Sebenza vs. Opinel?

T

tirod3

Joined
Jun 27, 2006
Messages
1,700
I should post this on April 1st. :D

I have an Opinel ring lock knife and have been thinking of buying a Sebenza to replace it. Some issues come to mind I thought could be explored:

The Sebenza is supposed to be a good knife, expensive, high quality, and very carefully made to the best standards of fit and finish in the business for a production knife. How does that help in cutting? The Opinel locks up solid, and even has a self adjusting feature that has allowed literally hundreds of thousands of users worldwide to enjoy them for decades. Isn't that just as good?

No doubt the titanium frame is more durable, stronger, and thinner to carry, plus has the clip option, but isn't the Opinel just as light - and it's made from a renewable resource. Titanium requires an immense amount of electrical energy to refine, shape, and finish, resulting in a huge carbon footprint. How do we offset that?

The Opinel's simple carbon steel blade is no match for the Sebenza's high alloy S30V - but isn't the cutting ability comparable, considering edge geometry and ease of resharpening? Considering the overall cost factor, wouldn't one hundred Opinels last longer than one Sebenza, giving better service during the owner's lifetime - and the same kind of warranty service? After all, maker's just include the cost of a replacement in the price.

In these times of downsizing, frugality, etc., shouldn't we as knife users be the leading edge in carry of inexpensive blades? One Opinel in the pocket sure does leave a few tankfuls of gas in the wallet - and even may put food on the table for those of us needing to taper off our addictions. Like a smoker's patch, perhaps an Opinel, even if a new one every month, could go a long way to getting us off the blades. The Sebenza? C'mon, it's like crack to addicts like us. You can pretend, or be in denial, even change the name to any other titanium framelock, but owning them and buying more is mainlining. Let's finally be open about that.

Opinels. We should give thanks we have an answer. Let's embrace the light and turn from the dark side.
 
Nothing quite as wonderful as a great slicer. While I haven't handled a Sebenza (yet), those Opinels really are addicting. With the wooden handles, one can whittle it down and change it up however. I gave mine an easy-open notch :D
 
Call me stuborn. You have good points, but I'll keep my Sebenza anyhow.
 
Became an Opinel dealer recently? :D

Good post! I have 2 Sebenzas and no opinels. I'm putting one on my list now though!
 
Don't forget that come Halloween time, the Opinel is the better tool than the Sebenza for carving pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns. Really.
 
I have a French Marjaq folder on my desk (similar to the Opinel Ring Lock Knife). I use it for food cutting only.

IMO it will work fine for most cutting tasks, but reminds me of a folding kitchen knife. The ring lock is stamped steel with two small screws as guides. The weakest link could be the pivot/lock combination, but I never abused it.

The Opinel would serve in the same fashion as any high quality , low cost tool. But we already know we're not in this hobby for cost effective cutting implements. If I was , I would have stopped buying knives in the 1980's after getting my first Buck 110.
 
The slight difference being- Opinels totally suck. And Sebenzas are some of the nicest knives on the planet.

As for the "carbon footprint" thing, I see it as a personal challenge to have the biggest "carbon footprint" possible. The Sebenza taking more energy to produce is a bonus for me. If I could get a bald eagle-beak thumbstud and a baby seal-face lanyard, I would.
 
Well, treating this under the supposition that you are on the level, you have a point.

I've had 5 Sebenzas. All different configurations and trim levels. Personally, for the money I'd rather have other things, and so I got rid of all of my Sebenzas. Personally they just never did anything for me- though I understand the appeal they have for PLENTY of other folks. If I were to get a Chris Reeve knife these days it would be a Mnandi as those are different and quite nice.

I think it will come down to a personal choice thing. Some people like the Prius, while other people point out the irony of proclaiming that automobile to be the be-all-and-end-all of the "save the earth" market when it contains batteries made from some of the most toxic substances on the planet.

You can get there in a ford, or a Bugati. Either way, you get there. Its just a matter of what statement you want to make while you're taking the journey.

