Opinel has a long history as an EDC knife. Opinel knives have remained almost unchanged for nearly 130 years due to their finished design and safety. We will explore the secret and charm of why it is so popular with so many people.
What is a long-established brand of Opinel knife?
If you like the EDC, I think it’s a name you’ve heard once. Opinel knife is a long-established French factory, and it is a folding knife that is supported by many people because of its simple design that is easy to use, safe, and abundant types. Opinel also manufactures non-folding fixed knives, but this time we would like to recommend folding knives. First of all, I would like to tell you about the history of Opinel knives. By knowing the history, I think that those who have used it implicitly will be even more attached to it, and those who do not know it will be convinced that they can start using it!
History of Opinel knives
The history of Opinel knives is almost 130 years. Back in 1890, Joseph Opinel devised the prototype of the current Opinel knife. At that time, Joseph Opinel was 18 years old. It is surprising that the basic design has not changed from the shape devised at that time to the present. In 1985, it was selected as one of the “100 Most Beautiful Products in the World” by the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, which is known as a world-famous museum of crafts for its excellent design. Besides, it is a knife that is recognized worldwide because it is added to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Folding knives are now commonplace, but at the time, 18-year-old Joseph Opinel said that processing the part that houses the folded blade was the most difficult task. He developed and solved a jig with a rotary blade. And it seems that the processing method of this folding storage part uses the processing method at that time.
Opinel knife design
The blade of the Opinel knife is closed. There is no waste in the design as it is stored in the museum. Although it has nothing to do with the Opinel knife, it seems that the shoes called Converse have hardly changed for 100 years from the original design.
The blade of the Opinel knife is open. The handle also fits your hand. It is very easy to put in and take out, and it is easy to use.
Opinel knife safety
One of the characteristics of Opinel knives is that they are simple, easy to use, and safe, but I would like to tell you what kind of points they are actually safe. The prototype of the Opinel knife locking mechanism dates back to 1955 when the safety ring was developed. From there, further improvements have been made to the present. For details, an improved safety ring was developed in the 2000s so that it can be carried around. The lock mechanism of the safety ring is installed from No.6.
It is in an unlocked state. In this state, insert and remove the blade.
It is in a state where the blade is spread and locked. It prevents the blade from closing accidentally when you pierce something hard. The lock is also very easy to use just by twisting the safety ring. Especially when the sharpness is improved with a carbon blade, it is very dangerous to close it carelessly, so this mechanism is very excellent.
The safety ring can be locked even when the blade is closed, preventing the blade from coming out even when you are carrying it. It has become even easier to use after more than 100 years.
In addition to the safety ring of the Opinel folding knife, I think that the precision when the blade is closed further enhances safety. Although it is the circled part of the image, some types of folding knives are quite dangerous because the cutting edge is slightly protruding even when closed if it is cheap. However, the Opinel knife closes neatly and does not open carelessly, so I think it is popular for EDC activities.
What kind of popular Opinel knives are there?
The types of Opinel knives are roughly divided into the size of the knife (indicated by No.) and the material of the knife (carbon and stainless steel). I will explain what kind of features each person has for the first time. The shape is basically the same for all counts, so they are all easy to use. However, since the sizes are different, it is necessary to select according to the purpose and the size of the hand, so I will introduce each type in detail later.
Opinel Knife ~ Stainless Steel ~
The characteristic of stainless steel is that it is resistant to rust. It is a recommended material for those who use it for the first time. On the other hand, the sharpness is inferior to that of carbon, so you can choose that point according to your own taste.
Opinel Knife ~ Carbon ~
Compared to the stainless steel mentioned earlier, it is a material that requires careful care. And it is a sharp material. (To be precise, you can keep the sharpness by sharpening.) Be careful because it is vulnerable to rust due to the characteristics of the material. When asked only about the advantages and disadvantages, stainless steel seems to be better, but it seems that expert campers and others dare to choose carbon and look forward to growing it to their liking.
Opinel Knife ~ Carbon Sharpness ~
In reality, the carbon of Opinel EDC knives is so dull that it cannot be used as it is bought. Since the blade is not attached, you need to sharpen it and attach the blade yourself. It doesn’t take much time to sharpen the carbon material, and you can improve the sharpness just by sharpening it a little. Opinel also recommends a sharpening angle of 20 degrees.
It is a test image of sharpness after sharpening.
It is an image of a sharpness test and a cross-sectional image. With just a little sharpening, you will be able to cut this far! The sharpness is outstanding.
There is also a way to make up for the weaknesses of carbon Opinel knives!
Recommended black rust processing for carbon
If you look at the Opinel knife, you will find that it is almost black rust processing, so I think it is a fairly famous process. The basic principle is to protect the surface of carbon, which is easily rusted, from rust by processing black rust in advance. All you need is vinegar and black tea, and since it can be processed with food, you can use it with confidence when cutting ingredients.
All you need is tea and vinegar. It is recommended to custom black tea such as tea bags stronger. Vinegar is 3 to 2 for 7 to 8 tea. After that, prepare a cup to soak the knife.
Add vinegar to the black tea. The image is taken with a normal cup, but in reality, it is recommended to use something a little taller.
It will start to foam immediately in this state, but it is recommended to leave it for about an hour. There is also a method of removing the stopper and taking out only the knife and immersing it, but it is not recommended for beginners because it takes a little time and the stopper may loosen. I dipped it without removing it, but please be assured that the stopper part is made of stainless steel and only the blade part is blackened.
