Opinel folding knife review and hard use bushcraft test. Thatched survival shelter build.
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- čas přidán 5. 08. 2024
- So many people on CZcams will tell you this knife is only suitable for cutting cheese and peeling apples. So many people on CZcams don't know what they are talking about. In this test I do some hard cutting. I bushcraft a survival shelter using stout poles cut with my number eight carbon steel Opinel folding knife. I thatched this shelter with spruce boughs. I have used these knives for many many years and I rate them highly. I forgot to mention in the video that the handle on this knife is very comfortable and stable. All wood used was willow as this quickly regrows and is a renewable resource.
- Sport
Hello Vinnie ! I always thought Opinal knives were just for cutting up cheese n fruit . At least that's all I ever really saw them used for . I had an uncle who was French and he kept one in his lunch box for just that purpose . My first real experience with an Opinal was when I was a kid with my dad and my uncle And we were headed up to a family friends cabin to help remodel it. On the way up a doe jumped out in front of us and met her maker with the help of my dad's old chevy pick up . My dad put her in the back of the truck . When we got to the cabin between my stockman my dad's scout knife and my uncle's opinal they processed that deer up . We had a great meal that night ! I just bought an Opinal # 8 recently and keeping with family tradition sorta I keep it in my lunch box. It's nice to know it can handle some hard use if need be. The one I got is SS with beech handle . It also came SHARP but I hit it with a strop just to tune the edge up abit . Again thank you for another great video !
Hi Frank. I like your family's style! Sounds like ye had quite the bbq that night. you know I have the SS version but I have not used it. Time to pull it out methinks. Thank you for watching sir!
Those 'one-liners' after finishing your work cutting each timber had my head tilted back in laughter! Like an arrow piercing the ego of every armchair woodsman on the internet. Terrific!
Well maybe sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but I couldn't help myself :-) I should lighten up a little.
No, you're bang on with the attitude some of these guys carry on with. Just found this and was mightily impressed with the knife and the sensible chap using it without being Rambo in his own mind
What you talking about man? I thought I had a very Ramboesque aura myself :-)
Got mine while in the military back in 94', still have it! I cut through a firehose like it was butter at my work site once.
You look after your gear well, my friend. They use that fire hose to make protective collars for pig hunting dogs.
Vinnie, I love your videos. You don't try to fool anyone, you do honest reviews with real-world stress tests. You deserve more subscribers and more views. Have you tried Reddit, Facebook and other social media? The best thing about your videos is you aren't afraid to disagree with current opinion and back up your objections. Additionally, safety is often your prime concern. Which is important for people out on their own. Knives don't grant any givebacks or do-overs.
Love your use of cross-bracing and jute lashings throughout the shelter. Again, you took the time to point out that a shelter that isn't sturdy and well-built is dangerous and shouldn't be promoted just for clicks.
Please keep making these videos and think about expanding your exposure on social media. Responsible youtubers like you deserve recognition for your quality work.
Thanks very much indeed for that very kind comment! I don't use any of the other social media platforms. CZcams is really just a hobby for me. Indeed I got so much enjoyment from watching it over the years that I decided to try and give something back by making some videos of my own. I don't know how long I will remain interested in CZcams because I think it is a pale shadow of what it was. The CZcams suggested video list used to be a never ending feast of videos I enjoyed watching, now it is a real struggle to find content I like. CZcams is trying to make me watch rubbish I will never watch. They are pushing their own agenda. I have very little patience for people who push me or try to force their views on me. I do like to make my own points and they are somewhat different from others. I think many channels seem to follow a format, maybe they are copying some successful channel?? Anyway they all seem to trot out the same old lines and statements some of which I know from my own experience are BS. I am no expert but some things I know. I don't worry too much about views or numbers of subscribers. Indeed the greatest enjoyment I get is chatting with like minded people many of whom give me a great deal of information. I sometimes take a dim view of humanity and rather than having millions of fools watching my channel I would rather have one decent person watching... Like you 👍All the best.
Howdy from Oklahoma, what a great demonstration, thanks for taking time to show us how a number 8 works. I have a number 8, can't wait now to get rowdy with on some wood.
