ah the good old Opinel: you buy them, use them without raising eyebrows, lose them without losing too much money, use them on you firesteel without regrets, sculpt them without powertools (since you can use another opinel to do th job) and gift them with a lot smiles in return. Great pieces
Hello, I have been in France many times but I dont see opinel knives in your knife shops? Just me that is looking from my toes or are they just not there?
I love my No. 8. Had it for 40 years and it still does everything it should. I drilled a hole for a paracord loop and give it a coat of oil every year. Use it for hunting, camping, fishing and never wanted to change. Classic design that just works.
@Ralph Reilly I do use it often, but to be fair, the Opinel is not the only knife I own and mostly fills a secondary role. I love the Triggers Broom reference, nice! (My medal would only be for somehow not losing the thing over all these years)
I got my first Opinel while taking a French course in Savoie when a local student saw my Victorinox, and have had several Opinels since. It's become my standard EDC knife because other than cutting fruit for lunches and the occasional jerk chicken (those plastic utensils are totally useless), I don't need anything fancy. It's sharp, it's comfortable, and it's safe. Very low maintenance compared to larger multitools and the design is unintimidating in comparison with other single-blade folding knives. An opinel will rarely be mistaken for a weapon instead of the amazing useful tool that it is! Absolutely love it and recommend wholeheartedly.
I own way too many Opinel knives at this point and I got to say one thing I appreciate about them a lot is how easy it is to modify or repair them due to their extreme simplicity, without special tools or much experience. Easy to take apart, easy to fix or modify, easy to adjust the tightness of the Virobloc. I would even go as far as saying it encourages experimentation (there are many videos online about Opinel customization) because even if you mess up it doesn't break the bank to get another one.
I didn't discover Opinel until a couple of years ago. The stainless Number 8 has a permanent place in my camping gear, specifically when it comes to cooking and firestarting. The locked collar works perfectly with the spine dragging along a firesteel and the blade is thin and works great for cutting up onions or as your eating knife. It's truly an ingenious design and will be there the rest of my life.
Yes! They really fit that niche like no other knife! Essential for camping as they’re like a folding kitchen knife (and more). I’ve had friends who have kept them in their kitchen for everyday use
You have an Opinel in your camping gear? Dude you could have basically any other knife ever made and it would serve you better lol Opinel knives are a joke.
@@FromRussia_With_Love Yes, it's like a folding kitchen knife, really good for food prep. The larger ones have a decently thick blade as well, I've got an Opinel 10 that I was gifted 26 years ago that is still going strong. There are some things it's probably best to use a heavier knife for, and I do, I take more than one knife camping as I'm usually going away for weeks or months at a time.
I have a number of stainless number 8's lying here and there including my glove box alongside a Victorinox rescue tool, but my edc is a number 8 carbon, it's much easier to keep sharp and is in practice better for eating and food prep.
Hello from France. I agree with you about the n°8 jardin : It's not the original (historical ?) shape but it is as efficient as the n°8 "classic", a little bit lighter, and ... much more elegant !
I remember eating in the countryside in France. People brought their own knife to the table, lots of Opinels (I had mine too), and a few Laguioles too, both excellent choices for cutting saucisson and cheese. Also many Laguiole knives have a built-in corkscrew, an important accessory in France.
I moved to France from the UK in 2004. I now have a collection of different sizes, colours, wood type, blade shape. On your point I once had a Citroen Dyane. Designed for the French countryside, a suspension that coped with unmade roads without breaking boxes of eggs..... and both front door pockets designed to hold a bottle of wine. The French have things figured out 😂
I have several Opinels but my first was free. There was an advert in the Beano offering a free knife for the price of a first class stamp -6d (2 1/2p) in 1965. A few weeks later I got a package containing a no. 10 which in my 8 year old hand looked like a carving knife. Brilliant. I kept it right up to the second my mum saw it. ;0)
I bought my No.9 Opinel in about 1979. It was heavily used hiking and climbing for about 20 years. It's excellent! It's light; cuts fruit or rope well; spreads things on bread; has served as a piton on a few occasions; the round handle is very comfortable and makes a good toilet-roll holder; and it's narrow enough to push a cork into a wine-bottle if you need to open it. The only downsides are that it doesn't have a lanyard hole; the handles swells when (even slightly) wet and jams the knife completely; and you can't open it one-handed. I made a lanyard hole with a friend's drill, but the other two I couldn't solve. I therefore set out to replace it. 24 years on, and my Opinel is still in my backpack, and I have drawers full of other knives I've tried, including a few you've shown here. Nothing else combines the light weight, comfortable handle, and blade long enough to cover a slice of bread in one swipe. Maybe I should try the synthetic Opinel, and get someone to put thumbstuds on the blade, and a knob onto the locking collar for one-hand opening. I'll think about it.
About the wood swelling issue, there's a technique called "Coup de Savoyard" or Savoyard's Knock to easily solve that problem. There's a nice little demonstration video here in UA-cam. Great knives Opinel.
@@jotade2098 Thanks for the info. I'd never heard of this before. Sadly, my one seems to jam up too tightly for this. I can't open it even with pliers until it dries!
@@jotade2098watched a guy on utube giving his opinal a couple coatings of Danish wood oil on the front part of his opinal knife, just where the blade comes out from the handle, and he said this solves the swelling issues with the handle.
I believe in France they are known as 'Tap Opinel'. The heel of the handle can be struck on a hard surface to start the blade out in the event that the wood has swollen and made it stiff to open. Neat feature.
@@duartesimoes508 Nah, I've tapped many Opinels, the handles can handle it just fine. You just need a swift short tap, you could use the bottom of your shoe, absolutely no need to hammer them into a concrete wall or something.
I don't think there is realy an other design that give the same feeling as an Opinel. It is the original, like the Mora classic nr 2 or Buck 110. It is not only the design but more the feeling that It gives you
Well, one could argue about it being "the original". There's something made since at least 1422 in a small valley in austria that looks like the predecessor of the opinel. The channel swiss bianco has an old video about them: (although he has a stainless one which i have never seen before) ua-cam.com/video/bwZ89a3FKic/v-deo.html
we always called these picnic knives, and I believe the reason we have so many in Europe is that workers (back in the day) needed something for slicing dried sausage, cheese and ham for lunch, the slim blade allows for really thin slices of sausage (which are often bought whole and cut at the table.) My wife and I have one each, and they get their most use when eating outside, it makes a great steak knife at a bbq, and nothing can give you a fine slice of salami like an opinel. Love the video, love the knife. Get one in carbon steel and you will be able to shave with it as well if you want.
I always appreciate the comparisons and especially the history behind many classic knives. The Laguiole is also very well known for their classic wine keys.
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I have three that I bought in New Orleans, But I use my Opinels daily.
A knife that should have made the list is the Higo No Kami. I recently purchased one and it is definitely a good knife for around the same price as the opinel. And the fact that it is made in Japan and has a rich history behind it makes it a good alternative
Cool topic. I take the Laguiole as a "gentleman's" steak knife with me sometimes for use in restaurants (sometimes the knives are terrible), as was common in France. Another classic in this category is the Higonokami knife. Cheers!
haha yes good idea to bring your own knife! no doubt some steak restaurants do not provide decent steak knives. Either because it is an old restaurant that just did not replace silverware as regularly expected but still has decent menu and quality or one of those low class chain restaurants that has bad food and bad cutlery.
@@nozrep such as so many American restaurants that give me a (gasp!) serrated knife for cutting my steak or chicken. At home I use silver and pearl inlay steak knives from 1955, long thin plain edge blades; both beautiful and efficient.
A good Higonokami will take even a finer edge, but its geometry and grind make it less slicy. Slice up an apple with both and you will feel the difference immediately.
Opinel really is a knife of choice. As a french person, this knife has been around me for all my life. My grandma used it to cook, my dad use it in the garage, I use it in the bush... Simple yet efficient. But the main reason I think the opinel does not have an alternative is its cultural importance. Reading the comments, you will get a glimpse of how everyone in France has a story with an Opinel in. Only the Laguiole may have a similar cultural importance in the South West of France. There is a legend saying that the cross shaped dots on it were used by the shepherds on the Causses (plateaux in the Massif Central) to pray before eating. They did not have any crosses to use so they stabbed the Laguiole into the wooden table and used its handle... Don't know if it's true but love the story !
i was in the French Foreign Legion in 1980's and this Opinel number 8 was issued as part of our kit from day 1 ! and i still have mine, with a 13dble carved into the handle !
@lee_masters= You could have added, for the non-french readers, that the 13° DBLE (Demi-Brigade de la Légion Étrangère) is one of the most famous regiments in the French army - having served with great distinction in WW II (Narvik, Bir-Hakeim, El Alamein, the Campaign of France) then in Indochina and Algeria and other campaigns in Africa. A great honor to you, Sir, to have served in such a unit.
The Douk-Douk is one hell of a knife. Very strong and brutal, yet very light. This is a real outdoor folder. The carbon blade is easy to maintain and you can make it razor sharp.
