Customer Reviews

Opinel, Pearwood Handle, Locking Blade

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

And does it well.

What do most people actually use a knife for? Ignore the macho fantasies, ignore vanity and pretentious branding, ignore the "well, I [fill in the blank] a couple of time a year", and ignore the "but you might..." scenarios, what do people use knives for, day in and day out? O.K. The smart aleck who shouted out 'cutting' can sit in the corner, cutting what? Daily? In the modern world, out side of some fairly narrow specialized situations, two things; opening packages and mail, and food preparation (slicing bread, sausage, cheese, veggies, etc).

You've come to the right place. The Opinel pocket knife is the simplest lock-blade on the market, and perfect for the overwhelming majority of cutting needs. The blade is high carbon steel, and takes and holds a sharp edge (tomato slicing sharp), and is easy to resharpen (I use the rough, unglazed rim on the bottom of a ceramic coffee cup with great success). Note that it is high carbon not stainless and will require careful cleaning to prevent rust. The blade shape is great with a fairly long straight section for most tasks, a good belly on the curved portion, and a sharp point for delicate work. The blade is wide enough to spread peanut butter or cheese well, and strong enough to open cardboard boxes.

The lock is the steel ferrule where the handle meets the blade. It rotates 90 degrees or so to lock the blade open or closed. Easy to use and positive. Do use the lock any time the blade is open or closed as there is no spring to hold the knife open or closed.

The handle is comfortable, easily customized (with a rasp, some sandpaper, and some food handling grade coating [at least for the way I use it]), and solid. The only thing about the knife that doesn't make me completely pleased with it is that the handle is almost round, and can get a little uncomfortable in the back pocket.

Disclaimer: Knives cut things. This knife cuts things very well. Go to your local library and read the knife safety section of the Boy Scout Handbook, so should you cut yourself, you'll know what you did wrong, and have noone to blame but your self. If you're not willing to do this, read the first aid section, so you will be reading to manage bleeding, amputation, and shock from blood loss. Regardless, don't blame me.

Despite the slightly bulky handle, this is a great knife that will serve most folks day to day requirements for a very modest price.

Previous experiences with this brand of knives prompted me to buy one again. I wasn't disappointed with this new product. This is a handy knife to have in your lunchkit or glovebox.

I have this particular knife (No. 8, carbon steel version) as well as two other Opinel knives, and they are all of tremendous quality and value. There is nothing fancy about the knife: it is a classic, functional design. It does not flick open with one hand, and can't be closed with one hand either. It does however do a fine job cutting just about anything.

I like to have my Opinels handy around the house, as they work for about any task. I do not carry them, because I prefer a Swiss Army Knife as a more classic yet functional knife, but an Opinel would be a fine knife for everyday carry.

DO NOT buy an Opinel from Amazon though, as they can be found significantly cheaper elsewhere if one looks.

Very inexpensive knife that is good for everyday use. Made in France, which is rather unusual for something so cheap and not cheese. The blade seems to be of average quality, the handle is very unique. Though the lock mechanism may look cheap it is actually quite effective. If you are looking for a knife that is quick to open, move on. I consider this a great addition to my ever growing collection of strange, inexpensive, but useful knives.

Bought this as a gift. Not my kind of knife, but seems more like something Julia Childs would keep around the house.