How to take apart an Opinel

[Readyrod]

I bought an ebony Opinel a few months back but I can't use it cause it's too stiff. When it gets a little wet it becomes dangerous to open or close. I want to take it apart and maybe sand it down to make it easier (and safer) to open and close. Is it possible without destroying the knife? How do I do it? Thanks.

 

[hso]

If you take it apart you'll solve the problem of it binding when it gets wet, but you'll create another safety problem for when it is dry.

Better to let the knife dry out thoroughly and then put it in warm liquid paraffin or beeswax so it soaks it up and stabilizes the wood against swelling.

 

[Readyrod]

Yea but this one is really stiff. Even when dry.

 

[hmphargh]

I'd second HSO's suggestion of either paraffin or beeswax. In addition to stabilizing the wood, it should lubricate the pivot making the knife easier to open and close, wet or dry.

 

[rcmodel]

See post #30 here:
Seems like there may be more going on then meets the eye.
The stamped blade tang still having sharp edge burs on it being one.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/425239-Heavy-Opinel-Use?p=4020986#post4020986

rc

 

[hso]

I like the Bladeforums instruction on disassembly, but I'd make a point of driving the pin out only in the direction that kept from passing the head through the handle.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Bees wax works great.

 

[Mizar]

The advice on pliers to remove the viroblock is not a good one because you risk to damage the nickle plating of the ring. My advice is to take a straight screwdriver - about 1/4 inch wide is fine and round the side edges. Insert it into the slot and rotate it to pry the ring open.

Boris

P.S. You can substitute beeswax with a drop or two of mineral oil (Ballistol, liquid paraffin or Johnson's baby oil).

 

[Isaac's Grandpa]

Ebony is a very dense, oily wood. I don't think adding any oils or wax will help much. It sounds like interference someplace.

 

[rcmodel]

I agree.

Ebony + wet + swelling wood just don't add up at all.

Ebony is practically waterproof in it's own right, and so dense it won't float in water.
It was at one time used for bearing blocks on steamship prop shafts because it was so stable and wear resistent.

rc

 

[Zeke/PA]

I don't own an Ebony knife but with a plain Opinel with the "binding" problem I've used WD-40 on the "joint" with really good success.

 

[Readyrod]

I tried to take it apart but couldn't get the pin out. I did spread the inner collar but when I put the outer collar back on it's now too tight and doesn't work. I think that the gap in the wood is too tight for the blade on this knife. Now the collars are all scratched up as well. Darn. I'll try again later.

 

[JohnKSa]

I tried to take it apart but couldn't get the pin out.

Yeah, driving that pin out is not an easy task.

I got to the same place you did and quit after some fairly energetic hammering but without successfully removing the pin. Fortunately I did stop before scratching the collars or causing any damage.

 

[Readyrod]

Yea, I give up on this one.