Opinel Mod Step By Step (Pic Heavy)

[dropkickkid]

Last weekend I hit the big 31, and for my birthday my wife got me an assortment of knife stuff, cigars, whiskys/whiskeys, in short... Guy Stuff! One of the great gifts she got me was an Opinel No 8.
So here it is straight out of the box.

Next to my Opinel mushroom knife (which she previously got me as a gift... seriously an amazing woman)

I am not a huge fan of the finish, or the "carbone" handle logo (a bit too modern looking for my taste) not to mention the issues people have with wood swell, so I decided to mod it a bit. Some sanding, boiled linseed oil, etc.

the tools i used.

Here it is after taking it apart and sanding it with some 80 grit. Notice the pin size, like many before me i could not get the pin through the blade hole even after hours (literally) of trying. I ended up pushing it half way through and using a dremel cutting wheel to cut off half, and pounded it through the other side.

Soak in baggie in BLO.

added more and left it for a couple days

post soak and wipe down

next to some jamey black because men

my solution to a broken pin... make one from an old drill bit! I live in a tiny studio apt in chicago while i am back in school, i gotta use what i got!

cut to the right length

it fits!

inner ring check.

had to use a clamp to tighten the outer ring so it wouldn't come off.

The finished product! it was a fantastic edge out of the box so i am refining it with a touch of bark river green and white compound.

It has earned its place with my other edc folders, in fact I will be carrying the opinel almost exclusively for a while as being seen with a knife above the legal blade length on a college campus in Chicago is probably a hanging offense, so i'm going clipless as i don't wanna loose my blade length (yeah i'm from Oklahoma sue me lol).

All in all my wonderful wife got me a great gift that turned into a fun project! Hope you all enjoy! If anyone has any questions let me know!

 

[dr_fosg8]

Turned out nice! Definitely looks better with the logo removed.

 

[dropkickkid]

Turned out nice! Definitely looks better with the logo removed.

Thanks!

The only problem I have run into is that the pin needed to be a little longer. I failed to realize that the pin keeps the outer ring from slipping off. Until I get something to replace it it should be fine, just a tad bit annoying.

 

[Rich S]

I've modded three Opinels. I removed the logo just by sanding the handle (taped the lock ring so it wouldn't get scratched). Stained the handle with Old English Furrniture stain (dark brown). Put a coat of semi-gloss lacquer to seal it. Honed it and done! No need to remove lock ring or pins, etc. I also used my Dremel with rotary sanding drum to make it an easy opener before sanding and staining, etc. One my #7, I also reprofiled the blade to a clip point.
Rich

 

[davek14]

Thanks!

The only problem I have run into is that the pin needed to be a little longer. I failed to realize that the pin keeps the outer ring from slipping off. Until I get something to replace it it should be fine, just a tad bit annoying.

I no longer remove the blade to mod an Opi. You've gotta get the new pin just right in length and peening it. As you found, that's done just so at the factory (theoretically) to hold the locking ring on and also to prevent "riding up" while locking closed. I just remove the locking ring, tape it all up as said for sanding, staining, etc.. When I'm done I throw the whole thing into a mineral oil soak for a week or so for the humidity protection.

You did a great job on that, it looks good.

 

[GuestWho101]

Cool project, and fantastic wife. I would say she's a keeper, but seeing as you've put a ring on it (you knew this already).

How many man-hours in total would you say it took?

 

[spydutch]

Turned out great. Those Opi's are great to fool around with.
Thanks for sharing.

 

[dropkickkid]

How many man-hours in total would you say it took?

Minus the failed attempts at removing the pin, I would say 30-40 min plus a couple days of soaking.

Honestly I would say taking it apart was worth it, it loosened the opi perfectly, not too loose. I wanted to take it apart completely so i could sand the inside, and get a full absorption of oil. All in all I would do it again, I just need a new 7/64 drill bit to make a new pin, an some reverse pliers (whatever those are called) to get the ring over the pin.

 

[Peter Parker]

Good job on that one DKK!

 

[dropkickkid]

Good job on that one DKK!

Thank ya!

 

[Camillus]

I'm confused, why did you need to take it apart to sand off the logo and soak it on oil?

 

[Tdhurl1103]

I don't have any Opinels yet, so I have no experience with this mod. Was wondering the same as Camillus. I guess I can understand staining the part underneath the metal, but dis assembly seems like extra work for very little cosmetic enhancement. Anyway, nice job on it! Looks good!

 

[davek14]

I'm confused, why did you need to take it apart to sand off the logo and soak it on oil?

Honestly I would say taking it apart was worth it, it loosened the opi perfectly, not too loose. I wanted to take it apart completely so i could sand the inside, and get a full absorption of oil.

If I may dropkick?

The oil he is using is a drying oil which should seal the knife better. If you soak the whole knife or the joint in a drying oil it will gum it up.

I personally have had trouble getting new pin installations "just right" with the locking ring riding up while locking closed being my biggest problem. You have to peen the pin just right to fill that track in the locking ring. That's just me and what I have found. I can be anal.

There are a thousand ways to mod an Opi. More than half the fun is doing it.

 

[Camillus]

I no longer remove the blade to mod an Opi. You've gotta get the new pin just right in length and peening it.

but hang on...didn't you previously say..?

I don't mean to be rude, but I think its ok for people to express doubt on the effectiveness of a particular method if we doubt its the best way to do it. Not saying the result isn't good, just seems there is more effort required than should be.

I like the result

 

[oldmanrunning]

reverse pliers (whatever those are called) to get the ring over the pin.[/QUOTE]

Hi dropkick here in the UK they are called circlip pliers.Nice job BTW.

OMR.