Re: Opinel knives

"Chas" <chasclements@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message 
news:B6GdnRrJhedcWPLVnZ2dnUVZ_uOdnZ2d@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> "DaveT" <justask@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote
>>> What do y'all think about Opinel folding knives?
>
> I *love* Opinel knives!
> I buy them for cheap gifts and for hard use/misuse- I first saw them in 
> Europe forty years ago.
> The idea of relieving an area by the nail nick is a good one- I've done 
> that on several, including for my old lady of the moment.
> I buy carbon steel blades exclusively- never had one damaged by rust. Of

> course, I take pretty good care of all my gear, so it's never a problem
> After I do the relief by the nail nick, I flame the whole wood handle.
It 
> takes off the bull**** finish they use and exposes the grain. I steel
wool 
> the charred areas for a nice contrasting surface.
> If you can't own but one knife, I'd choose the Opinel every time.
>

I've had a few in my time too, brilliant knives.  My very first one I
found 
stuck into the ground beside a road sign ,it was a number 6 as far as I
can 
remember.  The very tip of the blade was chipped off so I took it home, 
cleaned it up and used the back step to put a point on it again.  I also 
blued the blade with airgun bluing.  Had it for years, but eventually lost

it when I threw it at a tree and it glanced off into the undergrowth (I
was 
about 14).  I bought another one (also a number 6) which vanished over the

years and then just recently I got one off ebay (a number 9).  Might have
a 
go at taking the varnish off like you mentioned.  Although it seems to
have 
a nicer finish than the old gloss varnish on the other ones I've had.