Why all the Opinel rave?

They must be doing something right they've been in business making the same knife essentially unchanged for over 120 years and selling 15 million a year.

They're an affordable working man's knife that takes a wicked sharp edge with ease granted its no folding prybar but as a knife it can't be beat for the money. ;)

Pretty much all I can do is echo what nearly everyone one else has said, but one, you won't be disappointed.
 
stabman said:
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.
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That's when it starts to get my attention also, the BS alarm starts going off...... :D
 
jstrange said:
So how do you guys sharpen the blade to keep the convex edge. Some version of the mouse pad and sandpaper?

Someone mentioned they can be sharpened in 30 seconds. How do you do it? Thanks.
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I strop mine on a loaded strop. Usually I set the initial bevel on my belt sander, or on sandpaper if I am bored.

They really can be sharpened in 30 seconds too!

I have one that I just hit on the ceramic V sticks (cheap Smith combo sharpener). The factory edge was not shaving sharp. 30 seconds on the sticks, maybe less, and it was popping hairs off my arm. The carbon steel is run a few points softer than some. The geometry is great (the hard work is already done with the primary grind).

I have never had a knife get that sharp with so little work.
 
I got my first Opinel via the PIF thread on here. I was just curious about the knife and had heard good things about them, so I figured "what the hay". It now resides in my toolbox at work and gets used pretty often. As for the knifes usefulness? It pierces grommets and strips wires perfectly. Most other blades i use will grab copper strands and bog down and/or cut a few strands when stripping shielding from a section of a wire. The Opinel never does that. It simply removes a sliver of shielding to the exact needed length better than any other blade I have used. Its definitely not my most used blade, but for what I use it for, it excels.
 
For the price they are offered they cut very well IMO. I have one, I think its the 3-3.5" carbon blade. The steel isn't run very hard maybe 57-58 rc range which is fine, they sharpen up easily. They are from thin stock and ground with light convex to near zero with micro bevel. Though I like to add it doesn't compare to a custom High alloy blade ground and heat treated properly.
 
Have bought several after traveling long distances(Flying) and can't find fault w/them for the price.
Didn't want to risk having any of MY knives confiscated.

Although I brought a BuckMaster w/me in the overhead luggage storage in '90 on a Pittsburgh to Dallas round trip flight. :D
Different times then.

DC
 
My only minor grievance is that the wood swells during extended periods of humidity. Other than that I like everything about them.
 
I use mine as personal steak knife. Works fantastic.
Why spend $49-$100 or more on a "gentlemans" steak knife?
That other $ can be used for other knives. And steak.
 
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.
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I have found that once you have a solid patina on a carbon blade, it no longer imparts any flavors. It needs to be an even dark grey patina.
 
I'm gonna agree to disagree on this.

There are several things that set them apart from "gas station" knives. for me.

The blade profile and handle profile are well thought out. The handle is comfortable. The heat treat is well done (I have owned a few gas station knives in my life, and used way more). I have had and used many gas station knives that the heat treat was bad, or the steel used in the blade was not even cuttlery quality.

In fact, I have had knives as expensive as $30 that turned out to be no better than pot metal in the blade. (those knives were not even purchased at a gas station).

The steel that Opinel uses is consistent. It is not going to be pot metal. It won't be rail road track. It is not going to be scrap metal. It won't be mystery stainless in capable of holding an edge.

The carbon steel holds an edge just fine. It is not a super steel. But it is a decent carbon. Easy to sharpen, and it stay sharp long enough to do work.

The stainless is better from my use. It is a very fine grained steel, and gets plenty sharp, and in my use, holds that edge longer than the carbon steel they use. (which I would prefer them to harden higher).

I have had gas station knives that would not, with any amount of work, take a decent edge, or hold one.


Opinel have well thought out geometry. The blade is thin, slices well, and cuts. I have many many knives that no mater how sharp I get the edge, won't ever cut as well as an Opinel. (My Busse, Swamprat, Cold Steel, and even my custom knives just don't have the same geometry).

