Why all the Opinel rave?

Dirtknap said:
Like a mora, its a time-tested design with good geometry and ergonomics for its design task, which is to slice. Its not meant for cutting doors off cars like your rattley, mall ninja midtech. Its for people in the real world.
Click to expand...

Good thing I don't live in the real world...apparently all that's sold there are Opinels! :D
My knife collection sure would be dull with only one type of knife allowed. ;)
 
stabman said:
Things like car doors, according to the wisdom of the thread. :p
Click to expand...

Also not good for deanimating attackers or fighting-off polargrizz hybrids, so dont get all butthurt that its 30x cheaper and 10x lighter than that anchor you bought the hype about. Its just an elegant design for its task, which is slicing........No, not slicing aliens on one of your video games. Just actual stuff like boxes, food prep, wood, etc.
 
Great thread. :thumbup: I think everything's been pretty well covered, but my personal list is:

Classic appearance
Elegant simplicity
Excellent slicers
Fun and easy to mod
Lots of bang for the buck

The down side for some would be:

Some tweaking often needed by the end user
Swelling of wood handles

I actually enjoy tweaking them to my exact taste, and the handle swelling issue can be taken care of in various ways. Though it's not "rational," these little imperfections actually add to the charm of these knives for me. I guess it's sort of the same satisfaction that can be found in successfully assembling and finishing something from a kit.
 
Dirtknap said:
Also not good for deanimating attackers or fighting-off polargrizz hybrids, so dont get all butthurt that its 30x cheaper and 10x lighter than that anchor you bought the hype about. Its just an elegant design for its task, which is slicing........No, not slicing aliens on one of your video games. Just actual stuff like boxes, food prep, wood, etc.
Click to expand...

What a rude fellow you are.
What video game is this from, my little know-it-all:



Wood you say?



Oh, I'm sorry, I mean "Gee willikers, you done showed me, Imma gonna go back to Call of Duty 3 now." :rolleyes:
 
Well, thats almost the right tool for the job. A decent limbing axe or even an ontario machete would not take more than one swing. And if you want someone to accept your attempt at "speaking from authority", and have spent any prolonged time working or backpacking in the wilderness, you would be more credible if you dump the cotton jeans and shirt. And for gods sakes, cut that childish ponytail, your "Axle Rose" years look far behind you, which is sad in itself. Go buy a new Opi, which would be a good tool for that task and embrace your newfound self-awareness. .....You're welcome.
 
Dirtknap said:
Well, thats almost the right tool for the job. A decent limbing axe or even an ontario machete would not take more than one swing. And if you want someone to accept your attempt at "speaking from authority", and have spent any prolonged time working or backpacking in the wilderness, you would be more credible if you dump the cotton jeans and shirt. And for gods sakes, cut that childish ponytail, your "Axle Rose" years look far behind you, which is sad in itself. Go buy a new Opi, which would be a good tool for that task and embrace your newfound self-awareness. .....You're welcome.
Click to expand...

You show a complete lack of class, little man.
You also lack wit, or the ability to make a coherent point.
Here's an honour for you though; welcome to the ignore list.
 
I got my Opis, and I'm happy with them (9, 8, and 6, top to bottom). Handles refinished with Rit clothing dye, a little elbow grease, and urethane vanish. I like 'em and don't care a bit what anyone else thinks of them. They're mine. I don't work for Opinel's marketing department, so if they leave you cold — works for me!

tumblr_muvhfdniZi1r4zf5xo1_1280.jpg


I have no particular interest in the customizing aspect of Opis, but others sure do, especially in France (who knew?):

http://forum.neoczen.org/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4780&start=150
http://michel.montlahuc.free.fr/opinel4.htm

Lots of others on the Webz if you google "opinel custom".

And even right here in River City:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/817090-Opinel-mods

Opinels leave you cold? OK, you just saved yourself all of $15. Have fun!
 
Dirtknap said:
Yes, they are, and condescending, dont you think. To equate opinels with pakistani pot metal junk is intellectually dishonest or just ignorant, take your pick.

Like a mora, its a time-tested design with good geometry and ergonomics for its design task, which is to slice. Its not meant for cutting doors off cars like your rattley, mall ninja midtech. Its for people in the real world.
Click to expand...


I don't own any rattley mall ninja midtechs.... That's funny....... ;)

I do own some high quality folders and fixed blades though, and some really thin custom fixed blades.......
 
