Opinel handle finish?
-
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:20 pm
Opinel handle finish?
For as long as I can recall, Opinel has used an orange type of finish on their handles, that was kind of a horrid shade. More recent, they seemed to have switched to a lighter more neutral wood shade of finish. Anyone know when they changed?
- Iron Hoarder
- Posts: 1808
- Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 3:03 pm
- Location: Chertsey, Surrey, UK
- Contact:
Re: Opinel handle finish?
I have older Opinels that have the natural finish as well. I think they went to the orange stuff and then back again sometime in the last few years. I'm pretty sure the return to natural has been during the last two years. Write them a quick e-mail and ask. They might tell you all you want to know.
I measure my collection by the ton.
Whoever dies with the most tools wins......Now accepting donations.
Whoever dies with the most tools wins......Now accepting donations.
- stancaiman
- Posts: 346
- Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 5:38 pm
- Location: Paris - FRANCE
Re: Opinel handle finish?
the Opinels sleeves are varnished , varnishes move with time (with the light) and become like all the varnish : orange.
- Iron Hoarder
- Posts: 1808
- Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 3:03 pm
- Location: Chertsey, Surrey, UK
- Contact:
Re: Opinel handle finish?
I guess that means that some of those boxes full of opinels I saw in the shops had been there a good long while. 

I measure my collection by the ton.
Whoever dies with the most tools wins......Now accepting donations.
Whoever dies with the most tools wins......Now accepting donations.
- woseyjales
- Posts: 1632
- Joined: Tue Mar 22, 2005 4:56 pm
Re: Opinel handle finish?
According to info on the Opiknifestore site the carboneys have
varnished handles while the stainless are natural finish.
Whether that is just current production or same since 1890 I dunno.
I'm pretty sure (65%) if someone sent them a ? or
called their 1-800-# they'd be glad to fill-in-the-blanks.
Here's my latest 'pocket wore' No.6 carboney.
Decided to try something new, wasn't sure where
it was headed but not hard to see where it wound up.
Think when Case did it they called it Summer's End
Whataya think? Leave it as is or go back to sanding?
Opinel No.6 Pocket Wore Summer Ending aka Hunterflage

varnished handles while the stainless are natural finish.
Whether that is just current production or same since 1890 I dunno.
I'm pretty sure (65%) if someone sent them a ? or
called their 1-800-# they'd be glad to fill-in-the-blanks.
Here's my latest 'pocket wore' No.6 carboney.
Decided to try something new, wasn't sure where
it was headed but not hard to see where it wound up.
Think when Case did it they called it Summer's End
Whataya think? Leave it as is or go back to sanding?
Opinel No.6 Pocket Wore Summer Ending aka Hunterflage


-
- Posts: 63
- Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:20 pm
Re: Opinel handle finish?
Nice used look, but what is the green color from?woseyjales wrote:According to info on the Opiknifestore site the carboneys have
varnished handles while the stainless are natural finish.
Whether that is just current production or same since 1890 I dunno.
I'm pretty sure (65%) if someone sent them a ? or
called their 1-800-# they'd be glad to fill-in-the-blanks.
Here's my latest 'pocket wore' No.6 carboney.
Decided to try something new, wasn't sure where
it was headed but not hard to see where it wound up.
Think when Case did it they called it Summer's End
Whataya think? Leave it as is or go back to sanding?
Opinel No.6 Pocket Wore Summer Ending aka Hunterflage
![]()