Why all the Opinel rave?

Ankerson said:
Yeah it was what you asked.... ;)

You just didn't like the answer.... LOL
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in·ca·pa·ble - unable to do or achieve (something).

Can and an opinel do the tasks I mentioned or can it not? I think we all know the answer to that one, of course it can. You suggested that you prefer kitchen knives for food prep. I asked if there are knives that are more suited to your preferences that complete the same tasks, and you provided a straightforward answer but you never specifically addressed the initial question.
 
stabman said:
Sweet. :)
I love when I run across things like that out in the woods.
Some people, naturally, will have a different opinion (big surprise!), but there's a huge difference between a well maintained camp site--even years later--than a pile of beer bottles from drunken yahoos and teenagers.
One is a nice spot to stop for a rest, and maybe boil up some coffee; the other is just people too lazy to carry their garbage back out of the woods.
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Yes, some will have a different opinion. I love it when there is as little evidence as possible of others' previous presence when I'm out in the woods.
 
155440 said:
in·ca·pa·ble - unable to do or achieve (something).

Can and an opinel do the tasks I mentioned or can it not? I think we all know the answer to that one, of course it can. You suggested that you prefer kitchen knives for food prep. I asked if there are knives that are more suited to your preferences that complete the same tasks, and you provided a straightforward answer but you never specifically addressed the initial question.
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The answer was I would hope so if you thought about what I wrote.... ;)

A sharpened steel blade..... If it won't cut what you said then there would be a problem...

But that the same as saying a horse will get you from point A to point B......

There are better ways to get there... ;)
 
Ankerson said:
The answer was I would hope so if you thought about what I wrote.... ;)

A sharpened steel blade..... If it won't cut what you said then there would be a problem...

But that the same as saying a horse will get you from point A to point B......

There are better ways to get there... ;)
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We finally got there in the end.
 
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Joey, I think they are just saying that the
Opinel falls into the "best bang for your buck" category.
We all know there are better, nicer knives.
Just not for less than $15
 
jackknife said:
I like Opinel's, I really do. Bu they do have their problems and faults. I've had a on agains/off again love/hate relationship with them since 1982 when I got my first one. They are fun to screw around with, easy to mod, reshape the wood. But they are finicky. I don't think I would ever trust them as my only edc. I keep one in the kitchen drawer as a utility/box cutter kind of thing. And they do cut great.

Tweezers double as a decent roach clip as well.
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Why Jackknife, we hardly knew ye.


I have had an on/off love relationship with them myself I guess. I kind of fell in love again when I had to start wearing rubber gloves at work due to a new coolant. With an easy open notch modded I feel pretty comfortable carrying, opening, and closing them with the gloves on at work. A modified and stained Opinel is the nicest looking knife I own that fits that bill.

Also my fingernails got really weak due to the stuff and I am not carrying my beloved slippies as much. Opinels work well for me now at home as well.

Years ago I became distincly unimpressed with the softness of their carbon. I modified them, trade/gifted them, and used them at home but was unimpressed for use as a work knife. Due to this board and the Opinel "cult" I learned that their current stainless is not bad at all. Fell in love for a while again at that time and modded a few for myself.

I like to tinker so the fiddly handle is a plus for me. I haven't really modded or built slipjoints (and envy those that do) but I've done some crazy stuff with that Opinel handle. My first Opinels came used as a "French Army surplus knife" (so, "not much use" for those of you who like to joke about the French Army). When I opened the box, they were in bad shape. I thought, "Wow, these will need work. COOL!".

An Opinel is just a French budget knife where they took a decent blade and stuck it into a wooden broomstick handle of elegant, rudimentary design.

I think the Opie stainless does compare favorably with Buck 420, Case Tru-Sharp, even 8cr13mov. The blade geometry is thin, so it's a light duty knife (and a slicer).

It's true there are many other budget knives for pretty low cost. Still, I get Opies for $10 and that's half $20 for a Kershaw. (where did you see that, I usually see $25). I think the way to go for nice, non-threatening, decent budget knives is still old knives, but Opinels are great.

