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awp_101
05-12-2020, 01:28 PM
Late last week I lost the Kershaw Blur I’ve been carrying the past 3-4 years. I’m thinking about replacing it with something a little smaller and lighter for general purpose daily use. Opening packages, cutting tags off stuff for my wife, etc.

I’m thinking about an Opinel (https://www.amazon.com/s?k=opinel+knife&crid=2LKR0GGHWHLWY&sprefix=opine%2Caps%2C155&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_5) in the No 3/4/5 range with a stainless steel blade. I’m not terribly concerned with the ability to lock open or closed and the locking models are larger than I want to pocket carry anyway.

How do the wood handles hold up to daily carry? I don’t carry much in that pocket but it won’t be alone in there.

Thanks!

Duelist
05-12-2020, 01:59 PM
I won’t use one for that. I don’t trust it to stay closed when it’s supposed to be closed. That opens up all kinds of bad injury potential. On a belt in a pouch, or in a backpack, sure, whatever, but never in a pocket. Ever.

Maple Syrup Actual
05-12-2020, 02:03 PM
I've never seen one without the locking ring before but I carried a #8, I think, for years. Eventually the joint loosens up a bit but it took a really long time, and I use knives a lot. I doubt you would find the wear on the handle to be an issue unless you usually keep motorcycle chains or mill files in your pocket. It's a pretty durable hardwood.

I really like Opinels; they're a really classic little knife and comfortable in the hand.

Joe S
05-12-2020, 02:15 PM
This is timely, as I just came into one a week or so back. Mine is a No. 8 Carbon. I'd never had an Opinel before, and this this thing is a cutting machine. I've used it for nearly all my cutting needs over that time (including a lot of food prep), and unhesitatingly recommend it.

Mine has the pseudo locking ring, that can also keep it closed. If I was worried about the security of it closed, squeeze the ring tighter or put it in a sheath. Or put a rubber band around it.

Post-Quar, I may well make a minimalist leather or cloth belt sheath for it, and keep it for NYC public friendly use.

OlongJohnson
05-12-2020, 04:35 PM
I have a larger Opinel. I use it around the yard, but would never think to EDC pocket carry one due to the bulk of the round handle.

I went the opposite direction with the skinny, plastic handled Buck 110. I find it clips in the corner of a front pocket quite comfortably. Lots of blade, not much volume. It's much lighter than the wood-and-brass versions, and since the scales come from tooling rather than Bubba at the polishing wheel, you don't have to go to the store and try to inspect it in person through the packaging to find one that was actually made well. It's not art, but it's not going to disappoint, either. I just sanded some reliefs by the thumb stud to get a better bite on it:
https://www.amazon.com/Buck-Knives-0110BKS1-Removable-Reversible/dp/B07H38HX1F/

When I want to be even slimmer or lower-profile, I go with a Swiss Army 1. Single blade, completely non-intimidating to anybody. If there's a good reason to have a blade out, even someone who would normally go, "OMG, a knife, aaaahh!!!" might just think it's reasonable and civilized.
https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Medium-Pocket-Knives/Swiss-Army-1/p/0.8000.26

I do think Victorinox is missing the boat, though. I see no reason they couldn't make a version of it with the screwdriver/can opener element, basically a slightly larger version of the Bantam. Red plastic handles instead of Alox would be fine. Either way, I would buy and carry it in a heartbeat.

Erik
05-12-2020, 04:44 PM
I carried one for years and still have it somewhere. I liked it a lot. The only issue I ever had was that in the summer, when it was hot and humid, and I was sweating, the handle sometimes swelled making it harder to open.

Maple Syrup Actual
05-12-2020, 04:55 PM
When I want to be even slimmer or lower-profile, I go with a Swiss Army 1. Single blade, completely non-intimidating to anybody. If there's a good reason to have a blade out, even someone who would normally go, "OMG, a knife, aaaahh!!!" might just think it's reasonable and civilized.
https://www.swissarmy.com/us/en/Products/Swiss-Army-Knives/Medium-Pocket-Knives/Swiss-Army-1/p/0.8000.26


I really like that SAK 1...I often used to carry an alox-handled Farmer which I found really useful. The same blade, plus a saw, bottle opener and can opener. Really handy.

