Thoughts on Opinel knives?

J

jeff_c

Joined
Jun 9, 2009
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What do you all think about Opinel? I have a No 6 and a No 10. They were at the bottom of my knife box. I hadnt touched them in years.

Then I noticed sevearl of the "buscraft" stores carry them. I asked on another site and realized they are carbon steel.

They do throw a heck of a spark with a misch metal sparker.

What do you think about Opinel as a bushcraft folder?
 
Opinel is a great brand. I really love their steel. The problem with asking it on this forum is that even though it is a great user, hardly anyone carries it because they have a billion other folding knives that they use. They are great, worth the pawing, but seem to always end up more or less, at the bottom of the knife box! And that isn't because they are bad, and for gosh sakes they probably hold an edge better than some of the other folding blades out there. They be like farm trucks. Worth it when you got it and dependable as a backup! I use them as loaner tools for craft projects with kids.

On a side note, if anyone has any old moras of ANY type they want to donate to the non-profit I work for, we would LOVE that. I'm starting to show the kids that they can use these things a hundred different ways. Clippers seem to be popular with the forgotten knife bunch too.
 
Not all Opinels are carbon, but some are. I have a couple, and I occasionally take them with me. In fact, this Sunday I used one to cut a hamburger in half (#10) and the people in the restaurant were whispering about me using it. I guess they saw it as intimidating.
 
TheGame said:
Not all Opinels are carbon, but some are. I have a couple, and I occasionally take them with me. In fact, this Sunday I used one to cut a hamburger in half (#10) and the people in the restaurant were whispering about me using it. I guess they saw it as intimidating.
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True, in my research they make a Stainless version as well.

LOL Like I said, I have a 10... it is a little big LOL!!!
 
TheGame said:
Not all Opinels are carbon, but some are. I have a couple, and I occasionally take them with me. In fact, this Sunday I used one to cut a hamburger in half (#10) and the people in the restaurant were whispering about me using it. I guess they saw it as intimidating.
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hehe that mad-man, using a knife to prepare food!

Thats one of my pet peaves...I understand that sheeple with no imagination might wonder why i have a knife if they happen to just see me carrying it about.

But if they observe me performing a cutting task and ask why I have it I don't know wether to scream or start laughing. It's like asking someone why they have a coat when it's cold out.
 
Joezilla said:
The problem with asking it on this forum is that even though it is a great user, hardly anyone carries it because they have a billion other folding knives that they use.
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Exactly my sentiments. My opinel folder sleeps in my toolbox, but I usually have another knife on my person that takes priority.
 
I hated the edge that came with my opinel but after putting a tiny convex on it it is my go to folder in the woods and around town
 
jeff_c said:
LOL Like I said, I have a 10... it is a little big LOL!!!
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Yes, it is big, but they don't look tacti-cool or anything. A wooden handle and all, I would have thought they wouldn't have thought that much of it.

Joben said:
hehe that mad-man, using a knife to prepare food!

Thats one of my pet peaves...I understand that sheeple with no imagination might wonder why i have a knife if they happen to just see me carrying it about.

But if they observe me performing a cutting task and ask why I have it I don't know wether to scream or start laughing. It's like asking someone why they have a coat when it's cold out.
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I honestly thought they were going to ask me why I had a knife, after they saw me using it. The knives that they give you aren't even the slightest sharp, and would have torn the burger apart.
 
Joben said:
hehe that mad-man, using a knife to prepare food!

Thats one of my pet peaves...I understand that sheeple with no imagination might wonder why i have a knife if they happen to just see me carrying it about.

But if they observe me performing a cutting task and ask why I have it I don't know wether to scream or start laughing. It's like asking someone why they have a coat when it's cold out.
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In the past, I've had people ask me "Why are you carrying a knife? Do you steal? Are you a cop?"

I pretty much laughed in their faces and told them it's better to have a knife and not need it, than to not have a knife and need it
neener.gif
 
I have a No.8 and find that it's easy to get a stupid sharp edge on it. It's tasked for use as a patch knife for when I shoot my muzzleloaders.
 
I think there the best available for price, have had them for years,skinned and butchered many a deer with one,take a wicked edge, and like i said cheap as chips :thumbup:

Bernie
 
I've got a #7 that I've abused for two years. It has tons of life left in it. I think it gets sharper when I cut things :D
 
I keep a No. 8 Carbon in a sheath on my EDC bag. Great little knife. :)
 
As everyone has said great knives for the money.

My father gave me one when I was about 6yrs old and a year and a half later I almost sliced my finger off! I was cutting carpet for my den and forgot to turn the locking collar :eek: down came the blade and off to hospital I went!

They can become a little stiff sometimes when the wood around the collar gets wet and swells. That's the only downside with them that I can think of.
 
ive got a no. 7, and It stays at the bottem of my maxspedition jumbo as a backup to my Bm grip, my SAK, and my Rc-3
 
Yeah, Joe summed it up pretty well I think. They're good knives and take a good edge, and certainly slice well. They're also cheap enough that you don't care to really use them. But versus something like a good SAK they don't offer much, and they just don't interest me too much. That in no way means they wouldn't make a good 'bushcraft' knife, they do. I just use other stuff I like more.
 
xtestifyx said:
In the past, I've had people ask me "Why are you carrying a knife? Do you steal? Are you a cop?"

I pretty much laughed in their faces and told them it's better to have a knife and not need it, than to not have a knife and need it
neener.gif
Click to expand...

rofl

wait...why would a thieves and cops in particular need knives...I don't follow the connection.
 
Good knives and great EDC blade. Only problem is their tendency to swell shut when dunked or in high humidity. That limits their use as a field blade substantially.
 
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