I got my first opinel a few months ago and I’m 20. It was the opinel no8 carbone from Amazon. I ordered the opinel no9 inox from eBay. Very good blades that live up to their legacy.
Two years ago I replaced my $100 Benchmade D2 folder with a $10 Opinel #8 Carbon. The Opinel takes only seconds to get stupid sharp with a $2 ceramic rod, and the blade locks tighter than my Benchmade or any other folder I have ever used. In two years of daily use the edge of my Opinel has never rolled or chipped.
This is an iconic French knife who gained his reputation through decades. First produce in 1890. And it's ridiculously cheap. I got myself a "deluxe" version with ebony wood, and I would never take it for the outdoor, but let me tell you they know how to be classy too.
@@henrymeguess5579 Yup, mora/morakniv are also great camping/woodcraft knives, also very reliable & affordable, another brand in the same vein as mora's is Martiini, they've made the iconic rapala filet knives since the 60's.
That's a good testimonial, thanks for sharing that. I bought my Dad a No 6 for Father's Day and had it personalized from Opinel. He's almost 80 and he had never seen one before, but he really liked it.
Frankly I'm sick of always being bombarded with "tactical" gear. Which is why I really liked this. Because of how cheap it is and how good the quality is I immediately bought one. I'm sure this would make a great first knife for a kid.
Mason Thornburgh, this knife requires a secure grip and dry hands. I would not recommend them for novice users for safety reasons. There is no guard or ergonomic prevention for your hand coming forward. The lock can potentially work itself loose during use, especially extended use. Rat model 1, far improved for general use, extremely similar in most regards, including price. The thinner blade(better slicing) and lighter weight of the Opinel is an advantage that comes at the cost of the learning curve of its unique design.
Simple Soup yes I agree. Opinel are knifes that should be "modded" Carving in a better gripping area, etching the blade to prevent rusting, maybe including a firesteel in the hilt
I’ve got the no.9, I’ve had it nearly 40 years, it’s still going strong! I originally got it for dressing rabbits, nowadays it gets used for food prep in camp and carving. It’s a delight to sharpen, and what an edge it’ll take!😀. I’ve no doubt it will outlast me.😁
I got one 40 yrs ago because it floats and I was doing a lot of river canoeing. Great knife. Found it about 5 years ago, buffed it up. Still going strong!
I commented on this long ago. I have had an opinel 9 for a few months now in Stainless, well because I live not so far from saltwater. About 2 weeks ago I ran it through the washer AND dryer. Still good to go. Way tougher than it looks.
I've used one as a daily carry for decades and went through a phase where I did that several times. I learned you could just let it dry out and it'd be fine. Tough little knives. Just wonderful in every way.
It's called a Vibrolock mechanism. My first knife was an opinel when I was 10 years old and now I'm using a number 8 which I have had for the last 12 years and is used daily. Never leave home without it, always in my pocket.
Nice to see our ultra light farmer traditional knife ;) n°8 is the main used size here for more than a century, we use it mainly around the camp for preparing food and for some light field duty, opinel is always tight at the begining, traditionaly we knock the bottom of the knife on the table to open it, we also choose carbon blades, the blade rusty patine with the time is the way the opinel needs to look, the cost here is between 7 to 9€, very cheap but quality made, all the boys scouts are equipped and training with opinel knives, we also have another traditional knife called "laguiole" but its more expensive, less "expandable" cheers, and yes its o pee nel ;) "i" is pronounced "ee", il like your channel, always a pleasure to pass by.
I have a drawer full of Opinels, the slim the serpette, and all of this classic in carbon and in stainless that is indeed an excellent 12C27 Sandvik. All of them I used in a plethora of occasions. From when I was deployed to fishing to pruning to food prep where they shine. Also as small all arounder in bushcraft for light-medium tasks. Pretty light and pretty effective, keeps literally rasor sharp with any stone in no time. This is also about the full flat design. The point i perfect. Not drop but that little curve is excellent. What you can see here again that this knife is made following the uses. A great slicer this one, As far as I can see Opinel, Victorinox and Mora are the best must have budget knives. And theyre like candies to me.. i have dozens... Nice review! Subscribed!
Hi from Tucker Ga. one of the most sensible reviews of an Opinel knife. I have seen other channels where they try to “baton” with one and then cry about how the knife fails. Thank you for taking an approach where you use the knife within its intended boundaries. I have three Opinels and couldn’t be more pleased with them. Both the stainless and high carbon blades are capable of attaining a wicked sharpness but the edge holding ability is kind of mediocre. If you can use a strop and stone, blade maintenance takes only seconds. This is a case where you definitely get more than you pay for. These knives are a diamond in the rough and are prime candidates for modding. Thanks for the video.
Hi Bryan, great review. Interestingly enough, I just sent my nephew a "My 1st Opinel" children's model with a rounded point and red zoo animal handle for his 1st pocket knife (great memories associated with our 1st pocket knives). He lives far away so my plan is to make a youtube vid with my Opinel 8 showing him some safety, how to open and close, and some things that children can practice. He is a little fisherman so he should fit right in with this whole bushcraft/woodcraft thing :) Thanks for the video, once again, sir! Great stuff as always. -Dave
A simple, and beautifully functional knife. I've been a fan since I was 11 or 12, and still carry one today. Definitely one of my top 10 pocket knives of all time.
i had a bad experience with my opinel carbon #8 , it broke on my hands whittling on elm wood. Several years later i saw a #12 carbon and the blade was large and fairly thick so i decided to give it a 2nd opportunity and now it has become one of my favourite folders
Opinels are excellent knives, and not just for the money. Both the carbon and stainless blades take a very sharp edge and hold them. They are great for food prep (especially fruits and vegetables), work wood well, and can be easily and cheaply replaced.