Noddy said:
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.
Click to expand...
I think that you have a serious problem. Every commercial kitchen in the world uses aluminum pots. Iron in fact is good for you in small amounts but any amount of leached aluminum is bad news. (How reliable is your memory now, by the way?) Have a blood titre done on yourself before you tell us (me) that a carbon steel knife is detrimental to your sensitive taste buds. And then step back and begin cooking at home on cast iron pans and using bona fide steel knives.
You "nose in the air" folks do need to be grounded in reality every now and again.
 
Let's just get this one out of the way, Anyone who's using an axe or knife to cut down a tree is doing so for recreational purposes, or doing light yard work. Arborists/Forresters/Loggers all use chainsaws, and for good reason.

Also, an opinel is a great light utility knife, and since I don't take to the streets and fight crime at night, I really have no other realistic purpose for owning a knife. An opinel is more than capable of completing all of my cutting tasks.
 
@ Stabman + Ankerson, what cutting chores/tasks do you do require more than an opinel, and what knife/knives do you choose to use for said chore. (I'm not trying to contradict anything you've said in the thread, I'm genuinely curious what you use your knives for and which ones you use)
 
155440 said:
@ Stabman + Ankerson, what cutting chores/tasks do you do require more than an opinel, and what knife/knives do you choose to use for said chore. (I'm not trying to contradict anything you've said in the thread, I'm genuinely curious what you use your knives for and which ones you use)
Click to expand...


Cardboard mostly...... Variety of knives, mostly high alloy steels.

Kitchen use, well I use a variety of knives, mostly S110V and S90V in the kitchen with some cheaper junk stuff once in while...
 
155440 said:
@ Stabman + Ankerson, what cutting chores/tasks do you do require more than an opinel, and what knife/knives do you choose to use for said chore. (I'm not trying to contradict anything you've said in the thread, I'm genuinely curious what you use your knives for and which ones you use)
Click to expand...

Mostly it's a lot of the same things that could be done with a Opinel; opening boxes, cutting cardboard, food, wood sometimes. Thick-walled rubber hose was a thing that needed cutting at the lab at times, when the vacuum hose would get eaten by solvents.

It's not that an Opinel won't do those things, but I don't like the handle ergonomics for me; they just don't feel good in my hand.
I also don't have to sharpen a knife with S30V steel or Elmax or whatever as often, if run at a decent hardness, and while I don't mind sharpenng, it isn't the greatest source of joy in my life. I'd rather sharpen less often than more.

As for the type of knife, it could be the CRK Umnumzaan, or the Spyderco Yojimbo 2, or the ZT 0561 (which did a great job of cutting that couch up, saving me a $100 disposal fee :thumbup:)...pretty much any of my knives that I feel like using at the time.

If I were travelling somewhere and for odd, unforeseeable reason didn't have a knife with me, I might buy an Opinel.
I'd probably buy a Swiss Army Knife with the saw instead, though; those things are handy.

It's not that Opinels are terrible, but they aren't better at doing those cutting tasks either.
That's my peeve, when people claim that they do everything SOOO much better than the other knives.
 
stabman said:
Mostly it's a lot of the same things that could be done with a Opinel; opening boxes, cutting cardboard, food, wood sometimes. Thick-walled rubber hose was a thing that needed cutting at the lab at times, when the vacuum hose would get eaten by solvents.

It's not that an Opinel won't do those things, but I don't like the handle ergonomics for me; they just don't feel good in my hand.
I also don't have to sharpen a knife with S30V steel or Elmax or whatever as often, if run at a decent hardness, and while I don't mind sharpenng, it isn't the greatest source of joy in my life. I'd rather sharpen less often than more.

As for the type of knife, it could be the CRK Umnumzaan, or the Spyderco Yojimbo 2, or the ZT 0561 (which did a great job of cutting that couch up, saving me a $100 disposal fee :thumbup:)...pretty much any of my knives that I feel like using at the time.

If I were travelling somewhere and for odd, unforeseeable reason didn't have a knife with me, I might buy an Opinel.
I'd probably buy a Swiss Army Knife with the saw instead, though; those things are handy.

It's not that Opinels are terrible, but they aren't better at doing those cutting tasks either.
That's my peeve, when people claim that they do everything SOOO much better than the other knives.
Click to expand...

