Opinel knife - rubbish, but I like it!

[Houseplant]

I have an Opinel #12 knife which has been in the family for 35 years or so. It's quite rubbish for fieldsports. The blade rusts as soon as it sees water and the wood swells when wet making it difficult to open. It was in quite a sorry state, but I've taken it upon myself to sort it out. Just spent more than the knife is worth in cleaning materials!

 

Despite all this, I quite like and it has sentimental value. I think it would be better suited to cutting camembert at a family picnic than gutting fish or taking rabbit heads off!

 

Anyone else use one?

[la bala]

I think if they have had a lot of abuse and bad sharpening, they do well from a regrind.

[wisdom]

I have an old one had it years.but it's usually my go to knife cos it doesn't matter if I wreck it.Which I haven't done yet.as to the wood swelling mine used to but I dipped the handle in varnish.Never had a problem since.Keeps a very sharp edge and it certainly does the job with rabbits.

[Houseplant]

Yep, on the plus side, easy sharpening and holding it's edge is one good point for this knife.

[darren 67]

The wood used to swell on mine until I give it a good 3 or 4 coats ot walnut oil blade goes black but easy to sharpen and holds a good edge.

[Scully]

I've had quite a few over the years but stopped using one on site due to the wood swelling making it hard to open. I still have one in my pocket when out with the dog and gun on my own; I like the fact they are very easy to sharpen.

[Bazooka Joe]

I like the simplistic design, the wood is a problem when wet though,

 

Going to sort a different handle on a N0-10 that I have soon.

[islandgun]

Ive had 2 stainless 100mm blade over the last 20yrs and use them/it for filleting fish almost on a daily basis. cant fault them

[hoggysreels]

Opinel are worth every penny, usually about 899 of 'em ..

[fortune]

. The blade rusts as soon as it sees water and the wood swells when wet making it difficult to open.

Yes that's true but they take a good edge. I gave mine a good coating of linseed. Don't forget that as a lock knife you could end up in trouble if you get found with it without good reason in a public place. easy to forget that even with the small ones

[jonny thomas]

My boy uses his all the time at college if it gets lost its no big deal if you lose the buck or kershaw equivalent it would be

[Bobba]

Sadly, a sign of the times, they are regarded a lock knife because the collar turns to lock the blade. (Unless you have one without the collar).

So, unless you have a defensible good reason to be carrying one in a public place then it's against the law to carry one. Absolute bilge and carp. But that's the way it is.

Despite that, I still use one. Great piece of kit.

[malkiserow]

I expect NZ has sensible knife rules

 

I like the Opinel as a back up sharp knife in my stalking bag

Show us the before and after Houseplant..... Hope life life is primo in NZ, have you run into Josh James yet?

[Houseplant]

I expect NZ has sensible knife rules

 

I like the Opinel as a back up sharp knife in my stalking bag

Show us the before and after Houseplant..... Hope life life is primo in NZ, have you run into Josh James yet?

 

From the NZ Police website:

 

Restricted offensive weapons other than firearms

There are offensive weapons you are not allowed to bring into New Zealand:

• Knuckledusters, knives incorporating knuckledusters, swordsticks (including, without limitation, any identifiable components of swordsticks), and any weapon disguised to give the appearance of another article*.
• Any knife having a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring, or other device in or attached to the handle of the knife (sometimes known as a flick knife or flick gun).
• Any knife having a blade that is released from the handle or sheath by the force of gravity or the application of centrifugal force, and that, when released, is locked in place by means of a button, spring, lever, or other device (sometimes known as a gravity knife or butterfly knife).
• Any knife, with the exception of a folding pocket knife with a blade less than 10 cm in length, that —
  • is designed for ease of concealment on the person; or
  • has a double-edged blade that is designed or suitable for stabbing or throwing (as opposed to cutting); or
  • is a knife of any of the kinds sometimes known as a fist knife, gimlet knife, punch dagger, push dagger, push dirk, push knife, T-handled knife, or throwing knife.
• bayonets

 

A little bit open to interpretation, but it's such an outdoors-orientated country that I doubt you'd run in to trouble unless you were really daft.

 

As for the Opinel, I'm half way through refurbishing, so will show you when I'm finished, IF it isn't a disaster! I'm not very craft-minded.

 

Haven't met JJ yet. We are at opposite ends of the country, but I do watch his videos on YouTube as you might imagine.

[kent]

They have good steel in thier blades. Sharpen up like razors

The lock although simple is very secure and they are cheap enough

 

What the heck, these are the main points in a knife

[Blackpowder]

Always have one in my pocket when i the field or on the river. Fillets pigeon breasts, pheasant breasts guts rabbits fillets fish etc, best thing that came out of France other than their correspondence.

 

Blackpowder

[Penelope]

A great knife, always have one on me when out in the field.

[rjimmer]

I have a small one in my pocket 24/7. If it gets wet, it soon dries out in the pocket. The advantage of being very lightweight, also means that you can pull them out of your pocket with other thing eg keys and not notice it has gone. I usually buy a couple(stainless if available) a year at game fairs. I stopped carrying the Lambsfoot due to the cost of losing it.

[Zapp]

I love them. Give the blade a clean up with fine grit sandpaper and then lightly oil it, and as has been said get some linseed onto the handle and it will be fine.

 

It should sharpen up well enough with a steel, or if it has been butchered a regrind will sort it. They take a wicked edge very easily.

[figgy]

I put a few drops of oil down the blade where it hinges on the wood and worked the blade untill it became easy and smooth to open. Might need repeating a few times but it's a knife I've abused and it keeps taking a edge you could shave with.

 

Tip don't cut fruit with it to eat it taints the taste.