I waited so long for my opinel to come. After almost a month my order camed I enjoyed the knife for 2 weeks and then i lost it. Now i have to order a new one
Got my opinel 9 carbon before 2 years ago and it's really very sharp but I must clean, dry and lubricate after every use to keep in good condition. I never saw a knife so sharp before
Opinel is my Backpacking food prep knife....Opinel No8. Mine is SS, just as easy to sharpen as the Carbon steel. The Rockwell is about 57, and an excellent thin blade that is still sturdy. 4-5 passes on a LANSKY STICK and good to shave a hair if that's what you want. Weighs nothing like 1.5oz's.
My Opinel No. 9 is just about 40 years old (got it used as a little kid) and still serves like new. The tip broke a few years ago - it fell on concrete tip first :( - but I corrected and resharpened the blade so it's on for another 40 years as I'll pass it on to my kids :) Amazing design, amazing quality steel. Love it.
I started with an Opinel #10 for camping/bushcrafting 3 years ago. For the last year my edc has been a Opinel #8 that I drilled a lanyard hole in. They hold an edge very well, and a touch of a steel and a strop brings it right back when needed. Does a great job with ferro-rod. Don't get me wrong, I love my Mora's too. Great video's, keep em coming. I am afraid that I am too old school to be comfortable in front of a camera. Bill in Fargo, North Dakota
Good Vid, Opinel started making that design (without the lock) in the 1890's. I'm a big fan of Opinels in general. Their website is worth a visit. They have their own Museum in France !
Yeah, I spent a little time on their website. It is pretty cool. I really like the knife, and the price is reasonable. I just found out from JC & SHORTY! - NOTCHING 101 - that they also have a folding saw.
It’s inexpensive, very light, looks less threatening, and most importantly, sharp. I carry the larger size one when I’m at home. I use it for gardening/trimming and food processing and everything in between. I carry the No.8 occasionally when I go out. Especially if I want a lighter, cordial blade.
The No.9 Carbon Optinel is exactly my daily knife. In 25 years I had two of them but only because I lost the first one. Because of the carbon steel you need to oil it once a month but it holds a better edge then stainless steel.
Just purchased Opinel No.10 Carbone and im in love with it. No.8 looked like it would be to small for my extened edc use. Glad i went with the No.10 C.
Good video Brian. I been using the opinel for several years now and it satisfies all my needs far a folding knife. I have several case knives, old timers and Barlow knives and the opinel compares pretty close to all of them at the least one third or less than the cost of any of my other folders even with only one blade, and that's all you need anyway Been watching your videos for several years now and I can tell your mostly a knife man which I like. Your others videos prove that being prepared ain't no accident. Waiting for more vids.
What an aptly timed review of this as I literally just bought myself my first ever Opinel ...and it was a size 9 :) I bought it solely for my outdoors food prep kit and am very impressed with it so far. Not sure if you're on Instagram but I posted a photo of it yesterday. Great video Brian ~Peace~
I have had a #8 for fifty years. My son was borrowing it so often that I bought him one for Christmas. Also got him a #6, too cute to pass up - same great quality!
A tip of my hat to anyone that's been able to keep a knife for that long. My life is littered with lost and broken pocket knives. The only ones I have been able to keep are the ones that never left the house because I didn't like them or were too "precious" to risk taking out, silly huh.
I have a no8 outdoor edition for adventuring, but I'm thinking of getting a no9 for general cooking around the camp. My colleague has one and it's very comfy to use!
I really like my Opinels. I own a few of them, with different handle materials. But they can be tough to open up when they get wet or the humidity is high. So I always put some Birchwood Casey's gun stock finish on them, especially on the end near the lock where the wood is exposed, and it really seems to help stop the wood from swelling up as bad.
I have had Shrades, Cases, Spydercos, Pumas, Imperials, and various custom made knives……..sitting in a box or sold long ago. I have an Opinel in my pocket. It takes an edge easily, holds a fine edge well, and fits my hand. It has been my sole knife on many trips of a month or more. I like being able to carve a custom design and my name in the handle, for a better grip and to ID it. One tip: Be careful oiling the blade. Too much oil in the hinge, and the wood swells so tight that it is extremely hard to open.
This is something usual with opinels. Old opinels are difficult to open because they have been "fed" with fat from ham, pâté or whatever have been sliced with it (it was an everyday knife back to my grand father's time). The trick is to knock the articulation once or twice on a hard surface (table, rock) to unlock any blockage. That's actually the "traditional" ritual to open the knife. Mine is something like 40 years old and despite the blade is quite oxydized (mine is carbone but stainless steel are also available), it is still a very sharp blade.
Opinel are great. I have the #8 "Carbone" that I bought in France. Such a good knife. The only flaw is that literally ANY contact with water, even an extremely brief washing of the blade with conscientious avoidance of the handle and immediate drying, it becomes stiff to open. For edc that's perfectly fine, and I love the absolute sharpness I can get on it. I also patina'd mine and that is great. But I wouldn't bring this on an outdoor scenario. If you dropped it in water, even for a few seconds it would severely inhibit it's opening and closing.
Fill a jar with row (not boiled ) linseed oil and drop the opinel open into the jar. Let it there to soak for three days. After that roughly wipe out the excess oil and let it dry for 2-3 days by place it vertical in a glass. Wipe out and let the handle cure for a week. After that no more swelling
My Opinel accompanied me travelling all over the world for the last 30 years. You can take it where fixed blades are restricted, you don’t look like threat wearing one and it does 99% of the jobs that realistically come up.
I took my whitewater kayak on that snow!!! I rode it to the gas station for extra food drinks gas for generator... It was a REALY fun ride steep hill on the way there!
I have several of these from a tiny number four onwards to a number eight. They are extremely useful. I think of them as camp food prep knives as much as anything though as they are superb paring knives and handle veg and meat very well.
I have an opinel #6 that's pretty old. It doesn't have the groove to keep it closed (which is super cool) but I've never had an issue with it opening. These knives have been around a long time. Great review. Great knife!
Thanks Clint. Still looking forward to getting together after you get your schedule worked out. I'm bummed because our Troop had to cancel our Winter Campout at Woodruff (near Blairsville) due to road conditions.