For me, the Opinel is my camping food prep knife. Stainless, easy to clean, disposable (I've misplaced a couple) and about as slicey as you can get. It can even carve would reasonably well with that convex grind, say if i'm on a daytrip and want to make feathersticks for a small fire to brew a round of tea but I didn't bring my jääkäripuukko.
I'm with you. Despite having a range of more modern and more expensive knives my Opinel remains my camping/hiking/picnic food prep knife. It weighs almost nothing and can be easily tucked away in your gear so it's out of the way when not used. Love it. Have a great day.
I went on pilgrimage in 2013, walking the Camino De Santiago. At the end of the journey, there washes guy holding out a box of Opinel knives. It was a box quantity of 10 knives and there were about 2-3 left. I thought he was selling them, but found out he was giving them away, so I took one for myself. A simple yet awesome knife.
The K55 is surprisingly comfortable if you use a chef’s knife pinch grip. The simple steel scales are very thickly enameled. And it is sharp out of the box and sharper still with a nice stone.
It's amazing to see someone in the knife trade honoring the inexpensive classics. I've got knives from the very cheapest production knives to custom knives of $1000 and more, but the cheap ones are the ones that get used and loved every day. I was interested to see you include a Deejo - I was given one and it's better than I would have imagined.
G'day mate, I'm a Opinel convert, didnt think I'd like 'em all, I like robust, but these are so fit for purpose, (and of course inexpensive). I will say; now having the 8.9 & 10; the top rear handle needs rounding over on all sizes for me. But @ least you can EASILY. A few minutes work = an outstanding design even better IMO & and as a bonus, ...... what a fantastic "steak knife" without needing serrations. Cheers Duke.
I wish more companies would sell knives with the geometry of Opinels. Something that thin behind the edge is an automatic buy for me. Because I buy knives to cut things
Then look into Pallares. Old Spanish brand, their main model is the "navaja comun", and arguably the edge geometry is even better than the Opinel. Square heel slipjoint instead of the locking ferrule, and a slightly slimmer handle, but a banger of a knife. Even though I'm French, I actually prefer the Pallares.
I am a chef. I bought my opinel sometime in the 80s for my field cooking kit and I have not found a better solution since. The only mod I made was to flatten out the left scale for a D cross section for😊 improved controll. The Cat was the knife the opinel replaced.
Just got one today and I love it way more than my Spyderco, reminds me of the knives I've been making since I was a kid. Definitely going to keep it on me from now on
I once thought I had lost my Opinel 8, so I bought another. Then, once the Minnesota snow melted I discovered it in the yard. A light clean and it was as good as new. An amazing little thing
This has been my choice for a first camping knife for kids. The locking mechanism is easy for small hands to use (and a locking blade is a good idea when kids are using it) It's not too expensive when the kid breaks or (more likely) loses it. But best of all the simple wood handle is easy to sand down/ stain/ paint/ carve, to customize it for whoever you're giving it to. If you've ever had to hunt for sibling gifts where they each want the same thing but in a different color you'll appreciate that. My niece has one that was stained purple with berry juice from the woods and my nephew has one painted bright orange (his favorite color). My wife also loves the aesthetics of the Opinel and carries one that I stained the handle light green as her EDC.
It was my first knife, I got it when I was 8 or so. Still got it in one of my EDC jackets. Been putting off for ages getting a size 10 stainless as a camp knife. The 7 is a little small in my big hands these days..
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I do have one cation, too easy for the hand to slide forward to the blade if hands are wet. As sharp as they are, kids must be alert to this mistake that has happen to the careless.
Hello from France. I currently have in front of me my Opinel n°6 and my Case Knives Sod Buster Jr. In my opinion, the Sod Buster is to the Americans what the Opinel is to the Frenchs: a little endearing traditionnal knife made for working. In France, some remember their grandfather with an Opinel in his hand and i think this is certainly the case in the United States with the Sod Buster. Their stories have been written not by their makers but by their owners over the decades. And this is one of the reasons why i am very happy to have them and others traditionnal knives in my collection: they are not luxurious knives but knives with a history, a past that much more recent knives do not have. Goodbye.
Used mine the other day to slice thru a prime rib at a local restaurant. Had just bought it not long ago after not having one for quite some time. Love it when something is designed right the first time. Ingenuity at its best.
Them little knifes come with a wicked edge. My dad warned me about that fact when he finally allowed me to switch out my old swiss army knife for his opinel and he did tell me to twist that little rotator safety piece to secure the blade... with a word i didnt know at that time. Needless to say i twisted the tip of the knife in a piece of driftwood pretty lightly but without the safetylock bein engaged and the whole thing folded with my fingers sandwiched in between the handle and the blade. Next thing i knew i was heading to the ER with the only thing keepin my right indexfinger from falling off bein a flap of skin. When the bandages came off a few weeks later i was stunned to see that the scar it left was just as clean as the ones the surgeons made to reattach the tendons with their scalpels. Physical recovery and the slightly crooked finger that still tells the tale 15 years later aside it really goes to show what a fine piece of hardware this knife actually is
For traveling: In a lot of countries most of the shown knives can get you in very serious legal trouble. In Germany for instance only such knives are legal: Folding knives that can be opened with one hand and do not lock the blade. Folding knives that ca be opened with two hands only and lock the blade. No limitation on the length though exept for fixed knives. For fixed blade length must be under 12 cm (4.72 in.) Meaning, if you carry any knife that can be opened with one hand and locks is considered to be a lethal weapon and can lock you in, seriously. Therefore, knives such as Opinel and Mercator are legal in most countries but not the modern flippers.
About the wood swelling issue, there's a technique called "Coup de Savoyard" or Savoyard's Knock to easily solve that problem. There's a nice little demonstration video here in UA-cam. Great knives Opinel.
I've owned and used an Opinel for over 35 years and I've only ever had swelling bad enough to impact on use once. I left it in a wash bowl overnight while camping one time. After drying it off and playing around with it I actually got it 'working' again - well good enough to use in the garden anyway. Have a great day.
An even better technique is to strip the varnish coating and give the knife an oiled finish. Then you can wash the whole knife in soap and water and not worry about the wood swelling the knife shut.
Stripped one. Soaked in Watco Danish Oil. It took some time. But what it does is soaks in then polymerizes. Like linseed oil but faster. Nice durable finish.
Laguiole knives also have a lot of history that I think you could have delved into a bit. Also mentioning how popular they are in the steak knife class. That folder could very well be a pocket steak knife 😀
Bought the set of Laguiole steak knives. Not a fan. Impressive. Slim. Sharp w/o being dangerous. Laguiole fail on the tableware in the hand where they roll easily and struggle in deep cuts of beef that shows they’re dainty-ness.
@@rr6013 With regards the " Laguiole" steak knives there are many knives marked "Laguiole" on the blade and with the iconic "bee" on the back of the handle. I stll have some of these copies with nasty green plastic handles from way back! The " Laguiole" trade mark was not recognised untill 2019 and is still contested by knifemakers in Thiers France whose argument is that Laguiole is a style of knife; not a knife exclusevely made in the village of Laguiole. In a resturant here nearly everyone eating meat will use their own folding Lagouile. Lagouile has a nice Bonus in that take it to the factory or factory shop and they resharpen it for free. For general outdoor use the Opinel is the bees knees.
Love my no. 7 Opinel. It’s a rather old version without the close notch, but it’s perfect for my hand and is great for whittling and lives in my pocket for whenever I stumble across an interesting piece of wood. I do want to get or find a classic no. 8 to see how it feels. The Old Bear and Mam are cool looking too, I’d like to get one of each some time
I would not suggest it now, but when the closed notch ring came out I only had one Opinel; I popped the ring off, cut a notch, then put the ring back on. 30 years later it is still going strong!
The Opinels typically have a wire edge when they come from the factory. But once you strop that off, they are lasers. The one thing that is not good about Opinels is the wood swelling. Many people are turned off by the "stuck" blade when that happens. Their Outdoor No8 with the synthetic handle eliminates that completely. I would love to see Opinel make the No8 or No9 with the synthetic handles or the No8 Outdoor with a plain edge blade, now that would be the bee's knees! thanks for the review.
I did not know about the wire edge "tradition "? I have several opinel knives bought new, carbon blades, all were perfectly sharp out of the box, no need to strop. The factory tour shows the blade being sharpened between to angled wheels, I do not see how this sharpening technique would create a wire edge?
Really no reason not to get an Opinel, unless it just doesn't meet your needs. It's got the elegant traditional design, simple yet refined, and inexpensive. Ticks all the boxes.
Even the ones with "nicer" wood handles are still inexpensive. I have one with walnut and it was less than 20€. The opinel definitely deserves its place in the best tool designs ever, and not just for knives.
I'm originally from Solingen, Germany. A city world famous for knifes and baldes. My father threatened to disinheritance my because my edc knife is an Opinel ;). My tip: fry them in a high temperature cooking oil. It darkens the wood and gives it a unique look.
@@moritzlaszlo3115your father clearly has more sense than yourself 😂. Any random aliexpress folder made with a decent steel is better than that French overhyped piece of crap.
