whats the deal with Opinel?

The Opinel is a classic as much as the SAK or the Laguiole. It's the K.I.S.S. principle, an inexpensive, quality knife that cuts and cuts.
 
Opinels have that distinctive charm of a classic design that works great. Their simplicity and the ingenuity of their creator is something that amazes me each time I use them.

Their history aside, the excellent price and excellent cutting power are what keeps them in bussiness today.

This forum is filled with guys who own hundreds, or thousands, of dollars in knives, and still they sometimes pick up an Opinel instead of a high end custom to take in their pockets. So there must be something good about that knife!

The first time I picked one up, I wasn't very impressed. Then I sharpened it and used it for some wood-working. I was really amazed, my dad had one for ages, but I thought it was just a ridiculous little knife that couldn't hold a candle to my cool high-tech folders. It was a revelation similar to when I discovered Scandinavian knives.

Being able to customize them yourself is another cool thing about the Opinels. You need very few tools to create your very own version of the knife.

Do yourself a favour, spend 10 bucks on one and use it. You'll love it after a few days.
 
I think you can't see the wonderful simplicity of an Opinel till you reach a certain age.

Plus you can't argue with the fact that they are great cutters.
 
Some people see it earlier than others. I was twenty one one I got my first Opinel (I know, shame on me), but as soon as my punk rocker, 16 year old, brother saw it he asked me to get him one because they were so nice.
I was a bit surprised, but apparently the little tattooed and eyebrow pierced devil has a decent taste in knives. Very classical (he is into old style lock-backs and slipjoints).
 
KaBar said:
i dont quite get it. what makes them so much more popular than say any other cheap knife?
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Flat ground carbon steel blades. Extremely cheap pricewise. The factory edge is terrible, but they sharpen easily. Hard to beat for $8.00 - $10.00.
 
I like the looks and feel and blade of the Opinel but don't trust that lock at all. I'd rather have a Mora for the $8. All IMHO.
 
WileECoyote said:
I like the looks and feel and blade of the Opinel but don't trust that lock at all. I'd rather have a Mora for the $8. All IMHO.
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Opinels are slightly easier to carry than Moras. :D
 
WileECoyote said:
I like the looks and feel and blade of the Opinel but don't trust that lock at all. I'd rather have a Mora for the $8. All IMHO.
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Why not? Perhaps it doesn't measure up to say a Spyderco Compression lock that's rated for martial arts use, but for light duty cutting I can't imagine how it could fail. It sure beats a slip joint or most liner locks for security IMO.
 
They cut well, they're cheap to buy, and they're the most customisable little knife there is. Here's mine with dropped point and rounded handles:

opie-handle-modopen.jpg
 
Roadrunner said:
Why not? Perhaps it doesn't measure up to say a Spyderco Compression lock that's rated for martial arts use, but for light duty cutting I can't imagine how it could fail. It sure beats a slip joint or most liner locks for security IMO.
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I hear what your saying. Light duty cutting, no real big prob, I use mine for gardening. Might be nice for a fishing box. But beyond that, forget it. Personally I'd trust a lot of liner locks more. The metal barrel is like a Cracker Jack surprise ring, you can pop it off accidently just opening the thing, which by the way you need the fingernails of a Manchu to do. My French paring knife cuts well, too, thin blade, I should just fashion a masking tape sheath for it & carry it IWB, I'd have a matching set of French-made accidents-looking-for-a-place-to-land.

I'll just send away to Acme knife company next time...why does the name 'Roadrunner' make me drool??
 
Another cool thing is that they dont smash concrete blocks or deforest an area faster than Agent Orange. They do exactly what a small pocket knife should do, and dont pretent to be able to do anything more. Oh, that thing is cut stuff with the minimum of fuss.
 
jackknife said:
I think you can't see the wonderful simplicity of an Opinel till you reach a certain age.

Plus you can't argue with the fact that they are great cutters.
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i got my first one when I was 18 and backpacking through europe, I appreciated it, was I old enough? :)
 
The deal with Opinel is that you buy the knife, you sharpen it and it cuts very well. Customize it if you wish. No fancy materials, hardly the strongest lock out there, but good for the money. Opinels also look old-fashioned and elegant in their own way.

You could do a heck of a lot worse by buying a Pakistani knife or two.
 
They are also really strong for the money : i try to break a blade of a n°8 with carbon steel (Chopping a broomstick, a pot of flowers and a reinforced concrete wall....).Even if the edge was really destroy, the blade didn't break (just a little part of the tip)
Here's a link to see the pictures ...:
http://www.kwoon.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7843
:)
 
one of my first knives was a large Opinel folder. still have it! blade is surgically sharp and has been used twice for emergency surgery. i have used it for steaks, skinning animals, a general camp knife, cutting boughs for an emergency shelter and fire etc etc etc... best damn utility knife i own. now that i have seen that link on the Opinel handles, i cannot wait to customize my Opy handle :)

i also have a friend that teaches a Cubs & Scouts group. He went out one day and spent his own money to buy 30 of the medium sized Opy's to surprise the kids/teens during a camp outing. During the camp, he got them all to make leather sheaths as a merit badge project. after they were done that, he presented each member with a Opy and then they all did the knife safety course. Best knife in my opinion for groups like this!
 
woodybushman said:
... been used twice for emergency surgery. i have used it for steaks, skinning animals, a general camp knife, cutting boughs for an emergency shelter and fire etc
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I trust you clean it between uses?

Seriously, it's good to read for a change about scouts being introduced to real knife training rather than being hassled about carrying them. I bet it happens more often than we know, but the horror stories crowd out the good news.
 
Vince-Corto said:
They are also really strong for the money : i try to break a blade of a n°8 with carbon steel (Chopping a broomstick, a pot of flowers and a reinforced concrete wall....).Even if the edge was really destroy, the blade didn't break (just a little part of the tip)
Here's a link to see the pictures ...:
http://www.kwoon.info/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7843
:)
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That's amazing! I've been wanting to see a real tough test of the opinel, now I don't have to ruin mine!
 
it's a pleasure...
I have to precise that for this test, the knife was shaving sharp at the beginning (using my Sharpmaker with 40° angle).
Maybe i will do the same test with a n°8 with stainless steel blade ... :p
Overall, i must say i really like Opinel : versatile, cheap, sharp....
The only complain concern (for instance) the carbon steel : it really rust easily (i forget one after washing it and the next morning, it was covered of rust...). :grumpy:
So i will see next time if the Stainless one is as strong as the carbon one... ;)
 
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