Opinel advice please...

[JDO330]

Hi All,

Im off on my holiday to France soon and wont be staying far from Albertville - the home of Opinel. Ive cleared it with SWMBO for a trip around the Opinel factory (I think its OK to call it a factory?) and my intention is to make a purchase or two to add to my small but growing collection of cutting tools.

I want to buy a folding saw but which one? Has anyone got one they are willing to comment on, are they any good?

I would also like a folder (maybe a couple) but which one (s). All comments / advice welcome.

Thanks in advance.

ATB, Jon.

 

[British Red]

My advice is look at the eff range - I love the better shaped handle and slim blade. Get an Eff 8 or two if you can!

Red

 

[spamel]

Standard Opi 8, or the gucci shaped eff 8s are also good. Grab a mitt full, they can be easily modified and also make good gifts for blokey members of your family who don't own or carry a fine simple knife. There's nothing like sitting down with a nice glass of port, some good cheese, buttered crusty bread and a nice german salami such as sommerwurst, on a board, to be cut with a simple Opi on a warm summers' evening! Bliss!

 

[British Red]

oooh you callin gucci?

 

[spamel]

You've got to admit, the effs are very nicely shaped! Army lingo means anything that is nice is either shiney or gucci! I think mine is in olive or bubinga wood, the grain is stunning.

 

[Aragorn]

spam or red, either of you got a pic of the eff, just wanted to see how they difffer from the original 8, plus can't resit anything gucci

 

[spamel]

Here's one:

 

[Aragorn]

cheers mate that is quite nice looking

 

[British Red]

Heres mine with an eff12 as well

The eff12 is a wierd knife but makes an interesting filet or boning knife

Red

 

[tommy the cat]

Hey I used to live near Albertville wish I had known that back then! Doh!
Like/dislike the eff 's not sure quite which 'interesting' shape.
D

 

[Ogri the trog]

I have both sizes of Opi saw,
they are good cutters within their size range but with two minor drawbacks and one plus-point.
Drawbacks are, for me, the innability to lock closed - not a massive concern but in a loosely packed daysack, they can open slightly and either catch on other kit or your fingers as you rummage for kit. Next is the flexibility of the blade, I have twice dug in a little too deeply and bent the blade of the larger saw, though it has bend back straight again without hitch.
The big plus-point for me is that they are wooden! Might sound a little too obvious, but the natural feel surpasses anything made of plastic, especially if you scrape off the varnish and replace it with oil.
I recon, if you have the opportunity to buy either (or both) at below UK prices, take it - if you don't like them they should make good trades.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[MartiniDave]

To stop things like these Opi saws from opening in packs or pockets I use double sided velcro-type tape, pinched from my wife's gardening kit. Works well for me. Also handy for stopping classic red handled Mora's from poping out of the sheath too!

Dave

 

[JDO330]

Hey I used to live near Albertville wish I had known that back then! Doh!
Like/dislike the eff 's not sure quite which 'interesting' shape.
D

Hi Tommy,

Its actually at Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne but I though it easier just to type Albertville.

Im kind of with you re the shape, cant make my mind if I like it or not? In terms of what I think im going to buy, well I think it will defo be a couple of the "standard" style knifes and poss an Eff. The jury is still out on the saws - for what the 18" version costs I may as well buy a Laplander.

Thanks to all for the replies, if anyone is interested here is a link to the website: http://www.opinel-musee.fr/uk/index.html (might have to cut and paste).

ATB, Jon

 

[NatG]

one of my favourite knives is an opi number nine, the bog standard carbon one.

sand the handle and wax it, it will give you years of service.

basic elastic bands are great for keeping things closed in bags

 

[spamel]

I went for the blow torch the handle, rub down a bit with some wet and dry and then oil. Tip was modified to a spear point as I really don't like the clip point look on the opi 8. I use it for work these days. I may get a few more opi 8s, they're very nice knives.

 

[JDO330]

Well the Opinel Museum was OK and the shop was great although I didnt buy as much as I thought I would. Ended up with two eff 12's (one for me & one for my Dad) but I did stumble on a rather nice version of the normal No.8 with a spear point rather than the standard clip point. Its called a garden knife no.8.

ATB, Jon.

 

[tommy the cat]

The eff is growing on me!
Glad you made it to the shop, would like to get back to that area in the summer as I bet it is as lovely as the winter
D

 

[demographic]

Drawbacks are, for me, the innability to lock closed - not a massive concern but in a loosely packed daysack, they can open slightly and either catch on other kit or your fingers as you rummage for kit.

Click HERE or maybe even file/grind a bit off the locking collar so it locks the blade shut?


I don't currently own an Opinel but have had a few over the years but I like them as a knife, mind the number 8s are a bit small for my hands, the blades fine but the handle is tiny.

 

[Celt_Ginger]

I have an Olive handled No 8 in stainless steel (actually called an "Eff 10), and the blade is so stiff in the handle that you would rip your finger nails off trying to open it. I have tried drying out the wood as I thought it may have been swollen, but that wasn't the case. Anyone have any idea how to sort it?

 

[Minotaur]

Buy the gift sets with the sheath, and steel.

Otherwise it is evil bay.