stiff opinels

R

repro

Joined
Jun 20, 2007
Messages
70
i got my first opinel folder and the blade pivot is very stiff and hard to open without another knife, my fingernail isnt strong enough to pick it open. do they loosen up over time or should i do something to fix it?
 
Hi repro,

I have two opinels but they are not as stiff as yours. As far as I know, quality control is not very high on Opinel's priority list so there can easily be huge differences from knife to knife. I oil the pivots regulary, that seems to do them good. Since the pivot is turning in wood, I would expect that the humidity of the handle could also play a role. A little test with a hairdryer maybe?

Good luck,
Akos
 
be sure that the lock is "off" hold the knife by the pivot and slap the "toe" of the handle into your palm or a semi hard surface - that should "pop" the tip enough to get a grip on it - I've had the same problem in intense humidity when the wood swells... even after years of use.... good luck - Opies are a great knife for the price!
Peace
Revvie
 
I've had Opinels go from loose enough to swing open under gravity alone to too tight to open without pliers and back depending on humidity. Generally, it's pretty dry around here, and they tend to be a bit loose for my taste. Usually oiling the pivot swells the wood enough to tighten them up.
 
Its most likely water. I once dropped my opinel in water for 5 seconds and the pivot was very tight for 2-3 days afterwards. Try drying it out and see.
 
I've similar experience, not only with opening an Opinel, but also closing it as well -- the little rascal blade just does not seem to willingly close.

People said this is due to humidity; but doesn't this run counter to the argument that you should oil the pivot to smoothen the knife because the oil will also get into the wood?:confused:
 
It's a summer/humidity thing. In have Opinels that can be a real PIA in the Summer, but will basically drop open in the Summer. It's because the wood exp-ands with the humidity- kind of like house doors that are more difficult to close in the summer. There is a poster here, jackknife, who seals his Opinels to prevent this from happening. He has posted about it before.
 
It's just 'cause you live in a humid region.
I live in an arid place and they work great unless they soak up water. Then you have to use pliers to open them, until they dry out. Which they do, then work fine. My wife's from Costa Rica (Central America, very humid). We took one there (her favorite knife) and the humidity made it so you had to open it with pliers, and it didn't even get wet.
 
Stiff openings?
Not a problem unknown by its makers...
Opinel FAQ.
-http://www.opinel.com/www-faq-64-UK.html
And also try the opinel-museum site for some solutions.
-http://www.opinel-musee.com/uk/couteau03.htm
Besides it is this very "tap-to-open" method what gives the Opinel it's rugged 'n rustic character.
Or there was this guy who drilled the blade and parts of the handle just so to affix thumb studs... And that's only if you have use of a drill!
-http://l2i.org/Opinel2.jpg
 
I had the same problem once. But it was working flawlesly once it dried. Wood swells, thats all we need to know!

I am thinking about getting an opinel blade knife just to disasemble it, use the blade and fit it to some blue micarta scales... mmm. That should fix the sticking blade problem for ever!

Mikel
 
Mikel_24 said:
I had the same problem once. But it was working flawlesly once it dried. Wood swells, thats all we need to know!

I am thinking about getting an opinel blade knife just to disasemble it, use the blade and fit it to some blue micarta scales... mmm. That should fix the sticking blade problem for ever!

Mikel
Click to expand...

You know, I remember seeing a Brevette lock knife at a gunshow within the past six months. I forget if it was made bt Opinel or if it was a clone, but by golly it had a synthetic blue handle on it. I almost bought it, but didn't- largely because I thought it was over priced.
 
Many of them are rather stiff when new, and living in New Mexico it's not an issue of humidity. It's just a natural function of the wood handles. The knife should loosen up with use as the wood is compressed and worn.
 
Opinels are a great knife, they just need some attention when you first get them to make them more water/moisture resistant.

Take off the locking ring with a pair of snmall needle nose pliers, using the pliers in reverse to spread open the ring till you can slip it off. Now sand down the awlfull finish Opinel puts on them and when you finish the final smoothing out with 500 paper/0000 steel wool, finish with the Minwax stain and sealer of choice. When it has set for a couple days to a week, make the final finish Helmsman Spar Urathane. Two light coats with a very light sanding in between. Oh, and when you sand it, make sure you're getting down in the blade slot, and around the pivot area. Tape off the blade and move it to 90 degrees to sand around it. Make sure you take down the amount of wood around the blade pivot. Use a pipe cleaner to get the sealer down in the blade slot and around the pivot.

I used to use alot of linseed oil to finish, but it was very time consuming, and did not do as good a job. With the knife finished in the above method, I've tested them out by leaving them in a glass of water for 15 to 20 minutes, and was still able to open and close them. Durring the summer, we do alot of kayaking, and my Opinel is in my shorts pocket alot. Theres been times water has slopped over the side of the cockpit in windy choppy conditions and made my shorts wet. Later at lunch, I could still open my Opinel. It may get a little stiff, but even after being soaked it can still be pulled open.

I had the chance to speak with some real French guys, and they just take some vasoline on a toothpick and lube the pivot with that. Simple and crude, but effective.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top