Why all the Opinel rave?

wtlj

wtlj

Joined
Jun 30, 2014
Messages
2,957
So I'm pretty new to knives and only have a few. Every time I open another thread someone mentions an opinel. I had to know what it was. So I jumped on amazon and looked up the opinel #8, $12.95 what!!! Then the picture popped up and I thought no way is this cheap funky looking thing that popular! So what's all the rave about and what are you guys using this knife for?
 
Great steel. Great geometry. Will out cut any knife you own. Takes 10-30 seconds to sharpen to razor. And mostly, very easily to mod, and since its $12 if you screw it up, it's not the worst thing in the world.

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I've been collecting knives for over 40 years and never really thought they were anything special. IMO, they are OK for the price.
 
^+1 and also:

Different sizes
Different woods for handles
Cool, easy lock
Low maintenance (aside from the maintenance required of carbon,, and even then, they make SS blades too)
Inconspicuous
People-friendly
Time-tested
Great ergonomics
Looks good
Great conversation piece (seriously)
Lightweight
No frills
 
The carbon ones make your food taste like crap. Well, anything reactive ... apples, onions and that ... also fish becomes funky, I find

Bread, sausage, cheese and the like are fine though ... anything fatty/oily

But they are cheap and have french kudos .. which ain't nothing.
 
They are not for everybody. While inexpensive, they can be costly in terms of time and effort. The joint and lock collar can be funky out of the box requiring some tuning to make great. The blades usually come with crude grind marks and it takes some elbow grease and wet/dry paper to make nice and polished. The stain and finish on the wood is crude.

Why bother? For one, the thin convex blade will out cut most knives for most cutting situations. Not all. But most. Probably he one you're carrying. Measly little $15 knife. Maddening but ther you have it.

Second the joint is very very tough. Like, you won't be able to make break or even wobble tough.

Third, the ergonomics are great.

Fourth, people dig them. Friendly knives
 
I haven't found them to do anything much to my food although, granted, I don't haven't used mine for a lot of food before.

I did use one as a steak knife for dinner once as the steak knives I had at the time were crap. Seemed fine. But like everything, experiences vary.
 
I own custom knives. I own Busse knives. I own Swamprat. I have used and xarried custom and mid tech folders (including Sebenza and Hinderer. I carry and use custom and higher end production slip joint knives (mostly GEC and Queen collaborations). Nothing cuts like an Opinel. They are light, tough, cheep, rugged, and very pleasant on the hand under extended use.

I love Opinels. I have about 8 and want more. The 8 and 10 sizes are my favorite. Their carbon steel is very nice. Takes a great hair whittling edge very easily. Their stainless is even better. It gets sharp and stays sharp.

All around fantastic for the money. They are not race cars (though they cut like it).

Buy an 8 and put the edge you like on it. Cary and use it, and you will understand. And for so little money!
 
I think they illustrate the fact that you don't have to spend a lot to get a quality knife. While I can't get terribly excited about the design, and probably wouldn't choose an Opinel as my EDC knife, I find they are great for toolboxes, utility drawers, cars, etc. I have a few of them stashed around the house.
 
I thought the same way for a while, then I got a couple on a whim. They aren't my favorite knife, or an edc for me, but there is a certain old world charm to them, as well as an elegance to the design. I like to use mine to slice fruit and eat directly from the blade and my thumb. It has a certain je ne sais quoi?:D
 
S H A R P !

Also traditional, easy to carry, not menacing, durable.

Zieg
 
Alright, alright ill order one now. I'd like to start off with the most popular one first. I'm assuming that's the #8 but carbon or stainless?
 
Friendly, thrifty, humble, attractive, and able to roll up its sleeves and do some seriously surprising hard work. I love 'em.
 
Excellent geometry, cheap steel. They cut well due to that geometry. If they came with a decent steel, they'd be unbeatable.
 
Them to folders are like mora's to fixed blades. They're excellent blades for the price. However, its a $12 blade so you can't expect much and losing/breaking one is no big loss.
 
My dad got one on a trip to France (before TSA issues) I picked it up and immediately had to have one. One could argue that there are better steels, better handles, and better quality knives.... but for the price they can not be beat. There is something about them, a legacy perhaps, that makes them one hell of a knife. Everyone should own one and then make their own decision!
 
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