I love My Opinel Nr.9 Carbone! Mine is probably 8 years old and has seen definitely some use. Got some rust on it, but it's nothing you can't fix. These things get scary scary sharp! Can't beat the price tho, 14 bucks for a quality knife and steel. My Nr.1 edc blade. Also really good for wilderness, cause of the 90° spine and Carbon steel. Good review as always Brian! Keep em going! Greetings from Germany, Tim
Anything made of carbon steel,I'll swear to as you can depend on them being sharp.Whether it be a carbon steel knife,like the Opinel,a Morakniv,orSwedish ax,its an ass kicker.I just ordered the Opinel #8 which comes with a leather sheath from Amazon for $12.You can't beat that.To be able to survive or be self sustainable in the wilds,one needs a decent cutting tool,and several types,i.e. a knife,ax,and saw.All my cutting tools come from quality companies like Opinel,Morakniv,Hultafors,Gransfors Bruks,and Bahco(makes of the Laplander folding saw.In my edc day pack,I carry cutting tools made by these companies,
This is a dandy all around knife that works great in all venues. Yesterday, I used my number 8 for cutting my steak at a local road house. Some of the knives supplied at restaurants won't cut butter. Others at our table could only look on with envy. The number 8 is also politically correct. It looks tame compared to some of the other folders now on the market. Lots of love and light people these days. :) My ceramic rod keeps this blade razor sharp. Also, the knife is light enough to carry in a shirt pocket. All in all, it is one of the best buys on the market.
when you learn to open and close one handed and are discrete about the lock, it is easier to not panic people--I have handed mine to quite a few people and usually I have to show them how the lock work
like others, I've had several sizes of Opinel knives & saws for 20-30+ years. I also have pocket knives (one a Japanese) which cost me £1-200.00, yet my daily carry is an Opinel. I have a #13 in our car for picknicking as it will cut anything from bread, meat & salad. I rarely have to sharpen them as the carbon blade holds a very sharp edge. I think you should have used your Opinel for several months before reviewing it & a bigger # say a #13 would have suited you better, give one a try. RH.
Your feather stick didn’t have curls because your were cutting way too deep into the wood. I have a no 8 that makes amazing feathersticks. It has a convex grind which is very good for rolling the wood over.
Carried as a working tool by many arround the world. If it works it's not cheap or a shoe string knife. The best knife is the one you use and trust for the tasks you need of it.
looks like a great knife, thanks for sharing with us. looks cold there bud, calling for more snow up here tonight, on the plus side my kids are making good money shoveling off roofs. take care
good overall. kust bought mine. one small tip on the video. I know you were probably doing things prior, but aesthetically it would be a great idea to wash your hands before shooting. the black ash/dirt stripes on your hand were very distracting.
+Survival On Purpose Wow. Someone really commented on your hands being a little dirty and said it was "very distracting". That is some funny stuff right there. Nice vid btw.
+GS Mills it's not about his hands just being a little dirty from working. it's about having an odd smudge up one particular finger like he's been wiping his nose. it's also about having an attention to detail when doing a video that the whole world might look at. it also wouldn't be such a distraction if he weren't repeatedly holding the knife up to the camera as if we couldn't remember what it looked like for 4 seconds. try to rise above your 65 IQ and don't try to pander to others by ridiculing someone clearly more sophisticated about things than you are.
Nice insult on someone's IQ that you have never met personally. It's quite apparent that that I hit a nerve with your ridiculous comment. Have a good one and don't forget to wash your hands.
I'm not really sure. I'm pretty happy with the size, but it is a little large for everyday pocket carry- at least for me. It is a great size to use around camp. Honestly, I bought it just to see if it was any good or if it was just something for the "traditional" bushcrafter. I do like it, but it is still sort of a novelty knife for me. I will always carry a fixed blade in the woods, but this one makes a good second knife. I doubt if it will replace my Swiss Army Fieldmaster, but it might get to come along too. ( I'm usually knife heavy.)
Survival On Purpose I am a little knife heavy also. I brought a Opinel 12 carbon recently to a field outing. Used it to chop vegetables and sausage for a stir fry. Really worked nice for that application. It is like having a fold up chefs knife in your pack. I let the blade soak in hot apple cider vinegar for a while and it gave it a beautiful even patina. Looks like a more expensive knife now. I gave my son in law a Fieldmaster SAK for Christmas. I use a huntsman plus. I agree an Opinel does not replace a SAK especially at camp. Opinel is nice for a picnic. Survival On Purpose
snowpuppy77 Number 12, huh? Man, I wish you hadn't said that. Opinel will probably be glad you did, but I was hoping to go at least a while without buying another knife ;-)
I got one of these and heated some 100% pineapple juice and soaked it in for a bit to give it a good rustproof patina. Multiple soaks if a darker patina is needed.
An old favorite of mine, thanks for the review! Can't believe it never dawned on me to use fatwood for emergency tinder in the pack. How well does it handle with the damp and wet, does it absorb moisture? Thanks?
Thank you for the info. I remember how well it burned in a friends fireplace. It reminds me of sap saturated pine, but thankfully does not ooze tons of resin all over everything. Coating a few pieces in shellac might be a decent way to up water resistance while keeping things green. Before discovering Ferrocerium rods and magnesium blocks, we always carried Ohio Blue Tip Matches dunked in parrafin. Can't find those matches in New York around my area.
