All About Pocket Knives

I can't help but wonder...
with the new Opinels coming out and all the modding going on with the classic designs is it finally time to show some respect and give this brand its own specific knife forum?

xstuntman wrote:I can't help but wonder...
with the new Opinels coming out and all the modding going on with the classic designs is it finally time to show some respect and give this brand its own specific knife forum?

That would be so totally cool!!

I've given away or sold off most of my other knives, and aside from a few SAK's, an Opinel is my daily carry knife. It does all the cutting I havet odo, yet I can treat it like a blank canvas and indulge myself in sanding and staining, re-shaping, modding, and tinkering. And I love that they come in so many sizes yet are the same design. A number 12 lives in my kitchen drawer, and does a huge amount of my slicing and dicing.

And even though they are all basicly the same, think of all the variations. There's the classic Opinel, the slim Opinel's, the exotic wood Opinel's, and 'new' Opinel's.

Yes, Opinel's need their own fan site!!!

Well, there's two.

Make it three.

That's a crowd!

Count me in!

I have 3 ... a No. 7, No. 8 and a No. 9. I can't think of a better "go to" knife.

For some reason I can't put my finger on, I think your first name is Chuck.

Nice sheath!

I added a No. 6 and a No. 8 Slim to complement my other three. I keep them organized in this Maxpedition pouch and I find it very handy.

My only Opinel;a No.13.Not very practical but fun to look at.Background is 1 inch(25.4mm)squares.

Bought a #8 Garden knife. Gave it to David the Destroyer.
Bought a #8 Slim at the same time. Kept it.

Yes love them ,have3 at the moment .this old one I like the best

I bought one used at a flea mkt years ago. I really put it to the test. Carried every day for about a year building power lines. I really abused it skinning wire and other tuff jobs. The carbon steel was great, easy to sharpen and held an edge. The lock became loose and the blade began to flop out. But none the less I definitely got my 5 dollars out of it. I guess I should have sanded the handle and soaked it in linseed oil to keep it from shrinking. If I get another that will be the first thing I do. I found it to be an excellent work knife.


Monte

I'll ad my latest,a custom Taz vowels #7

Another pic

I wasn't even aware of an orange Opinel until 313 Mike gave this No. 7 to me last Christmas. Most folks know I have a thing for orange so how could I not love this bad boy. Thanks again Mike.

I like that Jerry kind of hemi orange

I gave the orange ones out at Christmas to our "Back-Row Baptist club" one year.......State color! Now there are two rows
I always carry a carbon Number 7 when we go out to eat. Been wanting to get the biggest one, can not recall the number. It would be just to lose or look at. I save my money now for things I can use or resell, no sense to burden The Boss ....... too much

9ball

Think it's the #12 as the #13 is that huge one opinel do,biggest I went was #10 but like you my favourite is the #7 carbon

Love them I have #2,6,7,8,10 and a #8 filet knife and a garden knife!

I am a big fan of French pocket knives and Opinel in particular.

I have carried a Bubinga #8 for about 10 years until I wore down the blade from sharpening it, then a single Olive #8 for the next 10-15 years, I forgot when I got it, exactly. It's in my pocket right now.

I also really like the Effile/Slimline ones, too, specifically #8. #10 is a bit too big, I think, but it cuts food brilliantly.

I usually use it for cutting food and spreading stuff. Sometimes for utility work like opening boxes, prying things open, using the tip to pick something out or off (sometimes on circuit boards - the wooden handle is an insulator).

It is also THE OFFICIAL treat cutter for the kids. If there is a treat, like a pastry, then it is this knife that must be used to divide it. The kids won't accept anything else. It must be Dad's Official Pocket Knife (this Opinel).

You need to get the Inox (inoxydable = stainless) to use on food. The carbon tastes awful unless you stick it in a grapefruit overnight. That does some kind of fancy chemistry/science stuff that I don't understand and turns the carbon blade black. It won't make your apples taste like rust anymore, though.

I have several other French knives including Thiers, Laguiole knives of different sizes, and some Case knives. The Opinel cuts better than any of them, including the expensive ones, and dripping juice from fruit does not soak the Opinel or my hand because of its wide, round front. At first, I thought that was just lazy engineering but after comparing I understand why it is round like that.

Of all the gadgets in life I cannot believe that someone designed something so simple, so perfect, and so inexpensive. I'm amazed. I would love to create something - anything - like that at least once in my life!

In the photo, you can see some tiny round indentations. Those are from hammering a pin into some tiny model wheels on a Daddy-Daughter-Dream-Date. My little girl and I built a solar powered car at a cafe together. Each of those represents one kiss I gave her for figuring out something clever. The best one was when she figured out there was an issue with the gearbox, debugged it, and fixed it. Later, when Gramma asked her what a gearbox is she exclaimed, "oh, Gramma, everyone knows what a gearbox is!" She was 7 at the time. I'm so proud of her.

I recently restored it somewhat. It was almost walnutwood brown from age and use. I gave it a light sanding and it became olivewood color again. I used tung oil lacquer on it. That darkened it again. I'll use something else next time. I miss the olivewood smell.
As as real as the Velveteen Rabbit.

ErikB, Welcome aboard. Opinels are admired by many of the members including myself.

Thanks, Quicksteel.

I like them and have several! That’s a No. 13 at the top. I’ve added a few more since this group was taken.

in case it was missed earlier, this is the new black blade Opinel. The lock on this one can be used in the closed as well as the open position.

Tradition Luxe