But as far as innocuous blades go, let me relate this craziness: I had a coworker (sort of - he was another contractor for the same company I was contracting to and he didn't know me at all, as will become clear) that needed to drop by my place one time a number of years ago to hand over some tools, and one of the items he had to drop off was duct-taped to his climbing gear. He was gnawing away at it with his teeth and I said, "I have a knife, hang on" and produced the SAK Farmer.

He visibly recoiled, no joke.

"Why are you carrying a weapon???"

"What, this?"

"Yeah, what's the knife for?"

"It's for cutting stuff like the duct tape you're trying to chew through."

"Yeah but you don't need to carry a knife."

"Hey, if you want to keep chewing, go nuts. You know you have a two pound hammer on that belt, though, right? I mean it's not like you're not carrying something that could be used as a weapon yourself."

"Yeah, but I have to have that, you're just packing a knife around in your pocket."

"Sure coming in handy now, though."

"Yeah, I guess...is that even legal?"

"Well, fortunately, I'm in my own home, otherwise who knows...probably be on the wrong end of a SWAT takedown."

"Yeah, anyway, just take the pouch."

I did not mention that throughout the discussion, I had a sap in my pocket, a Clinch Pick on my belt, and a 1911 in a 5-Shot SME in my pants. Guy probably would have stroked right out. Bizarre.

awp_101
05-12-2020, 08:41 PM
I think I'm going to give this one a spin: Buck Knives 364 Rival I (https://www.amazon.com/Buck-Knives-Rival-Folding-Removable/dp/B01N4QU7AB/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Buck+Knives+364+Rival+I&qid=1589333614&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-1). The blade and OAL are shorter than the Blur and I was starting to see it as overkill (which I normally approve of) for day to day use.

I'm still going to add a small or medium stainless Opinel to the order because they're inexpensive enough and I can always use another good knife in the garage or around the house.

peterb
05-13-2020, 06:51 AM
I went the opposite direction with the skinny, plastic handled Buck 110. I find it clips in the corner of a front pocket quite comfortably. Lots of blade, not much volume. It's much lighter than the wood-and-brass versions, and since the scales come from tooling rather than Bubba at the polishing wheel, you don't have to go to the store and try to inspect it in person through the packaging to find one that was actually made well. It's not art, but it's not going to disappoint, either. I just sanded some reliefs by the thumb stud to get a better bite on it:
https://www.amazon.com/Buck-Knives-0110BKS1-Removable-Reversible/dp/B07H38HX1F/.

This has been my cheap/lightweight/no worries if lost default:
https://www.amazon.com/KA-Bar-Dozier-navaja-cazador-plegable/dp/B000BSWEBY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=13J4QRH4KAIVC&dchild=1&keywords=ka-bar%2Bdozier%2Bfolding%2Bhunter&qid=1589370274&s=sporting-goods&sprefix=dozier%2Bis-bar%2Csporting%2C165&sr=1-1&th=1

My only real gripe is that the thumb stud is one-sided.

Greg
05-13-2020, 08:20 AM
A Kershaw Blur is a hell of a knife. I have a couple of Spydercos and a Benchmade but if you told me I could only carry my Blur for a couple years I wouldn't care.

awp_101
05-13-2020, 01:10 PM
Agreed, I do like the Blur and will probably pick up another down the road.

Erik
05-13-2020, 04:55 PM
I think I'm going to give this one a spin: Buck Knives 364 Rival I (https://www.amazon.com/Buck-Knives-Rival-Folding-Removable/dp/B01N4QU7AB/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Buck+Knives+364+Rival+I&qid=1589333614&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-1). The blade and OAL are shorter than the Blur and I was starting to see it as overkill (which I normally approve of) for day to day use.

I'm still going to add a small or medium stainless Opinel to the order because they're inexpensive enough and I can always use another good knife in the garage or around the house.

