Opinel No. 4? No. 5?

[jim mcarthur]

Hello, mates, and greetings from the USA! Please don't call me a Yank: I live in New Orleans.

I'm looking for opinions on the two Opinel sizes mentioned above. I have a No. 7, which IS legal EDC here, but I find it too big: for my watch pocket, and for my tastes. I like the simplicity of the Opinel non-lockers and am interested in opinions of the No. 4 and the No. 5 for EDC. My uses are very light: mostly slitting envelopes, cutting string, and trying open recalcitrant lids on cat food.

[Tsar Bomba]

Hello, mates, and greetings from the USA! Please don't call me a Yank: I live in New Orleans.

I'm looking for opinions on the two Opinel sizes mentioned above. I have a No. 7, which IS legal EDC here, but I find it too big: for my watch pocket, and for my tastes. I like the simplicity of the Opinel non-lockers and am interested in opinions of the No. 4 and the No. 5 for EDC. My uses are very light: mostly slitting envelopes, cutting string, and trying open recalcitrant lids on cat food.

First, to AAPK, Jim!

The 5 is probably the smallest Opi I'd use for any sort of EDC, considering my big meatpaws and the fact that the 6 is right in my wheelhouse for EDC size. I've only held a 4 once, but it definitely seemed on the small side to me and the Opi's big strength is how it fills the hand IMO.

Of course, if you're looking for a little pocket scalpel that fits in the watch pocket then the 4 (or even smaller...) might be just the thing for you. I think most people would be happy with the 5 if a non-locker was needed.

[jerryd6818]

Welcome to AAPK. Pick your poison. Click on the picture to expand it, click a second time to expand it to full size.

[jim mcarthur]

Thanks for the info. That is quite a handy chart!

I have rather small hands: but even so, it's nice to have a grip big enough to get a purchase on.

The great beauty of the Opinel, of course, is that at the prices, I can try buy and try several sizes for size, without busting the bank account. Maybe I'll just order a 4 AND a 5 and try them both out.

[deltaboy]

#5 is the smallest one I use!

[#goldpan]

For your intended use I'd say the number5 should work out just fine. Actually I like them all!

Here is my collection of Opies. The largest is a number 12 and the smallest is a number 2. I do have 2 others that I keep in the kitchen. A number 7 in carbon steel and a number 8 in stainless.

[KnifeSlinger#81]

I'm pretty sure the 5 is the biggest one without a collar lock, It's the smallest opinel that I have. It sure is a wicked cutter. I'd say the 6 is probably my favorite overall though, maybe the 7.