Thanks very much Jim. As I said maybe not a knife for prying but for a straight push cut work away
Great video! Nice to see a review that isnt just cutting paper. Plus can’t agree with you more on the opinels, great knives
Thank you very much Adam.
Someone once said (I don't remember who, and I may be paraphrasing a bit), "You can put the worst knife in the world in the hands of an expert, and they will make it look like the best knife in the world." I think there may be a bit of that happening here. That being said, I have carried Opinels in my backpacks for years, their value can't be beat, and they are certainly good for more than just cutting fruit and cheese!
Stop now, you'll be giving me a big head (My wife would say it is big enough already ☹️) Maybe not the perfect knife but I wouldn't be without one. Thanks for watching and for your kind comment 👍
Another great demonstration of the capability of folding knife. Less is more. Great video keep this series going I really look forward to your videos.
Hey JH, thanks. How do the Gods of the hunt treat you?
vinniesdayoff not so well on the big game had a wicked cold but I sat in the woods anyway.. Found alot of small game at my new hunting location so I'm gonna he back there with the .22.
Lots of stew coming so
The opinel 8 carbon steel , this one is always in my pocket i love this knife it develops a nice patina and after stropping it has a mirror polished edge which look great in contrast with the patina , and you can indeed ,get it crazy sharp in no time and as the years pass it gets more character over the years anyway thats how i feel about mine , if i should somehow loose mine , a new one wouldn't be the same ....i know bit stupid cos they are not rare or something 😉 they carry easy in the pocket so whats not to like about them , they are cheap and ver usefull i even use mine in the kitchen as well to cut up meat for the dogs , wash it dry it and a bit of oil once in a while ...👍👍👍
They are a great knife, yet many on CZcams think they can't do real work. Shows you what they know Ed 🙂
Great video as usual.. could I give a bit of feedback - I usually watch your videos on my phone and the volume levels are a wee bit soft
Thanks wrexel. I usually edit with my earphones on so it sounds loud to me. I will turn the volume up in future. Thanks for the tip
The job you did was the job of No:12 Opinel in my opinion , great job , thumbs up for your woodsmanship.
Thank you very much my friend 👍
Great material here. Sadly, the channel now appears to be defunct. Are you out there, Vinny? We need you back!
I'm back! 👍
Great video matey. Love that you showed what that knife is capable of.
Thanks Derek, and thank you for watching, I appreciate it
Great review! Love the shelter! That opinel made quick work of that willow. I've been so caught up in the hype over the years of having a fixed blade knife that I ruled out folders all together. I've only recently gone back to what I've grown up with. Atb Sean
The shelter looked alright Sean but leaked badly. Spruce is not a good shelter material despite the fact that many are using it on CZcams. If you don't beat on your knives then a folder will do pretty much what a fixed blade does. Thank you for watching bud!
Great review. Opinel can make almost anyone feel like he can sharpen a knife. it’s a real pleasure!
Thanks very much 👍
Great demonstration.
Thank you very much Geoffrey.
Just found your channel today, have watched a few and found them very interesting and informative. I'm Irish too, limerick area. Have subscribed and intend to watch all your older videos. Well done, a very thorough look at the capabilities of the knife and a damn good looking shelter too.
Hi Paddy Dog, Thanks a lot. I am in the South Tipp area, the knife is a good one but the shelter was pretty rubbish. Spruce boughs just don't shed water well. Thanks very much for the sub and views, much appreciated.
I have a Opinal it has a very short blade to short for my use, my wife loves it for sharpening her eye liner pencils. I have the #8 Perfect for EDC. Vinnie your review was well done out in the Bush no table top in a controlled environment but in the muck and the mud were it really counts. Stay safe and many thanks from Colorado.
Many thanks indeed 👍
Mora classic and opinel are still my two favourites of all time. Comfortable in hand, razor sharp and lightweight. Also dirt cheap. My expensive knives are always laying unused in a box.
You know Archer part of the reason I started on CZcams was that I was looking for a "good"knife. I'm rapidly coming to the same conclusion as you. You don't need to spend crazy money to have a "good" knife.
@@vinniesdayoff3968 Love your channel Vinnie. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. All no nonsense wisdom that really works 👏👍
Great Job Vinnie.
