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Opinel

It might just be a brand name to us, but among the French it has become a trademark developing since 1890, much similar to how we refer to a hot tub as a Jacuzzi but it’s ultimately the name of a brand.

Instead, they refer to any wood handled pocket tool as an Opinel.

Ever since reports of Pablo Picasso using Opinels for sculpting, which started out as a utility tool knife, the brand quickly became shaped into the French language and symbolical of the culture.

Yes, freakin Pablo Picasso.

Nowadays, the Opinel No 8 review receives recognition for it’s unique knife design by sitting alongside the Porsche 911 sports car and the Rolex watch in the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design (Victoria and Albert Museum, also referred to as V&A) in London since 1985 as part of an exhibit celebrating the “100 most beautiful products in the world”.

Opinel No 8 Review Specs

Widley known as their best selling knife, the Opinel No 8 review acknowledges that size is ideal for a pocket knife and this tool conceals very well. Materials used are mid-range, but at a price point that is quite exciting. 

When extended, the knife has a total length of 7 5/8”. The blade is held in place by a stainless steel, twist able lock collar to eliminate the possibility of it closing in on your hand and ensuring a stable cutting edge while working.

Opinel No 8 Review Best Traits

When I first picked this knife up it reminded me of when I used to use my grandfather’s fancy filet tool to clean fish. Its classic from the factory and requires no time to break in.

Here is what you can expect when purchasing this knife.

• It is aesthetically pleasing and has the appeal of a much more expensive product. Something that you can be happy with showing off.
• The ergonomic beechwood handle feels already broken-in and is very cozy to hold right out of the box. Even when repositioning your grip while carving, it is very natural and comfortable even with decent pressure applied and a firm grip.
• It’s overall size makes it super easy to throw in your pocket and be on your way. Though the handle is round, it does not feel bulky while carrying. Shoot, at only 1.6 oz you may just forget its even there.
• The knife’s locking collar makes it very simple to lock the blade in place and helps keep the hinge slot clean while working. This is also what makes the knife feel like a fixed blade, which I love. Stability is a big deal when making a deep groove. Also I just like that its not your typical locking mechanism and gives it almost a certain novelty that is very interesting and cool.
• Lastly, its cost effective. Especially, if you are on the market for something different to tryout and don’t want to cough up a significant amount of cash.

Disadvantages

There are a few disadvantages to mention with this knife. Though these would not prevent me from buying this product, they are certainly some things you may want to consider.

Depending on the humidity in which you store this knife, there is a possibility of the wood handle swelling inside the lock ring making it difficult to move freely.

Be especially careful if you are one of those individuals who uses a wet rag to wipe down their tools while woodworking in an attempt to keep it clean of debris. In other words, don’t put it away wet. If the handle were to expand, there also may be some difficulty opening and closing the blade due to the slot in the handle becoming narrower and putting a little extra pressure on the hinge.

This is probably the number one criticism you would hear, if you were to research this product. Though having this issue myself, I can say that its also fairly easy to just set it aside in a cool, dry area. This giving the wood a chance to contract. This worked just fine for me.

The carbon steel blade may work quite well against wood, however it is not the hardest material when speaking knives. So if you plan on using it for general purposes, or around the work bench, you may find yourself sharpening it more than you would a knife of a higher caliber.

Performance

Opinel did a great job with making this knife.

And yes, it performs as good as it looks. A lot of bang for your buck, no doubt.

Here are a few examples of how the Opinel No 8 review show how it performs.

• Its light weight, making it great for continuous use. No sore hands or wrists after a long day of intricate cutting.
• For wood, the blade cuts wonderfully and feels very durable even when applying a good amount of pressure into a cut. I would only suggest that when you are done using it to clean and fold the knife before putting away. You would think this would go without saying, but it is very easy to forget that it is a foldable knife. When left open, debris is sure to find its way into the hinge.
• Aside from woodworking, this knife makes a great utility tool for general purposes. It provides an excellent cut on an array of different materials, but as I had mentioned before, expect to have to sharpen it depending on the extremity of its use.
• Durability is a huge factor. How does it hold up after a few months of use? I would say it holds up just fine. I feel the materials tend to last other than some additional sharpening of the blade as I had mentioned. There is enough quality in the knife to last you at least a few years.

Conclusion

With everything considered in this Opinel No 8 Review, I would say that this is a great knife and way over the top of what you would expect for $13. Yes, it is meant to be more of a general purpose, utility knife but woodworkers would be happy with it as well. It is low cost, performs well, and there are only a couple real disadvantages which are more than manageable considering the history of this knife and the price.