THE GUIDE: WHAT DOES OPINEL PRODUCE?

History of Opinel

Opinel has been making knives in the Alps for 130 years. Joseph Opinel, the company's founder, was born into a family of blacksmiths and has a passion for innovative machines and technologies. Despite his father's disapproval, he spent his free time making the pocket knife that is now known as the Opinel No. 8. Originally distributed as a knife for farmers and train drivers, the Opinel became so popular that it is now a must-have.

Joseph Opinel's goal was to make a simple knife that was comfortable in the hand and could be easily carried in a pocket ready for use at any time. 

(Joseph Opinel in 1980)

Most Opinel knives have beech or hornbeam handles which develop a rich patina with use. Some Opinel knives have wooden handles dyed in bright colors. The blades are made of stainless steel or carbon steel. Carbon steel blades are easier to sharpen but require more care as they tend to rust. Stainless steel is more difficult to sharpen but can be easily cleaned with soap and water. When cleaning a blade, keep the wooden handle out of water, then allow the blade to dry completely before closing the knife to prevent warping.

There are many ways to use an Opinel knife. We love it for camping and picnics. It can cut, trim and carve as well as slice, dice and chop for meal prep and then be used as a table knife. At home, he opens packages, harvests vegetables and boxes the right size. For the minimalist, a folding knife can replace a handful of other tools. And if it's in your pocket, it's always within reach, ready to use.

If you're new to Opinel, we think you'll love the beauty, simplicity and usefulness of this folding knife.

Nine things you don't know about Opinel.

 1 . The simple peasant knife quickly proved popular, with hundreds of thousands of knives sold by 1914. By 1939, 20 million knives had been sold - at the time, enough for half the French population to own one! The company is still run by the Opinel family, still selling over 4 to 5 million knives per year!

2 . The curve of the original Opinel blade is based on the yatağan - a traditional Turkish knife or short saber.

3 . In 1985, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London selected the Opinel as part of an exhibition celebrating the "100 most beautiful products in the world". Opinel was featured alongside the Porsche 911 and the Rolex watch.

4 . Eighty percent of all Opinel knives use traditional beech wood for the handle. Other handles include oak, walnut, ebony, rosewood, bubinga, aluminum and African cow horn.

5 . The locking collar (Virobloc) was patented in 1955 by Marcel Opinel. Originally it only locked the blade open, but this was later improved to securely lock the blade when closed.

6 . The construction of the current production Opinel knife is very simple, consisting of only five components.

7 . Pablo Picasso used an Opinel knife to carve his sculptures.

8 . Besides folding pocket knives, Opinel also manufactures kitchen cutlery and garden tools. They also make a #7 round tip safety knife for kids.

9 . The blades are made of two materials; traditional high carbon steel (Carbon) - which sharpens easily, holds well, acquires a unique patina can be used to create sparks when struck against flint, or the more modern stainless steel (Inox) - which does not corrode.