OK, I can't take it any longer. In the future, I'm going to have to order an Opinel as I don't own one and they seem pretty darn cool. So, what size would be best for my XXL hands ? I know I need at LEAST a 3.5 inch handle. I also very much like the "food prep" angle, i.e. Mayo Jar, Peanut Butter, Cutting Bread, Sandwiches, slicing Tomatoes, Steak, etc. so what blade shape is recommended for all around "food prep" ? I believe the Opinel would be a knife that I'm NOT afraid to use often, that is to say, I like my PM2 but, not so much for food prep. Thanks all.
HARDBALL
Hardball,
Here are some comparison shots to help guide/confuse you.
A word on pocketability though. I personally find that a flat profile trumps weight for pocket carry. I don't mind pocket carrying big beasts like the Buck Duke 500 or the even bigger Schrade 51OT. They're long. They're heavy. But they lay flat.
While you can thin and Opinel's handle, you can't thin out the joint. Joint girth grows considerably going from 8 to 9 and again from 9 to 10.
Quick aside... I grind pretty much all of my Opinels to a drop point. I've used files but now that I have a course diamond stone (DMT), I just use that. About one beer in time. There is a slight bump on the spine of the Opinel that forms the end of the clip scallop. I just take off material until there's no day light between that hump and the tip. Round to suit taste.
Once an Opinel has been de-clipped, you get options in terms of handle length. The up curve on the tip of the clip makes the classic kick on the butt end of the Opinel handle a necessity. With no clip to cover, you can shorten and reduce the butt end if you so choose.
I found it useful to thin and shorten the 10's handle to make it reasonable to pocket carry. In it's shortened form, I can get a fist on the handle with room to spare. I find that shortening the 8 makes it to small. I prefer my 8s left pretty much as is. On the 9s, I leave the kick but round off the top of the butt. My "canoe butt" 9 is more comfortable in hand than my thinned 10. I took the easy open down too far. Live and learn. Here are some pictures....
Here is my drop point 10 next to a Buck 110. As you can see, both the handle and the blade are comparable to the 110. Unmodified, the handle on the 10 is much bigger than a 110's.
It ends up being about the same girth as the 110, on account of the lock ring. Carries better than the 110 on account of weight alone.
Buck 110 and Opinel #10 by
Pinnah, on Flickr
Here is a pretty stock 8 (handle refinished, forced patina) next to a Buck 112. The blade is a bit longer but doesn't feel as big. I've never had a non-knife person squirm with the 8. Both of these knives are 3 1/2 finger knives for me.
Buck 112 & Opinel #8 by
Pinnah, on Flickr
Here is that same 8 with the tip dropped and the butt given "the canoe" treatment. It carries better but I give up a bit of control since the butt doesn't fill the void between my last 2 fingers as well. This combination gives the most blade per anything though.
Opinel 8 Drop-point & Buck 112 by
Pinnah, on Flickr
Here is a dropped 9 with a canoe style butt end. This is the best of my Opinels in hand. The kick on the butt end extends just beyond my 4th finger and the front of the handle fills my hand more satisfyingly than my thinned 10 does. I also find the blade size to be just right for most tasks. It's just big enough to raise eyebrows in my surburban/office life.
opinel-9 by
Pinnah, on Flickr
Bottom line for me, a guy who wears stock XL gloves and wears baggy jeans....
#8 is the best EDC size striking a good balance for size in hand, usefully long blade, pocket comfort and social acceptability.
#9 is the best work size and my preferred EDC size when not in the city. If my hands were smaller, I could live with the 8 but they aren't.
#10 is my least used size. It's on the path of being demoted to kitchen duty. (Benefit of folding knives in the kitchen is that they stay sharp without a block.)
Hope this helps.
