Which opinel is best

Most knives with a more "modern" design can be opened and locked with one hand. Assisted opening springs in our favorite knives make deployment easier. The top scoring knives in our review have assisted opening function and one-handed thumb stud blade deployment.

Comparing to the other inexpensive knives reviewed, the Opinel doesn't stand out quite as much. With the wide range of sizes available, you should be able to fit an Opinel knife into any part of your life. As the "standard" size, the No.

The round profile handle takes up more pocket space than a flatter-handled style. The main disadvantage of the Opinel is that it has no pocket clip nor lanyard hole. The only viable way to carry it is loose in your pocket. Thankfully, the low weight and smooth wooden external profile make this a reasonable proposition. Among the knives with blades this long, the Opinel is super lightweight. Most models with such a long blade weigh twice as much as this knife.

The only knives coming close in weight have much shorter blades. We do wish that the Opinel had a pocket clip, though that would interfere with the classic, simple design appeal. In a field dominated by sturdy, stiff "tactical" tools, the lightweight and wooden construction of the Opinel feels a little underwhelming.

When pressed to cut rope or in whittling, the flex inherent in the wooden handle, friction-fit hinge, and narrow blade profile is noticeable. That said, our long-term testing and the thousands of Opinel knives still in use after decades and decades proves that the simple design, though lightweight, holds up to heavy use.

Something is appealing about wood and steel construction. We can easily tell that the Opinel is just five pieces; blade, handle, hinge pin, and the two metal collars that serve as the "Viroblok" locking mechanism. This simplicity is lightweight and proven to be reliable. There are no other features on the Opinel No. Opinel makes versions that include bit drivers or a corkscrew.

However, the simplicity of the version reviewed here is its primary appeal. Somehow Opinel is selling this well-made, functional, and stylish piece of equipment for about what you'd expect to pay for a mass-produced, low quality "gas station counter" pocket knife. It has its limitations, but the overall value to performance scoring is very much worthy of your consideration. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products.

And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers.

No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. Opinel No. Photo: Opinel. I feel that Opinel should address this at the factory and ensure the wooden handles are thoroughly dried. With that said, I was pretty proud of myself that my oven baking hack worked. If your blade shows a little rust — as mine does now — use a metal brush to take off the oxidation and use a light oil to condition the blade.

Mineral oil and olive oil are two good food-safe options. Vive la France! For that price, you can get four and give them away to your friends.

They make great gifts and can also be cool steak knives at your next dinner party. Buy a dozen for that matter! Opinel has a wide range of knives to choose from.

They have garlic knives and knives with corkscrews in the handles. Mushroom knives! Oyster knives!! Folding fillet knives!!! Mon dieu! Sacre bleu, mon ami! Where to begin?!? Up your game, my friend. Mon ami, without France, there would be no America. Their support was a key strategic element in our victory over the British during the American revolution. You can also shout at us on Twitter or Instagram.

Joe Plenzler is a Marine Corps veteran who served from to He is currently section-hiking the Appalachian Trail with his partner, Kate Germano. He supports his outdoor addiction by working as a human communication consultant, teaching at the College of Southern Maryland, and helping start-up companies with their public relations and marketing efforts. We independently evaluate gear by putting products in the hands of subject matter experts. No matter the source, our testing procedures and our assessments remain free from third-party influence.

Learn more about our product review process. Contact the author here. Does this knife deserve a place in your kit? All hail the fine design of the late, great former Green Beret Kit Carson. Get the latest in military news, entertainment and gear in your inbox daily.

Review: the Opinel No. Opinel No. Joe Plenzler. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Good Subscriber Account active since Shortcuts. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. Log out. More Button Icon Circle with three vertical dots. It indicates a way to see more nav menu items inside the site menu by triggering the side menu to open and close.

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There are various designs like different handles and special engraving, and even limited-edition styles — the hardest part is choosing just one to buy. Loading Something is loading. Email address.