They are great knives but i just wish they made the exact same thing but with a plastic handle so it doesn’t get stained with oil and grease (i’m a industrial maintenance mechanic) and with one hand opening,might just make that one day with their outdoor series and a regular opinel for the plain edge and add a thumb stud
@@moritzlaszlo3115 mine fell next to the hotplate and got almost burned, it's now dark on more than half but no real damage at all. I wasn't even mad when it happened it looks cool as hell
I have carried the same exact Opinel #7 for almost 40 years. It has done everything required of it. I have removed the lock ring once and tapped the blade rivet a couple of times just once to tighten the blade up a little and that is it . I have one of every size up to 9 in carbon steel and a spare #7 in stainless. I once prevented a fight between multiple people with my #7 . As they approached each other, I threw my knife and stuck it solidly in a wooden pole that was between them. This so surprised both sides that it broke their concentration on fighting each other. I never said a word, retrieved my knife and left the scene. I was a deputy Sheriff at the time.
Opinel is a special knife, same with Mora, Wenger and Victorinox. I first came into contact with Opinel number 8 42 years ago. I don't remember which book it is, but the book describes how two men meet in an alley and prepare to settle a fight. And one of them says something like: "...je vais t'apprendre à danser avec mon Opinel..."
A couple of years ago I went on amazon because I just wanted a basic foldable knife and the first thing that popped up was an opinel no.08. I knew nothing about knifes but saw that it was fairly cheap and nice looking with good rating so I bought it. It was quite fun to a year or so later of thinking I had some basic amazon knife to learn that what I bought had an iconic status in the knife community.
@@FromRussia_With_LoveYou do realise that your (completely unfounded and unexplained) opinion doesn't carry any weight against more than a century experience and millions of people that actually dó know how to use a knife, right? If you keep cutting yourself where others don't, you are the problem, not the knife. And yes, you are probably just a troll, but still.
I have the "Dejoo" but branded different, I've had it at least ten years so the dejoo might be a copy or a change of brand name. Beautifully light and simply fun to have sitting on the desk looking different from all my other folders. I have four Opinels, the big display one (size 13 I think it is.) which is just a talking point really. The fillet knife. A no 6 which is my EDC and a no 8. I don't pretend I'm every going to use my EDC to stab someone so the slicing perfection of the Opinel is what I need for actual every day use, cutting things that need cutting - the Opinel does the job when it is in my hand and is unfelt in my pocket, very easy to forget it is there. They are simply 'elegant' - they do what needs doing with no ornamentation and great competence. The locking mechanism doing three things well - lock open, lock closed and strengthening the pivot area of the handle - beautiful design. They are a two handed knife if you use the lock, which is fine, I've got two hands. They appeal to my sense of quality and value every time I pick one of them up. Some of my other folders appeal to other things in me - campguy, machomanchild, collectorguy and those are legitimate in that way but the Opinels just fit me to a T in a way nothing else does.
As a professional seaman a knife is a very basic but essential tool of the trade. I really like Opinel as you say they are "slicey", I use them for cutting fabric such as camvas and 'small stuff' that is small dia rope, whipping and sewing twine and trimmig knots amd splices where a sharp direct cut is required. They hold an edge and can be easily resharpened by running up anb down a rusty peice of wire rope. Do not use them for levering anything like trying to open a paint can. I prefer the carbon steel over the stainless. For the price, availibity in Europe and functionality for what nature intended them for then they can't be beat . For a deck knife the Spyderco Mariner is impossible to beat I have carried a Spyderco for over 30yrs ,the two knives together make a great combination for all most any job you will come across on deck. Highly recommended.
@@docwho2828 No I am afraid I have never heard of it, for cutting modern synthetic ropes a serrated edge is essential, hence my love of the Spyderco Mariner but I will keep an eye open for the Dorry, thanks for ths tip.
That swelling you mentioned is why I gave away the one I had. Run around a broad spectrum of climates with one in your pocket and at some point you may need to pry the blade out to open it. Happened to me and that was the end of that. To me they are knives to put in a basket with wine, cheese and, bread, crackers, olive tapenade and maybe some smoked salmon and prosciutto, and used for a leisurely picnic. They'd look in place there and be fun to use that way. Besides that, much like switchblades I see them as novelty/collectible items unfit for field use.
Love my opinel carbone. Stays sharp for what seems like forever (if you're using it for light duty or food prep like I do). And I love that they have a carbon steel version.
Are you serious? Carbon blades are terrible at food prep, everything tastes like the steel - and acidious food quickly turns it into rust. Try their stainless version.
@@mannihh5274 I've had mine for years and it's never rusted, because i carry it with me everywhere i can maintain it regularly. It does turn black from the reaction but as long as you wipe it off after you're done and don't let it sit on the blade its fine. I put a drop of mineral oil down into the pivot every once in a while. Not a single spot of rust. Food tastes fine too. All my stainless kitchen knives seem to get dull after a few months but i haven't sharpened my opinel in almost a year and it still cuts like a beast
This is the second time I've watched this video and it is one of my favorites. Maybe because I already own 9 of the 18 knives in front of you. Now in truth my 9 are on the less expensive end of the ones you reviewed. But I believe that just confirms that classic styling and not the latest technology is what drives the passion of knife collectors. Do yourself a favor buy two of whichever of the lower priced models appeal to you. "Put one away and carry the other every day." There's nothing like the freedom of not worrying. Thanks Dave.
I have the Opinel number 6 and 8, and I own probably 40 other knives, and the No. 6 Opinel I use more than any other knife. I eat with it every day, it's my dedicated cheese knife something I consume daily:)
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I have a number 8 Opinel. Dropped tip of the blade and the back of the handle. Sanded and charred the handle and then slow fried and let it cool in peanut oil to seal and waterproof the wood. Demel'd a groove in the handle below the finger nail nic for easy access to the blade. Patina'd the blade in lemon juice. I only ever strop the blade to maintain the edge. What a beauty.
A very excellent segment of alternatives to the legendary Opinel with some good old classics. We carry heavily mod Opinel for urban & outback usage. It cuts & slice with a fillet action on game & fruit etc. Great show DCA & Thomas. More of this kind of show will be appreciated mate. Cheers from Australia.
I bought one of these with pocket money on a holiday when I was about 11 years old. Shortly after I managed to cut my thumb whilst messing around in some woods and the blood went everywhere. I’ve had the knife ever since. I recently sharpened it with a whetstone and it is now my trusty gardening knife / box opener…it is a lovely knife. I am thinking about buying one of their chef’s knives too.
Nice review. I like to mention the difference between the "summer Opinel" and the "winter Opinel". Not living in a desert environment, we have a lot more humidity in the summer months, and during that time, I need to use a lot more effort to open the knife due to the swelling of the wood as it absorbs moisture. It won't be loose in the winter, but it will swing with almost negligible friction. I've heard of folks taking them apart to sand out a bit of wood in the pivot to make them easier to open in humid weather, but I don't think I would like the result in the winter months. It's the character of the knife, if you can't embrace it, get something different.
I just hose it down with mineral oil so the wood swells permanently and it is kinda stiff all year round which I prefer since I can use it without bothering with the locking ring if I wanna just slash something open real quick and I don't have to worry about it falling closed by gravity on my finger!
To prevent the blade from jamming, it is customary to "fry" your Opinel. In a small saucepan, add cooking oil (I use canola oil) until the knife is completely covered. Heat the oil slowly until the wood begins to release small air bubbles. The temperature of the oil should be kept as low as possible. After 30 minutes, the wood has stored so much oil in its structure that water can no longer penetrate and jammed blades due to swelling wood are a thing of the past. You should also open the blade at a 90 degree angle and leave it sticking out of the oil so that it doesn't get too hot. A pleasant side effect is that the higher the temperature and the longer it is in the oil, the more the wood darkens. They are simply great knives for little money!
Just got the Opinal 8 in lime wood. It's a joy to look at, to hold and to work with. The whole minimalist simplicity and 1890 heritage are a bonus. It has character and personality that you bond with, more than just a knife.
"Minimalist" is fine but not including a blade lock to be "minimalist" is ridiculous. These things cut your hands more than whatever you're trying to work.
@@freddiecampbell I've never used an Opinel that locked open, the ones I've had have always just closed from pressure. I haven't had many Opinels though to be fair.
I worked renovating a farm house in Brittany in 80 At the end they gifted me an Opinel #12, which was the standard length of all the workers and farm hands Still have it An amazing work knife
The opinel is just so slicey and easy to maintain it’s a no brainer as a companion knife and a must have in the backyard, camp, and kitchen. The Benchmade tagged out is a very interesting comparison that I never would have thought of, I’ve taken many opinels out as a backup knife for deer camp and an amazing bird and trout knife
i have two opinels, the 8 and the 10, both are amazing and got them dirt cheap 10 years ago at a hunting exhibition I just happened to pass by. At their price nothing can beat them. I always wanted one since I was a child because my grandfather had one with him always, even in planes they allowed him to take it with him, I remember the blackened iron blade that had taken a beating over the decades but still held onto to it and was using it every single day till the day he passed, a knife he had for at least 7 decades and still has it in his pocket where he was buried to take it with him to the heavens.