Thank you very much and thank you for watching too, I appreciate it.
Wonderful video. THANKS
Thank you Hector. Glad you enjoyed it.
👍 I haven’t seen any new videos from you, but found this one. I like Opinel knives very much. I hope all is well with you.
Excellent video 👍🏼
Thank you very much 👍
CZcams needs these honest reviews/tests! Keep it up. Goes for knives and for any outdoor gear really. Oh, and in my experience, the stainless steel (it just says Inox instead of carbone) that Opinel uses is not bad at all!
Hi Lars and thank you. I have a stainless Opinel, but I have not used it much at all. I must remedy that. Good to hear from you.
Really like this channel basic basic tools just a small or medium knife and maybe a saw and you are good. Thanks again Kyle
Thanks Kyle. If one was venturing into the wilderness a good hatchet and saw would be prudent. I do get a little kick out of proving some of the CZcams "experts" wrong 🙂
I had 6 different opinels, and I must say they are beyond a good knife. Thanks again for another great video.
Thanks Again Jack :-) They are often presented on CZcams as knives that are only good for cutting bread and cooked meats. That is just not so.
You should also try a Douk Douk, small or medium. It's not as ergonomic as an Opinel, the blade being put between a folded piece of metal, but has some advantages, as being slim, with carbon steel, and a very thin grind. I liked those too, although for nature use, except for food, don't quite really work.
vinniesdayoff Yeah, the Opinels are very tough knives, indeed.
+Jack Trades I have one Jack. I found the steel in my one soft and the thin handle to be a bit severe on the hand. Thanks for the tip though, I learn a lot from the comments
vinniesdayoff True, I only used mine on food, more or less, and it was good to have around. Never pressed the handle too much, although it can take it, my hand can't too :D
Good film......................cheers
Thank you very much. Nice CZcams name you have (Yoda speak)
Hairy string - the original paracord 😄 Also great video, I love my Opinel knife, I knew they were good but I've never tortured one that much 💪
Hello Vinnie, I purchased myself a N0.8 Opinel today on Amazon. I was just watching this older video of you using it to cut poles for a shelter. I have owned these knives in the past and your absolutely correct about how good these little knives are. They aren't expensive but you get a great knife for the money. I purchased the carbon steel model and with care it will last a very long time. I really enjoy your videos and I appreciate your reviews after you complete the project. I've noticed that some people gave the Opinel bad reviews saying they're week at the joint. The Opinel is designed as a cutter, I believe some of the things I've read is where someone has twisted or tried prying with the knife which its not designed to do. The good thing about carbon steel it holds a good edge and sharpens easy making a great bush knife. I just wanted to share this thought with you and wish you a good day. Tell Dyson his friend in the states says hello. Take care my friend and keep the videos coming.
Hi Tim. There is fantastic information on CZcams but sometimes nonsense is passed from one video to the next. One case of that happening is people saying that Opinels are weak and cannot do hard cutting or "hard use" as they say now days. I just wanted to disprove that in my own way. As you said the blade is not good as a pry bar but it is an excellent slicer.
#8 is where it's at. I might pick up the next size up just to have more to work with in mods, but I like the 8 finished size. Good points and demo. I see what you meant about slicing through wood, because of the thinness. I was thinking more in terms of control in comparison to moras as the other common cheap knife. I think may be a better beginers knife too than mora. Moras take a lot of time to sharpen, even though they are often touted as easy because of the broad flat bevels. These can be modified, tortured, over stressed and broken and it's not a big deal. In fact, I think for most people, messing a knife or two up is part of the processes of learning their limitations, these will only take so much misuse, unlike some of the crowbars people push these days, que eyeroll....
😵😵😵😀 Thanks Steven. Good points from yourself. They can do some good work for you but as you say you won't be prying etc very much. I would wager they will slice much better than the average 1/4 inch sharpened crowbar though 😵😵😀
Great job on the video bud
Thanks 👍
amazing skill...
Thank you Tuan
Thank you. It is a nice one. Ordered something similar to test if I like it.
Opinels are great knives! I use the inox models, they are as sharp as the carbons. Also I prefer the olive wood handles as they dont block the blade when they are wet compared to the beechwood. Cheers.