Yeah, it's getting harder to find the "strike anywhere" matches. I can get the small ones in the little boxes at our local grocery store but the big ones have disappeared. And the ones I can get don't seem to work as good. I'm sure the changes are for our own good ;-)
Lol... "You will be safe and sound, whether you like it or not!!!" I thought my mind was going mushy when thinking the matches seemed a lot harder to light. They flash off and then burn out before igniting the wood, right? Do you know why this happens? Crummy phosphorous, not enough? Maybe if we mixed up a slurry of powdered magnesium in a base of pulverized match heads, and addd a binder to stick it to the match, a little ball could be clumped just behind the "anywhere" striker? I noticed a place selling the old military solar cigarette lighters as a fire starting kit. It comes with a little bag of some kind of fuzzy tinder enclosed in the unit, and sells for something like $30-$40 IIRC. Haven't seen one since my dad's Navy one. Did you see Opinel has an "Outdoor" model with a stainless blade and plastic handle? Wonder how it is, especially after how fantastically easy this one is to sharpen and work with. I think this might be one of the best bang for the buck camping/survival knives ever made. Once cut through a heavy piece of copper cable with one, which folded the edge over. A few swipes on a stone folded the burr back and forth, broke it off and sharpened it back up in a couple of minutes. If that was my Buck Woodsman, it would have taken a file to knock the burr off the blade in reasonable time.
That sounds like way more work than I want to do for some matches ;-) I'll stick to my fatwood and ferro rod. And my trusty Zippo for backup. I did see the "outdoor" Opinel, but it doesn't really appeal to me. I like the wooden handled ones and I think they are a good value. I think their best feature is the carbon steel blade. If you want a stainless tool, for about twice the price you can get a Victorinox Woodsman that has a lot more functionality. It is a little heavier but has a lot of different really useful blades. I like and have them both so I guess it just depends on what you want the knife for. I would cringe if I had to use either one to cut wire. I'd do it if I had to but I wouldn't like it.
The older Opinel knives had no little locking notch but I dis-assemble the ring and grind a notch with a Dremel. The number of the model approximates the blabe length in centimeters.
Survival On Purpose haha it took me 3 years. ( just found my old comment). I have a # 8 in stainless I have been carrying and just ordered a #9 and # 6 in carbone. Can’t wait to get them. I took a break from all the high end fancy steel knives and got to admit I am loving the simplicity of the opinels
I used to have trouble making feather sticks, too. But then I started carrying a picture of Chuck Norris with me. So, when the sticks don’t act right, I just flash the picture of Chuck, and the sticks shred themselves in fear! 👍 That one is on the house....LOL
Thank to the simple but very effective locking mechanism, these knives will never develop any blade play, neither vertically, nor laterally, unlike many more expensive locking systems. How cool is that? :)
I really like Opinels even though I don't have one. I'm thinking of getting the No. 12. Best part about them is they have models for every different hand size.
Got my first Opinel when i was 8. I am 54 now. I still have it and it is still working and Sharpe.
how did you stop the joint from stiffening?
K9Addict ;3 balistol works great. Try a shot in the pivot. Loosens it up nice
I got my first opinel a few months ago and I’m 20. It was the opinel no8 carbone from Amazon. I ordered the opinel no9 inox from eBay. Very good blades that live up to their legacy.
@@goodboi4939 is a
Oil it....@@jeddy_bravo
Two years ago I replaced my $100 Benchmade D2 folder with a $10 Opinel #8 Carbon.
The Opinel takes only seconds to get stupid sharp with a $2 ceramic rod, and the blade locks tighter than my Benchmade or any other folder I have ever used. In two years of daily use the edge of my Opinel has never rolled or chipped.
I agree they are excellent knives.
This is an iconic French knife who gained his reputation through decades. First produce in 1890. And it's ridiculously cheap. I got myself a "deluxe" version with ebony wood, and I would never take it for the outdoor, but let me tell you they know how to be classy too.
I have several knives 3 of which are the Moral Knife which is also good inexpensive knives
@@henrymeguess5579 Yup, mora/morakniv are also great camping/woodcraft knives, also very reliable & affordable, another brand in the same vein as mora's is Martiini, they've made the iconic rapala filet knives since the 60's.
@@SurvivalOnPurpose what number is the big one .
Still have my no.9 for 20yrs. now . Got it while in the military .
That's a good testimonial, thanks for sharing that. I bought my Dad a No 6 for Father's Day and had it personalized from Opinel. He's almost 80 and he had never seen one before, but he really liked it.
Frankly I'm sick of always being bombarded with "tactical" gear. Which is why I really liked this. Because of how cheap it is and how good the quality is I immediately bought one. I'm sure this would make a great first knife for a kid.
+Mason Thornburgh It is a great knife for anyone.
Mason Thornburgh, this knife requires a secure grip and dry hands. I would not recommend them for novice users for safety reasons. There is no guard or ergonomic prevention for your hand coming forward. The lock can potentially work itself loose during use, especially extended use. Rat model 1, far improved for general use, extremely similar in most regards, including price. The thinner blade(better slicing) and lighter weight of the Opinel is an advantage that comes at the cost of the learning curve of its unique design.
Simple Soup yes I agree. Opinel are knifes that should be "modded"
Carving in a better gripping area, etching the blade to prevent rusting, maybe including a firesteel in the hilt
I like the fact that the lock is discrete so people that are knife phobic are less likely to panic
I’ve got the no.9, I’ve had it nearly 40 years, it’s still going strong! I originally got it for dressing rabbits, nowadays it gets used for food prep in camp and carving. It’s a delight to sharpen, and what an edge it’ll take!😀. I’ve no doubt it will outlast me.😁
I got one 40 yrs ago because it floats and I was doing a lot of river canoeing. Great knife. Found it about 5 years ago, buffed it up. Still going strong!
I use my no.8 (carbon steel) mostly for food processing . I love my opinel so much.
Nelson
I commented on this long ago. I have had an opinel 9 for a few months now in Stainless, well because I live not so far from saltwater. About 2 weeks ago I ran it through the washer AND dryer. Still good to go. Way tougher than it looks.
Yes they are.
I've used one as a daily carry for decades and went through a phase where I did that several times. I learned you could just let it dry out and it'd be fine. Tough little knives. Just wonderful in every way.
It's called a Vibrolock mechanism. My first knife was an opinel when I was 10 years old and now I'm using a number 8 which I have had for the last 12 years and is used daily. Never leave home without it, always in my pocket.
