Wow, Opinel #8 is awesome

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Peak_Oil

Joined
Nov 6, 2005
Messages
554
I have had one handy for the last few days and mostly just fiddled around with it. I opened a couple of boxes, sharpened it up on a Sharpmaker, nothing special. When I got around to changing the oil in my motorcycle, I used it to cut the top off a plastic apple juice jug to catch the used oil and slice up a cardboard flat to put under the whole operation. Then I used it to pry the cover off the oil filter (to help my Gerber Shard get the job done).

It was so handy to have around, and it did the cutting tasks extremely well. I wasn't hacking away at the apple juice bottle at all, the knife just went right through it. Same with the cardboard. I was expecting to have the blade turn on me and wind up with a big divot in the side of the apple juice bottle, but that just didn't happen at all.

Then there's how awesome the wood handle looks, the classic clip blade, the nice lockup as I turned the ring, just a very satisfying use of a simple tool in the service of a few simple jobs. What else could I ask out of a pocket knife?
 
Few things in life give you more bang for your bucks than Opis.

So very satisfactory to actually own and use a cheaper-than-dirt tool, which does the job and then some.

I have several carbon #12s and a smaller one.

I cut down the #12 and use them for slicing cardboard boxes. When one goes dull, the next one is up.

The Opis sharpen easily and quick and can get razor sharp.

Great tools. Less is more.

 
Hi all,

When I have a lil' extra pocket money, I'm going to buy a couple of NO.8's Carbon. One for me and one for a friend.

Regards,
HARDBALL
 
In terms of raw cutting ability nothing beats the thin full convex grind of an Opinel :D
I have them laying around the house. Always a No.8 open on my cutting board in the kitchen and a No.6 in my beggy sweatpants (i.e. pajamas). Don't use my Sharpmaker though cause I want to keep the edge convex.
 
The number 8 is a great all around pocket knife, but all the Opinel's are great. I don't know of another knife that cuts as well, is as insanely light weight, under estimated ruggedness, and easy to modify. They fly under the radar like SAK's for threat level, and are just so cool. Pablo Picasso used to use an Opinel to carve his sculptures, so they must send up for hard work. I've had a love of them since 1982 when I got my first one. If you think the knives are great, try the saws for outdoor use.

Once you soak the joint in mineral oil, they become pretty water resistant.

11827315155_3a7b4d855f_c.jpg
 
I've had an Opinel 10 and 7 in Carbon steel for some time now. Bought them as a result of folks here singing their praises. I like and appreciate them but for some reason have barely used them. Mostly they've been in a drawer, though I've used the 10 some for food and it has a bit of a patina on it. Sharpened the edge up some as well. The 7 has never been out of the box except to fondle, play with and say to myself that I should carry it. I like them both, but they just usually end up back in the drawer.

So........ my plan is to only carry either one or both for the next couple of days and see what I think. Right now the 10 is in one of the side pockets on my Carhartts and I have the 7 out of the box and ready to carry. My guess is that the 10 will be more of a "tool" while the 7 will be a pocket rider.

I am interested in this little fun experiment. If nothing else, the pristine blade on the 7 will get a little color to it.
 
I often carry my Opinel because of its non agressive looks, not too big (no 8), wooden handle, don't scare anyone, but a very effective knife!
 
I keep an Opinel 10 in the glovebox, and 8 and 4 in the house. A light strop on a 8000 stone every week and it's a laser. Too bad they stopped making the Opinel 13.
 
I like my #8,too, neat knife,had one 20 years ago,sold it,got another last year...
 
And quite easy to get a scalpel-esque sharpness on them :D

Opinel_edge.JPG

my Opinel #6
 
What is the secret to scalpel sharp for Opinels? I've got a Lansky system and also some DMT Diamond Cards.
 
I like them a lot as a no bs knife. I need something cut the opinel does it with little fanfare. Whereas with other knives I sometimes find myself staring at it and fondling the knife after cutting with it lol.

I find the the opinel takes to nearly any Arkansas stone really well sharpened to an acute angle.
 
BladeScout said:
Few things in life give you more bang for your bucks than Opis.

So very satisfactory to actually own and use a cheaper-than-dirt tool, which does the job and then some.

I have several carbon #12s and a smaller one.

I cut down the #12 and use them for slicing cardboard boxes. When one goes dull, the next one is up.

The Opis sharpen easily and quick and can get razor sharp.

Great tools. Less is more.

Click to expand...

Great looking knives! I'm a sucker for straight edges, and I never knew opinels could look so good!

Thanks to you I have a strong urge to buy some and modify them.
 
I convex my edges, and honestly, they are my favotites. I like to pair up a #8 and #10. Their stainless is fantastic too.
 
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