Thread: Opinel folding knives

I have the large Opinel as my main hunting knife, really light, works well.
Easy to sharpen and will hold an edge.
Can get a bit sticky to open if left wet and not oiled. Locking ring works well.
You do need to treat it as a knife, it's not an axe or a screw driver.
I always clean and sharpen after each use and it lives in my bum bag. (Not that it's been needed much lately but that's a different story)

Yes, yes and yes

There are so many great classic folding knives.
Have a look at:
The mercator from Germany (I wouldn't pay the price they want for them in NZ now though, no where near good enough to justify the price)
The douk-douk and opinel from France.
The Higonokami from Japan

One I've recently brought and proved very good and extreme value for money is the QSP parrot which has a D2 tool steel blade and is a solid inexpensive knife. I've butchered several animals with mine and didn't even bother getting the main knife out. I've got about 3 spares still in the box in my cupboard just in case. It makes the retail price in NZ of Mercators a hysterical joke.

Originally Posted by Makros

There are so many great classic folding knives.
Have a look at:
The mercator from Germany (I wouldn't pay the price they want for them in NZ now though, no where near good enough to justify the price)
The douk-douk and opinel from France.
The Higonokami from Japan

One I've recently brought and proved very good and extreme value for money is the QSP parrot which has a D2 tool steel blade and is a solid inexpensive knife. I've butchered several animals with mine and didn't even bother getting the main knife out. I've got about 3 spares still in the box in my cupboard just in case. It makes the retail price in NZ of Mercators a hysterical joke.

I just checked Mercator pricing in Australia $85-$120

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

svord peasant knife gets my vote...either size work well but the bigger version is EASIER on deer,you can dress out a sheep with the wee version,does a deer too,just a bit slower than the longer version.

I have a puma pal for deer etc.

These look interesting. I like the bright coloured handles. What's the go with the long tang?
What's it for?
Blade very hard?

I got a few Opinel's - mine are a straight carbon steel that take a good edge easily, but they sit in my drawer because they rust easily and I never got used to the handle when it got all wet and messy up there in the dark.
My fav is the Mercator - I bought a bunch when they were $25 each and I've still got some. I don't have the same rust problem with the Mercator - probably because there's no wood to hold moisture.

I've had a shitload of knives - Buck, Puma, Gerber and others I've forgotten about, but the Mercator does it for me - I carry two of them ..................... just because.

Forget the Mercator - I just looked at the price ................................ holy shit !

Originally Posted by SF90

Forget the Mercator - I just looked at the price ................................ holy shit !

Ain't that the truth. WTF eh?

One more comment about knives, on the rare occasion I'm actually field dressing game in the presence of company I always get "gee that knife looks sharp" and that's cause it is sharp.
It's sharp because I sharpen it. It's not rocket science.
It always makes me cringe watching someone wrestling with a blunt knife.

Oldbloke, this is the one you need if you want to cut animals down:
https://www.knifeguy.co.nz/product/opinel-garden-no8

Stainless steel and drop point.
And NO, once locked the blade can NOT fold on your fingers.

And regarding the sword peasant, I have one, and I don’t know if it came from a bad batch, but it does not hold an edge like my opinel and is actually one of the worst knife I own. It is just good enough to cut a bail string .

My thoughts on Opinel. I have a carbon steel #12 which was generously refurbished by a forum member. It was bought in Paris and has been in the family for several generations. Lovely knife, but I'm not going to use it for hunting and fishing trips any more. Neither the wooden handle nor blade cope with being wet very well. The handle swells and the blade rusts. It's in semi-retirement, to be used on family picnics. Ideal for cutting brie! On the plus side, the blades can be made very sharp quite easily.

I can cut Brie with my sword peasant knife , just ;-)

Originally Posted by Friwi

I can cut Brie with my sword peasant knife , just ;-)

if its that terrible I will swap you a gerber paraframe for it, Ive ground the silly serrated bit off blade and resharpened it more in line with normal blade. it definately locks,is light and has a belt clip.

Buck 110 for me in a folder

Ive had an Opinel carbon steel #8 in my pocket for about 6 years and i use it daily.

I broke my blade using it as a bit of a lever.... I know better, but was in a bind and pushed it just a little too far.

I brought another immediately, they are piss easy to sharpen, and cheap.
if you lose it you wont cry for the financial loss.

Some of them get a bit stiff to open the blade.
my first one was like that, there is a couple options to help fix that....

you can remove the blade and sand paper the blade grove to ease the fit.
or I just cut a 'finger' notch out of the handle so i can grip more blade to open it.

The cabon blade needs a very very light oil if its not used daily.
but I carry mine daily so it gets used daily and needs no oil.
The oil can swell the wood and make the blade stiff to open.
As can water obviously.

Overall, buy one and you will be happy.