The Workbench: What Makes Opinel Pocket Knives SO Popular?

H. Clay Aalders
NewsfeedPhotography, Podcasts, & Videos
·9 Comments··44 views

 

Nothing earthshaking. Regular readers almost certainly know this. But I love Opinels, and as they are made in the ostensibly free country of France, are less likely to draw the ire of retired submariners.

 

Previous ArticleKnife Rights’ Arkansas Knife Law Preemption Bill Introduced
Next ArticleGearPatrol: Your Barbour Jacket has a Hidden Feature
H. Clay Aalders

H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

Related Posts

9 Responses

  1. I’ve got an 8 in carbon steel, an 8 garden knife and a stainless 9. The 9 is my favorite. It cost $12 in a pre-Bideninflation world. It’s my favorite yard work knife.
    They’re light, reliable and you can get screaming sharp.
    Hocky-I bet you could mod a wharnnie easily enough. Maybe start with a no.7!
    CMEAT- family legend is we hail from Alsace-Lorraine. Embrace it! They do make some mighty fine wine.

    Reply

    1. “Joy to the World” (“Three Dog Night”, 1971 or thereabouts) . . . and, “I always had a mighty fine time!”

      Reply

  2. Definitely “non-tactical”. . . I have a “No. 8” that stays around the kitchen area; and sometimes goes in the workpants pocket during gardening season.
    I need to check the “Opinel” website and see if they make a “Wharnie” . . .

    Reply

    3. Takes few minutes with a file to knock that clip point down to a decent drop point, and in another few mins the Garden knife will make a decent 3″ Warnie/Sheep’s foot. Opinel’s are super light, easy to mod and great for light work and food prep. That, and they don’t scare the locals.

      Reply

  3. haha hold on there- didn’t we “accidentally” drop a bomb on the libyan frog embassy when they wouldn’t let us use their airspace? my francophobia knoes few bounds. i will drink products from alsace- lorraine (my paternal grandmother may have been from there, my only blood taint) but it’s easy enough to substitute for tires, cheese, wine and cognac.
    i just received my first opinel a few days ago. i’ve been watching auctions for a kid i know that lost one. i pulled in a no8 gardener (no dreaded clip point), it could be a little bigger, and it’s def a $20 lockup, but it picks teeth and cleans fingernails well enough. came with next to no edge (brand new), now slicing envelopes with aplomb, which i hope isn’t a french word.

    Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *