Opinel knives

How about these? Do they hold up to use? Just wondering about them and looking for the thoughts here.
Walker

Hi, I use these mostly for away from home food prep. I think they "hold up to use" as a utility blade. Not made for heavy duty outdoor use and your not going to chop any trees down. They are inexpensive and useful. Try one of the smaller knives for under $20 and tells us what you think, regards, Mike

..."&"...some lighter, wooden handled, models "float"!
Best, Capt. Chris

I will try one out. Captain, I like the sound of it floating for sure.
Thanks
Walker

I've got a number 8 in carbon. Sharpest knife I own. I've had it about 6 months, haven't sharpened it yet, just stropp whenever I feel it needs it. Can't go wrong. Don't know if mine floats or not.

Got to thinking about a floating knife.
Might be good on the boat.
The Mora Knife from Sweden came up on Amazon
Rounded tip to prevent stabbing fragile things and serrated stainless blade.

Opinels are pretty popular here in Europe. Superb value for money! A famous French knife maker once said: all you need for your daily tasks is an Opinel 10, the rest is just to please yourself.

I even pimp them up once in a while, to please myself. It's gotten to the stage where I only use the two metal locking rings (The "Virole" as Opinel calls them), and making the blade and the handle myself.
Here's an example. Stainless damascus blade and Stabilized Buckeye burl handle, with some silver pinning

And two others with carbon damascus sheep foot blades and Sambar stag handles.

Gert,
I NEED ONE!! (or 2)
Nice, Capt. Chris

Well Capt.,

here's one with a 4" carbon damascus blade and an Amboina burl handle!

We need to talk, you & I. Contact info is below.
Thanks, Capt. Chris

Those are very cool Opinels!! I'm with Capt, I "need" one!

Gert, those are really nice!
Well done once again.
Walker

Just finished these two. Eye candy, I hope.

Both Opinel 9's, both with ATS34/12C27 stainless damascus, one with a Karelian Birch burl handle, the other with a Brazilian rosewood handle. Both with fine silver pinning.
Blued locking rings on both.

Sorry, I don't want to hijack Walker's Opinel thread, so I'll post a new Opinel Custom thread in this section. Mods, feel free to move my posts there.

No hijack at all! Please continue as this is interesting for sure. At least to me.
Again. Very nice work.
Walker

Are the rings her just the factory ones or do you craft these and blue them?
Walker

Thanks Walker! The rings are the factory rings. I heat blue the outer one for a more subdued look.

I really would like to make the outer ring from thin damascus sheet, but that is in the future. Not easy to make, but I guess if you have the right machine you can turn them out in millions, like Opinel does.

Here in Europe it is something of a cult to modify Opinels. Opinel even sells a knife with the rings in place, but with a square beech block as a handle, so people can cut their own handles.

That’s a neat idea.
Walker

They are beautiful,so much so I'd be afraid to use them. The carve your own handle sounds like a good winter project.

Another one, just ready, this a Nr. 8 with a O1/A203E twist damascus blade and a Macassar Ebony handle.

Excellent!
Thanks for posting.
Walker

And another one, fresh out of my workshop.

A Nr.8 with carbon twist damascus blade and a Sambar Stag handle, with an oosik end cap. And some fine silver pinning, as always.

Very nice indeed! I really like the “dressed up” models.
Thanks
Walker

Just finished this one.
A Nr. 8 with carbon Twist Damascus by my good friend Achim Wirtz from Germany.
Handle of Cocuswood (a rosewood variety).

Is the Damascus patterned of just a great looking blade?
Very nice work once again!
Thanks
Walker

Gert, these are all beauties - outstanding!
I guess I need to plan a stop next time I come to NL

Here is my very standard user No. 9 carbon

…and a factory run rosewood No. 8

Litch
The 8 is the main one due to size I guess? The 9 being a bit bigger?
Walker

Thank you all for your kind comments!
Yes, Walker, the numbers correspond with the blade length. So an 8 has a blade length of 8 cm, a 9 has a blade length of 9 cm, and so on.

Here's the last one I made, a nr. 9 with Sambar stag handle and oasis butt plate.

I have had one of those in my tackle boxes and tool box for years.

Very nice!

I've never seen them with the fancy wood and stag. Mine are the standard wood like Litch's.

There are some great examples showing here for sure. The basic knife seems to be a good user
Ike the tackle box and tool box mentioned. Plus cheese and apples when outdoors!
Walker

Sometime back I purchased Model 12 Explorer with whistle and tick remover both built into the handle,

It is quite LARGE basically too big for pocket carry,so I had Kris Kravitt of Tree Stump Leather up in Maine make a nice belt sheath for it.

Typical Opinel quality and instead of a beech wood handle it has a composite handle that will not swell up if it gets soaked in water.

Wayne

Sounds like a nice setup for sure.
Walker

Walker,
It is ,like I said,quite large but it is more than capable of handling most camp/hunting chores.

Instead of having to pack along a whistle,which is a good survival item,it is built into the knife.

There are two basic models of this knife,one has the tick remover and the other a ferro rod/fire starter.

Wayne

Oops,sorry for the double post and..........I don't drink!!!

Wayne

I removed it Wayne...(I don't drink either)!
Best, Capt. Chris

Good deal for sure.
Walker

Capt,
Thank you. With these new fangled computer gizmos,I am surprised I don't send more stuff into cyberspace more often.

Just came back in from my weekly squirrel safari,did not need to use my Opinel Explorewr as there are more squirrels in my yard than the forest.

Was nice to have along though.

Wayne

Las week I made a new pimped Opinel.

A Nr. 9 this time.

Blade: 3 1/2" made of Achim Wirtz carbon Raindrop Damascus.
Handle: Stabilized spalted French Boxwood, with silver decorative pinning.

That’s a looker right there. Very nice.
Walker