Opinel is one of the brands that should be etched in everyone's mind. It is a traditional knife that we've certainly come across at some point in our lives. The origins of this brand date back to the early 19th century and to the family-run blacksmith shop bearing the Opinel name.
However, the first world-famous knife as we know it was created by Joseph Opinel, the third generation of blacksmiths in his family. It was not made until 1890. However, the world did not see mass production until 1897, when a dozen knives bearing only the numbers 1-12 appeared on the market. These were graded according to size. But the first factory and real mass production did not begin until 1901 in Pont de Gevoudaz.
WHAT DOES A GENUINE OPINEL LOOK LIKE?
The typical Opinel folding knife has a uniform appearance in most cases - a straight wooden grip with a folding blade secured by a rotating ring. This is what a true Opinel looks like.
OPINEL TODAY
Nowadays Opinel does not only produce the classic Opinel mushroom knives, but also kitchen knives, steak knives and, for example, children's knives and gardening knives. The classic Opinel mushroom knives are the most common in our selection.
These can have stainless steel or carbon steel blades. In most cases, the handles are made of high-quality beech wood, shaped to fit both the hand and the pocket. The most popular models in our range include the Opinel 8 gardening knife with a specially shaped grip and the Opinel 12 with a carbon blade.