Anyone into Opinels?

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Luftwafflles
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Anyone into Opinels?

Post by Luftwafflles » April 7th 2017, 2:02pm

Opinel is a french made knife, extremely light, can be had for $10-$20, but most importantly, the sharpest knife that I have yet to run across.. It's been around for over a hundred years, known as a "peasant" knife, it has a unique twist safety lock system. Comes in both stainless and carbon steel (the carbon requires more maintenance since it can rust, but it can be given an edge that almost makes a razor seem dull). They are sold by blade length, ranging from 2 cm's to 13 cm's. The most popular being the Opinel 8 (8 cms). The handles can be purchased in beechwood, maple, olive wood, etc. Anyway, if you like your knives to have some history, be extremely light and sharp, not to mention unique, and cheap to buy, give an Opinel a try. Not for rough use, but the quality far exceeds the price. Picasso used to carry one, for whatever that's worth.
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Thunder1
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Re: Anyone into Opinels?

Post by Thunder1 » April 7th 2017, 2:15pm

No, but there used to be a Canadian wood working catalog that advertised them..have always been tempted to try one out..another inexpensive family of pocket knifes are the China made 'Marbles' knifes...I carry one of the 'camping' models from time to time..and have given them as Xmas presents to friends and family the last couple of years..I get mine at Smokey Mountain Knifeworks...guess this post will motivate me to start posting pics of my collection..
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anonymous-10

Post by anonymous-10 » April 7th 2017, 2:39pm

I have a couple. Great,useful knives.


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anonymous-10

Post by anonymous-10 » April 7th 2017, 2:52pm

The carbon blade versions get a funky patina with use




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MKTheVintageBloke
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Re: Anyone into Opinels?

Post by MKTheVintageBloke » April 7th 2017, 3:44pm

I used to have an Opinel, and my experience with it was great at first, but then the bloody thing fucked it up big time. They're indeed bloody sharp- only either the one I've had was a specimen with a manufacturing defect, or simply that blade design (it was a filleting knife, with a long and narrow blade) wasn't good enough, because the tip of it broke really easily; guess I'll stick with Victorinox. Can't remember what was it that got the knife damaged- yet it must have been hardly anything strenuous and trivial enough to make me blame the knife, not myself.
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Luftwafflles
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Re: Anyone into Opinels?

Post by Luftwafflles » April 7th 2017, 9:14pm

foghorn wrote:The carbon blade versions get a funky patina with

Yep. I did a "forced" patina on one of my carbon versions. I saw the process on youtube. You stick the knife in a glass, blade end down. and fill it with hot white cider vinegar, up to the point the blade ends. Leave it in an hour, and you have a charcoal matte black patina. You can apparently do it with any carbon blade, and it's supposed to help a lot against corrosion.
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Luftwafflles
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Re: Anyone into Opinels?

Post by Luftwafflles » April 8th 2017, 3:10am

tiktok wrote:I think I'll try this with a straight razor

Make sure the razor is carbon steel, not stainless. The process does not work for stainless steel.
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Thunder1
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Re: Anyone into Opinels?

Post by Thunder1 » April 8th 2017, 8:33am

Good mail order source for Opinels & other knives..

https://www.smkw.com/brands/opinel
Last edited by Thunder1 on April 8th 2017, 9:09am, edited 1 time in total.
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Luftwafflles
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Re: Anyone into Opinels?

Post by Luftwafflles » April 8th 2017, 9:08am

bobbee wrote:I used to use one, best damn knif I ever had.
Simple design, cheap and very sharp. Must get another.
There was a display model for sale a few months ago on a British site called Freeads. It was over two feet long when open.

Yeah, that's the Opinel 13. Most people think it was made as an inside joke, or a collectors item. Too large for bushcrafting, and too delicate for survival or batoning. Also, at $100, kind of expensive (for an Opinel).
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four of diamonds

Re: Anyone into Opinels?

Post by four of diamonds » April 8th 2017, 8:27pm

My son gave me one with a carbon steel blade. Razor sharp. Keep it on my desk for a letter opener. Mine has Coghan's Made in France by Opinel stamped on the handle.
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anonymous-10

Post by anonymous-10 » April 9th 2017, 9:54am

Falstaff wrote:There are so damn many models, I never could make up my mind which to buy. Which 'un would make a good whittler?




The model numbers are indicative of the size. (open)


I like the 6's - 8's since they are pocket friendly. :-o
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