Opinel, advanced.

I am Opinelfan, own my Opinel No.10 for over 10 years and am not the original owner. Every grandma here looking in the Greater to Solingen, in the kitchen there is nothing better and sharper than a small non stainless kitchen knife which is here called Klöößchen or Zöppken. The steel starts, when allowed to lie in the water then it rusts, it is not dishwasher-but you use it every day because it's still the best knife there is. In principle, the Opinel is exactly one. But just from France :-)
I'm over the years a real fan of my Opinel No.10 become and care it properly. Before each use it is swung quickly and easily four or five times over the Wetzeisen and it's razor sharp again. And after each use I go short with a piece of cloth or, if nothing else is there about it with my fingers and so it remains to me in good condition. Wen you do not do that, then it is truncated either at the tenth use, or sets to rust. So it's a perfect knife for those whom some work is not too much.

Now I bought a Opinel No.8 for my girlfriend and I have an Opinel dazubestellt No.12 with on that occasion. There is already a Klopper! For small hands definitely too big. It was in the round at the top is not really sharp, but that was one thing two minutes to get it here as well razor sharp.

A small disadvantage of the wooden handle it is to be mentioned. If the knife already hundreds of times was to work out on and again, and the wood swells slightly due to moisture, it may be that the blade gets stuck in the handle and can be opened only with a lot of effort. But that happens really only after one has already learned so much his Opinel appreciate that the well does not detract from the pleasure. And if it does, then you simply buys a new one. Cost you hardly anything.

Conclusion: The Opinel No.12 in non-stainless carbon steel is a low-priced, razor-sharp knife for big hands to send her some TLC knife. You feel addressed? Then to cross! For everyone else, I recommend the (still very large for a pocket knife) Opinel No.10 or No. 8 (which is still a larger blade than a "large" Swiss Offizertaschenmesser) stainless steel. This is still very sharp and straightforward.