Here is my daily carry. Used everyday to cut stuff. Easy to sharpen. Was gifted the whole set when I retired from my co-workers, but have yet to use any of them. The blade is thin so you can't use it as a prybar or a screwdriver. That's why I have screwdrivers and prybars....
Opinel?
- Thread starter Panzerschwein
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Deltaboy1984
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I got several of them!
I live near a large park and go on a lot of picnics and my opinel #8 fills me with great joy seeing it in the picnic basket. I started with the carbon one but it immediately patinaed and got the same one in stainless steel since its mostly for food.
I also got a nice leather sleeve for it.
I also got a nice leather sleeve for it.
tubeshooter
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I had been hearing about these for a long time. This thread made me go ahead and finally buy one to see what all the fuss was about.
Found out that REI sells these for a reasonable price (for those that aren't big on the online shopping thing). Had to go one town over to find some in stock. Was planning to get two #8 models, both the red handle and brown handle. They only had one red handle left, so I went with that. Must be popular...
I will say that the knife is simple and elegant. Has a classy look that is the opposite of "tacticool". Also the #8 fits my hand like a glove. Good overall general purpose size.
On the other hand - as some have already stated, it clearly should not be used as a pry bar in any capacity. Also, the locking mechanism does not exactly fill me with great confidence. A lot better than nothing at all, though.
Haven't tried cutting anything yet, but I am satisfied and not sorry I bought it or anything. Seems like a good value for the money. I've seen worse knives sell for more money, that's for sure. Will definitely get the brown handle #8 at some point. For a light-duty/picnic knife, the #8 seems perfect. YMMV.
Found out that REI sells these for a reasonable price (for those that aren't big on the online shopping thing). Had to go one town over to find some in stock. Was planning to get two #8 models, both the red handle and brown handle. They only had one red handle left, so I went with that. Must be popular...
I will say that the knife is simple and elegant. Has a classy look that is the opposite of "tacticool". Also the #8 fits my hand like a glove. Good overall general purpose size.
On the other hand - as some have already stated, it clearly should not be used as a pry bar in any capacity. Also, the locking mechanism does not exactly fill me with great confidence. A lot better than nothing at all, though.
Haven't tried cutting anything yet, but I am satisfied and not sorry I bought it or anything. Seems like a good value for the money. I've seen worse knives sell for more money, that's for sure. Will definitely get the brown handle #8 at some point. For a light-duty/picnic knife, the #8 seems perfect. YMMV.
perldog007
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Love mine, have kept one or more for the last forty years. I always end up gifting mine then getting another to replace it or a set... Currently keep a 3" that is near and dear and legal to carry concealed in my 'state'. As long as I respect their limits and I always have they always come through.
tubeshooter
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Ordinarily I keep my EDC pocket knives around 2.5" or so in blade length. Any longer tends to feel a little on the clumsy side in my pocket.
Not so with this Opinel #8. I guess it is a combination of the round wooden handle and the light weight, but it has been surprisingly comfortable to carry.
Definitely see another two or three of these in the future. Would like at least one more #8, as well as a smaller size or two.
Not so with this Opinel #8. I guess it is a combination of the round wooden handle and the light weight, but it has been surprisingly comfortable to carry.
Definitely see another two or three of these in the future. Would like at least one more #8, as well as a smaller size or two.
Blkhrt13
Member
I need to get one. I hear they are great blades. I have so many knives already. But you know more doesn’t hurt.
Deltaboy1984
Member
I got a #3 and it's great ! I never hurt myself with a Opinel !
TTv2
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When I see an Opinel knife, I feel like the guy from Men's Warehouse is talking to me about owning the knife and using it for daily tasks. He tells me, "You're gonna like the way this knife makes you look, I guarantee it."
It's also very well priced and I I just want something simple and nice looking to add to my collection. Looking at getting a NO.7, 10, and in the future, a 12. Not sure if I want to do stainless or carbon, but I'm leaning carbon for the traditional looks.
It's also very well priced and I I just want something simple and nice looking to add to my collection. Looking at getting a NO.7, 10, and in the future, a 12. Not sure if I want to do stainless or carbon, but I'm leaning carbon for the traditional looks.
I have carried an Opinel 10 or 12 for years and can open it with either hand easily and one factor I like is that the lock can be set and released discretely since since some city folk don't approve of decent sized pocket knives and slip joints are less scay
AJumbo
Member
I just purchased a new #6 Inox olivewood and a vintage #8 Carbone with a spear-point blade. The #8 isn't the slim-handled garden knife; it has the standard squarish handle. I couldn't find it in the current catalog, and it was the only one I saw anywhere online, so I jumped on it. The olivewood #6 will be my pocketknife when my Rat-1 is too obtrusive. I figured the stainless blade and oily olivewood handle will make it at least somewhat sweat resistant once our Phoenix summer rears its ugly head.
The #6's locking ring also locks the blade shut, making it suitable for pocket carry. Turns out that that's a fairly recent feature which the #8 lacks, so it will be getting a sheath. I may drill them for a thong, and I'm seriously considering knocking some of the bulkiness off the #6 so it rides in the pocket easier, but isn't quite as sleek as the Slim Line series, which I find to be too slim altogether.
