Opinel as a bushcraft knife

[CurtisJohnson]

Hey guys,

I just wondered what your opinions were on the opinel knives. Would you say a no. 8 is a feasible bushcraft knife even thought is is a relatively thin bladed folder?

Thanks guys,
Curtis

 

[udamiano]

Why not, there is no typical 'bushcraft' knife, use whatever your most comfortable with. My personnel tastes are for a heavier blade that can do a number of heavier jobs like battening, but this what I use my knife for, and need a heavier blade.
If you're not going to do this kind of work, then opinel knives are good sharp knives.
it's really down to personnel taste

 

[Bowlander]

Opinel are great little knives, I use an 8 as my edc but have a mora in my pack for heavier work.

 

[Reaps72]

I use an opinel 8 & 12 as my main knives for all scouting/bushcraft activities never had an issue great knives!

I use the 8 for whittling & small jobs & the 12 as food prep/larger jobs! (like battening)

But I do carry a leatherman whilst out Hiking/Climbing as my emergency knife!

Purely not to trash the opinels when getting wet etc in my rucksack!

 

[Man of Tanith]

Opinels have their place
i prefer to have a more substantial knife but thats me
i have seen opinels used as a the base level, then a mora, then a machete and or bill hook then axe

 

[Samon]

it'll do everything a knife is meant to do, and do it very well for the price!but if you want to baton with a knife I wouldn't suggest an opinel.. but then again I don't believe batoning is an essential knife duty and rarely necessary.

I'd say get one, they only cost about £8 and they are fun to modify (balde shape, handle shape/stain etc)!

 

[dwardo]

Great little whittlers and very easy to keep a good edge on them.

 

[Wook]

Opinel are great little knives, I use an 8 as my edc but have a mora in my pack for heavier work.

I would carry an Opinel as an EDC but my understanding is that to do so would be illegal. Since they lock open, you can only carry one when you have a specific good reason for doing so (i.e. not just because they are generally useful). As soon as you are not doing whatever it was you used as a good reason, carrying them instantly becomes an offence. So - taking the knife fishing = OK, but forgetting to take it out of your pocket when you nipped into Tescos on the way home = you're a criminal.

As to their usefulness, I found the "Carbone" range take mind bogglingly good edges and look really cool once a patina has been applied. As long as you don't try battonning with them you'll get on fine.

 

[Corso]

tend to do most of my messing about with folders and the opinel is right up there with the rest

particularly this one

 

[GollIfanAteb]

I would carry an Opinel as an EDC but my understanding is that to do so would be illegal. Since they lock open, you can only carry one when you have a specific good reason for doing so (i.e. not just because they are generally useful). As soon as you are not doing whatever it was you used as a good reason, carrying them instantly becomes an offence. So - taking the knife fishing = OK, but forgetting to take it out of your pocket when you nipped into Tescos on the way home = you're a criminal.

Probably not a criminal if it was on the way home, but definitely if you got home then went to Tescos, but it's a damned fine line

 

[Beefy0978]

I've owned and used many knives and cutting tools. I don't know how opinel do it, but they do it well. The opinel is always the one I wouldn't go without! Excellent carver and whittler and finger slicer...

 

[Perrari]

Great little knives, carbon steel, can be sharpened to a great edge & low cost. Personally I prefer a heavier fixed blade in general, but would be very happy to carry one as a second knife.

 

[Man of Tanith]

tend to do most of my messing about with folders and the opinel is right up there with the rest

particularly this one

like that a lot Corso

 

[Robbi]

a double bladed opinal, please explain

 

[Man of Tanith]

a double bladed opinal, please explain

its an opinel with not one but two blades.....
i think its a mod

 

[Robbi]

its an opinel with not one but two blades.....

Oh Ha Ha very drol Sam interesting mod though. ( mod as in modification, not mod as in moderator.........see what i did there )

 

[Man of Tanith]

Oh Ha Ha very drol Sam interesting mod though. ( mod as in modification, not mod as in moderator.........see what i did there )

Touche
come on it was pretty quick though.

i think it was mentioned over on the US forum but i could be wrong
sorry for thread hijack BTW

 

[Dartmoor navigator]

( mod as in modification, not mod as in moderator.........see what i did there )

I thought it was a fashion statement

See what I did there...

 

[Fat ferret]

Wook the lock can be easily removed or you can buy them without.

Can't fault opinels for the money. Mine is a non locking drop point and very good for dealing with road casualty bunnies.

 

[Robbi]

yep, i like Opinals

this one is really comfy in the hand