A few weeks ago my brother, who lives in the bustling Welsh port of Aberystwyth, sent me an Opinel No. 8 knife. What a good gift, sharp as you like carbon steel, simple, reliable, aesthetically Old Skool pleasing and just a great knife. I used to carry one in the British Army, back in the mists of time when there was such a thing, so you can add a nostalgia bonus to boot.
Nostalgia aside, these little knives actually work. Created in 1890 by Joseph Opinel, the knives were a hit and went through a couple of upgrades. Here's the marketing:
In 1890, Joseph Opinel turned 18 and worked in the family workshop. With a passion for new machines and innovative technologies, he built his own camera and soon became the photographer for weddings and special events in his area. Led by his passion for machinery and the manufacturing process, he decided to invent an object which he could manufacture using modern technology. Against his father's wishes, he spent most of his free time refining the shape and manufacturing of a small pocket knife: the Opinel No.08 was born!...
Originally, the Opinel knife had four components: the blade, the fixed ferrule, the rivet and the haft. The fixed ferrule was needed to firmly rivet the blade to the haft. In 1955, Marcel Opinel, who had been working on improving the safety of the knife, invented the Virobloc®system. He added a rotating ferrule which slid onto the fixed ferrule, closing the groove and thus locking the blade in the open position. The idea was simple enough but hard to achieve. In the 90’s, the Virobloc®system was modified to lock the blade in the closed position. This feature was added to all models in the early 2000's.
Well that's good to know and not wrong, the trademark rotating ferrule does do the business, no doubt about it, and the blades are keen. That in mind, Opinel knives were recognized by the UK's Victoria & Albert museum as "one of the most successful designs of all time," along with Rolex watches and the Porsche. 911. So now we know. Quite the classic, and the product lives up to its marketing, for a change.
Sharp, I say again, handy, functional, no BS knives. For example: Maybe you carry a Spyderco, and they're great, I love them, but what happens when all those little screws fall out? Amazon Prime nightmare. You don't have that kind of issue with an Opinel and that's a plus, they're cheap, too, at 17 bucks for a No. 8. I liked mine so much that I bought a #9 and a #10.
Do women like them? Of course they do, we all do. Get one if you like or better yet, get a couple. Not pricey and they're the real deal.
Cheers,
LSP
21 comments:
Aren't those blades illegal in Old Blighty?
I carried one a while when I was roughnecking. I abused the poor thing. The blade held an edge better than more expensive ones. I used it to slice bags and dump them in the suction side of the mud pump. It's not Every knife that you know how you lost it.
I recommend Opinel products highly. BTW, they also make a folding saw. I use it for pruning small trees, it will fit in a backpack and has a lot of uses out in the camp too.
You not keed about those little fiddly screws going AWOL. My favorite Kershaw assisted-opening knife uses those little buggers to attach the scales and only about half are still on the job. Finally Loctited the rest. Loctite is your friend!
Probably can't carry one in England.
Always delighted to hear about a family-owned business that has been around for generations. That said, my EDC for the last two decades has been my trusty CRKT M16-01K. Black spear point with aluminum handle in British racing green. All the tiny screws are still there, however the pocket clip is on it's second coat of Magic Marker black. They no longer make this exact model.
Not if you’re a rebel, like Jules…and the wolf hybrids help, they tend to keep the Bobbies away.
Proves that simple design with a good feel in the hand, and is functional, is still appreciated. Always had one in the tackle box.
LL, they're apparently legal but only in smaller sizes, like the #8 and if held for a reasonable purpose, like walking innna woods. Go to pub, mosque, train station with Opinel and maybe a different story.
You see, if UKGOV bans knives no one will stab each other, except in Protected Moslem Zones, where it's different.
Ha, Paul! I sent Jules back to the UK with a handy collection of knives. I don't think she's had to use them -- yet.
Justin, what good knives. Affordable, too.
I saw that, NW, looked useful. Great product, imo.
Wild, that's really good advice and I may take it.
Not much of one, Jim. You see, because knives are banned no one will stab each other. A bit like the War on Drugs, when you think about it.
Nice little knife, RHT.
Hey, let's think about a Spring shoot. Been forever.
Exactly, Paul. And that's kinda their place, tackle box. Mind you, I'm using mine for food prep. Work well.
Forever indeed. Yes, do let's.
I like that they've joined the 21st Century and added a corkscrew on a no. 10, as well as a bottle cap lifter. I've had a no. 8 for a couple decades, after lusting after one back in BoyScouts, even tho I had a official BSA pocketknife and a big SAK.
Thanks LSP, just ordered some #7s for me and my sons. Great grandad lived and worked in France, grandad was trained as Peugeot factory mechanic early 1900's in Paris. Both were Brits though, funny world. Fitting small gift for the boys only not possible to travel with sanity any longer unless checked airline luggage. Sigh!
Mattexian, there is that but... what sturdy, sharp, corkscrew marcom aside little knives.
What a great gift, Terrapod. Now I feel the need to get a #7. And yes, air travel's become increasingly unbearable.
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