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

My first memory of a pocket knife is one of these, and it did not disappoint. The ring pops off easily locking the blade in place. Handy for all sorts of things. Service was fantastic

It's cheap. It's hardly the best engineered piece of kit. The steel goes blunt quick, the handle swells up if damp and then it's hard to open. The ergonomics aren't brilliant. The lock's hardly easy or secure. However...it v light and just fits in the pocket. I like it to blunt so I can sharpen it as the steel is so responsive that even a sharpening idiot like me can make it like a razor. Being non-stainless it forms a lovely patina creating a knife with character and has never rusted on me, even when used in the kitchen. The wood wears to a lovely smooth finish and feels warm in the hand. If you have fairly small hands like me it's a really nice size, it's none threatening and it's easily forgotten that in-fact it isn't a legal EDC although you can pop the lock ring off. I have some lovely knifes costing much more than this (Spyderco's, Boker's etc) but for some reason this is the one I carry the most: a crappy little twig with a blade stuck in it. Trust the French!

I ordered the knife around 2pm yesterday and it was here by 11am, I paid for basic 2-3 day delivery so I definitely wasn't expecting that. The knife wasn't razor sharp but 5 minutes with a strop and it was up so a shaving edge, nice little cutter and well worth the tiny price tag!

...if you appreciate good, solid, utility tools. I have owned a few over the last 30 years, as well as a good few more expensive knives. As an artisan tool, designed to be used, I doubt there is better. I currently use a no.10 just about every day.

I am just replacing a knife I picked up in the sea off Sark more than 40 years ago it is still in use in the garden always sharp but getting a bit wobbly now(aren't we all). As I am rather attached to it it has been retired. New model is as good (almost); engraving on blade not as delicate and the trade mark on the handle not as old world. Handle will soon gain patina with use and is not as well varnished as the old model. These knives are definitely a bargain. Faultless service from HH yet again.

I have been buying these knives for years and they never let you down. Have given many as gifts on my travels and they are always loved for the sharp carbon steel blades. Many thanks Heinnie.

The only problem with these knives is that when you visit countries where knives are carried every day by the locals these Opinels attract attention as a real quality piece of kit. As they are cheap I have ended up giving one away to a Nepalese man and today I ended up giving one away as a gift to a Kurd. You don't own an Opinel, you rent it until someone needs to take it over.

I have had a couple of smaller Opinels and still have a No.9 in my toolbox but, on a whim, I just bought a no.12. It is a huge knife for very little money. Imagine a truncheon which has a blade folded into it and you won't be far wrong. Like all Opinels it is straightforward without being crude and will serve you well for many years, picking up character as it goes along. It will need a bit of maintenance to keep it rust-free and sharp but it will cut like a very cutty thing.

What can I say, it's an unbelievable piece of kit for the money. It is very sharp out of the box, but it can be honed to a razor edge very easily. It's way better then the Gerber it replaced at five times the price.