Nice to see our ultra light farmer traditional knife ;) n°8 is the main used size here for more than a century, we use it mainly around the camp for preparing food and for some light field duty, opinel is always tight at the begining, traditionaly we knock the bottom of the knife on the table to open it, we also choose carbon blades, the blade rusty patine with the time is the way the opinel needs to look, the cost here is between 7 to 9€, very cheap but quality made, all the boys scouts are equipped and training with opinel knives, we also have another traditional knife called "laguiole" but its more expensive, less "expandable" cheers, and yes its o pee nel ;) "i" is pronounced "ee", il like your channel, always a pleasure to pass by.
Thanks for the info. I really like my Opinel.
In France, this knife is a legendary bushcraft, gardening, scoutism, [you name it] item. Uncompromised quality carbon blade.
I have a drawer full of Opinels, the slim the serpette, and all of this classic in carbon and in stainless that is indeed an excellent 12C27 Sandvik.
All of them I used in a plethora of occasions. From when I was deployed to fishing to pruning to food prep where they shine. Also as small all arounder in bushcraft for light-medium tasks. Pretty light and pretty effective, keeps literally rasor sharp with any stone in no time. This is also about the full flat design.
The point i perfect. Not drop but that little curve is excellent.
What you can see here again that this knife is made following the uses. A great slicer this one,
As far as I can see Opinel, Victorinox and Mora are the best must have budget knives. And theyre like candies to me.. i have dozens...
Nice review! Subscribed!
They are excellent knives
Dousnt change the fact that they are good knives but Opinel knives are actually convex not full flat grind.
Used a number 9 at work for over a year cutting card board and banding excellent every day carry for me
Hi from Tucker Ga.
one of the most sensible reviews of an Opinel knife. I have seen other channels where they try to “baton” with one and then cry about how the knife fails. Thank you for taking an approach where you use the knife within its intended boundaries.
I have three Opinels and couldn’t be more pleased with them. Both the stainless and high carbon blades are capable of attaining a wicked sharpness but the edge holding ability is kind of mediocre. If you can use a strop and stone, blade maintenance takes only seconds. This is a case where you definitely get more than you pay for. These knives are a diamond in the rough and are prime candidates for modding.
Thanks for the video.
Hi Bryan, great review. Interestingly enough, I just sent my nephew a "My 1st Opinel" children's model with a rounded point and red zoo animal handle for his 1st pocket knife (great memories associated with our 1st pocket knives). He lives far away so my plan is to make a youtube vid with my Opinel 8 showing him some safety, how to open and close, and some things that children can practice. He is a little fisherman so he should fit right in with this whole bushcraft/woodcraft thing :) Thanks for the video, once again, sir! Great stuff as always. -Dave
HighCarbonSteel Love What an uncle!
here we are 8 1/2 years later and i cant help but wonder how your nephew and his opinel (and you) are doing.
A simple, and beautifully functional knife. I've been a fan since I was 11 or 12, and still carry one today. Definitely one of my top 10 pocket knives of all time.
i had a bad experience with my opinel carbon #8 , it broke on my hands whittling on elm wood. Several years later i saw a #12 carbon and the blade was large and fairly thick so i decided to give it a 2nd opportunity and now it has become one of my favourite folders
Opinels are excellent knives, and not just for the money. Both the carbon and stainless blades take a very sharp edge and hold them. They are great for food prep (especially fruits and vegetables), work wood well, and can be easily and cheaply replaced.
I agree
I waited so long for my opinel to come.
After almost a month my order camed
I enjoyed the knife for 2 weeks and then i lost it.
Now i have to order a new one
Got my opinel 9 carbon before 2 years ago and it's really very sharp but I must clean, dry and lubricate after every use to keep in good condition. I never saw a knife so sharp before
They are indeed sharp
Opinel is my Backpacking food prep knife....Opinel No8. Mine is SS, just as easy to sharpen as the Carbon steel. The Rockwell is about 57, and an excellent thin blade that is still sturdy. 4-5 passes on a LANSKY STICK and good to shave a hair if that's what you want. Weighs nothing like 1.5oz's.
I bought one in France in 2019. I keep it in my portable, traveling food box and use it as a kitchen knife when needed.
My Opinel No. 9 is just about 40 years old (got it used as a little kid) and still serves like new. The tip broke a few years ago - it fell on concrete tip first :( - but I corrected and resharpened the blade so it's on for another 40 years as I'll pass it on to my kids :) Amazing design, amazing quality steel. Love it.
+Gabriel Androczky cool story.
I’d forgotten all about these knives. Thanks for reminding me. I’m going to pick one up.
You will be glad you did.
I started with an Opinel #10 for camping/bushcrafting 3 years ago. For the last year my edc has been a Opinel #8 that I drilled a lanyard hole in. They hold an edge very well, and a touch of a steel and a strop brings it right back when needed. Does a great job with ferro-rod. Don't get me wrong, I love my Mora's too.
Great video's, keep em coming. I am afraid that I am too old school to be comfortable in front of a camera.
Bill in Fargo, North Dakota
+Bill Jamison They are great knives
Good Vid, Opinel started making that design (without the lock) in the 1890's. I'm a big fan of Opinels in general. Their website is worth a visit. They have their own Museum in France !
Yeah, I spent a little time on their website. It is pretty cool. I really like the knife, and the price is reasonable. I just found out from JC & SHORTY! - NOTCHING 101 - that they also have a folding saw.
It’s inexpensive, very light, looks less threatening, and most importantly, sharp. I carry the larger size one when I’m at home. I use it for gardening/trimming and food processing and everything in between. I carry the No.8 occasionally when I go out. Especially if I want a lighter, cordial blade.
I just bought a #7. Scary sharp! Love it!
Indeed.
The spines are exceptionally sharpe for scraping and striking ferro rod. I put the baby brother #6 in my fire kit.
I carrying mine today. Nice and light
The No.9 Carbon Optinel is exactly my daily knife. In 25 years I had two of them but only because I lost the first one. Because of the carbon steel you need to oil it once a month but it holds a better edge then stainless steel.
I really like the classic look and simplicity of the opinel. Got it on my wish list.