I think that if you have the possibility of getting a Spanish "Navaja cabritera" in the USA, it is an incredible option, especially if it is from Albacete or Andalusia. On the one hand, they probably have the oldest tradition of manufacturing folding/pocket knives, coupled with their know-how with steel, which enjoys world-wide fame and are made by hand, by blacksmiths in an artisan way with prices equal to or less than any industrial "brand". I got an "albaceteña" in a hollyday and now have a pocket knife for life.
If you want a close competitor for Opinel, take a look at Verdier Manufacture. Their model l'Alpage is probably as close as it gets. The knife manufacturer has been around since 1859 and rumour has it that there is debate over who invented the Viro bloc, some voices claiming that it actually was Verdier and not Opinel. The similarity to Opinel is uncanny, even closer than any Antonini.
I carry a No.10. Nothing else compares. I carried my first one for twenty five years. Then I got lost for awhile. Never could find a knife that felt as familiar. I ended up buying a new Opinel,and life is good again. I still have the first one, and carry it occasionally. A lot of wear on that old blade.
I love my opinel No. 8. I used to carry it often. Because of this video it's going back to rotation! Edit: I used it yesterday and almost cut my finger off. I forgot how sharp it is!
Great depth and expertise in this comparative datasheet, thank you very much dear David. My passion for blades and pocket knives leads me to own at least two thirds of the folding knives presented here, but I must admit that every day I carry an old opinel N° 6 with me: an excellent work knife which, however, requires frequent regrinding in the carbon blade. I am also fascinated by the variety of countries that produce different types of these blades, and by the choices made by the different companies, very often inherent in the local tradition. In particular, the Siciliano (a shape inspired by the knives of this splendid Italian island) comes from the Michele Fraraccio cutlery shop in the province of Isernia, within a very varied production but united by a sense of masculine strength in the opening of the blades. Thanks again for making me discover and desire some small but beautiful knives.
I bough my Opinel no8 in November 2022 for 8€ in a gun shop here in austria. Then again American knives are like double the price here cause of taxes and shipping.
It’s hard to have this comparison without including the Buck 112 slim. I’m a tradesman and use my main blade hard. I carried the 112 slim for a few years as my main/working blade and it was a great working man’s knife. I carried an Inox Opinel #8 a few years before that and they compare very well. Sometimes I would miss the slicey nature of the #8 but then other times I would appreciate the toughness of the 420HC.
I bought my Laguiole knife, horn and corkscrew, 30 years ago for only about £50 and its been absolutely brilliant! The blade holds a razor edge and the design lets it slip really easily in a pocket.
As a Dutch youth vacationing in France, I got addicted to getting a new Opinel knife every year. My parents wondered why I would buy the same type of knife every year. But I never waivered - bought one every year just the same. Love OPINEL!
Oh yeah, here in France, it is in every pocket ! What's incredible is that you can use them to sculpt wood, open bottles, scrape stuff, cook, attack bony meat... They will chip (though not that much, being a soft steel 1075/12c27 type), they occasionally loose their tips, they can't stay sharp. But even dull and chipped, they will glide through anything because they are so thin! I systematically reshape them to drop point and round handle heel (like the garden model) and personalise them with pyro-pen (what's the American for pyrograveur?). Hate them, because they are not supersteel knives, they fidget like a grandma and they are so cheap. My brother has another approach, he keeps the shape intact, but spends hours making precious wood handles and mirror polish those piece of crap steel blades. And he makes fun of me, with my super expansive supersteel, always too thick for apples and daily stuff blades. Need the new Magnacut CF Taggedout ASAP!!!
A few years ago I saw this Opinel knife in a shop and bought the No 8. I just had to, it reminded me of hitchhiking through France in the early 80s as a young man, working in the grape harvest in Beaujolais.
The Opinel's are great, the no10 is perfect man hand size and shape, it's one of my main go to's, the number 8 is a good gift or kids first knife, the black cat is a good knife, had many of them, had a lot of issues with the back spring breaking. The Ruike 801 is a good slicey modern replacement. Can we get someone to make an Opinel replacement blade with a modern steel like magnicut?
I know there was one guy online selling m390 and s90v opinel blades a while back. I have not seen them for sale recently, but they may be worth looking into as a start.
I use an Opinel No8 Garden knife as a kitchen knife at times. I like that handle shape better than the standard. I modified a MAM knife for my main backpacking knife with a cut down sheepsfoot blade and a re-profiled handle to make it lighter and more ergonomic. It weighs only like 0.85 oz, and is great for backpacking tasks.
Great video! Not sure any of them, other than the other Opinel’s really hold a candle to the original. I will say that I think you could do one of these videos on the Case Sodbuster by itself. Personally, I think it’s the only one that comes close to “beating” the icon. I think it’s more “battle of the icons”. Love the Sodbuster and Opinel. Thanks for the video.
I can't imagine going hiking without my trusted Opinel 8. I thru hiked across Croatia and France, 4200km in total, and could only trust this bad boy to cut everything needed. The patina is now amazing, it lost its tip (almost a feature at this point to know when it's broken in) I think I would be sadder to lose this one now than my Sebenza 21 that I have for longer. Just because that Opinel saw so much more action, I wasn't afraid to use it, and now it's truly mine. Although I have to say that the carbon version is the only one that I would recognize as a true one, that was the point of that knife, to be able to resharpen it with anything on the field, and it never rust as we French love to cut cheese and saucisson with it anyway :D Thanks for the video !
I always used them with farm work, but last summer the locking ring on one of them loosened up and turned in my pocket. I reached in to get it not realizing it had opened - that cost me four stitches on my ring finger. Now I carry a Lightning Out The Front and that works accomplishes the same thing - cheap, easy to use and not a big deal if I lose it or break the tip off.
Excellent episode. Very well done. Have almost all those knives in the „classic“ part of my collection. So it is highly interesting for me to see what you think about them.
ah the good old Opinel: you buy them, use them without raising eyebrows, lose them without losing too much money, use them on you firesteel without regrets, sculpt them without powertools (since you can use another opinel to do th job) and gift them with a lot smiles in return. Great pieces
I got my No8 carbon as a gift, so it's a keeper. But now my No9 inox is my go-to checked bag knife.
😆😆😂😂
Shank someone and just leave it with them. Ah the good ole Opinel
Leave it outside over winter, clean it up and use it for years more.
And the broken off tip will not be fixed, because you're going to lose this one soon.
As a French I’m really proud to see our national product being loved all over the world
Very good video like always
You can be proud.I love it in Germany. Never want to miss ist.
Hello, I have been in France many times but I dont see opinel knives in your knife shops? Just me that is looking from my toes or are they just not there?
Still have my first one 30 years later. I made my own lock close ring after they came out with that feature.
@@flipieee9690 yes they are everywhere, even in the little PMUś which are tobbaco shops etc..
I’ve also got a Douk Douk. Another French classic you can be proud of.
I love my No. 8. Had it for 40 years and it still does everything it should. I drilled a hole for a paracord loop and give it a coat of oil every year. Use it for hunting, camping, fishing and never wanted to change. Classic design that just works.
OK - I have 20 more years to go.
@Ralph Reilly I do use it often, but to be fair, the Opinel is not the only knife I own and mostly fills a secondary role. I love the Triggers Broom reference, nice! (My medal would only be for somehow not losing the thing over all these years)
40 years? For hunting? 🙉
Ah, the joy of European knives !
@colinanderson1655 True. But I also always bring a Buck 120. Between the 2, I have what's needed.
I got my first Opinel while taking a French course in Savoie when a local student saw my Victorinox, and have had several Opinels since. It's become my standard EDC knife because other than cutting fruit for lunches and the occasional jerk chicken (those plastic utensils are totally useless), I don't need anything fancy. It's sharp, it's comfortable, and it's safe. Very low maintenance compared to larger multitools and the design is unintimidating in comparison with other single-blade folding knives. An opinel will rarely be mistaken for a weapon instead of the amazing useful tool that it is!
Absolutely love it and recommend wholeheartedly.
Isn't a Victorinox better though?
@@EarlofBusterbrook depends what you use it for. I use my knife mostly for food and an opinel is perfect for that. I don't need a heavier multitool.
I love how this essentially turned into a traditional/folk pocket knives run through!
it was designed to be, for workers to slice there cheese and bread.
I own way too many Opinel knives at this point and I got to say one thing I appreciate about them a lot is how easy it is to modify or repair them due to their extreme simplicity, without special tools or much experience. Easy to take apart, easy to fix or modify, easy to adjust the tightness of the Virobloc. I would even go as far as saying it encourages experimentation (there are many videos online about Opinel customization) because even if you mess up it doesn't break the bank to get another one.
I didn't discover Opinel until a couple of years ago. The stainless Number 8 has a permanent place in my camping gear, specifically when it comes to cooking and firestarting. The locked collar works perfectly with the spine dragging along a firesteel and the blade is thin and works great for cutting up onions or as your eating knife. It's truly an ingenious design and will be there the rest of my life.
Yes! They really fit that niche like no other knife! Essential for camping as they’re like a folding kitchen knife (and more). I’ve had friends who have kept them in their kitchen for everyday use
You have an Opinel in your camping gear? Dude you could have basically any other knife ever made and it would serve you better lol Opinel knives are a joke.
