OPINEL Rachel Riley Silk Gingham Pleated Party Girl's Dress Blush Pink 4 Years

Finalmente mi sono regalata un Opinel. Essendo la lama in acciaio carbonio necessita di più attenzione e tenderà a ossidarsi con l'uso se non manutenuta. Lo ho acquistato ormai da diversi mesi e non ho avuto problemi. Prima o poi prenderò anche l'inox.

I adore this pocket knife! I had heard a lot of good things about Opinel for some years past, and I finally decided to get one, and I am so bloody glad that I did! It's just the right size for pocket carry, it's of a size that is big enough to be useful but so large as to look aggressive or antagonistic, it's beautiful in it's simplicity, and despite the fact it's light as a feather, it does not feel cheap or flimsy! It's wood and metal, but it's lighter than some most poor quality plastic-furniture knives I've handled in the past! This company's reputation, is well deserved indeed! This can appeal to anybody who wants a pocket knife and can fit any EDC loadout, from labourer to aristocrat, and everyone in between.

I stumbled on the Opinel booth at the 2017 Summer Outdoor Retailor show. I was immediately impressed with the combination of cost and quality of their products. I own knives ranging from cheap (almost throw away) to very fine (one that will surely be handed down to one of my kids). I realize and appreciate there is a place and market for them all. In Opinel I found a knife intended for real everyday use. Something that give good value for the price. Well designed and manufactured enough to be highly useful and reliable, while inexpensive enough that I am not worried about if I might damage it during use or losing it. It has classic clean and simple aesthetics. After much deliberation I decided to purchase the No8 Carbon version. I chose the carbon blade as I intend to use this as a EDC (Every Day Carry) knife so did not need the corrosion resistance of stainless, but wanted something that would take and hold a really fine edge. So far I have not been disappointed. The knife arrived with no problems and was exactly what I expected. As expected the hinge was stiff, making the blade difficult to open unless I used the ‘tap the handle on the table’ method to get it started. The blade was sharp enough for use as I would expect directly from a manufacturer (but far better than I would expect for a knife in this price range). There are some faint machine marks on the blade left over from its manufacturer and some burr from sharpening. I had no trouble getting a sharp enough to shave with edge. Being an engineer and someone who can’t leave well enough alone, I decided to make some customizations. I used a blend of bees wax (used for waterproofing boots) on the hinge to get it to move smother and be less prone to swelling when damp, sanded off the finish, and added a indent in the handle near where nail groove of the handle rests to make it easier to grip. I then refinished the handle using teak oil. I carry the knife daily and use it often for various tasks. With use for things like cutting oranges, the blade is starting to take on a nice patina. A few swipes on a small stone when needed is all it takes to get the razor sharp edge back. I find the No8 size to fit my hand quite well and be very versatile for many tasks, but for me it is slightly large for a EDC. I am considering picking up a No7 or 6.

The Opinel is a classic French pocket knife. Folks, this is about as simple as folding knives get. Let's start with the blade. You get XC90 carbon steel. Very cheap, holds a good edge, may take some stains, may (will) rust without some oil. The handle is beechwood and is very light; indeed, the whole knife is super light. It fits in your hand well, like it's almost not even there. The blade locks into place with a "Virobloc." Invented in 1954 by the company owner's son, it's essentially a metal collar that goes around the top of the handle (the bolster) and rotates to keep the blade extended. It's very simple, but the knife does require two hands to make it stay open. I know that this will sound crazy, but this knife is pretty much only for cutting things or whittling. It will not be useful for chopping or prying. Moreover, people in France have been using these as small general purpose utility knives for like 135 years. For me, it's never going to be my main EDC knife. But it will be a backup. I love it. If you have larger hands, I might go for a No. 9 over the No. 8 for EDC.

Compré el cuchillo para reemplazar un plegable Au Sabot. Me atrajo el mecanismo de seguridad, ya que el Au Sabot tiene tiene mucha resistencia y abrirlo se siente peligroso. El Opinel cumplió con las expectativas, la navaja de desdobla y dobla con facilidad; y el mecanismo de seguridad la mantiene en su lugar. En ese aspecto, estoy muy contento y seguramente le daré más uso a este cuchillo, que el que le di al Au Sabot. Otro aspecto positivo es la navaja. Sin necesidad de afilarlo, ya viene con un filo notable y, al ser de acero de alto carbón, seguro durará bastante. Aunque, como muchos ya sabrán, el material implica cuidados adicionales para evitar la oxidación. En contra, no tengo mucho que decir. Si bien la manufactura no se siente premium, el precio es muy bajo como para esperar mejores detalles y en realidad es un producto sólido y bien hecho. En lo personal, no estoy encantado con la madera con la que está hecha el mango. Es demasiado ligera a mi parecer. A pesar de esto, debo admitir que el balance es bueno y todo se percibe resistente, durable y de alta calidad.