What traditional knives to take to Paris?

mnblade

mnblade

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I'll be heading to Paris soon with the wife and kids for a three-day trip. I'm undecided as to which knives to take. I hate to not bring along the peanut I've been toting every day since Nov. 3, 2010, but I also don't want to risk losing it.

My Opinel no. 8 seems like a perfect choice, being France and all -- and the knife is just the right size to be pocketable yet still help out with food-related tasks (of which I hope there will be many :D ). Yet, the Opinel has no corkscrew! :eek:

Alas, I could bring my Victorinox Tourist (which does have a corkscrew), but I'd sure hate to risk losing that one, as it was in my pocket at my wedding and during the births of all three kids.

I'm thinking maybe I go with my Victorinox Rambler to handle day-to-day tasks and open beers, and the Opinel for food and just to feel like a local. If we happen upon a bottle of French wine that needs opening, I'll just have to bum one.

OR I could go really minimalist and only carry my Vic alox Soldier, which would handle both food and bottle-opening tasks with ease.

As a knife knut, getting ready for a trip like this sure is a helluva job! All my wife's been thinking about is how to get from Charles de Gaulle Airport to our hotel, what museums to see, what clothes to pack for the kids ... :rolleyes:

-- Mark
 
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Is there time before your trip to order one? Opinel makes knives with corkscrews. You can get Laguoiles with corkscrews too. Hell, you're going to France. Just pick one up while you're there.:)
 
I say bring whichever SAK is the lightest to EDC and buy a dedicated cork-puller like a sommelier wine key that is small, effective and can work as a bottle opener. This is what I always take when I travel: http://www.napa-wine-openers.com/pulltap.html

I spent 2 months over the summer traveling through west and east Europe - I carried a SAK alox farmer and bought a corkscrew/bottle opener to throw in my edc bag.

I uses the beer opener on my SAK daily and the separate wine opener a few times a week...

Oh yeah, HAVE A FRIGGIN AWESOME TRIP!!!!!
 
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I think the correct question should be..."what traditional knives are you bringing BACK from Paris." :)
 
This is a perfect opportunity to buy a new knife.
The Victorinox Spartan would be a good choice IMHO: it is easy to obtain, inexpensive, has all the tools you need (and some), big enough to handle everything with ease yet small enough to be almost unobtrusive (it is 3.5" closed, while the Opinel No. 7 is 4" closed).
Have a nice and safe trip, and treat yourself to a souvenir knife (or two).
 
Planterz said:
Opinel makes knives with corkscrews. You can get Laguoiles with corkscrews too. Hell, you're going to France. Just pick one up while you're there.:)
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morrowj_98 said:
I think the correct question should be..."what traditional knives are you bringing BACK from Paris." :)
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+ 1. Just remember to mail the knife back or stick it into a checked bag. I hope you find something that you would not find here.
 
TrailWolf said:
...buy a dedicated cork-puller like a sommelier wine key that is small, effective and can work as a bottle opener. ...

Oh yeah, HAVE A FRIGGIN AWESOME TRIP!!!!!
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Thanks! Excellent idea on the wine key. And you reminded me that we already have something like this tucked away in the back of the kitchen drawer. It never gets used and, if we do somehow lose it, I won't care one bit.

I think that cinches it! I'm taking the Rambler and Opi 8, plus the wine gizmo.

The Rambler can handle most of my day-to-day tasks, including opening packages for the kids, snipping stray threads off their clothes, trimming a finger nail, opening a beer or Coke, and slicing the cap off the Cohiba cigar I plan to buy and smoke. :thumbup: The Opinel will serve duty during picnic lunches and snacks in the park, cutting cheese, fruits and meats, and fresh baguettes. It's très French and again, if I lose it, no big deal. I'll leave the wine key in the hotel room, where any drinking is likely to occur on the terrace after the kids are asleep.

I doubt I'll be buying any knives on the trip. I admire the Laguioles and such, but have never really felt the pull to own one.