@@FromRussia_With_Love Yes, it's like a folding kitchen knife, really good for food prep. The larger ones have a decently thick blade as well, I've got an Opinel 10 that I was gifted 26 years ago that is still going strong. There are some things it's probably best to use a heavier knife for, and I do, I take more than one knife camping as I'm usually going away for weeks or months at a time.
I have a number of stainless number 8's lying here and there including my glove box alongside a Victorinox rescue tool, but my edc is a number 8 carbon, it's much easier to keep sharp and is in practice better for eating and food prep.
@@FromRussia_With_Lovewhat are you on about
I had a dozen of n8 in the 90s they were gifts for filling your tank at the gas station in France 😂
Je suis trop jeune pour voir connu ça, c'est dommage 😅
Great gift!
The Opinel #8 Jardin (Garden) with a spear point is highly underated and lives in my pocket. It can even be opened with one hand if required.
I gave this knive to a friend for Christmas. He likes it very much!
Hello from France.
I agree with you about the n°8 jardin : It's not the original (historical ?) shape but it is as efficient as the n°8 "classic", a little bit lighter, and ... much more elegant !
Its my prefered as well
Very true! 👍
@@docwho2828 Of course he do. 😊
I remember eating in the countryside in France. People brought their own knife to the table, lots of Opinels (I had mine too), and a few Laguioles too, both excellent choices for cutting saucisson and cheese. Also many Laguiole knives have a built-in corkscrew, an important accessory in France.
I moved to France from the UK in 2004.
I now have a collection of different sizes, colours, wood type, blade shape.
On your point I once had a Citroen Dyane. Designed for the French countryside, a suspension that coped with unmade roads without breaking boxes of eggs..... and both front door pockets designed to hold a bottle of wine.
The French have things figured out 😂
I have several Opinels but my first was free. There was an advert in the Beano offering a free knife for the price of a first class stamp -6d (2 1/2p) in 1965. A few weeks later I got a package containing a no. 10 which in my 8 year old hand looked like a carving knife. Brilliant. I kept it right up to the second my mum saw it. ;0)
I have a number 6 , I have had it for 45 years, still in great, nearly perfect condition and I have used it hard.
I bought my No.9 Opinel in about 1979. It was heavily used hiking and climbing for about 20 years. It's excellent! It's light; cuts fruit or rope well; spreads things on bread; has served as a piton on a few occasions; the round handle is very comfortable and makes a good toilet-roll holder; and it's narrow enough to push a cork into a wine-bottle if you need to open it. The only downsides are that it doesn't have a lanyard hole; the handles swells when (even slightly) wet and jams the knife completely; and you can't open it one-handed. I made a lanyard hole with a friend's drill, but the other two I couldn't solve. I therefore set out to replace it. 24 years on, and my Opinel is still in my backpack, and I have drawers full of other knives I've tried, including a few you've shown here. Nothing else combines the light weight, comfortable handle, and blade long enough to cover a slice of bread in one swipe. Maybe I should try the synthetic Opinel, and get someone to put thumbstuds on the blade, and a knob onto the locking collar for one-hand opening. I'll think about it.
About the wood swelling issue, there's a technique called "Coup de Savoyard" or Savoyard's Knock to easily solve that problem. There's a nice little demonstration video here in UA-cam. Great knives Opinel.
@@jotade2098 Thanks for the info. I'd never heard of this before. Sadly, my one seems to jam up too tightly for this. I can't open it even with pliers until it dries!
@@jotade2098watched a guy on utube giving his opinal a couple coatings of Danish wood oil on the front part of his opinal knife, just where the blade comes out from the handle,
and he said this solves the swelling issues with the handle.
@@daveyboy6985 I did the same with linseed oil. The problem was solved.
After about 2 yrs of use, my Opinel no8 is so loose that you can easily open it by one-hand.
I like it this way much more than classic tight fit.
I believe in France they are known as 'Tap Opinel'. The heel of the handle can be struck on a hard surface to start the blade out in the event that the wood has swollen and made it stiff to open. Neat feature.
That will marr the handle. 😐
@@duartesimoes508 So? It's a working knife.
@@duartesimoes508 Nah, I've tapped many Opinels, the handles can handle it just fine. You just need a swift short tap, you could use the bottom of your shoe, absolutely no need to hammer them into a concrete wall or something.
Hi ! I am French, we just call it Opinel. you're talking about an opening technique called '' the blow of the Savoyard ''
@@cptjeff1lmao, no, it's an art knife, an working knife has an working locking mechanism.
I don't think there is realy an other design that give the same feeling as an Opinel. It is the original, like the Mora classic nr 2 or Buck 110. It is not only the design but more the feeling that It gives you
Well, one could argue about it being "the original". There's something made since at least 1422 in a small valley in austria that looks like the predecessor of the opinel.
The channel swiss bianco has an old video about them: (although he has a stainless one which i have never seen before) ua-cam.com/video/bwZ89a3FKic/v-deo.html
@@nirfz Well, let's say the original mass-produced model with this shape, then.
@@adrien5834 _with this shape_ ... ok we can do that.
we always called these picnic knives, and I believe the reason we have so many in Europe is that workers (back in the day) needed something for slicing dried sausage, cheese and ham for lunch, the slim blade allows for really thin slices of sausage (which are often bought whole and cut at the table.) My wife and I have one each, and they get their most use when eating outside, it makes a great steak knife at a bbq, and nothing can give you a fine slice of salami like an opinel. Love the video, love the knife. Get one in carbon steel and you will be able to shave with it as well if you want.
I always appreciate the comparisons and especially the history behind many classic knives. The Laguiole is also very well known for their classic wine keys.
I have three that I bought in New Orleans, But I use my Opinels daily.
A knife that should have made the list is the Higo No Kami. I recently purchased one and it is definitely a good knife for around the same price as the opinel. And the fact that it is made in Japan and has a rich history behind it makes it a good alternative
Yeah those seem to match the use and intent of the Opinel quite well. Extremely simple and with a sword-like blade.
I have a mini one on my keys and it’s the most useful thing ever! I’d love to get a larger one at some point. Definitely should have made this list.
Came to the comments to say the same. The Higo fits in the CEO icon video, or maybe it’s own icon video
Cool topic. I take the Laguiole as a "gentleman's" steak knife with me sometimes for use in restaurants (sometimes the knives are terrible), as was common in France. Another classic in this category is the Higonokami knife. Cheers!
The Opinel #12 Slim is also a great steak knife for carry into restaurants as I do living in France. Thinner blade than the Laguiole.
@@silverido Thanks - didn't know that one.
haha yes good idea to bring your own knife! no doubt some steak restaurants do not provide decent steak knives. Either because it is an old restaurant that just did not replace silverware as regularly expected but still has decent menu and quality or one of those low class chain restaurants that has bad food and bad cutlery.
@@nozrep such as so many American restaurants that give me a (gasp!) serrated knife for cutting my steak or chicken.
At home I use silver and pearl inlay steak knives from 1955, long thin plain edge blades; both beautiful and efficient.
A good Higonokami will take even a finer edge, but its geometry and grind make it less slicy. Slice up an apple with both and you will feel the difference immediately.
Opinel really is a knife of choice. As a french person, this knife has been around me for all my life. My grandma used it to cook, my dad use it in the garage, I use it in the bush... Simple yet efficient. But the main reason I think the opinel does not have an alternative is its cultural importance. Reading the comments, you will get a glimpse of how everyone in France has a story with an Opinel in.
Only the Laguiole may have a similar cultural importance in the South West of France. There is a legend saying that the cross shaped dots on it were used by the shepherds on the Causses (plateaux in the Massif Central) to pray before eating. They did not have any crosses to use so they stabbed the Laguiole into the wooden table and used its handle... Don't know if it's true but love the story !
i was in the French Foreign Legion in 1980's and this Opinel number 8 was issued as part of our kit from day 1 ! and i still have mine, with a 13dble carved into the handle !
@lee_masters= You could have added, for the non-french readers, that the 13° DBLE (Demi-Brigade de la Légion Étrangère) is one of the most famous regiments in the French army - having served with great distinction in WW II (Narvik, Bir-Hakeim, El Alamein, the Campaign of France) then in Indochina and Algeria and other campaigns in Africa. A great honor to you, Sir, to have served in such a unit.
The Douk-Douk is one hell of a knife. Very strong and brutal, yet very light. This is a real outdoor folder. The carbon blade is easy to maintain and you can make it razor sharp.
For me, the Opinel is my camping food prep knife. Stainless, easy to clean, disposable (I've misplaced a couple) and about as slicey as you can get. It can even carve would reasonably well with that convex grind, say if i'm on a daytrip and want to make feathersticks for a small fire to brew a round of tea but I didn't bring my jääkäripuukko.
I'm with you. Despite having a range of more modern and more expensive knives my Opinel remains my camping/hiking/picnic food prep knife. It weighs almost nothing and can be easily tucked away in your gear so it's out of the way when not used. Love it. Have a great day.
Same. That's exactly what I use it for. It's a camping cook knife.
Probably the cheapest convex grind in the world! A true innovative knife with more than a century of history and still competitive.