I bought one of those recently because I travel to NJ a lot and a need something that I at least think is probably legal in the entire state and is cheap enough that I don't mind losing it. It's nice for the price and a useful little knife. The one thing I don't like is the lock mechanism, which is in the spine of the handle. It's very awkward to use one-handed and for me doing that means when the blade unlocks it swings towards my fingers, which I am not comfortable with. I've been much happier with this one, personally: CRKT Squid (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TFY39EQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

RJ
05-13-2020, 06:01 PM
I've had a couple Opinels with non-stainless blades I picked up at the Hypermarket in Cherbourg on a beer-collection ferry trip across the channel from Portsmouth one day.

I would never carry one of those things in my pocket. I mean heck the blade would not stay open reliably even in my hand. The rotating steel collar was forever moving around the shaft. They ended up rusting and I think I tossed them in the rubbish.

okie john
05-13-2020, 06:10 PM
I won’t use one for that. I don’t trust it to stay closed when it’s supposed to be closed. That opens up all kinds of bad injury potential. On a belt in a pouch, or in a backpack, sure, whatever, but never in a pocket. Ever.

Nice knives, but this.


Okie John

Joe S
05-13-2020, 07:12 PM
Mine has enough friction that I'm not worried about it opening. Time will tell.

Makes me wish I had picked up one of those old Cold Steel Twistmasters when they were out.

awp_101
05-13-2020, 07:17 PM
The one thing I don't like is the lock mechanism, which is in the spine of the handle. It's very awkward to use one-handed and for me doing that means when the blade unlocks it swings towards my fingers, which I am not comfortable with.
I thought about that as well but most of the knives I had as a kid were lockbacks and I still have all of my fingers with any scars on them unrelated to said lockbacks. I'll have to remember the techniques I used and go from there. I'll check out that Squid as well.

Maple Syrup Actual
05-13-2020, 07:37 PM
Mine has enough friction that I'm not worried about it opening. Time will tell.



I spent years with one in my pocket... never had an issue with it.

My dad carried one for at least a decade, maybe more. No problem.

Great little slicers.

Lex Luthier
05-13-2020, 09:13 PM
I found this at a local rummage sale for .50 cents. Carbon Steel blade. Rust pits so deep it looks like wormy driftwood. I had to dunk it in a bowl of oxalic acid solution and scrub it with 0 thru 0000 steel wool and then buff it on a wheel.
Takes and keeps an edge like nobody's business; none of my stainless blades come close.

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I took a square jeweler's file and notched the collar so it would lock the blade closed in my pocket. When twisted open it stays locked open. Likewise now when closed. The blade swings freely when unlocked.

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Taking a lead from famed luthier Wayne Henderson, I have started using it to carve guitar braces; it works well, and cleans right up for salami slicing duty readily. The handle is kind of fat for pocket carry, but if your pockets are deep & wide, it'll work.

I'd buy another when this one dies.

spinmove_
05-14-2020, 07:37 AM
I spent years with one in my pocket... never had an issue with it.

My dad carried one for at least a decade, maybe more. No problem.

Great little slicers.

I carried one for about a year and never had an issue either. Locking collar is still relatively snug. Went back to carrying a Victorinox because it was more size efficient, has way more utility, and happens to be the knife that a grandfather gave me over 30 years ago as my first knife.

awp_101
05-20-2020, 09:37 AM
Got the Rival I and a No5 Sunday and so far I like them. I don't go back to work until next Tuesday but I'm really looking forward to trying both out under my normal working conditions.

The Buck locking mechanism is different from what I'm used to and was thinking of when I read the description. I was expecting it to be near the back of the handle but it's closer the middle, maybe 1/3 of the way back from the blade. It's going to take some work to get used to but so far I don't dislike it.

The No5 OTOH is a complete surprise to me. Even reading the descriptions I just didn't realize how petite this thing is. And light! Even if I don't end up carrying it, I can see a few more of these making their way to live here if this one holds up well.

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Compared to my early 1900s Swedish barrel knife
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Rival and No5 compared
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Both compared with the barrel knife and my Kershaw Blur. Yeah, guess what I found under the edge of the bed the day before the new stuff arrived...:rolleyes:
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