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Opinel #6 handle modification (small job)

I had to get an Opinel knife a while back. They came highly recommended by someone I trust which is as close to holding a gun to my head as you can get without the gun. lol

I bought the Opinel #6. It's the smallest model they have with a lock. I have to admit the claims about the carbon steel proved true IMO. Takes a great edge and holds it well. The blade is thin and slices like a monster. Since the blade is the knife IMO these are a must have for any collection or pocket. Simple, no frills excellent knives. These make great loaner knives also. Something you are not ashamed to hand someone and if they "accidentally" put it in their pocket it won't break your bank. OR, if you "accidentally" put someone else's Opinel in YOUR pocket you can be assured it didn't break his/her bank. :)

However, the handle was a little uncomfortable to me. So I shaped it to be more comfortable. I had seen this mod done by someone else (youtube I think) which gave me the idea. Of course if you sand one spot on wood you need to do the whole thing. For now I am leaving the wood natural with only some moisture treatment. Here are a couple of pictures (before and after).

The handle is more comfortable now making it even more pleasurable to use. I also forced a patina on the blade and sanded a little wood to expose the nail nick a little more. This picture was taken before the "nick mod". It's not much anyway.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by peter force on September 9, 2013 at 10:37

i have an opinel #9 .. before i had any idea about opinel knives at all i pickd it up years and years ago aty a fea markt for 1$.. its still the only Opinle i have to this day..BUT GREAT KNIFE.i love the locking system... also i brought it up becuase it just so happened to be th first knife i ever did any kind of MOD to..only to the blade as i didnt like the shape it was at the time.

i also used a grinder and added a nice deep grind pattern to the blade. but its in collection 1.

Permalink Reply by peter force on September 9, 2013 at 10:40

where that nail nick is at..if you are going for one handed opening you could always add a piece of soldered brass?

Permalink Reply by John Bamford on September 9, 2013 at 11:48

Thanks Peter, have just done an easy open mod on it cos the blade is getting so thin that the nailnick hides in the handle.

peter force said:

i am liking the age on that knife my friend... the hand patina on the wood gives it nice color.

John Bamford said:

Maybe sort of getting the hang of this, old dog and new tricks as they say. Anyway my edc of the past 20yrs rather used but still good. Will try to do my new edc soon new GEC , think I could be very happy with it ,hope it does as well as this has.