Not only does it look good, but it is sharp.
Just purchased Opinel No.10 Carbone and im in love with it. No.8 looked like it would be to small for my extened edc use. Glad i went with the No.10 C.
Cool
Good video Brian. I been using the opinel for several years now and it satisfies all my needs far a folding knife. I have several case knives, old timers and Barlow knives and the opinel compares pretty close to all of them at the least one third or less than the cost of any of my other folders even with only one blade, and that's all you need anyway
Been watching your videos for several years now and I can tell your mostly a knife man which I like. Your others videos prove that being prepared ain't no accident. Waiting for more vids.
Thanks Wayne
What an aptly timed review of this as I literally just bought myself my first ever Opinel ...and it was a size 9 :) I bought it solely for my outdoors food prep kit and am very impressed with it so far. Not sure if you're on Instagram but I posted a photo of it yesterday. Great video Brian ~Peace~
I am. I'll check it out.
I have had a #8 for fifty years. My son was borrowing it so often that I bought him one for Christmas. Also got him a #6, too cute to pass up - same great quality!
Nice!
A tip of my hat to anyone that's been able to keep a knife for that long. My life is littered with lost and broken pocket knives. The only ones I have been able to keep are the ones that never left the house because I didn't like them or were too "precious" to risk taking out, silly huh.
I have a no8 outdoor edition for adventuring, but I'm thinking of getting a no9 for general cooking around the camp. My colleague has one and it's very comfy to use!
I got my first one in Paris. Liked the carvings on handle. Normally I like fixed blades, so I bought fixed shelve. Super informative!!!
Thanks
I really like my Opinels. I own a few of them, with different handle materials. But they can be tough to open up when they get wet or the humidity is high. So I always put some Birchwood Casey's gun stock finish on them, especially on the end near the lock where the wood is exposed, and it really seems to help stop the wood from swelling up as bad.
Thanks for the tip.
I have had Shrades, Cases, Spydercos, Pumas, Imperials, and various custom made knives……..sitting in a box or sold long ago.
I have an Opinel in my pocket. It takes an edge easily, holds a fine edge well, and fits my hand. It has been my sole knife on many trips of a month or more. I like being able to carve a custom design and my name in the handle, for a better grip and to ID it.
One tip: Be careful oiling the blade. Too much oil in the hinge, and the wood swells so tight that it is extremely hard to open.
+tom jackson Thanks for the tip.
This is something usual with opinels. Old opinels are difficult to open because they have been "fed" with fat from ham, pâté or whatever have been sliced with it (it was an everyday knife back to my grand father's time). The trick is to knock the articulation once or twice on a hard surface (table, rock) to unlock any blockage. That's actually the "traditional" ritual to open the knife. Mine is something like 40 years old and despite the blade is quite oxydized (mine is carbone but stainless steel are also available), it is still a very sharp blade.
Cool knife, I like a throwback design. Thx Brian!
Opinel are great. I have the #8 "Carbone" that I bought in France. Such a good knife. The only flaw is that literally ANY contact with water, even an extremely brief washing of the blade with conscientious avoidance of the handle and immediate drying, it becomes stiff to open. For edc that's perfectly fine, and I love the absolute sharpness I can get on it. I also patina'd mine and that is great. But I wouldn't bring this on an outdoor scenario. If you dropped it in water, even for a few seconds it would severely inhibit it's opening and closing.
Fill a jar with row (not boiled ) linseed oil and drop the opinel open into the jar. Let it there to soak for three days. After that roughly wipe out the excess oil and let it dry for 2-3 days by place it vertical in a glass. Wipe out and let the handle cure for a week. After that no more swelling
Great Video thank you just bought tow of these No6 SS and No9 Carbon.
My Opinel accompanied me travelling all over the world for the last 30 years. You can take it where fixed blades are restricted, you don’t look like threat wearing one and it does 99% of the jobs that realistically come up.
I took my whitewater kayak on that snow!!! I rode it to the gas station for extra food drinks gas for generator... It was a REALY fun ride steep hill on the way there!
That sounds like Caleb.
My 'EDC' is a nr8 wich i have for about 15 years. In my camping stuff i have a 9 and 12 for as long as i know. These thing are really hard to beat.
+robin6512 they are great knives
I have several of these from a tiny number four onwards to a number eight. They are extremely useful. I think of them as camp food prep knives as much as anything though as they are superb paring knives and handle veg and meat very well.
presterjohn71 I was actually pleasantly surprised at how strong mine is. And I like that it is very lightweight.
excellent vid! thanks for making a vod on such a great blade. love your vids
+Ashley Scheepers It's a cool knife
i bought opinal knives when i lived in france and found them very good value
+SINCLAIRRESEARCH I agree
I have an opinel #6 that's pretty old. It doesn't have the groove to keep it closed (which is super cool) but I've never had an issue with it opening. These knives have been around a long time. Great review. Great knife!
Thanks Clint. Still looking forward to getting together after you get your schedule worked out. I'm bummed because our Troop had to cancel our Winter Campout at Woodruff (near Blairsville) due to road conditions.
I love My Opinel Nr.9 Carbone! Mine is probably 8 years old and has seen definitely some use. Got some rust on it, but it's nothing you can't fix. These things get scary scary sharp! Can't beat the price tho, 14 bucks for a quality knife and steel. My Nr.1 edc blade. Also really good for wilderness, cause of the 90° spine and Carbon steel. Good review as always Brian! Keep em going! Greetings from Germany, Tim
***** hallo mein deutscher Freund. (Isn't Google cool sometimes?) I agree. Opinel is one of the best values in a folding knife for general use.
Anything made of carbon steel,I'll swear to as you can depend on them being sharp.Whether it be a carbon steel knife,like the Opinel,a Morakniv,orSwedish ax,its an ass kicker.I just ordered the Opinel #8 which comes with a leather sheath from Amazon for $12.You can't beat that.To be able to survive or be self sustainable in the wilds,one needs a decent cutting tool,and several types,i.e. a knife,ax,and saw.All my cutting tools come from quality companies like Opinel,Morakniv,Hultafors,Gransfors Bruks,and Bahco(makes of the Laplander folding saw.In my edc day pack,I carry cutting tools made by these companies,
I have one of the smaller ones along with my no 12 saw and love them. I am going to get a couple of the stainless blades for food prep.