I could build or commission a custom knife that would out cut Opinels, and hold an edge so much longer that it would be no contest. There are plenty of makers that design and make thin, high hardness, super steel knives that will cut days and days longer than an Opinel. But they are going to cost me way more. I don't hold that against customs. They just cost more. Opinels are super inexpensive. I don't hold the fact that they are not custom against them.


I have traditional knives (mostly GEC) that approach, equal, or even surpass the Opinel for geometry. Some of my blades are thin, and the 1095 holds a better edge than Opinel's carbon. I have one old Ranger that has very thin carbon blades that is just a nasty slicer. It is thinner than my Opinel. (if I could find the darned thing!). You can find a lot of classic knives that are the equal in the slicing department. But it is hard to find them for cheaper. My GEC are all $70 plus.



It is important to distinguish Cheap and Inexpensive. They are not the same. Mora's are inexpensive, but does that make them cheap? I would not consider them gas station knives. I have not seen them in a gas station, nor have I seen an Opinel (but I have seen them both in a camping/gear store).

I have seen Buck knives in a gas station.


I have to say, I have recent Buck knives I would absolutely consider cheap junk, not worthy of a gas station. (I have a recent manufacture/design Buck lock back that has the worst fit and finish, worst lock up, and worst overall finish of any knife I have handled or owned in decades and decades). It was roughly 4 times as much as my Opinels (though I bought a batch at $10 per knife, so I guess it is more like 3 times as expensive). The Buck was way more. Made in the US. Cuts much worse, and just feels awful in the hand. It is a cheap gas station knife, even though it was much much more expensive. I have inexpensive Chinese knives built so much better it is embarrassing.


Opinel are not race cars. They are not rocket ships. They are quaint, and pleasing to my hand and pocket. Light, and quirky, and sharp and very effective cutters.



Some one else mentioned that they were poor at whittling wood. I have to strongly disagree. Best folding knife I have ever used to make a pile of shavings.

Would be even better with more blade shape options like a warn-cliff (which they are cheap enough to take and grind into anyway!)
 
What do you think you are getting for around $13 US?

They aren't that cheap just because the makers are such good guys they are losing money on every knife they make believe me.... ;)

They are in that price range for a reason..... And that would be materials used, cost of manufacture, overhead and shipping to the US is all covered in that price ...... including markup.....

People, you aren't getting much...... Not in that price range.......

They likely cost around $2 to make... Maybe.....
 
Convex Convex Convex. $15 for a Convex. Did I mention they are convexed. No need to pry when you have a light saber. :grumpy::D:eek::thumbup:
 
The Opinel' s appeal comes into play after having carried folding sharpened prybar for years you put an Opinel in your pocket only to find that for $13-$15 you have a trustworthy knife that's easy to sharpen has a locking blade that extremely secure, is comfortable for long use as a knife.

You ain't gonna cut through cinderblockk and steel car doors but it'll make a mean sandwich it'll skin and process game like nobody's business, a picture of the Opinel#8 should be in the dictionary under the picture with 2 words Folding Knife, the magic is there, a good mix of steel and alloys, a good blade geometry, great treat, it's the most with the least, you actually find out that you didn't really need all that monster of a knife everyday something a little less pronounced, a little more accepted.

That's when you'll get the appeal of the friendly little knife, when you realize that your only cutting rope not stainless cable, your cutting pepperoni and cheese for a sandwich. It'll take down boxes easier then most all of the tank built zombie knives or there.

Again, by one, try one, you won't be disappointed.
 
A knife is a pretty simple tool. It's a piece of sharpened steel, and a handle. Folding knives add a pivot. Doesn't cost a lot to make. Simple, effective design = simple, effective knife. We like it. :thumbup:
 
Ankerson said:
What do you think you are getting for around $13 US?

They aren't that cheap just because the makers are such good guys they are losing money on every knife they make believe me.... ;)

They are in that price range for a reason..... And that would be materials used, cost of manufacture, overhead and shipping to the US is all covered in that price ...... including markup.....

