My go-to knife
is an Uncle Henry 897. I watch for them at gunshows, I pick them up online, because I like them enough that I don’t want to find myself without one.
On the other hand, when i travel, I have taken to carrying an Opinel #8. A really nicely made and simple knife, with an honesty one doesn’t expect, it’s abrand new knife that I would not be afraid to lose, because it can be replaced for a few bucks.
Here’s an amazon link, though I have found them at gunshows for $8.
You could do worse. I carried it all over the Netherlands, because I was unsure of the local laws there regarding knives. Figured that one should have been familiar to europeans.
11 comments Og | Uncategorized
I love Opinels, have been buying them since the mid-1980’s. They are a true working man’s knife. The #8 is probably the smallest that will fit comfortably in a pocket – – the larger ones you start getting “Is that an Opinel in your pocket, or…” questions. The #10 is approximately the same size as a Buck 110, and the #12 is large enough to carve a roast.
France’s other knife for the working man, the Douk-Douk, is another quality knife at a reasonable price point (but not as reasonable as the Opinel). For sheath knives, Moras are the equivalent of Opinels – – cheap and good.
I carry a Gerber LST, with the 2″ half-serrated blade. GRP handle, with molded in checkering, the thing is only about 1/4″ in. thick, total.
Blade profile is slightly drop-point, and it’s a lock back system like a Buck 110.
Light as a feather, scalpel sharp. It’s not difficult to keep an edge on it, and it’ll hold that edge well, through all but true abuse.
At less than $20 retail, it’s in the same neighborhood as your Opinel, but no, I’ve never seen one sub-$10, either.
Your point about carrying one the locals would recognize in Urp is one I’ve filed away for future reference. Sadly though, even that blade would be a jail sentence in (once great) Britan.
Though I do have an LST Mini, with a 1″ blade and a keyring. Belfast cop told me that one is legal, anyway.
Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX
I have several moras I carry hunting. They make quick work of field dressing. That and a Colorado gut hook to unzipper the belly, I am good for most of the large game.
Might have to get one of these opinel’s to see what it is like. I sure like the Swedish knives so might was well get a French one as well.
it’s a good honest plain knife. It’s clearly not designed to last forever, but what is? It’s a knife made to be used for a couple years and replaced, at that price. And apparently you can get carbon steel as well. And yes, the Moraknivs are awesome.
Here’s the Opinel USA website, Og. The carbon steel knives are the originals, of course, and my own personal favorites, although I’ve purchased both carbon and stainless, and they both take a *wicked* sharp edge.
You can even, if you like, buy an unfinished knife burl and custom carve your own knife.
http://www.opinel-usa.com/
Very cool.
I think the best value in modern locking folders is the Ontario Knife Company RAT #1 or #2, depending on the size knife you want to carry. I love absolutely everything about them except the full flat grind, which makes centering them properly in the jaws of my Wicked Edge sharpening system a bit of a bugger. You can usually get them from Amazon for around $25 and they have features you normally have to pay 4-6 times as much for with other brands.
My absolute favorite knife (of the moment! :D ) is a Spyderco Gayle Bradley Mk2. It’s a hell of a slicer for under $130, built like a bank vault and I love M4 steel. Takes a while to sharpen, but once it is sharp it holds that edge for a long time.
My EDC is a Kershaw Skyline, simple, durable, and cheap enough that if I lose it (or need to dump it, since I work in NYC) I’m not out much. My knives get carried a lot and used a little, so weight and rust are bigger issues than how long it stays sharp under usage (although it’s wickedly sharp, and a few passes on a sharpener every few weeks keeps it that way).
I also have a Kershaw Chill that’s even lighter and smaller than the Skyline, I carry that every once in a while for a change.
A couple months ago I bought three Buck 110’s from Amazon,amazing knives but a little big for EDC pocket carry (and NYC specifically forbids carrying a knife on a belt).
A knife for me is a tool, as are the people who favor stupid laws that people from carrying one of humanities oldest weapons. If someone were to come at me with ANY contact weapon, I’d much rather have a claw hammer than a knife to defend myself with.
I like the Case Sowbelly, basically the same knife as the Uncle Henry.
Indeed, Boss, that’s my “Dress” knife.
I’ve had a series of small Case knives, made in US from big box stores. They take a nice edge are small and about $10 so when I lose them or the TSA takes them I don’t get to bothered. Open packages, cuts apples, sharpens pencils just fine.