Very cool!
This is a dandy all around knife that works great in all venues. Yesterday, I used my number 8 for cutting my steak at a local road house. Some of the knives supplied at restaurants won't cut butter. Others at our table could only look on with envy. The number 8 is also politically correct. It looks tame compared to some of the other folders now on the market. Lots of love and light people these days. :)
My ceramic rod keeps this blade razor sharp. Also, the knife is light enough to carry in a shirt pocket. All in all, it is one of the best buys on the market.
+Kayakwinds I am very fond of mine
Got a good ceramic rod you recommend? I'm looking for one for keeping my No 6 razor sharp.
@@phitausundown you can also use the unglazed bottom of a coffee mug
when you learn to open and close one handed and are discrete about the lock, it is easier to not panic people--I have handed mine to quite a few people and usually I have to show them how the lock work
I am glad you did a video on this knife. I just heard of it recently although I have too many knives now according to my wife
It is a good inexpensive option
You can never have too many.
Good review. I love my #8 it does all the things you showed but it is a great whittling knife too. Thanks. atb
Opal Preston Shirley Thanks.
like others, I've had several sizes of Opinel knives & saws for 20-30+ years. I also have pocket knives (one a Japanese) which cost me £1-200.00, yet my daily carry is an Opinel. I have a #13 in our car for picknicking as it will cut anything from bread, meat & salad. I rarely have to sharpen them as the carbon blade holds a very sharp edge. I think you should have used your Opinel for several months before reviewing it & a bigger # say a #13 would have suited you better, give one a try. RH.
Most people seem to prefer the #8.But I find the#9 fits my hand better.
Your feather stick didn’t have curls because your were cutting way too deep into the wood. I have a no 8 that makes amazing feathersticks. It has a convex grind which is very good for rolling the wood over.
I like their knives. I like those things that are simple and strong.
docwilkey They are very nice knives for sure.
Carried as a working tool by many arround the world. If it works it's not cheap or a shoe string knife. The best knife is the one you use and trust for the tasks you need of it.
It is an excellent knife, but it is also an inexpensive knife.
Even when closed the spine is still able to throw a high amount of sparks with a firesteel.
I think of it as the mora of the folders
They are very good knives for the price. And mine is actually a lot stronger than I expected.
Hi Byan,
Question: Will that knife throw sparks using flint?
Thank you in advance.
JT
I have Opinels #7 and #8.Works great!
looks like a great knife, thanks for sharing with us. looks cold there bud, calling for more snow up here tonight, on the plus side my kids are making good money shoveling off roofs. take care
Did you say roofs?
yeah
good overall. kust bought mine. one small tip on the video. I know you were probably doing things prior, but aesthetically it would be a great idea to wash your hands before shooting. the black ash/dirt stripes on your hand were very distracting.
+Scott Dunnington-Smith My hands get dirty when I'm doing outdoor stuff. This was probably soot from working with a fire. Just keeping it real.
+Survival On Purpose Wow. Someone really commented on your hands being a little dirty and said it was "very distracting". That is some funny stuff right there. Nice vid btw.
+GS Mills it's not about his hands just being a little dirty from working. it's about having an odd smudge up one particular finger like he's been wiping his nose. it's also about having an attention to detail when doing a video that the whole world might look at. it also wouldn't be such a distraction if he weren't repeatedly holding the knife up to the camera as if we couldn't remember what it looked like for 4 seconds. try to rise above your 65 IQ and don't try to pander to others by ridiculing someone clearly more sophisticated about things than you are.
Nice insult on someone's IQ that you have never met personally. It's quite apparent that that I hit a nerve with your ridiculous comment. Have a good one and don't forget to wash your hands.
Good video. Are you glad you got the #9 size or do you wish you would have gotten the size up or the size below?
I'm not really sure. I'm pretty happy with the size, but it is a little large for everyday pocket carry- at least for me. It is a great size to use around camp. Honestly, I bought it just to see if it was any good or if it was just something for the "traditional" bushcrafter. I do like it, but it is still sort of a novelty knife for me. I will always carry a fixed blade in the woods, but this one makes a good second knife. I doubt if it will replace my Swiss Army Fieldmaster, but it might get to come along too. ( I'm usually knife heavy.)
Survival On Purpose I am a little knife heavy also. I brought a Opinel 12 carbon recently to a field outing. Used it to chop vegetables and sausage for a stir fry. Really worked nice for that application. It is like having a fold up chefs knife in your pack. I let the blade soak in hot apple cider vinegar for a while and it gave it a beautiful even patina. Looks like a more expensive knife now. I gave my son in law a Fieldmaster SAK for Christmas. I use a huntsman plus. I agree an Opinel does not replace a SAK especially at camp. Opinel is nice for a picnic.
Survival On Purpose
snowpuppy77
Number 12, huh? Man, I wish you hadn't said that. Opinel will probably be glad you did, but I was hoping to go at least a while without buying another knife ;-)
I doubt there are very many knives which can out cut a similarly sized and properly maintained Opinel(at least for the first few slices).
Just bought the Opinel No.10 and it is a nice knife.
Isn't it cool?
Old school gold!
Indeed.
Bruce Willis?
Cool. Nice that you are into knives brother. I love your films.
That is a new one
The term for the inner ring is ferrule.
I got one of these and heated some 100% pineapple juice and soaked it in for a bit to give it a good rustproof patina. Multiple soaks if a darker patina is needed.
An old favorite of mine, thanks for the review!
Can't believe it never dawned on me to use fatwood for emergency tinder in the pack.
How well does it handle with the damp and wet, does it absorb moisture?
Thanks?
I wouldn't call it waterproof, but it is pretty water resistant. The oils in the fat wood help it burn, even when a little damp.