People, you aren't getting much...... Not in that price range.......

They likely cost around $2 to make... Maybe.....
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They make and sell millions per year. High volume means cheaper to acquire materials per unit and cheaper to manufacture. So yeah they don't cost as much as a knife from a custom maker who buys small amounts of steel and does everything by hand one knife at a time.

I don't understand your crusade against them. They cut well. They have good geometry. They are affordable for anyone. They will outperform any sharpened pry bar for real life cutting tasks and they aren't scary so using them in public doesn't draw a ton of unwanted attention.

There's no need to get mad. It's just a knife.
 
T. Erdelyi said:
The Opinel' s appeal comes into play after having carried folding sharpened prybar for years you put an Opinel in your pocket only to find that for $13-$15 you have a trustworthy knife that's easy to sharpen has a locking blade that extremely secure, is comfortable for long use as a knife.

You ain't gonna cut through cinderblockk and steel car doors but it'll make a mean sandwich it'll skin and process game like nobody's business, a picture of the Opinel#8 should be in the dictionary under the picture with 2 words Folding Knife, the magic is there, a good mix of steel and alloys, a good blade geometry, great treat, it's the most with the least, you actually find out that you didn't really need all that monster of a knife everyday something a little less pronounced, a little more accepted.

That's when you'll get the appeal of the friendly little knife, when you realize that your only cutting rope not stainless cable, your cutting pepperoni and cheese for a sandwich. It'll take down boxes easier then most all of the tank built zombie knives or there.

Again, by one, try one, you won't be disappointed.
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I don't think anyone is talking about sharpened prybars, chopping cinder blocks, car doors etc....

Those real low alloy steels are both really cheap and easy to sharpen, edge holding is questionable though in reality....

Geometry is the result of keeping the cost down, stamped steel blades are thin......

Great HT... HUH? Compared to what?

Pretty amazing things all wrapped up into this $13 - $15 knife......

Wonder how all this supposed magic is getting paid for in that low price......
 
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Fanglekai said:
They make and sell millions per year. High volume means cheaper to acquire materials per unit and cheaper to manufacture. So yeah they don't cost as much as a knife from a custom maker who buys small amounts of steel and does everything by hand one knife at a time.

I don't understand your crusade against them. They cut well. They have good geometry. They are affordable for anyone. They will outperform any sharpened pry bar for real life cutting tasks and they aren't scary so using them in public doesn't draw a ton of unwanted attention.

There's no need to get mad. It's just a knife.
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Because it's a gas station/flea market knife.... In the very same class that MOST people here say they wouldn't even look at more times that I can count........ ;)

I am not mad at all, I think it's funny, really..... How people can defend this thing and talk down those other types of knives in the same class....

Slap a European name on it and all of a sudden everything is forgotten and it's a magical ..... Now that's really funny.......

It's one of the more amusing threads I have seen on BF in awhile really how people can defend and talk about these gas station knives like they are magic......
 
It's not a magic knife, just a really good knife for the money. I have more expensive folders, including a PM2, and Spyderco is my favourite manufacturer. But the Opinel just keeps on performing superbly, and I keep going back to it. Going camping? On holiday? Throw your Opinel in the bag, and if you lose it just get another one. When my daughter is old enough to borrow a knife, guess which one she is starting out with? If you don't want a really good cheap knife, then don't buy one. But why criticise other people for their personal preferences? Cuts beautifully, cheap, easy to sharpen and takes a truly wicked edge, it'll do me. In the end its about choice. That is why most of us buy what we buy, personal choice.
 
I like opinel because its all about performance. No bells and whistles or fancy crap, they just work and when it comes down to it thats all that really matters with a knife. Its not too pretty imo, but I like the way they look and the zero ground blade with a microbevel is great geometry, I wish more companies did that. Its nothing special except that opinel's have been around since the 1890's (correct me if im wrong) and have just connected with so many people in some kind of way like swiss army knives that they are well loved classics. Besides, for $15ish why not have one or several:D
 
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