The Zieg
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 31, 2002
- Messages
- 4,846
If you're the slightest bit handy (and I'm only the slightest bit handy myself), it's no trouble to file down the peen on an Opinel pivot pin, knock it out, and swap blades. Buy both the fancy knife with inox steel and the cheap carbone, et voici le couteau de tes souhaits!Unless you want a Carbone blade. Those are only available in the standard Beechwood.
I asked Opinel if the fancy woods were available with carbone blades, for those of us who prefer that blade steel.
Their answer: "Rossfre blades only. The other woods stain carbone blades."
(most strange. I've bever noticed carbon steel fixed blade knives with various wood handles (none with Beechwood, BTW) with tangs stained/patina'd by the wood.)
I always do this trick with my Opinels simply to make them into take-down models in order to keep them clean and to sand down the pivot area in the handle so they swing free to operate one handed. I also grind out (with Dremel or a round file, whichever is handier at the moment) the overtravel stop on the Virobloc ring because it makes the ring sticky and not moveable with one thumb. But if you want to swap blades this is the way to do it. All you need is a basic file and a needlenose pliers (an SAK with a file and screwdriver will also suffice). And you don't need to re-peen the pivot pin: The Virobloc keeps it in place and they don't slide freely anyway.
Last edited:
