Opinel: the buyer's guide
Opinel has made the same folding knife in Savoie since 1890: a beechwood handle, a blade that pivots on a single pin, and the Virobloc collar that locks it open. It is the knife in every French farmer's pocket and every French picnic basket, it costs about as much as lunch, and the numbering system confuses everyone the first time.
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What the brand is known for
The classic folding knife, sold in sizes from No. 02 (a keychain curiosity) to No. 13 (a giant). The number roughly tracks the closed length in centimetres. Opinel also makes a line of fixed-blade kitchen knives (Essentiels, Intempora, Parallèle) that are among the best value in any kitchen, and a children's set with a rounded tip.
The numbering system
No. 06 is a small pocket knife (7 cm blade) that is legal to carry in more places. No. 07 is the in-between size. No. 08 (8.5 cm blade) is the classic and the one to buy if you buy only one: it fits a hand, cuts a baguette, a saucisson and an apple, and locks. No. 09 and No. 10 are larger picnic and camp knives; No. 10 has a corkscrew version. No. 12 is a kitchen-sized folder for the table and the garden. Below No. 06 the knives have no locking collar.
Carbon steel vs stainless (Inox)
Carbon steel (the original, marked with the crowned hand only) takes a sharper edge and is easier to sharpen, but it will patina grey and will rust if left wet; wipe it dry and oil it occasionally. Stainless (marked 'Inox') is the low-maintenance choice for kitchens, picnics and boats. For a first Opinel, buy Inox; for a knife you will sharpen and baby, buy carbon.
Handles and special editions
Beech is standard; oak, walnut, olive and bubinga are upgrades that cost a few dollars more and look better with age. Opinel releases colour and pattern editions constantly; they are the same knife. The Trekking versions have a lanyard hole. Avoid the fake 'Opinel-style' knives sold without the crowned hand stamp on the blade.
The kitchen knives
The Essentiels set (paring, vegetable, serrated and chef's) in coloured handles is the entry point, sharp out of the box and cheap enough to replace. The Parallèle line with beech handles is a step up. The Le Petit Chef set with a finger guard and rounded tip is the best children's cooking knife sold anywhere.
What to buy
| Product | Why |
|---|---|
| No. 08 Stainless Folding Knife | The classic; buy this one first. |
| No. 08 Carbon Steel Folding Knife | Sharper, needs care. |
| No. 06 Folding Knife | Small and carry-friendly. |
| No. 10 with Corkscrew | The picnic knife. |
| Essentiels Kitchen Knife Set | Four kitchen knives; best value in the kitchen. |
| Le Petit Chef Set | Children's knife, peeler and finger guard. |
Questions people ask
Why will my Opinel not open?
Wood swells when wet and the blade jams. Tap the back of the handle on a table (the 'coup du savoyard') to pop the blade out, dry the knife, and oil the pivot.
Is the lock safe?
The Virobloc collar locks the blade open and, on knives since 2000, closed. Rotate it until the slot clears the blade before opening or closing.
Can I take an Opinel on a plane?
Not in cabin baggage anywhere. In checked baggage, yes.
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