Opinel No. 8

B

BenLankford

Joined
Jul 13, 2009
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1,546
I was at some cooking store in the mall and I was looking around the misc. bins and saw this little treasure an Opinel No. 8 It was only $15 so I picked it up. Interesting knife i'm used to slipjoints with kind of a little snap but I like this one. It does not have a secondary bevel so it is a zero grind?
 
i am going to order one in a week or so. i'm waiting on some amazon points to come through.

i don't need it at all, but i want one!

i'm interested in what the peoples have to say:D
 
A lot traditional people (in traditional forums) love Opinel's. I got Carbon # 3, #8 and #9. Simple and sturdy knife. Easy to sharpen literally hair whilting sharp. Only problem is that you actually need to use mineral oil or linseed oil to coat wooden handle to prevent handle swellign when it gets wet and thus locking blade.

Simply: Its amazing knife for such low price. Stainless or Carbon. Fool proof lock (well in extent as fool proof as any lock can be), excellent blade shape and full flat ground. There's at least 3 Opinel threads in traditional section and I've yet to see any negative comment about Opinel's.

From tiny #3 penny knife to huge #13 zombie killer. Opinel has it all :D

And if you lose or break your opinel. You get new one cheaper than you get CRKT china made knives. I paid $12 with shipping from my #8... My CRKT Drifter cost me €$18 + Shipping, totalling $ 27 USD's. Opeinel's are excellent for modding. Very good knife, highly underrated due its price. You really can't beat Opinel for value in folder's, like you really cannot beat Mora's in fixed blades when it comes to value.
 
I love them. I got 2 #6s, one with olivewood/stainless and one carbon/beechwood. I wanted the carbon blade on the olivewood handle, so I switched the blades. Love it. Really sharp. Both of them. I wish I could find other knives with the same profile, it's perfect IMO.
 
Believe it or not, it was a #8 Opinel, that got me started in the madness of knife collecting. :p From Opinel to Moras, Scandi hunters, then Coldsteel, SOG, Benchmade,Spyderco, Emerson and CR Sebenza.
 
I've got an Opinel #10 with the corkscrew. Hardly ever use the corkscrew, but I do use the blade in the kitchen all the time. It's sturdy and it feels very safe with the rotary lock. And the corkscrew is fine, too. They are great knives for the price.
 
In Western Europe we kind of grow up with these knives. They're simply everywhere! Most likely the first real knife you get as a gift is either a SAK or an Opinel. With what I paid for my Sebenza, I can buy about fifty!! Opinels!
And although I love my CR, I don't think it'll outlast 'em all. Amazing quality for an amazing price!
 
I've had a #8 for probably 30 years and a #10 for maybe 10, both carbon. Very practical knives that I use mainly for food preparation while camping. Didn't know they came with corkscrews, but that is why I always carry a SAK Climber.
 
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Didn't know they came with corkscrews, but that is why I always carry a SAK Climber.
Click to expand...

Since a few years there is a variant of the Opinel #10 with a corkscrew in the handle. It is a full-size corkscrew, which I think works better than the smaller ones in a SAK. Even so, it can't really beat a dedicated corkscrew with a lever system.

I love my Opinels.
 
"...It does not have a secondary bevel so it is a zero grind? ..." - BenLankford

it's close enough, being almost paper thin!
 
GIRLYmann said:
"...It does not have a secondary bevel so it is a zero grind? ..." - BenLankford

it's close enough, being almost paper thin!
Click to expand...

Mine actually came kind of dull the edge near the top was flat. So I took it to the sharpmaker and holy crap. Legit 2 minutes with it and I could push cut like atoms.
 
I'm heading towards the #8 size.
Started with the #6, carry a carbon plain Jane
and got some of the schmancy woods just for fun.
Got a #7 SS, so guess the 8s are next.
But for now, I'm content w/what I have on hand.
Some I've sanded edges more smooth aka 'pocket wore'
before treating w/linseed oil & renwax.
I likem.
Opie#6s
OpiesScrbL05.jpg


Lone#7
Opinel07FrO180.jpg
 
Wosey,
How do you treat the wood with linseed oil and renwax? Does the wood need to be worn? Are any of the woods that you have pre-treated (that you can tell)?
 
I have two carbon beechwoods, a #8 and a #10. That is centimeters blade length. I have had the #8 for a few decades. It is mainly used as a cook's knife for camping (the cook being me). I got the #10 a few years back for bigger stuff, bread loafs, etc., and it finds use in my kitchen. Might still pick up a #12. They will rust if you don't wipe them off, but I don't mind. The patina on the blade gives it character. I love a good practical inexpensive knife, and this is a favorite.

I will note that the hinge on the #10 is loose, so the blade can swing out. Not a huge issue since I don't carry it in my pocket, but would like to tighten it up. Not sure the best way to do it.
 
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Satyr said:
I have two carbon beechwoods, a #8 and a #10. That is centimeters blade length. I have had the #8 for a few decades. It is mainly used as a cook's knife for camping (the cook being me). I got the #10 a few years back for bigger stuff, bread loafs, etc., and it finds use in my kitchen. Might still pick up a #12. They will rust if you don't wipe them off, but I don't mind. The patina on the blade gives it character. I love a good practical inexpensive knife, and this is a favorite.

I will note that the hinge on the #10 is loose, so the blade can swing out. Not a huge issue since I don't carry it in my pocket, but would like to tighten it up. Not sure the best way to do it.
Click to expand...

My way is to pop the ring off and squeeze the pivot pin with a pair of Vise-Grips. Took about 30 seconds, and my #9 is properly tightened.

Sanded it down, smoothed it out, dyed it deep brown, and it's a phenomenal knife.
 
Opinels are great and the nr. 8 is my favourite. I've got three of them now: a regular model, an effile model and a garden model. Will try to make some pictures tomorrow.
 
woseyjales said:
I'm heading towards the #8 size.
Started with the #6, carry a carbon plain Jane
and got some of the schmancy woods just for fun.
Got a #7 SS, so guess the 8s are next.
But for now, I'm content w/what I have on hand.
Some I've sanded edges more smooth aka 'pocket wore'
before treating w/linseed oil & renwax.
I likem.
Opie#6s
OpiesScrbL05.jpg


Lone#7
Opinel07FrO180.jpg
Click to expand...

Way clever pic! Nice presentation on the knives as well. Love Opinels! Very popular in France where they come from. I have several - a fave was stolen in the Sinai by some Egyptian Bedouin louse... he recognized a good knife ....but that's another story. I have a real tiny one I used to notch cigars. Thanks for the post!
 
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