I went on pilgrimage in 2013, walking the Camino De Santiago. At the end of the journey, there washes guy holding out a box of Opinel knives. It was a box quantity of 10 knives and there were about 2-3 left. I thought he was selling them, but found out he was giving them away, so I took one for myself. A simple yet awesome knife.
The K55 is surprisingly comfortable if you use a chef’s knife pinch grip. The simple steel scales are very thickly enameled. And it is sharp out of the box and sharper still with a nice stone.
It's amazing to see someone in the knife trade honoring the inexpensive classics. I've got knives from the very cheapest production knives to custom knives of $1000 and more, but the cheap ones are the ones that get used and loved every day. I was interested to see you include a Deejo - I was given one and it's better than I would have imagined.
G'day mate, I'm a Opinel convert, didnt think I'd like 'em all, I like robust, but these are so fit for purpose, (and of course inexpensive). I will say; now having the 8.9 & 10; the top rear handle needs rounding over on all sizes for me. But @ least you can EASILY. A few minutes work = an outstanding design even better IMO & and as a bonus, ...... what a fantastic "steak knife" without needing serrations. Cheers Duke.
I wish more companies would sell knives with the geometry of Opinels. Something that thin behind the edge is an automatic buy for me. Because I buy knives to cut things
It’s absurd that so many knives, nowadays, can’t even cut lol
Older opines were even thinner. I think that dents and corrosion (no stainless models back then) were enough to keep a cutting edge.
Then look into Pallares. Old Spanish brand, their main model is the "navaja comun", and arguably the edge geometry is even better than the Opinel. Square heel slipjoint instead of the locking ferrule, and a slightly slimmer handle, but a banger of a knife. Even though I'm French, I actually prefer the Pallares.
I am a chef. I bought my opinel sometime in the 80s for my field cooking kit and I have not found a better solution since. The only mod I made was to flatten out the left scale for a D cross section for😊 improved controll.
The Cat was the knife the opinel replaced.
Just got one today and I love it way more than my Spyderco, reminds me of the knives I've been making since I was a kid. Definitely going to keep it on me from now on
I'm 66 years old and had my Opinel knife since I was about 8 or 10 years old. It was old when I got it.
I once thought I had lost my Opinel 8, so I bought another. Then, once the Minnesota snow melted I discovered it in the yard. A light clean and it was as good as new. An amazing little thing
This has been my choice for a first camping knife for kids. The locking mechanism is easy for small hands to use (and a locking blade is a good idea when kids are using it) It's not too expensive when the kid breaks or (more likely) loses it. But best of all the simple wood handle is easy to sand down/ stain/ paint/ carve, to customize it for whoever you're giving it to. If you've ever had to hunt for sibling gifts where they each want the same thing but in a different color you'll appreciate that. My niece has one that was stained purple with berry juice from the woods and my nephew has one painted bright orange (his favorite color). My wife also loves the aesthetics of the Opinel and carries one that I stained the handle light green as her EDC.
My kids were using them when they were 6 years old on river and mountain trips.
It was my first knife, I got it when I was 8 or so. Still got it in one of my EDC jackets.
Been putting off for ages getting a size 10 stainless as a camp knife. The 7 is a little small in my big hands these days..
I do have one cation, too easy for the hand to slide forward to the blade if hands are wet. As sharp as they are, kids must be alert to this mistake that has happen to the careless.
Loving this series! I forget it exists until a new episode drops
Hello from France.
I currently have in front of me my Opinel n°6 and my Case Knives Sod Buster Jr.
In my opinion, the Sod Buster is to the Americans what the Opinel is to the Frenchs: a little endearing traditionnal knife made for working. In France, some remember their grandfather with an Opinel in his hand and i think this is certainly the case in the United States with the Sod Buster. Their stories have been written not by their makers but by their owners over the decades.
And this is one of the reasons why i am very happy to have them and others traditionnal knives in my collection: they are not luxurious knives but knives with a history, a past that much more recent knives do not have.
Goodbye.
Used mine the other day to slice thru a prime rib at a local restaurant. Had just bought it not long ago after not having one for quite some time. Love it when something is designed right the first time. Ingenuity at its best.
Loved the video, I was a little surprised not to see the alox bantam as an alternative. It's slicey, lightweight, and iconic in its own way.
Them little knifes come with a wicked edge. My dad warned me about that fact when he finally allowed me to switch out my old swiss army knife for his opinel and he did tell me to twist that little rotator safety piece to secure the blade... with a word i didnt know at that time. Needless to say i twisted the tip of the knife in a piece of driftwood pretty lightly but without the safetylock bein engaged and the whole thing folded with my fingers sandwiched in between the handle and the blade. Next thing i knew i was heading to the ER with the only thing keepin my right indexfinger from falling off bein a flap of skin.
When the bandages came off a few weeks later i was stunned to see that the scar it left was just as clean as the ones the surgeons made to reattach the tendons with their scalpels.
Physical recovery and the slightly crooked finger that still tells the tale 15 years later aside it really goes to show what a fine piece of hardware this knife actually is
Thank you very much to talk so well about a traditional french knife.
For traveling: In a lot of countries most of the shown knives can get you in very serious legal trouble.
In Germany for instance only such knives are legal:
Folding knives that can be opened with one hand and do not lock the blade.
Folding knives that ca be opened with two hands only and lock the blade.
No limitation on the length though exept for fixed knives. For fixed blade length must be under 12 cm (4.72 in.)
Meaning, if you carry any knife that can be opened with one hand and locks is considered to be a lethal weapon and can lock you in, seriously.
Therefore, knives such as Opinel and Mercator are legal in most countries but not the modern flippers.
About the wood swelling issue, there's a technique called "Coup de Savoyard" or Savoyard's Knock to easily solve that problem. There's a nice little demonstration video here in UA-cam. Great knives Opinel.
I've owned and used an Opinel for over 35 years and I've only ever had swelling bad enough to impact on use once. I left it in a wash bowl overnight while camping one time. After drying it off and playing around with it I actually got it 'working' again - well good enough to use in the garden anyway. Have a great day.
An even better technique is to strip the varnish coating and give the knife an oiled finish. Then you can wash the whole knife in soap and water and not worry about the wood swelling the knife shut.
Stripped one. Soaked in Watco Danish Oil. It took some time. But what it does is soaks in then polymerizes. Like linseed oil but faster. Nice durable finish.
I've seen some people cooking the whole knife in oil til the wood darken, the result was a one hand opening with a wrist flick, like a butterfly.
YAY, TRADITIONALS! MY FAVOURITES!! Please make more videos on older knives!
Laguiole knives also have a lot of history that I think you could have delved into a bit. Also mentioning how popular they are in the steak knife class. That folder could very well be a pocket steak knife 😀
Bought the set of Laguiole steak knives. Not a fan. Impressive. Slim. Sharp w/o being dangerous. Laguiole fail on the tableware in the hand where they roll easily and struggle in deep cuts of beef that shows they’re dainty-ness.
@@rr6013 With regards the " Laguiole" steak knives there are many knives marked "Laguiole" on the blade and with the iconic "bee" on the back of the handle.
I stll have some of these copies with nasty green plastic handles from way back!
The " Laguiole" trade mark was not recognised untill 2019 and is still contested by knifemakers in Thiers France whose argument is that Laguiole is a style of knife; not a knife exclusevely made in the village of Laguiole.
In a resturant here nearly everyone eating meat will use their own folding Lagouile.
Lagouile has a nice Bonus in that take it to the factory or factory shop and they resharpen it for free.
For general outdoor use the Opinel is the bees knees.
I’ve had my Opinel No8 for 25 years absolute perfection and rarely need to hone it! Vive la Opinel 🇫🇷🇬🇧
Love my no. 7 Opinel. It’s a rather old version without the close notch, but it’s perfect for my hand and is great for whittling and lives in my pocket for whenever I stumble across an interesting piece of wood. I do want to get or find a classic no. 8 to see how it feels.
The Old Bear and Mam are cool looking too, I’d like to get one of each some time
I would not suggest it now, but when the closed notch ring came out I only had one Opinel; I popped the ring off, cut a notch, then put the ring back on. 30 years later it is still going strong!
The Opinels typically have a wire edge when they come from the factory. But once you strop that off, they are lasers. The one thing that is not good about Opinels is the wood swelling. Many people are turned off by the "stuck" blade when that happens. Their Outdoor No8 with the synthetic handle eliminates that completely. I would love to see Opinel make the No8 or No9 with the synthetic handles or the No8 Outdoor with a plain edge blade, now that would be the bee's knees! thanks for the review.
I'm tempted to get another No9 and disassemble it, then stabilize the beech, just to see how it performs after.
@@johnwetzel3392
Make a video on the process and the results, good or bad.
A learning experience for all...
If your blade sticks, you have not used it enough. Keep using it. :)
Search for "coup du Savoyard" that's the way to open an opinel that's hard to open
I did not know about the wire edge "tradition "? I have several opinel knives bought new, carbon blades, all were perfectly sharp out of the box, no need to strop. The factory tour shows the blade being sharpened between to angled wheels, I do not see how this sharpening technique would create a wire edge?