I agree fully Daniel. Thanks for watching 👍
Great knife and video sir!! Thanks much and I just subscribed to your channel 😇
Thanks very much MrSIXGUNZ. Man! that's a cool CZcams name you have. Also, it was far from sir I was raised, Vinnie will do fine. Thanks very much for the sub.I appreciate it very much.
Great video, enjoyed it very much. Thanks for not cutting paper.
My EDC is the #7. Fits perfect in watch pocket. I use my #6 CS for carving and whittling. My #8 SS is great for a lot of tasks, including kitchen work, which my wife loves. It’s her go to knife.
I sure like your coat.
Thank you Terry. I just wanted to show all the people who say Opinels can't do real work and are only good for slicing cheese what they can do. I used a no 6 for many years and I liked it.
First one telling the truth about my number one on You Tube.
Number 9 is better outside...
thanks a lot
You are welcome indeed. Thank you
All three of mine 6, 7 and 9 came sharp enough to shave with.
I put up my Buck 110 to carry the 9
Wow! Totally new respect for my Opinel. I just received the #4 yesterday and put it in my food kit with a #8 cause I didn't think it was that strong
Well everyone on CZcams tells us they are for peeling apples and cutting cheese. I think we can safely say they can do a lot more. Thanks for watching James 😀
I have whittled with a #2, they are all useable knives.
I carry a cheap imperial sodbuster but always wanted to acquire an opinel folder knife.
I examined one that a friend had only to find he let the collar rust, so it no longer rotated to lock and unlock.
That discovery deterred me from investing in one.
But my imperial sodbuster has never failed on me despite years of hard utility use.
Still the opinel knife demo shown here makes me want one again.
They are not very expensive so you should try one out Andrew. Maybe they wouldn't be the best for whittling seasoned oak but for green wood they are a great slicing knife. I got a little stainless number six with a walnut handle that I will be trying out. Don't believe the BS on CZcams that they can't do real work. I had a carbon no 6 for quite a few years at a time when I was interested in bow making. I cut a lot of saplings that people wouldn't believe you could cut with a pocket knife with that little Opinel
@@vinniesdayoff3968 I subscribed to your channel and have shared it with others as well.
Your channel will draw more viewers in the future.
Great film as usual Vinnie ,Opinal is the knife I always come back to proves cheap and small works sometimes ! Atb Mick
As long as they are sharp I think they are fit to stand beside any knife. I would not be without a few of them. Thanks Mick
People keep forgetting that you carry a knife as a tool. That's what the Opinel is, a well made tool.
Good point Paul. I think many on CZcams have forgotten what a knife is actually for.
I love my Opinel knives. I use the No. 6 as EDC and the No. 12 for tougher cutting jobs. The best folder one can buy for little money.
I got tired of metrosexuals on youtube saying they can't do hard work. They certainly can! Thanks for watching my friend 👍
im new to the channel.. common sense channel a rare thing
hi Dan. You are very welcome to the channel and thank you for such a great compliment!
I’m a huge fan of Opinels, but I prefer the stainless ones because the carbon ones can flavour food. The stainless get just as sharp and hold their edge just as well as the carbon too. I’ve a few of these and have been using them for over 40 years.
I have one stainless but I don't use it much. I must take it out more. It is very sharp too as you say Eric. I'm looking through the comments in CZcams studio. I got no notification for these
Love these inexpensive knives. One of my favourites. Only problem I've ever encountered with them (especially the little pruning saw in the range) is that in very humid, damp conditions the wood of the handle can swell rendering the blade very hard to open with cold fingers.
That can be a problem Tom. Thanks for watching 👍
Use the 'Opinel knock' (like Zippo's 'click'); With a closed knife. open the safety ring, hold it with thum and pointing finger at the ring and knock with the blade side down the handle on a firm surface. It for sure wil open under all circumstances.
@@jancoenwierda3662 oh that's awesome. Thanks!
This is a good demonstration of what you can do with a small blade if you don't have anything else. To me a Tramotina Machete for £12 will be more of a useful option to take into the field. Easy to sharpen with a stone and very durable and versatile bit of kit. The opinel folding knife is a good piece of kit for cooking and cutting your steak. Nice vid if you didn't have anything else,but we have a choice of what we take into the field unless you was in a survival situation. Cheers Vin
Thanks eightgeorge. I have one of those Tramontina's too and they are great. I am not really trying to show what you can do with a small knife if you have nothing else, but rather what the Opinel's are capable of, and they are capable of doing quite a lot. Thanks bud
Thanks and you show what the opinel can do. I love them and have them in my collection and they are a really great bit of kit. The steel holds a really good edge. Love your vids and keep them coming mate. Cheers to you.
I am honored that you would say that, thanks
Great review! I agree you need the lock ring found on size 6 and up. I carried a #4 for three years, and it would occasionally open in my pocket. I bought my brother a beautiful #8 stainless in walnut, and he doesn't appreciate it, lol! I prefer the stainless over the carbon and find it holds an edge as well or better than the carbon.
Thanks Joe. I have a stainless but I have not done much with it. I should do a bit of work with it. That walnut handle I imagine is very lovely, maybe it should disappear if he does not like it?
Yes, it's a nicely figured, extra dark walnut! If you take your stainless and push the blade, over and over, into white styrofoam, it will put a nice shine on the blade in less than a minute.
Good tip Joe. I must try that one. I'm thinking of a walnut stainless Opinel too. Now look what you have done!
LOL! I guess I watched and read too much and decided the carbon was the way to go. However, when I tried stainless, it was superior. Not by much, but it was better for me. Either steel will be a cutter of course. Some of the walnut looks plain, but if you can find a dark brown one with black streaking, it's a keeper!
Rodger that I will keep an eye out for one. Stainless is easier keep rust free
Great video not full of bullshit have a number eight myself seems a lovely knife specially for the price got the link for your video with the guy who makes the wood burning propane ovens who seems a top bloke as well as yourself and not an eejit like a lot of people are on CZcams
Thanks Sean. Would that be Turbo Conquering Mega Eagle by any chance? I take it you are Irish too?
I'm going to stop watching you. Now there's another knife I want !
Never really considered an Opinel for myself. Possibly because my mother used it as her main kitchen knife (I gave one to my spouse as well).
Thanks
Alain
Resistance if futile Alain! They are a great knife for wood. I don't love them as much for game as the tip was very hard to sharpen properly in the past. I often cut it off to make a kind of sheepsfoot blade for hunting. Thanks for watching! 😀
I miss your videos Vinnie! Still enjoy the old ones though.
Thanks JH. I'm thinking of making a few soon. Good to hear from you 👍
@@vinniesdayoff3968 please do!!!!👊
I agree with you! Shaving sharp means you could shave with it easily
Thank you 👍
Nice work and good review. I keep a number 6 carbon for around the house... cutting cable ties, packaging and string etc. I've no doubt that it would be capable of heavier outdoor cutting but I'd probably go for a slightly larger size just so the handle feels more comfortable when gripping. The 8 looks ideal.
I used a no 6 for years at a time when I was into bow making and I often cut pretty heavy saplings with it if I found them suitable for bows. I think the no 6 is even more wickedly sharp and I never had any problem with it. Thanks very much for watching my video and for your kind comment 👍
@@vinniesdayoff3968 Thanks. Quality video... watching was not a chore!
(I haven't watched any of your more recent videos yet though I am about to subscribe... I noticed the comment about your audio levels and you mentioned that you edit with headphones... (I have a fair bit of sound engineering experience from over the years and found this to be a useful tip....) Listen to a couple of youtube ads through whatever you are going to be editing with and adjust the headphone/speaker levels so that it is comfortable to listen to before you start editing your own stuff and then try to match your audio to those levels without adjusting the headphones/speakers... Anyway thanks for your reply. Have a nice evening!
@@GrahamMilkdrop Good advice from a qualified man to a non techy buffoon muddling his way along 🙂
@@vinniesdayoff3968 I'm so glad it was welcome!
Sometimes even the basic how-to guides forget that not everyone knows what 'db meters' and compression plugins are or that for most things there's a practical solution that does the job if only people are made aware of it.