I'm into these two knives for just over $40, shipped. That's pretty easy to like.
The #6's locking ring also locks the blade shut, making it suitable for pocket carry. Turns out that that's a fairly recent feature which the #8 lacks, so it will be getting a sheath. I may drill them for a thong, and I'm seriously considering knocking some of the bulkiness off the #6 so it rides in the pocket easier, but isn't quite as sleek as the Slim Line series, which I find to be too slim altogether.
I'm into these two knives for just over $40, shipped. That's pretty easy to like.
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scbair
Member
I have a couple of old Cold Steel Twistmasters that were basically Opinels with checkered synthetic handle material rather than wood. The blades are Carbon V steel; thin, wide and razor-sharp. One is my go-to knife for dressing out deer, and the other is NIB, in case I ever lose or wear out my first one.
earplug
Member
The only knife I have carried for thirty five years. I used CLP on the pivot without harm.
Drill a hole for a thong and you can clean fish all day long and not drop the knife over the side of the boat.
Drill a hole for a thong and you can clean fish all day long and not drop the knife over the side of the boat.
Elkins45
Member
They have good blade steel and good blade geometry that makes them good slicers. I would much rather loan my Opinel to someone than my Spyderco. They make good knives to carry in a “he always has a knife we can use” environment.
AJumbo
Member
I grabbed one of those at a gun show a decade ago. I built a sheath for it, threw it in the glove box and only see it when remember to put some oil on the blade. I'm not sure I've ever cut anything with it.
Deltaboy1984
Member
Love them and they are easy to sharpen!
Good slicers. They tend to cut very well because the blade is thin. My No8 (blade length of about 3.25") has a blade thickness of 0.07" (about 1.8mm). Most anything "tactical" is going to have a blade spine thickness of 3mm or greater these days. For a rough comparison, you can think of it as being somewhat comparable to a Swiss Army Knife blade although without the taper you see on the spine of a SAK where it gradually thins toward the tip.
The blade on mine is stainless and it holds its edge pretty well for the use I put it to. I don't (and wouldn't) use it for hard duty since the blade is not especially robust. I don't consider that a criticism, not all knives need to have thick blades, people just need to understand the functional difference and realize that what might be acceptable with a thick blade is ill-advised abuse with a thinner blade.
There's a temptation to assume that because of the cost and simplicity that they're "cheap" but they're actually good quality.
The handles are mostly round and indexing is based on the end of the handle where there's a flare and the handle cross section becomes more oval. If you get a larger model, you'll be mostly holding a round piece of wood because the back of the handle that helps with indexing is too far back to get a grip on. But if you stick with a model that has a handle close to the length of your hand, it works pretty well. The No8 I have has a handle length that is almost too small for my hand, but that puts the flare at the end of the handle where it helps index the knife.
The handles are untextured so they're not especially grippy. That can be fixed if you're inclined to modify the knife.
There is nothing keeping your fingers off the blade, no guard or choil--the blade is sharpened all the way to the back where it meets the handle. If you tend to grip the knife near the very front of the handle and crowd the blade when using a knife, you'll learn your lesson pretty quickly.
The lock on the locking models is very positive in both open and closed position. One handed opening is iffy unless the pivot is on the loose side. Mine isn't really tight so I can unlock it with one hand, flip it open and then lock it open. They can be unlocked, closed and locked closed one handed with no problem.
The blade on mine is stainless and it holds its edge pretty well for the use I put it to. I don't (and wouldn't) use it for hard duty since the blade is not especially robust. I don't consider that a criticism, not all knives need to have thick blades, people just need to understand the functional difference and realize that what might be acceptable with a thick blade is ill-advised abuse with a thinner blade.
There's a temptation to assume that because of the cost and simplicity that they're "cheap" but they're actually good quality.
The handles are mostly round and indexing is based on the end of the handle where there's a flare and the handle cross section becomes more oval. If you get a larger model, you'll be mostly holding a round piece of wood because the back of the handle that helps with indexing is too far back to get a grip on. But if you stick with a model that has a handle close to the length of your hand, it works pretty well. The No8 I have has a handle length that is almost too small for my hand, but that puts the flare at the end of the handle where it helps index the knife.
The handles are untextured so they're not especially grippy. That can be fixed if you're inclined to modify the knife.
There is nothing keeping your fingers off the blade, no guard or choil--the blade is sharpened all the way to the back where it meets the handle. If you tend to grip the knife near the very front of the handle and crowd the blade when using a knife, you'll learn your lesson pretty quickly.
The lock on the locking models is very positive in both open and closed position. One handed opening is iffy unless the pivot is on the loose side. Mine isn't really tight so I can unlock it with one hand, flip it open and then lock it open. They can be unlocked, closed and locked closed one handed with no problem.
Deltaboy1984
Member
I love them!
Jim Watson
Member
I wish they made a stainless synthetic without the whistle and serrations of the Outdoor. I like a pocket steak knife that I can wash. Lost my bare bones NRA Buck in The Incident.
Deltaboy1984
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