Opinel No.08 Carbon Steel Folding Pocket Knife Review [UPDATED]

Last updated on August 1st, 2022 at 02:30 am

Opinel has been one of our choicest knives for a while now. I often use their knives for utility jobs due to their versatility. The Opinel No.08, Opinel Carbon Steel Folding Pocket Knife is one such knife. If you consider it, this review will give you a detailed overview.

The Virobloc safety ring locks the blade while it’s open such that it doesn’t accidentally close, thereby increasing safety while in use. The newest feature is you can now lock the blade while it’s closed, thereby increasing safety on the go. The Opinel pocket knife comes in only one color, a classical light brown with just the brand name written on the side. It, however, makes up for the lack of color variation in the size department as it comes in an astonishing ten size variations. The first four miniature knives do not feature the Virobloc safety ring and will also cost you less.

Pros 

• Virobloc safety ring
• Ambidextrous hand orientation
• It comes in a variety of sizes
• It comes with a guarantee
• Lightweight 

Cons

• Blade can rust
• The blade is flat with no shoulder 
• Moisture will cause the handles to swell

WHO IS IT FOR

This knife is suitable for everyday use, so I would not like to confine it to a particular group of people apart from not recommending it for younger and less mature people in society. It is a must-have for people like ranchers, landowners, tradespeople, hunters, carpenters, campers, outdoor people, and everyone in-between. With its various sizes and lightweight, I can safely say all hands will find a comfortable size. All uses will find dimensions suitable for them, not to mention that the hand orientation is ambidextrous.

BLADE

The blade is made from high-quality carbon steel with excellent cutting quality, good wear resistance, and is easy to sharpen. The tip of the blade is Yatagan style, a traditional Turkish saber inspires this shape, and it makes it easy to cut where you have limited working space. The blade needs to be washed or wiped clean after use and needs to be kept dry all the time, and this is because it is prone to corrosion by moisture, meaning it will rust if not kept dry.

DURABILITY

The Opinel company has been in business since 1890, meaning they have evolved to produce some of the best products in the industry. Though the product comes with a limited warranty, it is very durable. The handle is made from hard, durable Beechwood from France. The metal parts, including the Virobloc locking mechanism, need to be greased regularly depending on how often you use your knife. If the blade feels stuck, use the “Opinel knock” rapping the end of the knife on a hard surface to loosen the blade slightly. In addition, Opinel products are guaranteed and exchanged in case of manufacturing defects.

ACCESSORIES

This knife does not come with any accessories, but it comes in a wide range of sizes, from as short as 2 inches blade length to as long as 4.82 inches blade length. For those handymen, it might be wise to get a couple of sizes to make sure you have just the right size blade for every task.

Our Verdict

I give the Opinel Carbon Steel Folding Knife 3 stars out of 5 and strongly recommend it for those handymen who know how to take care of their tools. Opinel did an excellent job of releasing such a wide range of sizes for the same product. Still, I feel they could have done more in using material more resistant to corrosion, and another thing some people might need is that shoulder that is missing. The swelling of handles means you will have some stress if you drop your knife in your backyard on a rainy evening.