Teach me about Opinels.

L

lachy

Joined
Dec 16, 2009
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136
Sorry if theres already been a thread (or a few threads) on Opinels, but being a non-paying member its hard to find particular threads.

Ok so Im looking at buying an Opinel, but I dont really know much about them, so I have a few questions.

1. Are all their blades made from carbon steel?
2. Is this good?
3. Which one should I get (my choices are limited to 6, 9, 10 and 12)?
4. Are the higher-end numbers of the knives (Opinel 9, 10, 12 etc) really so big? On a website I read the measurements, got out the measuring tape and the 12 is something like 11 inches? Is this true or some kind of mistake?


The knives arent going to be used very hard, I just figured that hey, they're cheap and everyone likes them, I might as well try them out. Also feel free to give me some extra information on them aswell. Thanks in advance!
 
1. For the most part they are carbon steel
2. This is a very ggod thing, they take a razor edge easily and hold it well
3. Depends on how you want to carry it, the larger carry well in a back pocket, the smaller in a front pocket
4. They go from very small to very large...in the pic is a #1 and a #13 (which is stainless btw)

opi1copy.jpg
 
Number 12 is definitely too big for normal use. I have an 8 and like it. The vibro-lock does have it's issues, but I still like it.
I would recommend 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. 8 in particular.
 
1. Are all their blades made from carbon steel?

They offer carbon steel and a good using stainless (Inox). Mine is stainless, but I would recomend the carbon steel. It's the easiest knife to sharpen that I own. If the stainless is that good, the carbon must be mind blowing.

2. Is this good?
I own a CV Case peaunut and a sodbuster JR. Yes, carbon steel is good. It can rust though, and the blades will patina (darken) with use.

3. Which one should I get (my choices are limited to 6, 9, 10 and 12)?
both the 6 and the 9

4. Are the higher-end numbers of the knives (Opinel 9, 10, 12 etc) really so big? On a website I read the measurements, got out the measuring tape and the 12 is something like 11 inches? Is this true or some kind of mistake?

truly awesome.


mine's a 7:

http://s968.photobucket.com/albums/ae164/spcrex/?action=view&current=DSC04108.jpg&newest=1

http://s968.photobucket.com/albums/ae164/spcrex/?action=view&current=DSC04110.jpg&newest=1
 
Thanks guys!
I think I'll get a 9 first, then a 6 later on and then maybe a 12 or 13 if I can find one :).
 
The 9 is a good cheap general use folder, somewhat bigger than average but still very usable.
The 12 is an excellent outdoor/travel cooking folder, I use it often for that. It's indeed quite big for general carry and if you have it in your front pocket, some girls might ask "Is that an Opinel in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?".
6 is a smaller gentlemeny cheap edc.
I would do an effort to find a 7 or 8 - they also exist in several handle finishes.
Carbon or stainless is a matter of preference. I have both. When traveling or doing food-related cutting I do prefer the stainless models.
If you want to see several of them in the hand, I humbly suggest you to visit my list of knife reviews on YouTube, and then have a look at clips 24, 40 and 74.
 
isnt the 13 pretty much for novelty purposes only?
or can you really trust a folding machete?

i have a 6 and an 8
i'd like to try a 7
 
FTO_dude said:
isnt the 13 pretty much for novelty purposes only?
or can you really trust a folding machete?

i have a 6 and an 8
i'd like to try a 7
Click to expand...

The 13 is only a collectors item, I wouldn't use an Opinel for the heavy duty stuff.
 
eygen said:
The 13 is only a collectors item, I wouldn't use an Opinel for the heavy duty stuff.
Click to expand...

I would, and do. I've abused a #6 to within an inch of its life, used an #8 hard until it actually caught fire in our workshop (caught some weld splatter), and the #9 is basically a sodbuster with a thicker handle.
 
lachy said:
Thanks guys!
I think I'll get a 9 first, then a 6 later on and then maybe a 12 or 13 if I can find one :).
Click to expand...

The 9 is nice - decent size while not overly big. The 6 is pretty good too - small but useful.

I have a 4, 6, 8 & 9 - they are all great for the price. They all sharpen REALLY easily to 'scary sharp', from new just a couple of minutes on a strop and they are sharp like a razor.
 
The small Cold Steel TwistMasters are a very pocket friendly size as well and can still be found online...sometimes at a bargain price. Their blades are heavier than an Opinels and being made of synthetic the handles don't swell when gotten wet. They had 4 blade choices as well...clip, drop, bowie, and tanto.

medtwist.jpg


Here is the large and small next to each other...bear in mind the large is the same size as a #12 Opinel

twistsize.jpg
 
lachy said:
Thanks guys!
I think I'll get a 9 first, then a 6 later on and then maybe a 12 or 13 if I can find one :).
Click to expand...

Opinel must be one of the most under-rated knife brands around. Not the strongest, or fastest to deploy and definitely not prybars, but easy to maintain and one of the best slicers around. The handles of the traditional Opinel range are arguably the easiest to customise/pimp

Depending on your uses, 6 to 9 are good for EDC. I have a preloved 40yo #9 that I bought for $5, the pivot pin was worn out so I replaced it (~20 min) and now she's as tight as new - it is the only one of the Opies in my collection that I actually carry and use.

There is no significant difference between the carbon and stainless versions in performance, although the carbon is supposed to be easier to sharpen with the potential to rust being the trade off. All the traditional style Opinels have blades that are are convex edged for strength, edge retention and ease of sharpening

The #10 'filleters' are similar in shape to the Laguiole's. I find this style more pleasing aesthetically but the blades are very thin and flexible. The most expensive Opinel I have is the #10 filleter in blond horn

The #12 and the similarily sized folding saw make a great lightweight camping duo but IMO are too big for pocket carry - I had a custom toolpouch made for my duo. http://s623.photobucket.com/albums/...view&current=TwinPouchforNo12OpinelandSaw.jpg

You can also combine the saw and #12 blades on the one handle - if you can read Frenc, here is a tutorial on how to do this.
http://fpanda.free.fr/punbb/viewtopic.php?id=651
 
antonio_luiz said:
I have a preloved 40yo #9 that I bought for $5, the pivot pin was worn out so I replaced it (~20 min) and now she's as tight as new - it is the only one of the Opies in my collection that I actually carry and use.
Click to expand...

How did you get the ring-lock off and back on without messing it up?

I was thinking about getting a couple of spares to play around with, but can't figure how to remove and re-install the lock other than just prying it off.
 
I got a carbon number 6 a few months ago and it's become my go to knife around the house.

It's easy to sharpen and holds a good edge decently long for such a thin blade. Hard to go wrong with one for less than $8.

IMG_0480.jpg
 
Each size/ shape is very useful depending on your intent. I am trying to collect them all.

I like the stainless just as much as the carbon. Since the knives are thin they are very easy to sharpen IMHO.
 
Steve_Holt said:
How did you get the ring-lock off and back on without messing it up?
Click to expand...

I'm sure there's a correct way of doing it but this worked for me. The pivot pin is the only thing keeping the lock on. I held the handle in a soft-jaw vice and then used a small screwdriver to spring it open a little to clear the pivot pin, and a larger flat screwdriver to prise the ring off. When done I just used a piece of wood to protect it and tapped it back in taking care to open it out a little with a small screwdriver as it came to the pivot pin.
 
The #10 #6 and #2 (with leather keyring sheath.)

op1.jpg


op2.jpg



The #6 compared to some other small knives.

small.jpg



.
 
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