It becomes a black blade like this. When I did it for the first time, I was very impressed. Black-type blades are cool, aren’t they? One thing to note here is that black rust processing is not possible for the types of stainless steel blades. Originally, stainless steel is a metal that does not easily change chemically, such as vinegar. Because, when I first processed black rust, I had the experience of not using a stainless steel blade, but trying hard to make it a black blade and half-crying, so black rust processing is only for carbon blades. Please be careful as there are only type!
Be careful not to get the Opinel knife wet!
Opinel knives use beech for the handle, but be careful as this beech material expands when it gets wet and it may be difficult to insert and remove the blade. To prevent this, you can prevent it to some extent by soaking it in flax oil or sesame oil in advance. Linseed oil and sesame oil are called drying oils, and they are not sticky when wiped off, so basically drying oils are recommended. Olive oil is not a dry oil, so it takes some time to wipe it off, but I dared to soak it in olive oil and enjoyed wiping it off as it slowly soaked over time. So it doesn’t have to be drying oil. Soak it in your favorite oil and enjoy it!
Place the entire Opinel knife in such a bag so that it soaks. By bringing the handle to the edge, you can prevent the bag from being torn by the blade.
4 recommended sizes for Opinel knives
Opinel knives are very popular because they are very good folding knives but they are cheap and affordable. However, I think that some people may be at a loss because there are many sizes and types, so I will mainly introduce the sizes from No. 6 to No. 10 that are sold in stores. I will tell you in detail by EDC and size.
OPINEL Folding Knife No6 Stainless
It is the smallest size of knife equipped with a lock mechanism. I have a big hand so I can’t hold it firmly. Therefore, it may be just right for those with small hands and women. For those who want to reduce their luggage as much as possible, this size is perfect.
OPINEL Folding Knife No7 Carbon Steel
This size is also relatively small. XW-1019, which is familiar to women’s hands, is a size that is easy to use as a fruit knife for cutting fruits, vegetables, condiments, etc. Stainless steel blade / 44g and carbon steel blade / 40g and carbon blade are lighter.
OPINEL Folding Knife No8 Olive Stainless Steel
The most standard size is number 8. It is a very easy-to-use size because it fits anyone in terms of size. I also love No. 8. If you are uncertain about the size or type, I would recommend No. 8. The reason is that if it is size 8, you can do various things even EDCs. I think it’s difficult to convey the feeling of size just by writing, so if you’re worried, it’s a good idea to visit the store once. I think Opinel knives are available at outdoor shops. Also, for reference only, I’m 180 cm tall and my hands are large (one octave of the piano can be reached), so No. 8 is perfect. When it comes to No. 9, it will be a size that you can hold firmly, but I chose No. 8 because I want to custom the luggage as small as possible. The blade length is 85 mm. Stainless steel blade / 54g and carbon steel blade / 50g.
Opinel Carbon Steel Knife No.9 41479
It is a relatively large size among the sizes of Opinel knives. Therefore, we recommend No. 9 for those with large hands. It is easy to put in force and has a moderate weight, so it is recommended for situations such as when preparing food in earnest outdoors. The blade length is 90 mm. Stainless steel blade / 65g and carbon steel blade / 60g.
OPINEL Folding Knife No10 Stainless
The size of No. 10 is surprisingly large when you see it at the store. It will be a size that can be used as a kitchen knife outdoors. However, because it is so large, it may not be useful in terms of portability, but kitchen knives are difficult to carry in EDC camping, but it is highly recommended for using an Opinel knife with a foldable blade as a substitute. Blade length 100 mm. Both stainless steel blade and carbon steel blade weigh 80g.
Actually, No. 7-9 is recommended based on No. 8
I introduced 4 sizes of Opinel knives, but in reality, if you are a man with average hand size, 8 is recommended. If it’s a woman, it’s numbers 7-8. When it comes to No. 10, it becomes quite large, so considering portability, I think there will be no mistake if you choose between No. 7 and 9.
Opinel Knife Extra Edition – When it comes to the size of No. 13?
I introduced the recommended 4 sizes of Opinel knives, but how much is the 13th size in the extra edition? It’s a pretty shocking size, so I’d like to introduce it. As you can see, it’s a folding machete rather than a folding knife!
Opinel Knife Extra Edition-Customize to your liking!
Due to its simple structure, the Opinel knife can be customized to your liking. By carving out the handle with deer horns or attaching a strap to the handle, you can customize the knife to make it even cooler and transform it into a comfortable tool. Above all, in the outdoors, the style and way of enjoying the EDC are different depending on the person. Therefore, the Opinel knife also has the charm of enjoying the Opinel knife by adding your own arrangement.
Grow Opinel knives to custom them even easier to use!
XW-1019 also have a way to enjoy them by customizing them, but also by caring for them and growing them. In the beginning, I explained the difference between stainless steel blades and carbon steel blades, but when I become an EDC expert, I will dare to choose carbon steel and modify it to make it easier to use. Partly because of its sharpness, carbon steel is a blade that has existed for some time, so it is easier to use than anything else. The type of stainless steel is easy to maintain, but on the contrary, it takes time to sharpen and it is difficult to sharpen the blade, and the material itself is hard to change (which is the merit of stainless steel), so the fun of spending time is diminished. Therefore, it is difficult to customize it so that it is easy to use to your liking. Carbon steel does not take much time to sharpen, so it is easy to grow into a knife that is easy to use to your liking. Also, I think the appeal of Shieldon knives is that you can enjoy such maintenance time.
~Lastly~
So far, I have recommended the Opinel knife as attractive, but it is a knife with a very high degree of perfection in terms of easy-to-use design, sharpness, and safety. And it is also a feature of the Opinel knife that you can get it. Opinel knives have a long history, and the more you know about them, the deeper they are, so I think they are fun knives in many ways. Please enjoy it as one that suits you or that you can grow to your liking!
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