Opinel Classic Original No. 6 - Carbon Steel Folding Knife 18

Had Opinels since I was a kid and have been buying "peasant knives" from other makers over time, none are in Opinels league. Bought a carbon no#9 this time and as usual an outstanding knife, razor sharp, well fitted locking collar, nicely shaped handle, 90 degree spine, great price! Always one of my most used folders in fact one of my most used knives.

Cheap, n cheerful, but also a great little knife!

I have a few Opinels, 12 -9-6. I have removed the stock varnish on them all and replaced with Danish Oil which is simple and feels good.Just recently, the enginineer found my lost no 9 Opinel wedged inside my Mother's washing machine which had been stuck inside for over ten years.The blade had rusted away about half the width, and the wood was white with frequent washings but it was still usable. I discovered Opinel knives in France in the 70's , while grape picking.Many of the French Farm hands had them for cutting and pruning the vines.Simple and elegant.Nothing compares.

I bought another carbon Opinel, this time a no9. I use them for carving/cooking/skinning/starting fires with my Ferro rod. They really are versatile and fabulous inexpensive knives. The postage from Heinnie was exceptional again.

I needed a good folding job knife & the 9cm version was just what i was looking for , iconic classic design and keeps a good edge , safety collar lock nice addition , you cannot go wrong with this knife

Opinel's No. 6 is maybe the one knife that I carry, more than any other. The carbon steel blade has many miles on it, and has acquired a purple-blue-grey patina which, I think, contributes to the very smooth action. The first thing I did was to strip the stock finish and carefully apply several coats of tung oil over about a week, inside and out, removing any excess, especially from the slot. Now, even if dropped in water, it never completely seizes up. Any stiffness in the action quickly settles down. The locking ring has been removed, to make it EDC legal (go to gov.uk, type 'knife' in the search window, and the 3 requirements are clearly explained in layman's terms, if you didn't know already or if you want to / need to prove legality to someone). The blade length is well under the legal limit of 3 inches, so no modification needed there. Dead easy to take the ring off. Lock it closed, point it away from you, use pliers to grab the blade near the nail nick, and force it open, using your pliers like cyborg fingers. Oh yes, it helps to have a crumpled towel to catch the ring. Otherwise the result is a series of amusing (or not) ricochets, since the ring is essentially a stiff semi-circular spring. Circlip pliers are the preferred option, if you have them. My ring stays in a dresser drawer unless needed for gardening or DIY tasks around the house. In which case the locking ring gets popped back on. With the knife closed, and the notch in the ring for the closed position nearest to the knife (make sure you don't put the ring on backwards!), just stick the ring halfway on, then push firmly onto a hard surface. The locking ring will snap into place. A multi-folded tissue helps prevent unwanted divots in heirloom tabletops, etc. Why carry a No. 6 without the lock? It's UK legal, it's light (21 grams, mine), tends to sit upright next to my wallet (tip down), with no uncomfortable bulge, and makes a very good backup to a small SAK. Very similar in size and capability to a Case Sodbuster Jr, but at almost a third of the weight. And if it becomes lost? Or in a situation where abuse or damage is inevitable? Cheap as chips. Speaking of chips, it is easy to sharpen nicks and dings out of the blade, and if you are not confident at sharpening by hand, an Opinel is the perfect trainer. Even a bit better for this purpose than a Rough Rider, if you want to hone your skills on an inexpensive knife. Performance? Opinels slice like billy-o, and strop very easily to a really keen edge. And the back of the blade makes a good scraper, too. Obviously, pinch-grip the blade for scraping jobs, if you decide to go lockless. It's easy to adapt to your No. 6 as a friction folder. A bit of common sense and technique, and you're sorted. After all, it's how they were made for many decades before 1955. The No. 7? Maybe a bit better fit in my hand, and a jolly good allrounder. Less bulky in your pocket than the very popular No. 8. But - if you want to legally EDC your No. 7, you will need to shorten the blade to no more than 3" (always best to go a little bit less, just to be sure). Personally, I would do this by hand on a stone, not a grinding wheel. Lastly, pop the lock off. But mine stays at home, as is, and the modified No. 6 goes out and about. When and where proper, of course. The other reviewers have said many good things, so all I can add is that Opinel pocket knives are globally popular with good reason. If you have never tried one, you really should do. Well recommended. Choice, delivery, and service from Heinnie's is superb. Great stuff!

I ordered an Opinel 12, and an 8, I find the 8 perfect for everyday use, but I wanted to try the 12 for outdoor work, it's quite a beast, at first if feels huge but time will tell how it stands up to field use, as usual Heinnie's delivery service was FIRST CLASS..Good work Heinnie

Had mine (no.8) for a good 6 months now. Can't really add to what everyone else says. Great blade shape, sturdy lock. Easiest knife I own to sharpen due to the blade shape, and it gets fiendishly sharp! Thin blade but if you break it buy another. Left mine wet due to user error and it's got a charming patina now. Truly, it ain't broke. Can't fault it.

What can I say about this classic knife that hasn't been said before? Not a lot, really - it's such a great design. I bought my first Opinel when I was about ten, and have always had one ever since. When I buy one, I always sharpen it to suit my own preferences (which, let's face it, most of us do with a new pocket knife) and find that it will hold a razor sharp edge with little difficulty when used carefully. The only thing that seems to hammer the edge is when I use it to cut the net-wrap off silage or straw bales, as the pressure needed, coupled with the fibrous nature of the silage or straw seems to overcome the acute angle of the blade's primary (and only) bevel. However, a few seconds of sharpening will see the blade return to its' former state without difficulty. The shape of the handle renders the knife very comfortable in the hand, and the simple yet effective locking collar does an excellent job of keeping the fingers safe, and, in the cases of the smaller blades, can be removed to render them EDC-friendly. The blade is well-shaped for the majority of light tasks, from whittling to making feather sticks and the like. I wouldn't want to use one for heavy tasks such as splitting (leave that to your bushcraft knife) or any form of jemmying due to the narrow width of the spine of the blade. That said, this is a pocket knife, not a Bowie, so it's not something I have an issue with. Yes, these knives don't like being left in a damp state, which will cause that handle to swell and the blade to rust, but to be blunt, if you leave the knife like this you deserve to learn the hard way to look after your tools! I am amazed at how low the prices are for these fantastic knives; I know they are made by the barrow-load, but even so, the value for money is staggering. I will ALWAYS have an Opinel in my possession, and they're one of the first blades I recommend to anyone who needs a good quality pocket knife for a very modest outlay.