I could join the Opinel cult though, that might be kinda cool. We could sacrifice baguettes, cheese, and French virgins.
 
leghog said:
Yes, some will have a different opinion. I love it when there is as little evidence as possible of others' previous presence when I'm out in the woods.
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That's the great thing about the world; it's a big place.
There's millions of square miles of undisturbed wilderness to traipse through, and if you happen to come across a trace of humanity, just keep walking...you'll be back into the nothing soon enough. :thumbup:
 
stabman said:
That's the great thing about the world; it's a big place.
There's millions of square miles of undisturbed wilderness to traipse through, and if you happen to come across a trace of humanity, just keep walking...you'll be back into the nothing soon enough. :thumbup:
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Very little without near expedition access though. A long weekend or a week isn't nearly enough time.
 
leghog said:
Very little without near expedition access though. A long weekend or a week isn't nearly enough time.
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To get to the huge undisturbed areas, sure.
But to find places where you can walk for hours without being reminded of humans, that is easier. :)
 
leghog said:
Yes, some will have a different opinion. I love it when there is as little evidence as possible of others' previous presence when I'm out in the woods.
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I hear ya. Its difficult to comprehend the state of mind of these fantasy, survival role-playing types having little regard for the environment. Really just a reason to get out the big knives and fulfill some childish pathology that they lack the self-awareness to identify and therefore can't resolve and mature into adults. You also see it manifest in their bullyish attitude towards choices that differ from their own. Throw in Flabman and Anklebiters "Brokeback Mountain" moment back there a few pages, and you've got a therapists dream case all rolled into one, or two in this case.
 
Dirtknap said:
I hear ya. Its difficult to comprehend the state of mind of these fantasy, survival role-playing types having little regard for the environment. Really just a reason to get out the big knives and fulfill some childish pathology that they lack the self-awareness to identify and therefore can't resolve and mature into adults. You also see it manifest in their bullyish attitude towards choices that differ from their own. Throw in Flabman and Anklebiters "Brokeback Mountain" moment back there a few pages, and you've got a therapists dream case all rolled into one, or two in this case.
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Dude, what is your deal? Are you a member of the Opinel family, buttstung because not everyone loves your family's knives? Criminy, it that time of the month, or what?
 
Do not discuss each other and do not start slinging insults.
 
Ummmm...O.K. well.

Kinda hate to get involved at this late date. But what the heck.

I carry a No. 6. Every day. I have to wear casual dress pants. Everyday. Carried a Case stockman. Kept falling out. Carried a small Schrade stockman. Kept falling out. Heavier than an Opinel too. Smaller blade. Got kinda old after a while finding my knives under the seat of the car, beside the seat, under the recliner at home etc. Haven't "lost" the Opinel yet. Did I say it had a larger blade? Easier to sharpen too. Tried to carry a more tactical folder. Didn't like the heft in my pocket all the time and as I'm around customers all day and in an office the pocket clips just weren't doable. An Opinel works for me.

Lighter
Sharp
Easy to carry.
Cheap! Um, inexpensive.
easy to sharpen.
Won't offend non knife folks.
And yea, folks who see it want to know what it is, where they can get one, how much and most think they are pretty cool.

I really haven't seen a lot of folks on this thread talk about how "they are the greatest knife in the world" so I don't know where that bit comes from. If you don't like 'em don't use 'em.
 
sirupatespecial said:
I really haven't seen a lot of folks on this thread talk about how "they are the greatest knife in the world" so I don't know where that bit comes from.
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If you read through all the replies again, you will see claims that they cut better than knives costing far more...which in some cases is true, and in other cases is not.

crom said:
Aussie Charlie Mike putting gargantuan Opinel thru some hard use that would make most "superior" folders cringe:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mz6KHl5HbNk
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That isn't a cheap knife though; just check out the price it goes for at most places.
 
Dirtknap said:
I hear ya. Its difficult to comprehend the state of mind of these fantasy, survival role-playing types having little regard for the environment. Really just a reason to get out the big knives and fulfill some childish pathology that they lack the self-awareness to identify and therefore can't resolve and mature into adults. You also see it manifest in their bullyish attitude towards choices that differ from their own. Throw in Flabman and Anklebiters "Brokeback Mountain" moment back there a few pages, and you've got a therapists dream case all rolled into one, or two in this case.
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Mine was all done with a saw and an AX by the way, and it was someplace that I actually used 2 or 3 times a week or more... ;)

Back then I spent more time out in the woods than I did at home...
 
dynamicmoves said:
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.

13411084704_716d88f0a4_c.jpg
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This, plus you can get it that sharp on the unglazed bottom of a coffee mug, and watching a patina develop on the blade (assuming you get the Carbone, which you should) is satisfying and makes it feel more like "your" knife and not just another consumer object.
 
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