What Cuts as Well (or better) than an Opinel?

My laguiole cuts very well. It has a flat ground blade of 12c27. I haven't done any tests comparing it with an Opinel, but the Laguiole probably cuts better because its mirror polish induces less drag on a cut.

Of course, the Laguiole costs several times the Opinel.
 
I'm with Garageboy, the Spyderco Centofante III cuts incredibly well. The blade thickness is moderate, it is hollow ground, and Spyderco puts an excellent edge on the VG-10 blade. I usually carry a Victorinox Adventurer model SAK. It has a locking 3.25-inch blade that cuts as well as an Opinel.
 
PWork said:
Victorinox SAK.
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I agree with Paul - BUT :D
it needs to be qualified -

I found that the Opinel properly convex sharpened will in most cases out-cut a properly (standard) sharpened Victorinox SAK.

A more acute edge bevel on a SAK might do better - but because of the softer steel that edge probably might be damaged easier too.

However my Victorinox SAK does out-cut the Opinel in my limited ad-hoc experiement when its edge is convexed - where the final edge angle is only the normal 22.5deg each side (or 45deg inclusive).

I'm lazy so my SAK edge is is only really "partly" convexed, in that I've got rid of/merged the bevel shoulder and convexed only the bevel part of the blade
(I do know others who have fully convexed their SAK blade).

Sidebar - there is a slight possibility that a "partial" convexed edge might cut better than one that is fully convexed for my limited multi-layered paper and cardboard ad-hoc cutting tests - as the transition between the convexed part and the flat ground blade face may help "wedge" the material apart to allow the rest of the blade face to pass with less contact.

For a lot more details and photos as well as debate and those ad-hoc "tests" please see this thread:

Convexed Edge

Scientist_ConvexDtl1.jpg


--
Vincent

http://UnknownVT2005.cjb.net
http://UnknownVT.cjb.net
http://UnknownVincent.cjb.net
 
You can take a razor blade and slice through many materials more easily than your folding knives will, but is that cutting?

The Douk-Douk is more like the razor blade: the handle just covers the blade, it doesn't really give you much to hold on to. Laci Szabo sells the Douk-Douk at reasonable prices (on his EDGED page -- s.l.o.w loading).

The Opinel is inexpensive, comes in varied sizes for convenience, and has a reasonably comfortable handle for extended periods of work, even on resistent materials. But hundreds of common knives also cut well, especially given their heat treat and more wear-resistent steels.

I gather none of you have experienced the edges on Mr. Collucci's Sebenzas. :p
 
Scott Ridgeway said:
My EDC for the last three or four years has been a Benchmade 940. If I know I'm going to need a knife, I also take an Opinel. They cut like crazy and sharpen so easily. I love the 940 for the clip, the one handed convenience and the axis lock. I like the grip comfort and the cutting ability of the $10 Opinel better.

So--what other knives cut like an Opinel? The Spyderco Calipso has a good reputation. Others?

Scott
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Is your Opinel sharp enough to cleanly cut free hanging paper towels?
 
K.V. Collucci said:
I am not a believer in any knife cutting better than another. IMHO it all depends on how the knife is sharpened and at what angle it is sharpened at. Blade steel and heat treat aside, my Sebenza will cut just as well or better than your Opinel because I know how to sharpen it properly. I could also say the same for a piece of scrap metal. If I sharpen it properly it will cut just as well as well as any custom. Of course it won't hold an edge but it will be easy to resharpen. Your 940 will "out cut" your Opinel if you sharpen it properly.
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There needs to be a minimal set of properties for a steel to actual hold an edge for one cut. I have taken really low grade steels and they can't stay sharp for one cut through a piece of rope and just fold over during the cut, so they obviously can't cut well. You can grind a decent steel down to next to nothing, 0.005 at ~10 degrees included and it will cut cardboard, ropes, whittle woods all day long, try to just make one cut with that profile with scrap metal.