@@GrahamMilkdrop C'mon Graham, stop speaking Greek 🙂
Opinel , probably my favorite knives and I used one every day being a gardener however I got fed up cause once the wood gets damp and swells you’ll loose a thumb nail trying to open it
Hello Daniel. I have never had the problem of an Opinel swelling thankfully, but I have had a few of the guys mention it. Did you dry it out or does that work?
They dry out after a day or so, I found sanding it back to raw wood and re coating the handle in a few coats of danish oil mixed with turps made the handle more water resistant
@@danielowens9295 Rodger that Daniel, that makes sense. Thanks
I have found that impregnating the wood with wax helps prevent this I do this by first whittling the finish off and then either soaking it in molten wax, or heating the handle up with a lighter and then rubbing the wax onto it while it is still hot enough to melt the wax both work to more or less prevent this.
Wielu się śmieje że opinel jest słaby..udowodniłeś tym filmikiem że to wspaniałe narzędzie na każdą kieszeń..dziękuję za Twój profesjonalizm..
Używam tłumacza Google, więc przepraszam, jeśli popełnię błędy. Noże Opinel są równie wytrzymałe jak inne składane noże. Nie radziłbym rzeźbić takiego drewna w sezonowanym dębie, ale w przypadku drewna zielonego tną bardzo dobrze. Dziękuję za obejrzenie mojego przyjaciela.
These opinels can be some of the sharpest knives around, they are incredibly thin at the edge
Excellent slicing knives Jake. I found them not the best for game as the tip used to be hard to sharpen, so to get around that I would grind off the tip and make a sheepsfoot out of it. It is not pretty but it works well for gutting etc.
I've got dozens of knives in my collection and my Opinel is most used and definitely the sharpest!
Once sharp it just takes a quick strop to keep the edge beyond razor sharp.
They do come with a bad edge which puts a lot of people off but if they aren't prepared to sharpen a knife then should they really be owning one in the first place? 🗡
True James and you could say that much more expensive knives also come without a good edge. Thanks for watching.
Hello from the United States. Just found your channel a couple days ago and I am enjoying your videos immensely. The knife reviews are fantastic. If you don't mind me asking, when you are doing the reviews are you in a National Forest or are you on private land? Hope you keep the knife videos coming.
Hi Ronnie and hello from Ireland 😃Thank you for your kind comment. When I am cutting wood I am on private land where I can do what I want within reason. I am not laying waste as the wood I cut is all hazel and willow which grows back pretty fast and is completely renewable. Some of the camping was done in National forests. Thank you very much for watching.
i hace an opinel 10 grand knife iv used it for bushcraft its the carbon steel version one thing i can say about these is the edge out of the box or shop is very sharp at least mine was it ripped through 1 inch branches like sausages. my girlfriends grandad has an opinel 8 that is from the time they were first made i have my eye on it. he might sell it someday he was a french foreign legionnaire and a member of the republic of ireland.
They do cut very well. Grandad sounds like a right fella to have a chat with
oh he is the storys are great bar one which left him PTSD but hes a great man he was also an international truckdriver he spent time in germany so he cooks great food sauerkraut is actually lovely he was a paratrooper in yemen in his time he still has his kit and gun somewhere but no one will know has the badge tattoed on his shoulder of the sword and the wing so its pretty cool shit.
It is indeed cool!
Great video once again Vinnie! I love your stuff - always practical and unpretentious....something that is missing SO often in knife reviews. I live in the wilds of Sweden and have little time for talk of "tang stamps" etc! Anyway, a question: out of all the folders you've used, which would you reckon is the best all-round woods knife? The reason I ask is because when I'm out there I always find myself carrying about 3 of them... a Case stockman because of the utility of 3 blades (downside is you can't cut for long periods due to the 2 other blades digging in your hand), a GEC sodbuster that slices like a beauty but would struggle with the thick saplings in your video for example..... and a hefty EKA lockback which is tough as old boots but is no slicer!
I'm on the quest for the "perfect" all-rounder here! It probably doesn't exist, but I wondered what your informed opinion on the matter might be.
