The "Transitional" of Pocket Knives?

[C. in Indy]

Wow, I just read this article last weekend, and had not heard of these in the U.S. all these years. I had to get one! Nice beech and carbon steel...

http://mentalfloss.com/article/67180/sha...ding-knife

[GNP]

How do you like it?

[Boatman53]

Those are good knives. I have one, holds an edge nicely. I don't carry it much as the handle is bulky.
Jim

[Hank Knight]

There was an article in FWW years ago about the making of Opinel knives with some great photos. The blades are ground on giant wheels, 8 or 10 feet in diameter, and the knife grinder lays prone on his belly on a platform above the wheel to grind the blade. They've been making them like that for generations.

[Rich's Woodcraft]

These knives are also available from Lee Valley - free shipping too!

[AHill]

Had to look to find them. They are in the Carving section:

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.as...&cat=1,130,43332,43393

Rich's Woodcraft said:

---

These knives are also available from Lee Valley - free shipping too!

---

[Phil S.]

I've had a couple of them, but in our wet weather I've had trouble with the wood swelling and jamming the blade, making it difficult to open. The blade on one of them closed far enough that the finger nail slot was below the edge the handle. A few swipes with a rasp fixed that though. Like Jim says, the carbon steel blade does everything it needs to do and I think the locking ring is pretty clever. The price is pretty hard to beat for a useful knife.

Phil

[Steve N]

I've had Opinel knives for 40 years. I got tired of paying $$$$$$ for something I knew I was going to lose within 2 months. They come sharp as can be, and are easily kept that way with light work. Easy to open, and for my hand the handles are soft, and comfortable. So many knives have hard edged handles, and even doing quick work is uncomfortable. I've never been a big whittler, but with one of these you wouldn't mind.

This is the model I use


All this said I once tried the filet knife and it broke about half way through the first Walleye. I believe the extra length is too much for the strength of the folding hardware? It didn't really break, the hardware just collapsed over, and it ceased to close.

I want to point out, these are NOT high end knives, they are just good for all around utility and chore work. Cost is low so if it would break, which I have only had happen on the filet, or loss, which I manage to do regularly it doesn't make you want to cry to long.

[JimBelair]

I've always thought the sheet metal bolster on the Opinel's was a bit flimsy.

[Steve N]

They probably won't open paint cans worth a durn, but for "knife" chores the smaller sizes work like a pack mule.