Opinel Knives Review

 

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.

Typical Aberystwyth Street Scene

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.

That Good Old Rotating Ferrule

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

The Alien Gear Cloak Tuck 3.0 Holster

Texas allows open carry, which means you can walk about most places with a pistol on your hip. But almost everyone still carries concealed, they don't want to advertise the fact that they're armed.

With that in mind, it makes sense to have a good concealed carry holster and Alien Gear claim to have come up with the goods. Here's the marketing:

The Bag it Comes in -- Note Guaranty

"Your Cloak Tuck 3.0 retains all the aspects that made its predecessor the most comfortable, concealed holster on the planet, yet somehow, we've managed to improve our IWB (inside the waistband) holster even more." 

How could they possibly have done that?

By adding a thin spring-steel core for "retention and durability" and a ballistic nylon lining, which stops the steel from messing up the holster's neoprene back, and potentially lacerating your hip. But that's not all. The Cloak Tuck 3.0 has "Alien Skin Surface." What's that, you wonder, in awestruck amazement.

See The Alien Skin? It's Thermoelastic

It's "a perfect layer of thermoelastic polymer" which covers the surface of the holster. This is textured, adding "grip and retention" and has an alien head on it as well as a US flag. 

That's the advertising, and the reality? 

It Works

The Cloak Tuck 3.0 is rigid without being uncomfortable and clips securely to your belt. This holster's not going anywhere without a fight and its sturdy kydex shell holds your pistol securely; it's not about to slip off for a wander.  You can adjust retention by loosening or tightening the screws that hold the shell to the holster base, and it comes with extra spacers and hardware to allow for this.  Cant's adjustable too, by raising or lowering the holster's belt clips. It comes preset at a 15 degree "FBI Cant."

But what makes the Cloak Tuck 3.0 "alien"? Good question. Well, the Alien Skin Surface, for a start, and the off-world green of the holster's spacers. I like that, it looks space age.

Neoprene

So what's the verdict? Alien Gear's Cloak Tuck 3.0 works, holding your pistol comfortably and securely inside the waist band. It's sturdy and if the one I was sent is anything to go by, well made, fitting my Glock 21 perfectly, to say nothing of attention to detail -- good stitching, a neat alien head and overall high quality finish. 

But is it tactical? Oh yes, very, especially inside your spaceship, where the green spacers really stand out. How much does it cost? Around 50 bucks, and that's money well spent for a holster that works and works well. Do women like them? I'd have thought that was obvious.

Thanks, Alien Gear, for a good bit of kit, and if you're looking for an IWB synthetic holster that does the job at the right price, have a look at the Cloak Tuck 3.0. I doubt you'll be disappointed. And oh, it's made in the US, too.

Thanks, SBW, for the hookup.

Gun Rights,

LSP