Keep up the good work man! 👍
You sound like me with the pocket full of knives Dale 😀 The thing is they are small and light so your system, which is the same as my system is not so bad. For a woods knife it would be hard to beat the Victorinox Rangergrip with it's large saw. It can probably do more real work than many of the survival knives we see. You only have one blade though. It is so handy to have more blades. You are bang on about stockman blades digging in the hand. Some light work gloves will help greatly there. How about a rangergrip, the Case stockman, the sodbuster AND the EKA lockback That should be a perfect all rounder 😂
@@vinniesdayoff3968. Cheers Vinnie! I'll check out that Victorinox. 😊👍
This is incredible... I figured Opinels would be good cutters, but this is something else! I have a question though: how would the UK legal Opinels stand up to this kind of use? As they lack the locking collar, would the hinge of the blade be less secure?
Hi Oliver. I made reference to that in the video I think. I would not use an Opinel without the locking collar or at least not for this kind of work. Being a friction folder it would be more inclined to close if withdrawing from a partial cut in wood
Ive had a few opinel knives and I favor the Carbone over the inox they can be as sharp as you have the tools, skills and patience to maks them.
I have a couple of inox Opinels but I have not used them enough to say which is better
There's an Opinel saw too . A little pricey but im sure its a good tool..
They are pricey George. A large one costs 42 euros while a Husqvarna folding saw (which is excellent) costs nineteen euros
No 10 is m favorite size. My first no 8 help me harvest a black bear up here in Canada
Your making me a little bit envious ☹️. Only joking. Do you eat the bear meat? I would love to taste bear.
i heard ya mention you don't like the way your stick bed is anymore make a Spruce bow bed with rushes tied together for cushion it might be more comfy.
HI! I love your channel! What do you think about the stainless steel number eight?
Hi Federico. I have a couple of stainless Opinels but I haven't used them extensively. They seem perfectly good so far
i have an Opinel #8 but is is just too nice to use in the woods.
I have often wondered myself if these shelters are effective. I have not actually used one of these shelters.
They are not effective. I have another video where I show it in the rain after I had put a great deal of work into it. I consider a spruce bough shelter a complete waste of time for rain
I couldn't hear what you used to get the rust off?
Rodger that. I use Autosol metal polish. It also takes off the black gunk that builds up on carbon steel knives from cutting wood with sap. If you have heavy rust you might need fine sandpaper. The Autosol polish will also work on a strop if you have nothing else. Thanks for watching.
Do you recall how many hours it took to build the shelter ?
It takes quite a while to build a shelter. I'd say in the region of six hours or so
Hi vinnie I have the opinel no9 and 6 along with the 12 and 10 in the filleting style ones they do. I bought 2 no. 6’s for my friends has general rabbiting gutting knives as that’s one of my favourite sizes. On my carbon blades I use whole grain French mustard to give a patina to the blades. It looks rather like a Damascus pattern when finished and it does help to keep the dreaded rust at bay. A stunning blade for the money. I think they are extremely good value for money, downside? Maybe a little brittle due to the heat treatments but as long as that’s bore in mind they are great. The opinel standard handle is also a good base for custom work x
Hello David. I like the no. 6 too. I think I told one of the lads in the comments that it is even more wickedly sharp than the bigger Opinels. I don't get problems with them rusting, I was just making the point that carbon steel would have shortcomings as a survival knife. My chances of being in a wilderness survival situation are slim indeed :-) They can be brittle and that is why I said they are not for prying etc etc. but I never had a problem doing any type of cutting with them and I am a long time using them. I'm envious that ye get a bit of rabbit hunting. We have had no rabbits up here for many years. There are a very small few appearing back now so hopefully they multiply. Even surrounding areas where we used to hunt them have none. Bunnies are a great resource and really make a job of making a hunter out of a young terrier. Thanks for watching and for your excellent comments David 👍
Did you try opinel 12 or 18 saw
No Vladimir. I've always been put off by the cost. You can buy a perfectly good folding saw for half what an Opinel saw costs
The problem I have with Opinel is when it is wet you need pliers to open. Not a big deal if not used at sea or in the kitchen. A traditional boatbuilder told me they used to fry their friction folders to avoid this, for a couple of hours.
I don't find that usually. I keep them dry. I'm having a mental image of capt'n Birdseye frying a knife and puffing mightily on his pipe!
