what do you think of opinel

[theAntihero]

As we discussed in the pass-around, I think this is exasperated by how small the #8 is, compared to the #9 and #10. I find the #8 too small to operate with gloves on, the #9 just barely big enough and the #10 easy to use with gloves.

I was never clear if the ring totally jammed on you or just got real gritty. I've dragged mine through sand and not every had a ring jam on me. But concrete may be different.

It probably is, ill try a 9 or 10 someday. Concrete is super abrasive and annoyingly persistant, it basically jammed the ring where it wouldnt totally engage and it was very stiff to move so you had to force it over. And since i was outside my hands/gloves were slick and i slipped off the ring and onto the blade. Luckily i was wearing gloves though and nothing happened.

I am very appreciative that you did the passaround though and still like the knife for normal carry, its nice and light and nonthreatening but not as a work knife.

 

[dogstar]

A very different construction altogether and thus not exactly comparable IMO.

You can pretty much say that about any other knife.

 

[numbersman]

I like my Opinel, which is a number 8, it cuts beautifully and sharpens easily. I do find that the handle has become fairly smooth and a bit slippery with age. They are so cheap, of course, that I could easily replace it, or modify the handle to be easier to grip. Basically, its a good cheap knife, albeit without any modern features like a thumbhole or pocket clip.

 

[timberweasel]

I like Opinel knives... in both carbon and stainless steels. Excellent value! I particularly enjoy how easy they are to customise. :thumbup:

-Brett

 

[mnblade]

I'm a huge Opinel fan. They're old school, simple knives that work hard and tote along no bells or whistles. I love the thin blade stock; it's designed to CUT. Novel for a knife in this era of sharpened prybars, I know. I don't mod mine, just sharpen and go. My carbon 8 has a great patina, and my walnut handled 6 is stainless. When it comes to a single-blade folder, I can't convince myself to buy anything "better" at any price.

 

[RamZar]

Get one based on your budget and usage. What's not to like about the original late 19th Century peasant's knife upgraded in mid 20th Century with safety mechanisms.

[video=youtube_share;KNELKUpH10k]http://youtu.be/KNELKUpH10k[/video]

 

[karlmax1103]

pretty excellent!i have one

 

[BladeScout]

You can pretty much say that about any other knife.

Actually the Cold SteelTwistmaster is pretty close in construction

 

[leghog]

You don't want the wood to swell so try not to get them soaking wet.

~40 years old now. Cleaned up not too long ago. Repatinated last weekend.

 

[Czechmate]

Get one based on your budget and usage. What's not to like about the original late 19th Century peasant's knife upgraded in mid 20th Century with safety mechanisms.

Thanks for posting the video RamZar; I could go for a few boxes of opinels now. It doesn't even matter what size either... A crate of #8, or #9 or #10 opi's would be nice though...

 

[BladeScout]

Go for it - and mod the heck out of it

Modding Opis is fun!

 

[knives4ever]

hell ya, i just put an awsome patina on my number 7 with franks red hot sauce and soap which i dried with a hairdryer and in less then 4 minutes it had a patina.

 

[BladeScout]

Pics or it didnt happen!

 

[W.M.B.]

Yesterday my neighbor needed some help butchering a pig, so I gave the opinel another try. I did resharpen at a less acute angle, and was more fussy about hitting bone. I also used my 110. It did pretty well. I was pleased with how easily a steel brought the edge back over and over. But as I was taking apart one of the lower front leg joints, the handle chipped under the lock ring, just enough for the blade to move a bit as if it were going to close. It did not fail, and still works well, especially if I rotate the ring the other way, and as the chip did not separate entirely, I was able to re-glue it this morning, and am hopeful it will be a full recovery. I think I will get a no 10, when I feel like I can spend a few bucks on myself. You know how it is, your not supposed to buy yourself anything the month before Christmas. At least thats what my mom used to say.

 

[Halfneck]

They don't baton well..

 

[8steve88]

I forget where I got this link originally, apologies if I've posted it here before but there are some stunning works of Opinel art on this website not the easiest to navigate but well worth a look.
I have several Opis and my two favourites are the #12 and the #12 saw but I have #10s, #8s and a few of the smaller ones.
I've started collecting Chinese knives as I can't justify the prices of Opinels now, they've been getting more expensive for a while and I fancied a change.

 

[BladeScout]

I forget where I got this link originally, apologies if I've posted it here before but there are some stunning works of Opinel art on this website not the easiest to navigate but well worth a look.

Some great carved art handles there.
I especially like the carved boar.
IIRC Opi themselves supply oversized handle 'blanks' for carving. Neat.

 

[8steve88]

Opinel do indeed sell oversized blanks, the level of skill shown by the carvers is amazing, I managed to "kill" a #10 easily with an Opinel #8 and a Dremel.
I forgot to add in my other post that I prefer the Carbone steel blades.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Opinels are excellent knives for "peasant" tasks, which basically translates to hard agriculturally-based work. They'll take a lot more abuse than most would expect under real-world use, but they do require a higher degree of tool literacy than many other common knives and they aren't for everyone. But they're fantastic knives, and there's a reason so many folks, myself included, love them to pieces.

 

[FW JSB]

I have a #6 and a #8 and for the dough they're hard to beat. Both of mine are carbon steel and I've been able to put some nasty edges on them, and I mean scalpel sharp. It's hard to beat a high carbon steel's ability to take a very sharp and highly refined edge. For $12, there's no reason not to own a couple. You can beat on them with impunity.