Soddie or Opinel?

Under normal day to day use, they will work out just fine. I've used them on and off since I bought my first one in 1982.

But, under abnormal use, they can be unreliable, such as an emergency situation. I will more than grant you the circumstances that Danny broke his was not normal. His wife was down with a broken ankle, it was a wet heavy snow falling, and we were making a litter to carry her out. We were notching a couple of sapplings to bend and break off as Mr. van had tought, and Danny got a bit carried away with how hard to cut. The wood handle broke off even with the step down shoulder were it's turned down for the bolster. Abnormal use? most definatly.

I had a number 8 crack at the same point with the crack radiating out from the shoulder step. I still like them, but in an edc pocket knife, one never knows what may happen before nightfall and being home safe. I just feel better carrying stuff that I know can take a bit of outright abuse if need be.

Like the bumper sticker; stuff happens.:D
 
No-one around here is a bigger fan of the Opinel than me but even I'll admit they definitely fall a bit short in the "hard use" category. Still EDC 'em tho'.:D
 
No matter how many whizbang goodies I buy, the #6 is what ends up in my pocket more often than not. If I need something more substantial I'll grab my Anza, though my CV Cases do seem to find their ways into my rotation every once and a while.
 
jackknife said:
Under normal day to day use, they will work out just fine. I've used them on and off since I bought my first one in 1982.

But, under abnormal use, they can be unreliable, such as an emergency situation...
...Like the bumper sticker; stuff happens.:D
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Yes.

And I would not choose to carry a Soddie for abnormal use.
 
puukkoman said:
Easy, boys, everybody sit back down and have a cigarette. We're all friends here. ;)
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Yes the Soddie is a stronger knife

But a little passion about this one.

In 80 I cycled from London to Brittany in France.
I attended an Akidio Summer Camp, and my Sensai from NYC was one of the main teachers.
Before crossing the Channel, at the ferry in Plymouth, I gave some very minor help to a French family.
As the camp ended, this couple turn up at the camp.
They searched me down, and came to offer me their hospitality.
I ended up staying a month in their 14th century farmhouse that they were renovating.
I did the electrical work and built the window frames to their house.

In rural Brittany, all the workers carried an Opinel.
Used for work and food.
Cutting cement bags and the cheese for the bread.
The Opinel was just there

And as a parting gift, they gave me an Opinel.
 
They are both classic folders. Both will perform well. Pick your fav. Me? Soddie with a pocket clip.
 
Opinel is an at home EDC where there are sturdier tools close at hand should they be needed IMHO.
 
Soddie for me. Need to feel some weight and heft. There's just a simplicity about a soddie that is very charming. Single blade, plain handle, no lock, no nonsense. Just a good, hard working, reliable knife that will hang with any knife for normal daily chores.
 
I bought an opinel just to see what all the fuss was about. I have it laying out in my work area in the garage and have not found myself reaching for it when I need a knife. I guess I was not impressed with it as it seems a little light. maybe I will make myself use it so I can put the issue to rest.
 
mp510 said:
Not that I am aware of.
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Had to make a wharncliffe of my own:
haven't finished the handle yet.
DSCF0474.jpg

DSCF0476.jpg

DSCF0475.jpg
 
I love my Opinels, they are simple and plenty durable for me. I really like the Soddies also, but the Opinels have better F+F, lower price tag, lighter weight, simple design (even more so than the soddie), they cut better and pack more blade into the handle...IMO. They are also easily customizable. I usually use a No. 8 (carbon of course), but I picked up a No.6 carbon today and I really like the size, it is one mean slicer. I think I will order a No.7 so I can have all my bases covered;)
 
Morablades said:
Had to make a wharncliffe of my own:
haven't finished the handle yet.

DSCF0475.jpg
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Nice Morablades. Now that we are on to customizing Opinels:D--

I've been toying with the idea of customizing an Opinel but don't own one yet and am not sure where to start in order to get the features I need: a carbon blade with a 2-3" straight edge and blade height between 12-14mm. From what I've gleaned online the blades are a bit higher than that.
Perhaps one of you could suggest a reasonable choice.

Does anyone know if the shorter blades are lower in height?
 
annr said:
Nice Morablades. Now that we are on to customizing Opinels:D--

I've been toying with the idea of customizing an Opinel but don't own one yet and am not sure where to start in order to get the features I need: a carbon blade with a 2-3" straight edge and blade height between 12-14mm. From what I've gleaned online the blades are a bit higher than that.
Perhaps one of you could suggest a reasonable choice.

Does anyone know if the shorter blades are lower in height?
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If you take your time I have found that you can pretty much mod any size Opinel to whatever you want. The steel and wood on them is easy to work. You would probably need maybe a 9 or a 10 in order to have enough slack to work with. I like to mod the 7 and 8 alot. Here is another that I did today. My new EDC.
DSCF0478.jpg

DSCF0477.jpg

DSCF0479.jpg
 
Of course there is one other option if you want the simplicity of the Opinel in a tougher, sturdier knife...the Cold Steel TwistMaster. Basically an updated Opinel, it has modern grip materials, stronger mechanism, and heavier blade. While dis-continued they are still easy to find for sale NIB.

twistmasterzb0.jpg
 
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