Hey Vinnie. Great video of one of my favorite knives. Was wondering if you might do a video on the knots/lashing that you find useful?
Hi Dean. Thanks for taking the time to watch my video and comment. I only use a handful of proven knots that I use for everything. I use slippery hitches a great deal as well as the round turn and two half hitches. The clove hitch and bow line would be my other main knots. I use a kind of jam knot that I saw butchers using which is like a uni knot which is very useful. I also use a kind of truckers hitch which is useful to put some tension on. It probably would not make a very impressive video. How about I work some knots into future videos?
I forgot about the sheet bend and reef knot too!
Thank you! I know most but not all of those knots. So handy and a skill not commonly taught anymore. Please keep up these videos as they are most appreciated.
I have a no 6 and there is no way I'm using it as a Bush knife . For that I use a hunter or a big buck knife . I can chop with them .
These knives have a huge place in bushcraft. This is how we use the Opinel 8: czcams.com/video/8ZPyxeuZVO4/video.html
but !!!! if you're work right and left ??? with your right thumb : always the knife can close, use with our left : the thumb often push the 'close' out , and you have your knife on your finger ! often for people using their two hands ; the lelft thumb push away the safety ring !!!!
My apologies but I don't understand your point
I wish I had watched this before wasting money on a fake browning folder. Well at least I have something I can use for batoning ....
Hi MarcAFK, a beater knife that you don't worry about is a useful thing so it's not all bad
This video and a few others convinced me to get an Opinel carbon steel anyway. Something I'll treat well, you're right about the beater knife though.
No volume at all. I couldn’t hear a word. And I had the volume turned all the way up.
My apologies. That's an older video. You are obviously watching on a phone. Earphones would be a help
OPINEL not just for food. haha
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Apple Cider Vinegar to 'cure' the steel blade?? "Carbon Steel'
There are videos on CZcams that show how to stop rust...
A patina will certainly help in normal use but will not stop carbon steel rusting in inhospitable conditions. If i was going sea fishing for instance I would bring a stainless knife. Likewise if I was going somewhere where I would be stuck outside in the elements where I could not clean and dry and oil my knife as normal I would bring stainless steel too. That is the point I was trying to make. Thanks very much indeed for watching.
Great video but “one of these will cut flesh straight to the bone.” Then pulls down the limb with the knife open and 6 inches from your face. You demonstrate how useful a sharp opinel knives are, but demonstrate poor safety techniques. This is in no way me trying to bash this video, in fact, I thoroughly enjoyed it and I will be watching more. Just voicing myself and maybe it’ll help. Take care, friend.
I have noticed that myself in my videos and I have started to lay the knife down more often. I am not in danger as I am very "knife aware". I have been using knives for many years and I have also used them professionally. I have spent many many hours with a knife in my hand. I have also had enough mishaps in my time to have great respect for knives. Thanks for watching Steve 😊
vinniesdayoff I completely understand that. I hope you didn’t take that as a thrashing. I do thoroughly enjoy your videos. Keep them up!
No Steve, you made a very valid point and I will address it in a video. Well done to you.
vinniesdayoff sounds good my friend. If you like knives, take a look at my Instagram. Pine_Tree_Outdoors207
Some lovely knives there and some lovely photography. I thought I was the only one with muddy hands!
I compared the cost of the Opinel vs a Buck 112 light and 110.....I think I will take the BUCK as its just 7$ more with shipping, and it comes with a good belt sheath. Also, I think 420HC with the BUCK heat treat is a better blade metal.
Buck knives cost many times what an Opinel costs over here. Buck make very decent knives though
You kill a lot of living trees there.
Actually I killed no living tree. All the trees were willow. May I respectfully suggest you do a little research on the willow tree. They are almost impossible to kill by cutting them. They simply grow back. That is why they are so widely used for basket making. The weaver will cut the shoots every year and they grow back. Year after year after year. All of the trees I cut are still there and are perfectly healthy.
@@vinniesdayoff3968 A good google search term on this topic is "Coppicing." You might want to include this in the description of the video. Also, did you ever report on how this shelter did in the rain?
@@rockets4kids Good idea. I did show it in the rain. czcams.com/video/CgeGF3b_1Gw/video.html