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Simple, sturdy, efficient and easy to use, this essential tool remains unchanged since 1890 but is unmatched in its design. Raw material and colors may vary from one collection to another, but its style remains deeply steeped in history and tradition.
This timeless knife is for people who enjoy the outdoors, a must-have tool for professional or amateur handymen. It is used everywhere from the garden to the table, a knife that is given as a gift and passed down to loved ones.
In the shell ring workshop, we use a press to roll out steel strips and cut them into small rectangular shapes, which are then rolled into cones.
In the blade-manufacturing workshop, after cutting the blade from a strip of steel, we harden it using a thermal treatment suited to the different types of steel. This involves heating to a very high temperature with rapid cooling in an oil bath, then heating again at a lower temperature before cooling at room temperature.
The back of the blade is sanded to remove the burrs from the cut. We then grind and polish the blade (one side at a time) in fully automated machines with a double-wheel system. This gives the blade its unique curved profile that guarantees unrivaled strength and sharpness. Then comes the assembly of components (handle, shell-ring and fixed blade). We pad-print the logo on the handle, then drill and rivet the knife and add the rotating lock ring. Finally, we hand-sharpen the blade. The sharpener passes the blade between two wheels using a unique, precise motion that guarantees the legendary Opinel sharpness.
The Opinel knife has 5 different components: the handle, the shell ring, the rivet, the rotating lock ring and the blade.
The Virobloc Safety rings.
Invented by Marcel Opinel in 1955, the Virobloc safety ring is fitted to all folding knives sizes No6 through No12.
Cut out of stainless steel, the Virobloc has two sections, one fixed and one sliding.
In addition to locking the blade open (safety while in use), it is possible to lock the blade closed (safety on the go).
The Material
WOOD
To prevent a negative impact on the environment (pollution from transport, deforestation ...), 95% of the wood for handles comes from sustainably managed French forests.
CARBON STEEL
IRON + CARBON
A carbon steel blade is resistant to wear and tear and is easily re-sharpened.
Please note: carbon steel has a low resistance to corrosion. Do not use in damp environments. The blade should be dried and lubricated after use.
STAINLESS STEEL
IRON + CARBON+CHROMIUM
The stainless steel blade is corrosion-resistant. Our modified 12C27 Sandvik stainless steel has a high carbon content which guarantees the ultimate sharpness.
Opinel Quality
We run regular quality checks as raw material and components are received, and at each stage of the manufacturing process.
From woodwork to steelwork, as well as new materials like top-of-the-range synthetic polymers, our knives are designed to last a lifetime and will often be passed down from father to son...
Knives with a stainless steel blade are highly resistant and can be easily cleaned with a sponge, warm water and dishwashing liquid.
Knives with a carbon blade require specific use and cleaning procedures. Because they are extremely sensitive to corrosion, they should not be used in a damp environment, must be dried after each use, regularly lubricated and stored in a dry place.
The warranty for Opinel knives covers normal conditions of use. The knives are replaced in case of manufacturing defects.
Damage from ordinary wear and tear or inappropriate use is not covered by the OPINEL warranty.
Since its creation in 1890, the company has been manufacturing its knives in the heart of the French Alps. Today our plant in Chambéry (Savoie, France) covers a surface area of almost 60,000 square-feet and employs 110 people, of which 60 work directly in production.
All our products (traditional pocket-knives with carbon steel and stainless steel blades, specialist pocket-knives, sharp slim pocket-knives, garden tools, elegant table knives, etc.) are entirely manufactured in our factory in Chambéry.
Except for the kitchen knives and table knives, the molds and cutting tools have been developed by Opinel and wooden handles are made in Chambéry. These different components are then assembled and sharpened in our plant in Portugal.