Really no reason not to get an Opinel, unless it just doesn't meet your needs. It's got the elegant traditional design, simple yet refined, and inexpensive. Ticks all the boxes.
Even the ones with "nicer" wood handles are still inexpensive. I have one with walnut and it was less than 20€. The opinel definitely deserves its place in the best tool designs ever, and not just for knives.
I'm originally from Solingen, Germany. A city world famous for knifes and baldes. My father threatened to disinheritance my because my edc knife is an Opinel ;).
My tip: fry them in a high temperature cooking oil. It darkens the wood and gives it a unique look.
@@moritzlaszlo3115your father clearly has more sense than yourself 😂.
Any random aliexpress folder made with a decent steel is better than that French overhyped piece of crap.
They are great knives but i just wish they made the exact same thing but with a plastic handle so it doesn’t get stained with oil and grease (i’m a industrial maintenance mechanic) and with one hand opening,might just make that one day with their outdoor series and a regular opinel for the plain edge and add a thumb stud
@@moritzlaszlo3115 mine fell next to the hotplate and got almost burned, it's now dark on more than half but no real damage at all. I wasn't even mad when it happened it looks cool as hell
I have carried the same exact Opinel #7 for almost 40 years.
It has done everything required of it. I have removed the lock ring once and tapped the blade rivet a couple of times just once to tighten the blade up a little and that is it . I have one of every size up to 9 in carbon steel and a spare #7 in stainless. I once prevented a fight between multiple people with my #7 . As they approached each other, I threw my knife and stuck it solidly in a wooden pole that was between them. This so surprised both sides that it broke their concentration on fighting each other. I never said a word, retrieved my knife and left the scene. I was a deputy Sheriff at the time.
Opinel is a special knife, same with Mora, Wenger and Victorinox. I first came into contact with Opinel number 8 42 years ago.
I don't remember which book it is, but the book describes how two men meet in an alley and prepare to settle a fight. And one of them says something like:
"...je vais t'apprendre à danser avec mon Opinel..."
The French sure do know how to dance
One of your best vids. excellent line up and comparison. Perfect amount of info.
Arguably one of the best knife designs of all time. Classic.
I've just gotten the garden variation of №8. Love it.
A couple of years ago I went on amazon because I just wanted a basic foldable knife and the first thing that popped up was an opinel no.08. I knew nothing about knifes but saw that it was fairly cheap and nice looking with good rating so I bought it. It was quite fun to a year or so later of thinking I had some basic amazon knife to learn that what I bought had an iconic status in the knife community.
What a well considered, informative and beautifully judged and delivered piece. Fascinating. Thank you.
the Opinel is far and away the most used pocket knife i own and has been for almost 40 years. It’s versatile and it truly is the best slicer.
It's versatile for cutting your own fingers and that's about it.
@@FromRussia_With_Love that sounds like operator error not, a knife issue.
@@jeffwhitehead7990 Even the best operator can't avoid it with a badly made product.
@@FromRussia_With_LoveYou do realise that your (completely unfounded and unexplained) opinion doesn't carry any weight against more than a century experience and millions of people that actually dó know how to use a knife, right? If you keep cutting yourself where others don't, you are the problem, not the knife. And yes, you are probably just a troll, but still.
@@FromRussia_With_LoveI never cut myself on an Opinel (or any other knife.)Guess I'm not so clumsy.
I'm carrying Opinel No7 for years, and don't want anything else. Just love it.
These are the type of knives I like use.Thank you
I have the "Dejoo" but branded different, I've had it at least ten years so the dejoo might be a copy or a change of brand name. Beautifully light and simply fun to have sitting on the desk looking different from all my other folders. I have four Opinels, the big display one (size 13 I think it is.) which is just a talking point really. The fillet knife. A no 6 which is my EDC and a no 8. I don't pretend I'm every going to use my EDC to stab someone so the slicing perfection of the Opinel is what I need for actual every day use, cutting things that need cutting - the Opinel does the job when it is in my hand and is unfelt in my pocket, very easy to forget it is there. They are simply 'elegant' - they do what needs doing with no ornamentation and great competence. The locking mechanism doing three things well - lock open, lock closed and strengthening the pivot area of the handle - beautiful design. They are a two handed knife if you use the lock, which is fine, I've got two hands. They appeal to my sense of quality and value every time I pick one of them up. Some of my other folders appeal to other things in me - campguy, machomanchild, collectorguy and those are legitimate in that way but the Opinels just fit me to a T in a way nothing else does.
As a professional seaman a knife is a very basic but essential tool of the trade. I really like Opinel as you say they are "slicey", I use them for cutting fabric such as camvas and 'small stuff' that is small dia rope, whipping and sewing twine and trimmig knots amd splices where a sharp direct cut is required. They hold an edge and can be easily resharpened by running up anb down a rusty peice of wire rope. Do not use them for levering anything like trying to open a paint can. I prefer the carbon steel over the stainless.
For the price, availibity in Europe and functionality for what nature intended them for then they can't be beat .
For a deck knife the Spyderco Mariner is impossible to beat I have carried a Spyderco for over 30yrs ,the two knives together make a great combination for all most any job you will come across on deck. Highly recommended.
Do you know the Neptunia Dorry? A good knive for work on ships and boats, althoug not cheap. I really love this knive with its beautiful look.
@@docwho2828 No I am afraid I have never heard of it, for cutting modern synthetic ropes a serrated edge is essential, hence my love of the Spyderco Mariner but I will keep an eye open for the Dorry, thanks for ths tip.
@@anthonycrumb5753 Gladly!
That swelling you mentioned is why I gave away the one I had. Run around a broad spectrum of climates with one in your pocket and at some point you may need to pry the blade out to open it. Happened to me and that was the end of that.
To me they are knives to put in a basket with wine, cheese and, bread, crackers, olive tapenade and maybe some smoked salmon and prosciutto, and used for a leisurely picnic. They'd look in place there and be fun to use that way. Besides that, much like switchblades I see them as novelty/collectible items unfit for field use.
Love my opinel carbone. Stays sharp for what seems like forever (if you're using it for light duty or food prep like I do). And I love that they have a carbon steel version.
Are you serious? Carbon blades are terrible at food prep, everything tastes like the steel - and acidious food quickly turns it into rust. Try their stainless version.
@@mannihh5274 I've had mine for years and it's never rusted, because i carry it with me everywhere i can maintain it regularly. It does turn black from the reaction but as long as you wipe it off after you're done and don't let it sit on the blade its fine. I put a drop of mineral oil down into the pivot every once in a while. Not a single spot of rust. Food tastes fine too. All my stainless kitchen knives seem to get dull after a few months but i haven't sharpened my opinel in almost a year and it still cuts like a beast
This is the second time I've watched this video and it is one of my favorites. Maybe because I already own 9 of the 18 knives in front of you. Now in truth my 9 are on the less expensive end of the ones you reviewed. But I believe that just confirms that classic styling and not the latest technology is what drives the passion of knife collectors. Do yourself a favor buy two of whichever of the lower priced models appeal to you. "Put one away and carry the other every day." There's nothing like the freedom of not worrying. Thanks Dave.
I have the Opinel number 6 and 8, and I own probably 40 other knives, and the No. 6 Opinel I use more than any other knife. I eat with it every day, it's my dedicated cheese knife something I consume daily:)
I have a number 8 Opinel. Dropped tip of the blade and the back of the handle.
Sanded and charred the handle and then slow fried and let it cool in peanut oil to seal and waterproof the wood.
Demel'd a groove in the handle below the finger nail nic for easy access to the blade.
Patina'd the blade in lemon juice.
I only ever strop the blade to maintain the edge.
What a beauty.
A very excellent segment of alternatives to the legendary Opinel with some good old classics. We carry heavily mod Opinel for urban & outback usage. It cuts & slice with a fillet action on game & fruit etc. Great show DCA & Thomas. More of this kind of show will be appreciated mate. Cheers from Australia.
I bought one of these with pocket money on a holiday when I was about 11 years old. Shortly after I managed to cut my thumb whilst messing around in some woods and the blood went everywhere. I’ve had the knife ever since. I recently sharpened it with a whetstone and it is now my trusty gardening knife / box opener…it is a lovely knife. I am thinking about buying one of their chef’s knives too.
Nice review. I like to mention the difference between the "summer Opinel" and the "winter Opinel". Not living in a desert environment, we have a lot more humidity in the summer months, and during that time, I need to use a lot more effort to open the knife due to the swelling of the wood as it absorbs moisture. It won't be loose in the winter, but it will swing with almost negligible friction. I've heard of folks taking them apart to sand out a bit of wood in the pivot to make them easier to open in humid weather, but I don't think I would like the result in the winter months. It's the character of the knife, if you can't embrace it, get something different.
I just hose it down with mineral oil so the wood swells permanently and it is kinda stiff all year round which I prefer since I can use it without bothering with the locking ring if I wanna just slash something open real quick and I don't have to worry about it falling closed by gravity on my finger!
Hold virobloc between thumb and forefinger and tap the protruding bit at the bottom of the handle against a hard surface.
