When you handle an Opinel knife, there is some beauty to its simplicity and its price is also an attractive factor. Opinels typically sell for $12-$30 depending on the style, size, blade steel, and other attributes. This makes it an excellent choice for starting a knife collection. They are cheap to buy, nice to use, and easy to replace if lost or damaged.
For the purposes of this review, we will be looking at the Opinel No 8, which is probably the most common size. The handles are made out of beech wood and it has a Stainless Steel (Inox) blade. The blade steel is Swedish made Sandvik 12c27-MOD, which is a great steel for the price. It has great corrosion resistance, is easy to sharpen, and takes an excellent edge.
The No 8 weighs 1.6 oz and has a blade length of 3.25 inches. The No 8 was reasonably sharp out of the box, slicing through paper and other materials with relative ease. While initially not as sharp as some of the higher priced competition, it did well for its respective price.
Another key point to note about the knife is the wood used for the handles. Beech wood is a nice departure from the cheap plastic feel found on some other low priced knives and most people would probably guess that they are more expensive than they really are. Opinel produces the No 8 in a variety of woods, which further increases the collectability of it. Oak, Walnut, Bubinga, and Olive are among those offered. The company is also working with L.L. Bean on a limited edition run that uses reclaimed Maple that is over a century old.
One thing to keep in mind though is the way in which the handle responds to moisture. Opinel often refers to the handles as a living material and it does so for a good reason. Increases in humidity or exposure to water can cause the handle to swell. This can make it difficult to open and close the knife. In addition, overly dry conditions may lead to it loosening. If they are treated with care, the changes do not seem to be permanent or damaging. It is a simple consequence of the material used and it is just something to be aware of.
Out of the box, the No 8 was pretty much as perfect as one could expect a knife under $15 to be. There is something kind of neat about holding a knife with a basic design that is over 100 years old. The handle is nicely contoured and is smooth to the touch. Opinel’s branding is present both on the blade and on the handle and it looks clean. In a market full of thin metal or plastic handles, the beechwood is a warm and welcoming departure from other options, especially in this price range.
On our No 8, Opinel’s Virobloc locking ring rotates smoothly with just enough resistance to provide a reassuring lock up for a knife of this type. It may not be the strongest one out there, but remember this is a small wooden folding knife. It is not intended for tough tasks that would fully put its lock strength to the test. Instead, it does exactly what it needs to do to stop the blade from closing on your fingers during basic everyday tasks.
The Opinel No 8 is a decent performer when it comes to functionality and ergonomics. The handle fits the hand nicely and provides a good grip. Now, that comfort does come at a cost since this knife is quite a bit thicker than many other knives that share its characteristics. It is surprisingly light though, which helps to offset the size.
Overall, the Opinel No 8 is a great knife for anyone to buy. While it might not be the best performer or as robust as a titanium handled knife that costs 10 times as much, it is highly affordable and it is an item with an interesting past. There is not much to lose from purchasing one and it may end up surprising you as it likely has for many over the years. The design has been around for a long time and there clearly is a reason for it.
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