Modified Opinel, with firesteel and sheath

[jojo]

I have been tinkering with my Opinel no8! I have changed the shape of the blade as I thought the point looked too fragile and changed the curve of the back of the blade, it now has a smooth curve along the blade. It look less "aggressive", to me anyway.

I stripped the 'orrible dye on the handle, sanded it really smooth, rounded the corners a bit and pyrographed a couple of Kokopeles and a few other Native American symbols on it!! Just for the fun of it. I then treated the handle with a mix of boiled linseed oil and pine tar. Smells wonderful.

I then made a sheath for it and also to house a miniature firesteel. The sheath can be carried on a belt up to 2", in your pocket or in a possible's pouch, or even with the addition of a leather thong, around the neck.

What do you think?? I am going to do the same to an Opinel no 10 next, with a full size firesteel.

That's a picture of the number 10 next to no8, to show the original shape of the blade next to the modified blade. I think it makes the tip of the blade stronger, less likely to break.

 

[g4ghb]

I like it! - and yes you should do the other one too!

did you make the firesteel? love the brass top

 

[jojo]

I bought the firesteel here in a group buy. I pinched the brass handle from a sharpening rod that came with a knife my daughter gave me.

 

[Dan1982]

well done mate. really like the new blade profile!!

Dan

 

[Bernie Garland]

Very nice Joel,i do like the sheath.

Bernie

 

[abushcrafter]

Opblind-me!

 

[spamel]

That Opi looks exactly the same as mine, but substitute the nicely done handle for a scorched, sanded and then oiled finish (easy for a muppet to do)! I prefer the spear point, and I still reckon that modded Opi's to spear point look better than Opinels spear point offering! Theirs doesn't look right somehow!

 

[cybertrix]

Nice, I like the pouch.

 

[mjk123]

Here's mine.

http://www.wils.ch/Articles/SteelStrikerandOpinel.aspx

Leatherwork by Eric Methven. The knife sheath is absolutely solid, the knife fits perfectly with even a little click.

 

[Native Justice]

Love the new blade shape. Looks like a more practical bushcraft knife now.

NJ

 

[ForgeCorvus]

Years ago, I broke the tip off my then current Opi (number 8 as per normal)
When I'd reground it it ended up exactly the same shape as that one of yours, obviously thats the shape they're meant to be !!

I miss that knife, its somewhere on the moors near Wernside

 

[Ozhaggishead]

Like this a lot mate,nice pyrographed and leather work think I have to go now and buy a Opinel for myself.

 

[edispilff]

That is a really nice setup. I don't own any opinels any longer, but your reworking has left me wanting!

 

[jojo]

Thanks for the nice comments. Here is the No 10, without its ring on, with the reworked blade, and some pyrographed doodlings on the handle, with the No 8 for scale. the sheath is finished and dyed on this pic.

I put the Mora there for scale.

 

[brancho]

Nice work I like prography a lot as well as the sheath and I think I will maje myself a sheath like that for my SAK.