Opinel

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AJumbo

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For no good reason whatever, I find myself looking at Opinels lately, with an eye to acquire one or more (I know me, it'll be more.) My question for the day- I am leaning toward a No 7 or 8 in carbon steel, but the stainless they use is Sandvik 12C27. I don't hear a lot of complaints about that product. Does anyone have experience with the inox blades?
 
In my opinion carbon blade Opinels hold edge better and sharpen more easily and to a better degree. Unless it's a model offered only in stainless, I would choose carbon steel Opinel any day.
 
12c27 mod in Opinels is better than their carbon steel,easy to sharpen and hold edge better ,and doesnt rust.Old stainless that opinel used wasnt this good,but newer models with 12c27mod marked INOX are excellent!
 
I have a #12 with the 12c27 blade. Use it for food prep when we are camping, and it actually gets used a lot at home too. It is far from being a super steel but it takes a shaving sharp edge and holds it quite well when used for kitchen tasks. I don't have a carbon opinel to compare it with though.
 
Buy stainless,wont be dissapointed,I have both and stainless performs little better.Theyre both good knives!Stainless takes and holds toothy edge better than carbon and its perfect for cutting soft materials like meat,rope,etc!
 
Looks like unfinished models, intended for final shaping by the end user, are available in a variety of woods. The cherrywood looks good. I'm really trying hard to get one of the old pear wood models, but cherry or birch should be fine. Most of the interesting handle choices come only with INOX blades. I guess this isn't a bad thing, really: I'll be carrying the knife in desert summers, so some extra sweat protection won't hurt. I may have to look at the synthetic handles, or finish up one of the do-it-yourself models with bowl or butcher block oil.

Thanks for the replies!
 
This thread had me digging around in my knife drawer, and I found an Opinel No. 6, brand new in its cardboard sleeve. It is marked INOX (stainless).

I decided to order a No. 8 in "Carbone", and it should be here Thursday.
 
Just ordered a No8 in stainless after having a carbon one for years.

Great little knives!

I used to trim my beard with the carbon Opinel. I was easy to sharpen and just stropping it kept the edge good enough.

Wife thought I was weird and bought me an electric beard trimmer...
 
Excellent knives made to perform!Cut way better than any of modern tactical folders.
 
I've got a few and really like them. Favorite size is #8. I preferred the "Carbone" ones but my favorite now is a #8 Inox with Olive Wood.

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Excellent knives made to perform!Cut way better than any of modern tactical folders.
I think that is because they are thinner blades and made to slice as opposed to chopping and stabbing.

I don't own any but people who have them seem to think really highly of them.
 
Olivewood is at attractive choice for me. I live in the desert, and I like either olive or cherry because they don't shrink a lot in dry conditions. The Opinel is a working knife; I'm not averse to synthetic handles on them.
 
Try opinel garden knife,its another one thats excellent choice for less than 20.These knives are made to cut,period.Why would I be chopping with folding knife,stabbing too,although any one of these opinels can stab into soft materials easily.Thinner blades are way more usefull, for any task,but thats just my opinion.
 
Thinner blades are way more usefull, for any task,but thats just my opinion.
and your opinion is wrong. :)

thinner blades do not chop or stab very well. if your task involves stabbing and chopping, a thinner knife probably won't do as well as one more suited to stabbing and chopping.

it is about mating the task to the tool.
 
I use hatchet or axe for chopping,and thin blades for slicing,as they slice best and are also easier to sharpen to razor edge.
 
I have 3 number 8's in carbon/birch and inox/olive wood. I like all 3, all 3 sharpen and retain an edge equally well, and neither performs any better or worse than the other.
 
I have the #10 in Inox, It came with a ragged edge. I sharpened it and it took a very good edge, I use this knife for away from home food prep.
For the money this Opinel was a good value for me.
 
I'm traveling to France for vacation with my wife in May and I already told her I'm buying an Opinel #7 or #8. Also want to buy a Douk-Douk knife if I can find one.
 
I'm traveling to France for vacation with my wife in May and I already told her I'm buying an Opinel #7 or #8. Also want to buy a Douk-Douk knife if I can find one.
you will probably pay more for them in France than just buying them on ebay or amazon.
 
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