r/Opinel

Hi everyone!

For a friend's birthday, I thought of gifting him the Opinel picnic kit since he loves traveling in his camper, and I think he'll get a lot of use out of it.

To make it more special, I just had to mod it. So, the spoon, the fork, the blade, and the Virobloc went through a ferric chloride bath and a stonewash to match the look.

I modified the blade shape, etched his name using electrolysis, and the handle was carved, stained in a rustic style, and finished with tung oil so it wouldn't lose that natural wood feel.

Here are a few more photos of the opinel:

https://imgur.com/a/L2tdOEq

I hope my friend likes it, and you guys too!

Everything in here is Opinel, with one custom (I just burned the hell out of it, but you can't see it anyway)

Few lil mods.

(First time engraving)

Inspired by a recent post, I went searching for this style of pruning(?) knife. Seems all of the modern, currently available new knives share the same handle design and shape. According to this article (https://www.gardenista.com/posts/5-favorites-the-best-pruning-knives/) it looks like a pruning knife with a rounded end on the handle was available in 2012. So when did this design change happen? And where could one buy vintage Opinel knives?

I know the no. 8 is the popular choice around these parts, (I have a carbon and beech one myself) but I have to say, I feel for me and my smaller hands, the no. 7 fits better. Plus the blade is a pretty legally recognizable 3in. so as not to scare people.

This one is in stainless with maple (I think) handles. It has the newer revised unidirectional locking ring which I love. Veg tan leather sheath is a no name from glamazon with pocket worn patina.

This may very well be the sharpest knife I own.

Do you have any tips to remove rust from carbon steel blade?

I see the new version also has a bottle opener. Hmmm... may be time to add to the collection.

While wandering the streets of Turin between museum visits, I came across this special edition in a shop window display...

How rare is this one?

Translation of the tag description:

​OPINEL N.10 SHIORI LIMITED EDITION

​is an elegant union

between a French knife

and the manufacturing skill of Japanese blades

​VG7 steel and maple handle

​. € 360.00

Two of my favorite tools.

Custom Opinel made entirely by hand.

The handle was charred using the traditional Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique, then finished with multiple coats of polymerized luthier oil and wax for durability and feel.

It also features a stabilized abalone shell inlay set in epoxy resin, giving different reflections depending on the light.

Wanted to keep the original rustic Opinel spirit while pushing it toward a more premium handcrafted look.

Years I’ve had this opinel. And I bought ferrochloric last year to blacken and stonewash the ring to match the aesthetic of the whole knife. Only today did I decide to finally do it. And I’m very happy with how it turned out. Probably as close to the blade’s patina colour as I’m going to get it. Plus that patina changes continuously.

Hope you like my mods.

Work/gardening knife for around 4 years, just got the clip last month. I like it, a little finicky and expensive but it's not bad. You can see where I tried to put my own clip on it and failed. May try again one day