The Opinel Virobloc or safety twistlock mechanism was invented by Marcel Opinel in 1955, increasing the safety and versatility of the knife by allowing the blade to be locked in the open position. In 2000, the Virobloc locking mechanism was improved to allow locking the blade in either the open or closed position.

Is an Opinel a lock knife?

Knives such as Opinel knives, which utilise a manual twist collar to hold the blade in the open position, are termed to be lock knives regardless of length of cutting edge.

Does Opinel No 8 lock?

This is a proprietary Opinel feature, and is basically a ring around the pivot collar of the knife that, when the knife is either opened or closed, can be rotated around until it meets up against the tang of the blade and locks it either open or closed.

Are Opinel knives worth it?

Opinel has been making classic pocket knives since 1890. They make for a great personal investment or gift. Prices start at $17, so they're not expensive but they don't skimp on quality either — I've had mine for years and it works just as well as when I first bought it in Paris.

Are Opinel knives safe?

4) They're Safe and Non-Knife Enthusiast Friendly

The Opinel's two hand opening and Virobloc lock features make them both safe to carry and use, and unalarming in public. ... The Opinel's two hand opening nature along with the size and non-locking options make it a great choice in less knife friendly environments.

Making Opinel Knives Easier to Open

19 related questions found

Does Opinel float?

No, it does not float.

What are Opinel knives good for?

The knives are good for cheese and excellent for bread and fruits when picnicking, but they are also great in the kitchen. Try an Opinel on onions, shallots, scallions or garlic. The thin, sharp blade makes slicing them easy.

Are Opinel knives good for camping?

The Opinel Carbon Steel folding pocket knife has a very simple yet effective design that has not changed since 1890. This little robust knife is very sharp and perfect for general camping use.

What do the Opinel numbers mean?

Joseph Opinel had the idea of making his knife into different sizes which would be suitable to different hand sizes or used for various tasks. So, in 1897, he developed 12 different sizes numbered from 1 to 12. The smallest knife, named No. ... 2, has a 3.5-cm blade and the largest knife, No. 12, a 12-cm blade.

What is the most popular size Opinel knife?

With a blade length of 3.25″, the Opinel No. 8 is by far the most popular model, available with either XC90 carbon or 12C27N stainless steel.

What does the Opinel logo mean?

In 1909 Opinel formally registered the trademark for his knives. Both blade and handle carried the company name and a small logo depicting the emblematic main couronnée, or crowned hand. This was a reference to St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of Saint-Jean-deMaurienne and the apostle who had baptized Jesus.

What carbon steel does Opinel use?

The carbon blade has an unparalleled cutting quality and sharpens very easily. However, it must be regularly greased and dried after each use to prevent the formation of rust. A stainless steel blade will not rust. The stainless steel used to manufacture Opinel blades is12c27 Sandvik Swedish steel.

What steel are Opinel knives made from?

Carbon steel is the steel historically used by Opinel, which has contributed to the brand's global fame. The carbon steel blade is marked out by its exceptional cutting quality and ease of sharpening.

Is Opinel No 6 UK legal?

The Opinel Carbon Steel Non-Locking knives are have blades under 3 inches and therefore legal to carry in the UK.

Why is a lock knife illegal?

A lock knife is not a folding pocket knife and therefore it is an offence to carry around such a knife regardless of the length of the blade, if you do not have good reason. ... A lock knife is not an offensive weapon per se, as these knives were made with a specific purpose in mind were not intended as a weapon.

Is it illegal to carry a knife in the UK?

Basic laws on knives

It's illegal to possess a banned knife or weapon. ... carry any knife in public without good reason, unless it has a manual folding blade less than 3 inches long. sell a knife to anyone under the age of 18, unless it has a manual folding blade less than 3 inches long. use any knife in a threatening way.

What is the classic Opinel knife?

The traditional Opinel knife has a beechwood handle and a high carbon XC90 steel (acier au carbone) blade. Opinel also offers most of its models with a Sandvik 12C27M stainless steel (acier inox) blade.

What angle is Opinel?

The OPINEL sharpening angle is approximately 40°. The sharpening operation is the last step in the knife manufacturing process. The blade is hand-sharpened using grindstones for which the precision in diameter is to the 1/100 mm in order to guarantee a regular cutting angle.

Are Opinel knives made in France?

Made in France. Our pocket knives, table knives, kitchen knives, gardening tools are made in France in our factory based in Chambéry in Savoy*. The Chambéry factory employs 130 people, 75 of whom are directly involved in production.

Are Opinel knives good Reddit?

The Opinel is a decent knife, but where is really shines is the price. They are only like $15 on amazon. You get fantastic high carbon steel, but that's about all you get. The blades are thin, the locking mechanism is a joke, the handle is wooden and bulky, and it takes two hands to open.

What is a DOUK DOUK knife?

The douk-douk is a French-made pocket knife of simple sheet-metal construction. It has been manufactured by the M. C. Cognet cutlery firm in Thiers, France, since 1929.

Where are Opinel knives made?

are entirely manufactured in our factory in Chambéry. Except for the kitchen knives and table knives, the molds and cutting tools have been developed by Opinel and wooden handles are made in Chambéry.

What is convex grind?

A convex edge is slightly rounded (hence the name convex) as it tapers off to the finest point of the cutting edge along the blade. The convex edge is considered superior compared to other edge grind types due to longer lasting durability and less drag when cutting.

What angle are Opinel knives sharpened?

Sharpening your Opinel

Slightly wet the natural stone. Sharpen the cutting edge by pressing hard on the stone and going back and forth along the blade (the stone is at a 20° angle with the blade).

What grind does an Opinel have?

A classic Opinel folding knife has a "flat grind" blade, meaning that the faces of the blade are flat, without convexity or concavity, tapering towards the cutting edge: but the actual cutting edge is again formed of another, less acute bevel ground on the narrow edge.