usable as the day it was put there.

In contrast, the Opinel is a finicky knife. Out of the box, the lock ring may or may not seat up right and when the weather pattern changes or when you drop it in dish water, the wood can swell shut. In this way, the Opinel is a demanding knife. It demands that the owner engage with it and to be willing to adjust it and tune on an on-going basis. It demands that the owner ask around and learn the ins and outs of Opinel usage.

The SAK is a great knife to give at Christmas. The Opinel is best given to people that you know have the stomach and ability to deal with it.

You might think by what I've written that I don't like Opinels. It turns out that it's my most commonly carried knife, second only to the Leatherman Micra. Opinel's 12C27 is hardened much harder than Victorinox's and the convex geometry of the blade is better for my uses. I also have big hands and prefer a larger single blade knife to a small slip joint of any kind. The joint on the Opinel is easily among the most rugged that I've ever used and in contrast, I've busted up too many Victorinox products. But then again, I have also have a very, very high tolerance for fiddling with things. I use klister on my my XC skis. I build bicycle wheels. I'm not put off by the fiddle factor of the Opinel. I embrace it.

This said, sometimes I get bored of the Opinel. So, I'll carry this instead.
Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

Or some other single blade knife of my whim's choosing. But you'll note that I still have my Micra with me. That's because my Micra can beat up your honor roll Victorinox Classic.

Untitled by Pinnah, on Flickr

 

[Ken44]

Victorinox SAK by a long shot for me. The precision they put out for the price is amazing, IMO.
I like the ALOX models, and I think the Cadet is my favorite as I never go anywhere without it.

An Opinel is just another single bladed knife, and one that I have no desire to own another of.
For me anyway, there are far better options out there in this category. I liked the blade, and that was about it. Didn't care for any other feature of the knives.
They are a great value, but I don't mind paying more to get a better single bladed knife.

But, if you happen to be a Hipster you must have an Opinel.
Kidding about that, but if that group did rally around one type of knife the Opinel would be it, kind of like how PBR is their beer of choice
It gets the job done at a really great price.

 

[pinnah]

But, if you happen to be a Hipster you must have an Opinel.
Kidding about that, but if that group did rally around one type of knife the Opinel would be it, kind of like how PBR is their beer of choice

ROTFL.

So...

Victorinox is to Miller Lite as Opinel is to PBR.

I can live with that.

 

[_Wraith]

I think I prefer to carry a SAK for all the many uses mentioned, but that doesn't mean I don't love my Opinel.
Thanks again for all the replies.

 

[dogstar]

They are both excellent knives, and insane values when you consider the price. Get both.

I used to carry a Svord Mini Peasant, but now I carry a Victorinox Bantam because I've got more gadgets in my pocket and space is at a premium. On a camping trip this summer, I forgot my spork, so I carved a spoon out of a redwood branch with my Bantam to eat breakfast. I trust the SAK 100%.

 

[BITEME]

Sorry brother no comparison,SAK is tops ,tools,refined,slim carry (if thats your thing)tons of colors, awesome craftsmanship.....

 

[SpydrMan]

Victorinox Pioneer. That's all I have to say about that.

 

[Frisky]

As much as I love my Opinels, my next knife will be a SAK Farmer. For my purposes, it's the best everyday carry SAK. I use the saw almost as much as the main blade.

Joe

 

[_Wraith]

As much as I love my Opinels, my next knife will be a SAK Farmer. For my purposes, it's the best everyday carry SAK. I use the saw almost as much as the main blade.

Joe

I think I might pick up a Farmer as well. I have been eyeing it off for a few months now.

 

[Chris Larrikin]

On any given day I will probably be carrying either an Opinel no.8 (either a carbon or a stainless spear-point) or a SAK (Explorer). For me it depends what I'll be doing. If it's just to take to work It'll probably be the Opinel, because chances are I'll only be using it to slice my apple or do a bit of light food prep in the meal room. The Opinel is a better cutter. But If I'm going to be outside etc I'll probably take the SAK because it has more functions (of which the scissors and screw driver get the most use for me). They're both go-to knives for around the house, although admittedly the SAK is mostly limited to being a screwdriver (the Explorer has the phillips head on the end, where it belongs).
Edit: I take the Explorer to my in-laws, because the bottle opener is useful for beers with the father-in-law

One observation though; I always WISH I could be taking the Opinel. It's more comfortable in my pocket, more comfortable to hold, cuts better and I think a more pleasing aesthetic design.

 

[bt93]

You gotta go with SAK. As far as Alox, those don't come with the tweezers or toothpick. The tweezers has pulled many slivers and the toothpick is good at poking recessed things (never picked my teeth with it though).
I know most people carry pocket knives with 1-4 blades and trash a blade trying to use as a screwdriver, with a SAK you get a screwdriver. The Opinels look nice but I've never owned one myself. If it doesn't have at least a screwdriver and a bottle opener, it's not going into my pocket. I have and Explorer Plus which also comes with a pen, hard to write with unless it's all you have, then you're real glad you have it.
I carried a Buck Spitfire for 2 weeks and well, no screwdriver so it sucked. Grabbed my SAK and the Spitfire is gathering dust. I thought of getting a Sebenza for myself after all my med stuff is done, no screwdriver, no way.

 

[vanslem6]

Victorinox is to Miller Lite as Opinel is to PBR.

I can live with that.

Now it all makes sense - I don't own either brand.

I also like your 'Micra' suggestion (if that's what it was, lol). If I needed some little tools I'd grab one of those or a Squirt. I'm definitely leaving it in the car or something though and not lugging it around. The emptier my pockets, the better.

 

[nemesis]

SAK is the winner for me.... They have a thin blade that I like for food on the go, a couple tools that come in handy. It compliments my frame lock hard use blade. While the opinel just slices well

 

[Hacked]

I personally carry two Victorinox SAKs every day. A Victorinox Pioneer and Jetsetter III. I agree with what others have said about becoming accustomed to having the awl, and drivers available ontop of the knife. I've also found tweezers, small scissors, and a small philips head driver to be very handy.

That said I've been meaning to pick up an Opinel for some time. I remember a couple of years ago talking with a french student about my Mora Classic that I take camping. She was surprised to see me using a fixed blade and began to describe the knife her father always used. I soon realized that she was describing an Opinel. So I pulled up a picture and sure enough she confirmed. Apparently they are extremely common over in France. No surprise but still an interesting conversation for a sharps enthusiast like me.

 

[Hacked]

Victorinox is to Miller Lite as Opinel is to PBR.

I can live with that.

Nope, nope, nope, nope if we're comparing anything to "beers" (lets be honest they aren't beer) like Miller, PBR, Budweiser and so on it will need to be knife brands strictly sold at the same gas stations that sell those sad excuses for beer.

 

[pinnah]

Hacked, I was reflecting on this over the weeken while backpacking with my son. I took a Mora Companion instead of my normal carry of an Opinel.

For me, hiking means hip belts which means a fixed blade goes in the pack. In camp, I got frustrated having the knife clanging around on my hip or frustrated that I didn't have it on me because j got fed up and took it off. For me and my style of hiking and camping, I prefer a pocket knife.

Do I prefer a longer blade for food prep. Among the SAKs, the only one I would carry camping is the 111mm frame.

The top extending pole of my MegaMid (which I need to recoat btw) got jammed in this trip. I was able to get enough purchase on the pole part with the Squirt PS4.

The Opinel and PS4 combo remains my go to backpacking combo for this reason.

For EDC I use big scissors more so the Micra replaces the Squirt.