To prevent the blade from jamming, it is customary to "fry" your Opinel. In a small saucepan, add cooking oil (I use canola oil) until the knife is completely covered. Heat the oil slowly until the wood begins to release small air bubbles. The temperature of the oil should be kept as low as possible. After 30 minutes, the wood has stored so much oil in its structure that water can no longer penetrate and jammed blades due to swelling wood are a thing of the past. You should also open the blade at a 90 degree angle and leave it sticking out of the oil so that it doesn't get too hot. A pleasant side effect is that the higher the temperature and the longer it is in the oil, the more the wood darkens. They are simply great knives for little money!
Just got the Opinal 8 in lime wood. It's a joy to look at, to hold and to work with. The whole minimalist simplicity and 1890 heritage are a bonus. It has character and personality that you bond with, more than just a knife.
"Minimalist" is fine but not including a blade lock to be "minimalist" is ridiculous. These things cut your hands more than whatever you're trying to work.
@@FromRussia_With_Love They have a lock? You can lock the blade open and when it's closed? What knife are you looking at?
@@freddiecampbell I've never used an Opinel that locked open, the ones I've had have always just closed from pressure. I haven't had many Opinels though to be fair.
@@FromRussia_With_Love I think the lock starts from the model 6 and upwards
I worked renovating a farm house in Brittany in 80
At the end they gifted me an Opinel #12, which was the standard length of all the workers and farm hands
Still have it
An amazing work knife
Worked house removals for a short while and was introduced to one by all the other guys. Absolutely hooked after that.
Love the respect for a true classic.
I just got a no. 10 today. I love it. I love the history, it's comfortable, and man is it sharp.
The opinel is just so slicey and easy to maintain it’s a no brainer as a companion knife and a must have in the backyard, camp, and kitchen. The Benchmade tagged out is a very interesting comparison that I never would have thought of, I’ve taken many opinels out as a backup knife for deer camp and an amazing bird and trout knife
i have two opinels, the 8 and the 10, both are amazing and got them dirt cheap 10 years ago at a hunting exhibition I just happened to pass by. At their price nothing can beat them.
I always wanted one since I was a child because my grandfather had one with him always, even in planes they allowed him to take it with him, I remember the blackened iron blade that had taken a beating over the decades but still held onto to it and was using it every single day till the day he passed, a knife he had for at least 7 decades and still has it in his pocket where he was buried to take it with him to the heavens.
I think that if you have the possibility of getting a Spanish "Navaja cabritera" in the USA, it is an incredible option, especially if it is from Albacete or Andalusia. On the one hand, they probably have the oldest tradition of manufacturing folding/pocket knives, coupled with their know-how with steel, which enjoys world-wide fame and are made by hand, by blacksmiths in an artisan way with prices equal to or less than any industrial "brand". I got an "albaceteña" in a hollyday and now have a pocket knife for life.
Thanks for featuring a Portuguese blade. Feels good to see our craftsmanship ia recognized.
Love this series!
Every farmer in Scotland has an Opinel No 8. I've had one for years and love it. The Opinel No 5 is my desk knife.
If you want a close competitor for Opinel, take a look at Verdier Manufacture. Their model l'Alpage is probably as close as it gets. The knife manufacturer has been around since 1859 and rumour has it that there is debate over who invented the Viro bloc, some voices claiming that it actually was Verdier and not Opinel. The similarity to Opinel is uncanny, even closer than any Antonini.
60 euros?
No close enough
@@yannikoloff7659 60 Euros? I don't know where you get yours from, but in Europe they're the same price as Opinel.
@@yannikoloff7659 nope, 10-12 euros for the basic beech wood version.
I carry a No.10. Nothing else compares. I carried my first one for twenty five years. Then I got lost for awhile. Never could find a knife that felt as familiar. I ended up buying a new Opinel,and life is good again. I still have the first one, and carry it occasionally. A lot of wear on that old blade.
Great video Dave. I love the old simple knives. I've got an opinel8 and a CS okapi. The okapi is a monster but I like it. Thanks
Now you can transform the opinel no 8 in fork and spoon and have a picnic beast. Unbeatable!
I love my opinel No. 8. I used to carry it often. Because of this video it's going back to rotation!
Edit: I used it yesterday and almost cut my finger off. I forgot how sharp it is!
Great depth and expertise in this comparative datasheet, thank you very much dear David.
My passion for blades and pocket knives leads me to own at least two thirds of the folding knives presented here, but I must admit that every day I carry an old opinel N° 6 with me: an excellent work knife which, however, requires frequent regrinding in the carbon blade.
I am also fascinated by the variety of countries that produce different types of these blades, and by the choices made by the different companies, very often inherent in the local tradition.
In particular, the Siciliano (a shape inspired by the knives of this splendid Italian island) comes from the Michele Fraraccio cutlery shop in the province of Isernia, within a very varied production but united by a sense of masculine strength in the opening of the blades.
Thanks again for making me discover and desire some small but beautiful knives.
I bough my Opinel no8 in November 2022 for 8€ in a gun shop here in austria.
Then again American knives are like double the price here cause of taxes and shipping.
This is the regular price you should not pay more than 10€ anywhere
It’s hard to have this comparison without including the Buck 112 slim. I’m a tradesman and use my main blade hard. I carried the 112 slim for a few years as my main/working blade and it was a great working man’s knife. I carried an Inox Opinel #8 a few years before that and they compare very well. Sometimes I would miss the slicey nature of the #8 but then other times I would appreciate the toughness of the 420HC.
I feel like i rent opinel knives, they tend to walk.
I bought my Laguiole knife, horn and corkscrew, 30 years ago for only about £50 and its been absolutely brilliant! The blade holds a razor edge and the design lets it slip really easily in a pocket.
I might have added the Higonokami.
As a Dutch youth vacationing in France, I got addicted to getting a new Opinel knife every year.
My parents wondered why I would buy the same type of knife every year. But I never waivered - bought one every year just the same.
Love OPINEL!
Oh yeah, here in France, it is in every pocket ! What's incredible is that you can use them to sculpt wood, open bottles, scrape stuff, cook, attack bony meat... They will chip (though not that much, being a soft steel 1075/12c27 type), they occasionally loose their tips, they can't stay sharp. But even dull and chipped, they will glide through anything because they are so thin!
I systematically reshape them to drop point and round handle heel (like the garden model) and personalise them with pyro-pen (what's the American for pyrograveur?).
Hate them, because they are not supersteel knives, they fidget like a grandma and they are so cheap.
My brother has another approach, he keeps the shape intact, but spends hours making precious wood handles and mirror polish those piece of crap steel blades. And he makes fun of me, with my super expansive supersteel, always too thick for apples and daily stuff blades.
Need the new Magnacut CF Taggedout ASAP!!!
*ok... Maybe not as long as it will be orange and past 300$
A few years ago I saw this Opinel knife in a shop and bought the No 8.
I just had to, it reminded me of hitchhiking through France in the early 80s as a young man, working in the grape harvest in Beaujolais.
The Opinel's are great, the no10 is perfect man hand size and shape, it's one of my main go to's, the number 8 is a good gift or kids first knife, the black cat is a good knife, had many of them, had a lot of issues with the back spring breaking. The Ruike 801 is a good slicey modern replacement. Can we get someone to make an Opinel replacement blade with a modern steel like magnicut?
I know there was one guy online selling m390 and s90v opinel blades a while back. I have not seen them for sale recently, but they may be worth looking into as a start.
I use an Opinel No8 Garden knife as a kitchen knife at times. I like that handle shape better than the standard. I modified a MAM knife for my main backpacking knife with a cut down sheepsfoot blade and a re-profiled handle to make it lighter and more ergonomic. It weighs only like 0.85 oz, and is great for backpacking tasks.
Great video! Not sure any of them, other than the other Opinel’s really hold a candle to the original. I will say that I think you could do one of these videos on the Case Sodbuster by itself. Personally, I think it’s the only one that comes close to “beating” the icon. I think it’s more “battle of the icons”. Love the Sodbuster and Opinel. Thanks for the video.
I can't imagine going hiking without my trusted Opinel 8. I thru hiked across Croatia and France, 4200km in total, and could only trust this bad boy to cut everything needed. The patina is now amazing, it lost its tip (almost a feature at this point to know when it's broken in) I think I would be sadder to lose this one now than my Sebenza 21 that I have for longer. Just because that Opinel saw so much more action, I wasn't afraid to use it, and now it's truly mine. Although I have to say that the carbon version is the only one that I would recognize as a true one, that was the point of that knife, to be able to resharpen it with anything on the field, and it never rust as we French love to cut cheese and saucisson with it anyway :D Thanks for the video !
What a great entertaining vid! Thank you (yes I’m a knife nerd) 😂
I always used them with farm work, but last summer the locking ring on one of them loosened up and turned in my pocket. I reached in to get it not realizing it had opened - that cost me four stitches on my ring finger.
Now I carry a Lightning Out The Front and that works accomplishes the same thing - cheap, easy to use and not a big deal if I lose it or break the tip off.
Excellent episode. Very well done. Have almost all those knives in the „classic“ part of my collection. So it is highly interesting for me to see what you think about them.
The sliceyness for the priceyness. That's gold David, that's gold.