As for sharpness and edge geometry and cutting ability, take a 1/4" thick bowie with whatever edge profile you like and press it though a piece of thick cardboard, a turnip, or end wise through soft woods - now do the same with an Opinel. The Opinel could even be sharpened to a thicker and more obtuse edge or even left blunter and still out cut the bowie because the major source of counter force comes from the wedging action against the sides not the force directly on the edge. In fact on some materials the forces exerted against the edge are insignificant in comparison to the wedging forces against the primary grind.

As for Opinels, I have lots of knives which will out cut an Opinel, any custom maker should be able to make you one readily. Take an Opinel, make it out of a higher grade of steel, now run a hollow grind from the spine to the edge and sharpen it pretty much flat to the stone. It makes an Opinel look like a splitting axe. Spend some time in the archives of rec.knives where knives had edges 0.010" thick at *1/4" back* from the edge. As for cheaper, an Olfa knife readily out cuts it as well.


-Cliff
 
As for Opinels, I have lots of knives which will out cut an Opinel, any custom maker should be able to make you one readily. Take an Opinel, make it out of a higher grade of steel, now run a hollow grind from the spine to the edge and sharpen it pretty much flat to the stone.
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What a coincidence, I am doing exactly what you describe on a current project. I have a new #8 I have prepped, I popped of the lock ring, and pulled off the blade (it is held in by a peened pin). I have a high speed saw blade I will be reshaping and grinding with the profile you describe.

Obviously, this will be a light use knife only, but it should provide extreme performance, which is what I am after.

As to the original question, very few common knives will readily outcut a properly sharpened Opinel. I have radically reground SAKs (very thin convexed edges) that will equal Opinel peformance on light trhead or wood, but none that will significantly outcut a similiarly sharepned one.

On light thread a straight razor (again, several in my collection) will outcut an Opinel, but once you get into the "T" transition of the hollow on any thicker material, the Opinel pulls strongly ahead.

A single fresh razor blade will out cut (i.e. less pressure needed to cut) an Opinel on light thread, but has a much lower scope of work than the Opinel, but can be used easily in utility type knives.

I have some fillet knives that will outcut an Opinel, but these are very thin (under 1/16") with flat grinds *very* thin edges. Harder to carry in your pocket, but excellent for use in the kitchen.

Some of the old Gerber M2 steel (chrome covered) blades (about 1/16" full flat grind) will cut as well or slightly better than an Opinel with an equally optimal edge applied.

As well, I have a couple of old stockman, i.e. Schrade Old timer and the like, with the edges ground really thin that are close as well.

I think the Opinel sets a high standard for performance, and makes a fine comparison knife since it is cheap and readily available. It is also easy to modify to your preformance.
 
knifetester said:
I think the Opinel sets a high standard for performance, and makes a fine comparison knife since it is cheap and readily available. It is also easy to modify to your preformance.
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Yeah, it would be interesting to develop a semi-standard set of such knives for reference in various reviews. A bunch readily come to mind; Opinel, Bushman, Valiant Golok, HI khukuri, CU/7, Camp Tramp, Endura, etc. . Lots of different price ranges, but all are stand out and difficult to directly outperform in theirs, some you have to go massively higher.

Nice project on the Opinel, I just found out a local hobbiest maker does regrinding and I think rehardening of utility blades (the ones tradesmens frequently use). I have seen what he does and the cutting ability increase is extreme. A few of my friends did a job with him and he gave them a few blades.

-Cliff
 
The nice thing about the Opinels is they are great cutters without any modifcation,except for maybe a quick sharpening.
 
The reason an Opinel cuts so well is because it has a very, very thin blade. When people ask what 'cuts better than an Opinel' they are asking a relative question. For fruit, small tasks, etc. nothing short of a razor outdoes an opinel, and in MOST instances it will be as good as a razor, but more useful. I have many blades, as do nearly all of the persons on these boards, but my favorite cutter when small tasks need to be done such as letter opening, fruit/food, string etc. is my Languiole. Basically, an upscale Opinel.

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