I gotchya, I choose one of my small fixed blades for anything that isn't light use (It's just in suburban NJ, that really doesn't happen very often) It's completely reasonable that people like to use other more expensive knives, and super steels do what their made to do...
 
300Six said:
I think that you have a serious problem. Every commercial kitchen in the world uses aluminum pots. Iron in fact is good for you in small amounts but any amount of leached aluminum is bad news. (How reliable is your memory now, by the way?) Have a blood titre done on yourself before you tell us (me) that a carbon steel knife is detrimental to your sensitive taste buds. And then step back and begin cooking at home on cast iron pans and using bona fide steel knives.
You "nose in the air" folks do need to be grounded in reality every now and again.
Click to expand...

I don't think he's crazy. I have a Tojiro "Shirogami," white #2 steel, utility knife. Love the knife, but when it was new I noticed an unusual metallic taste a few times. Most acutely when slicing up strawberries one day. It never bothered me much, but this diminished over time anyway as a patina started to built up.
 
Dirtknap said:
Also not good for deanimating attackers or fighting-off polargrizz hybrids, so dont get all butthurt that its 30x cheaper and 10x lighter than that anchor you bought the hype about. Its just an elegant design for its task, which is slicing........No, not slicing aliens on one of your video games. Just actual stuff like boxes, food prep, wood, etc.
Click to expand...

Dirtknap said:
Well, thats almost the right tool for the job. A decent limbing axe or even an ontario machete would not take more than one swing. And if you want someone to accept your attempt at "speaking from authority", and have spent any prolonged time working or backpacking in the wilderness, you would be more credible if you dump the cotton jeans and shirt. And for gods sakes, cut that childish ponytail, your "Axle Rose" years look far behind you, which is sad in itself. Go buy a new Opi, which would be a good tool for that task and embrace your newfound self-awareness. .....You're welcome.
Click to expand...

Criminy, what's with the extreme asshattery in your response? Listen, treat this as an object lesson. It could be called "Ya know, people may have a different opinion than I do and that's ok."

If I were you, I'd run through that class twice.
 
Viva la difference!
Every knife has lovers and haters. No need to feel it's a personal attack to disagree.
I dig Opinels because I am a knife addict and they are inexpensive and incredibly strong and reliable for a peasant knife with 5 parts total just steel and wood.
I can buy them and leave them in my glove box, earthquake kits, kitchen drawer , tool box etc.
They cut great and sharpen fast, the thin grind actually makes it easier to go longer periods without sharpening and the steel whips up fast into a razor.
But that is me and a lot of other BFs members but not everyone here at BFs just like EVERY other knife except maybe the SAK Farmer. Cheers!
 
Carbon steel does leave a metallic taste, but I find that forcing a patina makes that smell/taste decrease drastically. With a bit of patina I cannot smell or taste the metallic smell that a carbon steel knife gives off. Once the surface has patina it doesn't react as strongly. It's a pretty short process and honestly it's not a huge deal. For me it's like seasoning a cast iron pot or skillet. I tend to force a patina on most of my carbon steel knives just to get rid of that metallic smell/taste. I like to slice up limes and other fruit so the patina forms fast. Peaches in particular leave a really nice patina.

Opinels are lightweight, inexpensive, and they do cut well. If they are sharpened correctly they'll handle pretty much anything any other folder will handle. I love my slipjoints but my Opinel doesn't get as much use because the action is a bit sluggish and tight on mine. I could probably mod it fairly easily. I'd like to put an easy open notch in it, refinish the wood, and drill a lanyard hole. That's what mine needs and I'd probably carry it all the time.

My #8 is lightweight. I mean it's almost silly how light weight it is. Every time I pick it up I'm surprised how little it weighs for how much blade there is and for how large of a handle it has. If Opinels had jimping and a flipper Nutnfancy would go crazy for them.

Knives aren't rocket science. They cut things. Few people need to cut a ton of stuff all at once. There simply aren't that many jobs out there that require constant, non stop cutting. Opinels cut plenty of stuff. I don't see anyone complaining about breaking them all the time. They work and they do a good job. If they need to be sharpened it takes all of 20 seconds to do a few passes and voila sharp again.

Buy what you want. Use what you like. YMMV.
 
Quiet said:
Criminy, what's with the extreme asshattery in your response? Listen, treat this as an object lesson. It could be called "Ya know, people may have a different opinion than I do and that's ok."

If I were you, I'd run through that class twice.
Click to expand...

Excellent. Thanks for posting that. :thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top