Who Carries Opinels, and Why?

Even though I do not “carry” an Opinel, my No. 8 has unintentionally become my most used knife. I just leave it locked in the open position on my kitchen counter and use it countless times throughout the day in the kitchen. As a lifelong bachelor, I do not do a lot of cooking from scratch apart from grilling outdoors. I instead tend to heat things up or re-heat them. I use the knife for everything from opening packages of food, slicing meat, bread as well as breaking the yokes of eggs when frying them.

I think people can worry too much about carbon blades rusting. This blade gets washed with soapy water many times a day, followed by a wipe from a towel, and even after several years of this, it has developed a patina, but no pitting. I give it a few licks on the Sharpmaker about once a week.

IMG_20170303_123047497.jpg
 
A No. 8 Inox rides in the console of my truck.. It is my sheeple friendly restaurant knife.. John
 
Opinels are my kitchen knives at my work apartment. I don't think I'd carry one though they're not better than slipjoints for any cutting I'd do while out and about.
 
I'll tell you a funny story that happened to me recently involving my opinel number 6.
I went to me up some friends to go on a hiking trip for the 3-day weekend. I wanted to show them my collection of knives. So I carried a box full of knives, probably 20 pounds, to show them at the trailhead.
Well, with all the hubbub, I left a box of knives in the car when we set off hiking. I had my opinel number 6 in the hip belt pocket of my backpack, where it always is as a backup.
I cut everything under the sun on that 3-day trip using just opinel number 6. So I ask myself, why do I have all these big honking knives? LOL

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
I always have a #4 in my pocket, but I don't recommend the 4 or 5 for pocket carry, as they can and do open on you once in a while. I've never been cut, but a folding knife needs a lock or strong spring to be safe for pocket carry. The #4 weighs 1/3 oz. The #6 weighs 1 oz but is slightly bulky in the pocket. Still, it's easy to carry. It's a better knife than the 4 or 5 and has a lock ring. Get it in stainless.

Joe
 
Last edited:
brancron said:
I'm a fan of Opinels. They cut beautifully due to the super thin blade, weigh next to nothing (great for suit pocket carry), are cheap, and are "people friendly" in public. The fact that the steel doesn't hold a great edge is not really a problem as it takes literally 10 seconds to get them back to shaving sharp. They are simple, elegant, and carry with them none of the B.S. that many other modern knives do.

CcsCxiO.jpg

kxyUf2t.jpg

wRiTNsY.jpg

2DSZ971.jpg
Click to expand...

Really great pictures!

As for the OP question it has been stated by many that opinels cut excellent, what more reason could you need? That's good enough for me, I love opinels. For $10 or less they will leave most knives in the dust for most of your basic cutting needs and anymore I don't care about super steel or lock strength or whatever, I prefer a knife that will cut with ease and get the job done. It's also very comfortable in hand. The opinel does not disappoint.
 
I love the Opinel lineup, and own several. I just have a difficult time carrying the smaller ones, because a Victorinox Cadet or similar packs a lot more utility in the same space. In my view, the Opinels and Victorinox share the crown as the sickest, baddest slicers out there. However, as you get into the somewhat larger No. 7 and 8 Opinel, you are getting better ergonomics and a bigger blade than the Cadet, etc., and that is where the Opinel is king. There is also an aesthetic appeal to the Opinel, as it makes you slow down and enjoy the experience. We can all use some of that.
 
Great knives. Picked up a #8 Carbon in Paris a couple of years ago (8.50 Euros). It now lives in the picnic kit. I'd rely on it on any backpacking expedition. Melt a tsp. of hard floor wax into the blade groove and pivot to seal the wood and keep it from swelling and binding the blade.
 
BK14 said:
Hi everyone,

For the last week I have been carrying an Opinel no 5, that's been lent to me by a family member. This is my first real experience with the brand, and in carrying it around for a few days I am falling in love with the simplicity and how well it slices fruit and the like. I am definitely looking to get my own, but I am unsure which size. I know with their price I could probably just get two but I don't want to purchase something I won't often use. I was thinking about the no 7, but the 8 seems far more popular and I was wondering why. So my question is this: most people on this forum likely carry and use high quality modern folders pretty much daily, so where does the Opinel fit in? I doubt I would ever carry an Opinel as my only blade, so would not the smaller size of the 7 make it easier to use as a backup? I look forward to hearing from everyone who uses them how Opinels of varying sizes fit into their EDC. Thanks in advance for the advice, and I apologize if this has been discussed before but I was unable to find much to answer my question in the search function.
Click to expand...

The Opinel #9 is my most commonly carried knife so I'll chime in.

First off... the Opinel isn't for everybody. To begin with, it's a traditional knife and either people are into traditional folders as their primary carry or they aren't. If somebody isn't into traditional knives to begin with, the Opinel will make zero sense. For me (and just speaking for myself), I've never handled or carried a modern folder that did anything for me. I don't like bland beer or weak coffee either and its not really something I can justify one way or the other, except to say that I find traditional folders much prettier and more fun.

But even among traditional folders, the Opinel is an odd duck. It's a demanding knife and it's even more demanding for those of in the US who pick them up without the benefit of a deep cultural knowledge and lore of Opinels that our French and European brothers and sisters have. The Opinel demand on-going care and there's a deep tradition of modifying them to suit your taste. If you don't know about this stuff and you just pick up a stock, out of the box Opinel, there's a higher likelihood of getting frustrated. The Buck 110 is unapologetic in terms of its weight. Either man up and carry the 7+ oz brass brick or not. The Opinel is just as demanding in a different way. Either figure out how to maintain and use it or not. If you do, they are great knives. If not... there's always Spyderco.