-- Mark
 
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Pack a knife and take it with you but while there buy a nice French made "Laguiole". Buy two. One with a corkscrew and one without. Have a great trip.
 
Planterz said:
Is there time before your trip to order one? Opinel makes knives with corkscrews. You can get Laguoiles with corkscrews too. Hell, you're going to France. Just pick one up while you're there.:)
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This. There must be hardware/sporting goods stores in Paris. Get a basic Opinel or two and if you can't bring 'em back, c'est la vie.
 
eisman said:
Don't take any. Buy there. Much easier.
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Well, maybe a butter knife for spreading that camembert and brie...but I agree, the knife shops there are definitely worth a visit.
 
I'd take one of the HUGE AG Russell folding hunters and use it often in public. When folks' eyes bug out of their heads, just say "What? This? I'm American. We all carry these." :)
Several years ago, I was in Paris and made the mistake of trying to carry a punch dagger through the metal detector at the Centre Pompidou. The guards kindly explained to me that I couldn't take the knife into the museum, and would have to leave it with them until I came back out. :D:thumbup: I did as they asked, and got the knife back without a fuss. I bought the knife in a very cool store there in Paris. Can't remember where it was or what it was called, but it was better than 99% of the knife stores I've ever seen in the US.
 
I'll drop into a knife shop or two if possible. But you have to understand: It's going to be me, the wife and our 8-year-old and 6-year-old. Gawking at knives won't be all that high on the priority list, I'm afraid. We'll see.

-- Mark
 
morrowj_98 said:
I think the correct question should be..."what traditional knives are you bringing BACK from Paris." :)
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Yeah, what he said!:D

Seriously, check out the law. I just read someplace that France jumped on the no lock bandwagon. Yes, I know, that would make even the iconic Opinel a no-no to carry. But think of all those Laguoiles that need a good owner!

Carl.
 
Hmm maybe I'm the only one but I think you should pack the peanut along with whatever else you want. I don't think you're any more likely to lose it overseas as opposed to here. In fact you're probably less likely to lose it there as you would be thinking about it more. Maybe during transport there could be an issue but I've packed knives in my suitcase many times without any problem. I think it would be neat to continue carrying it everyday, especially in Paris, and when the year gets done that little peanut will have seen a whole lot more miles.

Nathan
 
Sounds like a very fine trip in the making.

France does have very good cutlery shops so you should send the wife and kids off for a hour or two...know what I mean?:D

How about taking a Scout knife with you? All the tools you need plus a good blade AND a bail so you can attach it to your belt, no worries of losing it (which can happen on hectic paced trips on and off public transport):eek:

Enjoy it:thumbup:
 
ndeezl said:
I think you should pack the peanut along with whatever else you want. ... I think it would be neat to continue carrying it everyday, especially in Paris, and when the year gets done that little peanut will have seen a whole lot more miles.
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You have a good point, Nathan. Might be cool to earn a little pate patina.

-- Mark
 
As a Brit who visits Paris every year ( to attend the Paris Knife Show) I suggest you visit Courty & Fils knife shop (www.couteaux-courty.com)......if only to look in the window. STUNNING !! It is less than a 10 minute walk from the Paris Opera House and the owner speaks perfect English (and there is a really "old fashioned" sweet shop just before or just after to tempt the kids ?).

Feel free to pm or email me if you want any tips on visiting Paris in general

Colin.
ps. The Orly Bus is the best way to get from the airport to the centre of Paris - just by chance it drops off at the Opera House (but maybe get settled before rushing off to the knife shop !!!!)
 
sigman said:
As a Brit who visits Paris every year ( to attend the Paris Knife Show) I suggest you visit Courty & Fils knife shop (www.couteaux-courty.com)......if only to look in the window. STUNNING !! It is less than a 10 minute walk from the Paris Opera House and the owner speaks perfect English (and there is a really "old fashioned" sweet shop just before or just after to tempt the kids ?).
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GREAT tip, Colin. That might be doable .... and mandatory. :-)

-- Mark
 
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