At least, that's how I see it.
 
No doubt I expected someone to object the ring lock on an Opinel to be weak. So, I'll ask - send me your Sebenza and I'll post a test video on youtube batoning firewood with them both. Admittedly, it's abusive, but the Opinel will pass with flying colors simply because I can use the broken blade to whittle a new handle!

No Sebenza can match that performance! I'm sure that a Sebenza batoned thru firewood with a ten pound hand sledge will also fail - and be irreparably destroyed. But, hey, it's not mine, no loss to me. I'll still have a somewhat useful working knife in a day or two - and if that firewood is a nice piece of purpleheart or phillipine mahoghany, it'll even look better. I'll be out a sympathy card and postage to the Sebenza owner, but what price knowledge? It's my contribution. CRK will replace it anyway, right?

Just to be fair, I believe a Large Classic with rebated tip would be the closest version for comparison. As for grip, no fancy graphics, so as to allow a fair comparison for hot spots, etc. The ten pound sledge is dimpled enough, and I don't want to have to duplicate the pattern on the Opinel. Someone would cry foul it was customized and I threw the test.

UPS Ground is fine, no rush.
 
the two knives are very different beasts.
sebenzas are basically mid-to-hard use folders, built with higher end matiriels, and fitted more closely than manny hard use knives.

the opinel knives and lighter use knives, of a previous age. good for cutting food and lighter matierials, great as a whittler, but not designed to take the kind of abuse that the sebenza can take, and thier not as closely fitted.
and the handles can swell if they get wet, jamming the knife.
 
You offset the lack of an Opinels carbon footprint by burning at least three old growth trees. Simple, next question:D

Chuck
 
Tirod3- That's pretty big talk. I'd enjoy watching the video of you trying to whittle a useful handle out of purpleheart with the busted-off blade from an Opinel.

You can cut stuff with the lid off of a tin can, too. Comparing an Opinel to a Sebenza is like comparing a sundial made from a pen jabbed into a frisbee to an Omega Speedmaster. They both tell time, right?
 
tirod3 said:
No doubt I expected someone to object the ring lock on an Opinel to be weak. So, I'll ask - send me your Sebenza and I'll post a test video on youtube batoning firewood with them both. Admittedly, it's abusive, but the Opinel will pass with flying colors simply because I can use the broken blade to whittle a new handle!

No Sebenza can match that performance! I'm sure that a Sebenza batoned thru firewood with a ten pound hand sledge will also fail - and be irreparably destroyed. But, hey, it's not mine, no loss to me. I'll still have a somewhat useful working knife in a day or two - and if that firewood is a nice piece of purpleheart or phillipine mahoghany, it'll even look better. I'll be out a sympathy card and postage to the Sebenza owner, but what price knowledge? It's my contribution. CRK will replace it anyway, right?

Just to be fair, I believe a Large Classic with rebated tip would be the closest version for comparison. As for grip, no fancy graphics, so as to allow a fair comparison for hot spots, etc. The ten pound sledge is dimpled enough, and I don't want to have to duplicate the pattern on the Opinel. Someone would cry foul it was customized and I threw the test.

UPS Ground is fine, no rush.
Click to expand...

So it's a free Sebenza you want.....now everything becomes clear.
 
Can some please explain how a closely fitted knife has superior cutting ability? I certainly admit a rock has more cutting ability than a jammed Opinel. Perhaps some comparison shots of the loosely fitted Opinel and tightly constructed Sebenza could explain where the edge performance is improved.

From previous posts here on Sebenzas, I may not need to use the 10 pound sledge on it, as the superior cutting ability should allow me to use simple hand pressure on the sample white oak cordwood I've selected. Or so I'm led to believe.

Anyone with pics of their Sebenza's cutting wire from their truck axles or prying open safe doors? I'm open to some hard use stories.
 
Ah, the considerations are interesting but where are the two knives made? Reminds me of all the people bemoaning the GM/Chrysler situation while they are driving Japanese cars!
 
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