Here are a few of the things I like about the Opinel. They are very light and carry in my rear pocket (or backpack) almost unnoticed. The blade is thin and the steel good (I'm a trad lover, so the steel is fine). The blade joint is very, very, very tough. I've never had one loosen up at all. The lock is fine, as I don't rely on locks to save my fingers. The handle (once modified to my liking) is very comfortable. I flatten the sides and round up the butt a bit. The are very people friendly, allowing me to use it in places where a ZT or Buck 110 would not.

To get a flat handle, sand it flat with a sanding block and refinish the handle.

To stop the blade from seizing when wet, melt in floor wax or carpenters wax with a heat gun.
 
I have about 5 or so. 8's, 10's one 8 in stainless.

I just accidentally washed the #8 stainless in the washer in the pocket of my pants. I could still open it up when done.

I've floated a river with one in my life vest and been able to open it at the end of the float. (Carbon #8).

Great slicers. Light. Comfortable in hand. I keep one for dirty work.

The stainless is better than the carbon, from a standpoint of corrosion resistance, and I find a bit better at edge retention.

I wish I had a few fancier versions, like ebony, etc.


Carving a pine wood derby car.



 
Last edited:
Thank you all for all the answers and beautiful photos so far! For those who mod, what is best to use when refinishing the handle?
 
I love it and use it daily but it sits on my counter top. I use it for almost every meal I have at home tho.
 
I have an Opinel #6 that is in my bag I take to work. It makes a great apple slicing knife that doesn't offend anyone in the office. It also slices very well (of course). Its just about as small as I can go and still have a "mostly" useable handle. My large hand fits on it (its like the exact width of my hand), but there isn't any room to spare. It works great for small tasks, but I wouldn't choose this size for heavy work. The handle is not just shorter than the larger models, but also has less girth. So long durations of carving could be tiring for my hand.

The #6 is somewhat bulky for its size (because its not a flat handle), but it weighs almost nothing. So I hardly notice it in my pocket when I carry it like that.

I also have a #9 that I take backpacking. It fills my hand better, and I can fairly comfortably use it for feathersticking, making tent pegs, etc. If I had to buy one again though, I'd probably go with the 10, as the handle is still a tiny bit small for me. I'm still exploring my options/perferences for backpacking, and I'm still not sure if I prefer the opinel, or just a Mora. The Mora weighs a bit more, but not enough to cause me huge concern.

All I've done with mine, is soak them in tung oil, which I think has helped some with the moisture/swelling problem. I still have had it swell and stick though, but a quick tap on a rock usually takes care of that enough to get it open.

So, I like them, but I don't think they're the best thing ever. They just have really good value and performance. I carry a knife clipped to my right rear pocket for EDC, and don't like things in my pockets, otherwise I'd likely carry one more daily. As it is, its in my bag, or on me while I'm hiking/camping.
 
Opinels have been a part of my motorcycle camping kit for something like 45 years, nos. 7,8, and 10. I never carried them much, mostly because they were kind of bulky in the pocket. More recently, I started carrying them after taking inspiration from some posters here to slim the flared pommel and flatten the handles. An old 8 and a newer 6 have received that treatment; they both get carried but the 6 has won out, riding in my pocket every day for at least the last couple of months.

After sanding the handles, I seal them with tung oil, mineral oil or Sno-Seal (mostly beeswax), whichever is closest at hand.

I love the classic simplicity of the design, and, of course, the way they cut. I typically carry two or three knives, mostly slipjoints, but if I feel the need for a one-hander, I may take a Leek or a Griptilian.
 
I prefer something flat for the jean pocket, but have an Opinel in my walk the dog coat. They really are an accomplished knife and great for picnics, in the car, in the pack. Really no excuse not to have a few around the house.
Basically they are fantastic at cutting.
As classic as a SAK; everyone should have one.
 
Opinel: the gateway knife.

I used one for hunting chanterelles. Nice little knives, I say!
 
BK14 said:
Thank you all for all the answers and beautiful photos so far! For those who mod, what is best to use when refinishing the handle?
Click to expand...

Here's a photo essay I put up on flikr a while ago on refinishing Opinels. Short answer, 80 grit paper, Minwax Stain, Formby's Tung Oil Finish.

Opinel Refinishing - 1 by Pinnah, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
BK14 said:
Wow, a lot of good insight here. For those that love Opinels, do you carry them as an only, or primary blade? If not, do you carry them as a backup, and if so, what do you use them for and how do you carry them? Loving the replies!
Click to expand...

I EDC an opinel #8 for a week or two at a time every once in a while, it's in the rotation. Sometimes it's the only knife I carry for months at a time.
I also take it climbing/mountaineering since it cuts very well and is extremely lightweight.
I use the carbon bladed version, it's easy to sharpen, if it rusts I clean it, if it's not rusting I don't. If it's humid it's harder to pull the blade out, if it's not humid it's easier. I take with with me whenever I travel to use as my main kitchen knife.
Sometimes it's the only knife I've brought.

Ultimately, if I have an Opinel in my pocket, it's the only knife I'm carrying. I mean, knives are made for cutting right? Opinels do that in spades. When I need to do something other than cut I use a different tool.

Then again, sometimes I carry a leatherman, but picnics just aren't as fun when you're using a leatherman to cut the cheese ;)
 
You were wondering about size. Remember that you can shrink them quite a bit by modding the handle and blade. I think these are #8's and are smaller now.

A #6 can be lightly modded and make a great watch pocket knife. A #8 is just a bit too big but about perfect for a work knife with the standard mods.
 
  • Like
Reactions: vba
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top