Thank you for the info.
I remember how well it burned in a friends fireplace.
It reminds me of sap saturated pine, but thankfully does not ooze tons of resin all over everything.
Coating a few pieces in shellac might be a decent way to up water resistance while keeping things green.
Before discovering Ferrocerium rods and magnesium blocks, we always carried Ohio Blue Tip Matches dunked in parrafin.
Can't find those matches in New York around my area.
Yeah, it's getting harder to find the "strike anywhere" matches. I can get the small ones in the little boxes at our local grocery store but the big ones have disappeared. And the ones I can get don't seem to work as good. I'm sure the changes are for our own good ;-)
Lol... "You will be safe and sound, whether you like it or not!!!"
I thought my mind was going mushy when thinking the matches seemed a lot harder to light.
They flash off and then burn out before igniting the wood, right?
Do you know why this happens?
Crummy phosphorous, not enough?
Maybe if we mixed up a slurry of powdered magnesium in a base of pulverized match heads, and addd a binder to stick it to the match, a little ball could be clumped just behind the "anywhere" striker?
I noticed a place selling the old military solar cigarette lighters as a fire starting kit.
It comes with a little bag of some kind of fuzzy tinder enclosed in the unit, and sells for something like $30-$40 IIRC.
Haven't seen one since my dad's Navy one.
Did you see Opinel has an "Outdoor" model with a stainless blade and plastic handle?
Wonder how it is, especially after how fantastically easy this one is to sharpen and work with.
I think this might be one of the best bang for the buck camping/survival knives ever made.
Once cut through a heavy piece of copper cable with one, which folded the edge over.
A few swipes on a stone folded the burr back and forth, broke it off and sharpened it back up in a couple of minutes.
If that was my Buck Woodsman, it would have taken a file to knock the burr off the blade in reasonable time.
That sounds like way more work than I want to do for some matches ;-) I'll stick to my fatwood and ferro rod. And my trusty Zippo for backup. I did see the "outdoor" Opinel, but it doesn't really appeal to me. I like the wooden handled ones and I think they are a good value. I think their best feature is the carbon steel blade. If you want a stainless tool, for about twice the price you can get a Victorinox Woodsman that has a lot more functionality. It is a little heavier but has a lot of different really useful blades. I like and have them both so I guess it just depends on what you want the knife for. I would cringe if I had to use either one to cut wire. I'd do it if I had to but I wouldn't like it.
The older Opinel knives had no little locking notch but I dis-assemble the ring and grind a notch with a Dremel. The number of the model approximates the blabe length in centimeters.
good idea. How do you take the ring off?
nice video sir. I am still trying to warm up to get one. at the price you just can't go wrong!
-Kevin
+Michigan edge They are excellent knives.
Survival On Purpose haha it took me 3 years. ( just found my old comment). I have a # 8 in stainless I have been carrying and just ordered a #9 and # 6 in carbone. Can’t wait to get them. I took a break from all the high end fancy steel knives and got to admit I am loving the simplicity of the opinels
I hade my ferst opinel I was 6, every good French kid has one (I’m French)
Cool
Ah. Good. You have a video on these. Thank you.
I like them a lot
I used to have trouble making feather sticks, too. But then I started carrying a picture of Chuck Norris with me. So, when the sticks don’t act right, I just flash the picture of Chuck, and the sticks shred themselves in fear!
👍 That one is on the house....LOL
;-)
I have a No 8. love it, carry it every day. I been checkin out your channel man. I dig what u do. subbed
Thanks. Yeah, there is probably slightly smaller one in my future.
***** And if you order it from Opinel you can get it personalized for just a little more.
I prefer the 10 or 12 but then again I have big hands and carpal tunnel syndrome
Not many reviews on the Opinel... yeah, that was back then. 😀
Great knife, same one I have, and, as the Beatles said ... Number 9...number 9...number 9...number 9
;-)
Hey Brian, is the #9 your favorite size Opinel folder? I have the #6,7,8 and 9 and I think the #7 is my favorite.
I don't know yet. I have only tried the 6 and 9 and I like them both
Got my first opinel knife when I was 62.
Cool
In Europe these knife are use for mushroom collecting. There are realy nice knives.
Suppose to twist it in other direction for lockup while open!
Very sharp knife, but it got wet on my first trip in the mountains and was impossible to open afterwards.
i think with feather sticking if you have a sharp knife you run the length of the blade across the stick?
That works
Thank to the simple but very effective locking mechanism, these knives will never develop any blade play, neither vertically, nor laterally, unlike many more expensive locking systems.
How cool is that? :)
Hell Brian, since I have watched so many videos of yours.
Why don’t you just do some videos in your plumbing industries????????
Thank you
I have a few on this channel ua-cam.com/video/-83k9m5C1Io/v-deo.html
Any idea what the blade stock is?
great video, with no bull two thumbs up!
Thanks. I appreciate it.
Great review, think I will order one.
I think you will like it. - Bryan
very good cutter
wow i thought these knives were crap cause they were so cheap but they are atually amazing FOR 15 BUCKS!!! Thanks surviaval on purpose
+Tadhg Strand yes they are.
they are inexpensive because of basic, decent quality materials with a simple design
Have you done a review of the classic USMC KaBar?
It's not a flat grind.
It's convex from spine to cutting edge, that's the secret of this blade.
I have a small one in my back up fire kit in car door pocket for feather sticks and striking ferro rod, just in case...
+sparky0288 Mine was stolen.
you'll have too pick up anther one some day..
That little bit of snow shut down a city LOL (sorry Canadian eh) ;)
like a vault ;-)
Good video thanks im getting this for my bday so im happy
Cool
I really like Opinels even though I don't have one. I'm thinking of getting the No. 12. Best part about them is they have models for every different hand size.
***** Yep. and it is pretty sharp right out of the box.
Great Video gives a great insight on the knife I got #12 and it's really a great knife.
Thanks. I appreciate it.
# ? That's a big one.