Model Number 7. Lime Patina. Some funky file work and blade mod.
Schmucktelli Co Kiko paracord bead.
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Tag: opinelmod
Cute Number 4 Opinelmod
First time working on a tiny Number 4 Opinel. I made the tip blunt to be used a an emergency little flat head driver. I will probably patina the copper chain.
Three Fresh Opinels Delivered
A number 10, 9, and 8 arrived. Love the walnut for hand carving.
Using my Flexcut mini pelican for some woodcarving on the handles.
The Boxer | Opinel Modification No.7
The Boxer: A No.7 Carbone. It went through quite a transformation. The hammered texture came as I tried to save a bad metallic silver paint job. I carved the paint off with a Flexcut Mini Pelican knife. Then I refined the texture with the Dremel.
Ebony wood stain and a coat of semi matt polyurethane. Black paracord with a diamond knot. One off Apocalyptic Dog tag copper bead.
Originally the tip wasn’t going to be so square. I tried a few patina patterns. The handle shrunk along the way. I do use it everyday to open boxes. Instagram gave it some love.
I eventually changed the lanyard bead to a smaller, more squared shape. I also wanted to show the little curve in the back of the handle, so I went with the single strand instead of the full loop through.
Opinel Modification Holding Platform | 7 Mods on Deck
So I usually don’t have more than 5-7 OpinelMods going at once. Some just seem to hang around a little longer until I fully commit to something. From left to right ( I am going to give them all names).
1. The Persain Dagger: Opinel No. 9 that I put these scales on. I got them at the only knife show I ever went to, about 14 years ago. They were black when I started, and now they are green after sanding. I am not really sure if they are supposed to be black or green. I am pretty sure this was a mediocre save of a botched job.
2. Onion Breath: Opinel No. 10 In my kitchen. It is now black handled and full black- out patina on the blade. My wife is allergic to onions. This is the only blade that I cut onions with when there is an onion emergency.
3. Evolving: Opinel No. 8 Ebauche. It has a mosaic pin and the shape is getting refined with hand sanding.
4. Opi-Opal: Opinel No.10. My sister has this in her kitchen on her yacht in Florida. It has a turquoise inlay that surrounds a real white opal that I ground into a mystical triangle shape.
5. Caroline: Opinel No.8 Olivewood Ebauche. This one has changed a lot. That back cutout gets another piece of exotic hardwood (don’t know what it is). I will probably give this to a mother at my son’s school. She is the only person at the Shabbat service that showed any interest in fine cutting utensils.
6. The Opi-Defender: Opinel No. 10. The defender is the evolution of the Opi-fighter after the back of it broke off. It is a nice size one handed work knife. Fits nice in pocket of my Knife & Flag apron.
7. Untitled for now. Not quite done with it. As of now it needs some minor refinements. Polished up the blade. I have used this around the studio. The size is really comfortable. Not a hard use knife, but very light.
Opinel Modification on a No. 7
This little No. 7 is a useful pocket knife. It has a nice big hole in the back that you can attach all kinds of cool lanyards to. It is a great little box cutter. The blade shape is somewhere between a Wharncliffe and a Sheepfoot. It feels safer if you leave it open on a desk.
Blade Shapes
Opinel Modifications with Thumb Studs
I get a lot of questions regarding the thumb studs on some of my mods:
I order them from USAKnifemaker, along with some of the shields I use.
“Opi-Defender” is born : Opinel Modification
The back of the “Opi-Fighter” broke off. Good to know that now. All I did was drop it on some concrete. Re-worked it into the “Opi-Defender.” I like this tip better. It’s like a little kubaton.
Olive Wood Ebauche Opinel Modification
I really love the smooth feel of the olive wood handles.
Opinel Knives in Mid-Modification
A few favorites from last year. The bottom one has changed quite a bit. I’ll post a recent photo next
My Latest Opinel Modifications
Here are a few recent ones. These have a nice amount of tourquise inlay.
Big Sexy Number 12 Opinel Modification
Not Sure where this one is going, but it’s a nice piece of wood to work
Stingray Opinel Modification with Mustard Patina
Opinel No. 8 ebauche. Mustard drops patina. Stingray skin handle accent. Thumb post added for one hand opening.
“The Gardener” Opinel Modification
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The Reaper | Opinel Modification with a Bad-Ass Attitude.
The Wizard – Opinel Modification with a Citrine Crystal
Two No.12 Opinel Mods. “Cain and Abel”
“Opi-Fighter” Mod- Custom 1 Hand opening Opinel
Blade Mod on an Opinel No.12
Last cuts on the carbon steel blade.
The whole process took about a half hour.
I stopped many time to sponge some cool water on the blade. This steel is pretty thick on a 12. On some of the smaller mods, I have cooked off the tips by accident.
The “Wizard” | OpinelMod
Coiling some copper wire around the citrine crystal. I was going to wrap the bottom of the crystal in a thin leather strip. I decided against it because I like the cold temperature of the stone and it conducts well through the copper.
