In 1982 I ran into my very first Opinel knife. I was at a Hudson Trail Outfitter store picking up a few backpacking odds and ends, when I saw a small display up near the register. Being an incurable knife knut, I bought one of course. A strange new kind of knife, I had to experiment. I was impressed with the slicing and dicing ability of this cheap low class worker, and I became a fan for a while. Then I drifted backto my trusty 301 stockman.
For the next 30 years, it was an on again, off again strange affair. The Opinel was finicky, needed some tinkering, had some quirks, and got put away again and again. But it got taken out, again and again. Like the ugly dog that got under your skin, I found that no matter what my current cutlery love was, the Opinel would sneak into my edc list. I soon collected more of them, because I kept giving them away. Back then the number 8 was 8.95, so it was easy to give. It was as easy to get another one, and I'd again sand it down, stain, linseed oil it, and carry it until I ran into someone who didn't have a knife an needed one. Then I'd miss having one, and pick up another, and the circle would begin again. I know there's a few members here that I've gifted one to, and they later told me how much they liked it.
First it was my 301 and the Opy. These days it's my peanut and an Opy. This year, it's been exactly thirty years I've fooling around wth them, and most people I know now have one. Several years ago, for a Valentines day gift, I gave my better half, Karen, one that had the factory hearts all over it, and today, years later she still carries it in her purse as her whatever knife. Karen loves heart designs and she has the Tiffany heart tag necklace, the Tiffany heart tag bracelet, and a heart motif Opinel. She loves to show it off when someone asks about the strange looking knife. I had given it two coats of clear Helmsman Spar Urathane on the handle and I keep the joint greased for her. She's the only lady I know that carries two knives, her little classic on her keyring, and the Opinel in her purse.
It's strange how much a low priced weird design knife can become a habit. Maybe it's the funcky old time looks and design that draw me. I know few knives cut like an Opinel. And the insane light weight of the thing make it an easy carry knife even in Dockers. And away from home, it makes a great kitchen knife. I love my sister in law, Diane, and think she's the best sis in law one can have, but Di will not have a real sharp knife in her kitchen. So if I know that we're going over Di's, I make sure I have a spare Opy on me, knowing that as one of the cooks in the family, I will end up helping Di in the kitchen. Making a meal from scratch, the Opinel slices and dices everything well. In my own kitchen, the number 10 slim Opinel makes a great knife to debone a chicken or butterfly a good size fish.
For a humble working knife, the Opinel is an unknown and underestimated factor in the knife world. Out in the field, it makes a decent woods knife and campsite tool. I've used mine to whittle spare tent pegs, trim away brush, and as a yard and garden knife. I'm wondering if the mundane Opinel is maybe the VW bug of the knife world. Sometimes a funky old time design just works.
Carl.
For the next 30 years, it was an on again, off again strange affair. The Opinel was finicky, needed some tinkering, had some quirks, and got put away again and again. But it got taken out, again and again. Like the ugly dog that got under your skin, I found that no matter what my current cutlery love was, the Opinel would sneak into my edc list. I soon collected more of them, because I kept giving them away. Back then the number 8 was 8.95, so it was easy to give. It was as easy to get another one, and I'd again sand it down, stain, linseed oil it, and carry it until I ran into someone who didn't have a knife an needed one. Then I'd miss having one, and pick up another, and the circle would begin again. I know there's a few members here that I've gifted one to, and they later told me how much they liked it.
First it was my 301 and the Opy. These days it's my peanut and an Opy. This year, it's been exactly thirty years I've fooling around wth them, and most people I know now have one. Several years ago, for a Valentines day gift, I gave my better half, Karen, one that had the factory hearts all over it, and today, years later she still carries it in her purse as her whatever knife. Karen loves heart designs and she has the Tiffany heart tag necklace, the Tiffany heart tag bracelet, and a heart motif Opinel. She loves to show it off when someone asks about the strange looking knife. I had given it two coats of clear Helmsman Spar Urathane on the handle and I keep the joint greased for her. She's the only lady I know that carries two knives, her little classic on her keyring, and the Opinel in her purse.
It's strange how much a low priced weird design knife can become a habit. Maybe it's the funcky old time looks and design that draw me. I know few knives cut like an Opinel. And the insane light weight of the thing make it an easy carry knife even in Dockers. And away from home, it makes a great kitchen knife. I love my sister in law, Diane, and think she's the best sis in law one can have, but Di will not have a real sharp knife in her kitchen. So if I know that we're going over Di's, I make sure I have a spare Opy on me, knowing that as one of the cooks in the family, I will end up helping Di in the kitchen. Making a meal from scratch, the Opinel slices and dices everything well. In my own kitchen, the number 10 slim Opinel makes a great knife to debone a chicken or butterfly a good size fish.
For a humble working knife, the Opinel is an unknown and underestimated factor in the knife world. Out in the field, it makes a decent woods knife and campsite tool. I've used mine to whittle spare tent pegs, trim away brush, and as a yard and garden knife. I'm wondering if the mundane Opinel is maybe the VW bug of the knife world. Sometimes a funky old time design just works.
Carl.
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Her words lol
