Recent Knife finds!

[lzenglish]

I picked these up in the past week, so I thought I would share them. The first one is an "OPINEL", made in France. This is my first French knife find ever, and the idea behind the locking mechanisim, and the cool trademark, impresses me. Then I found one made from an Old Timber Hand Saw, by a Craftsman in Bodega Bay, CA. 20 plus years ago, according to the seller. Last I found the 2 Imperial Boy Scout knives, circa 1958-1962 at a thrift shop Yesterday. All with no chips, and in great shape.

Wayne

[Papaw]

Cool stuff! I like knives of all types. The Opinel is new to me.

[64longstep/Brian]

Nice!!!

[lzenglish]

Cool stuff! I like knives of all types. The Opinel is new to me.

Thanks Noel, and Brian! When you open the Opinel, you twist to lock-in-place the blade, with the the piece just behind the blade!

Wayne

[Branson]

Thanks Noel, and Brian! When you open the Opinel, you twist to lock-in-place the blade, with the the piece just behind the blade!
Wayne

And on the newer ones,  you can twist to lock it closed, which was a very good addition.  I have one I always carry in my back pocket, next to my wallet, making the locked close a real necessity. 

[mrchuck]

Back in the early 60's, I took two 5gallon bucket fulls off the Viet Cong we captured.
Every VC had one somewhere. Very light, and stayed up their rectums when they ran.
 
I only kept one of them, which was stuck into me, so I figured then,,, it became mine.

I keep it in the top of my roll-away, and fondle it from time to time, like old farts do when remembering something.

[kxxr]

Apologies if I'm the only one laughing here ... but damn! Branson points out that the new ones lock, and that's good 'cause he carries it in back right next to the wallet.
But those wily VC, they carried the unlockable version and so kept them right up the chute, well away from their wallets. Smart.
They aren't spring loaded I guess, so not as risky as it sounds at first.
MrChuck, I, for one, would like to hear 'the rest of the story' if you're up to it. If not, I certainly understand that too. Was the stabber a prisoner?

[Branson]

Apologies if I'm the only one laughing here ... but damn! Branson points out that the new ones lock, and that's good 'cause he carries it in back right next to the wallet.
But those wily VC, they carried the unlockable version and so kept them right up the chute, well away from their wallets. Smart.
They aren't spring loaded I guess, so not as risky as it sounds at first.
MrChuck, I, for one, would like to hear 'the rest of the story' if you're up to it. If not, I certainly understand that too. Was the stabber a prisoner?

Well, the worst thing that can happen to me without the lock is slicing my pocket while trying to pull out the knife.  I don't want to think about that other hiding place.

[mrchuck]

Got stuck during a daily tunnel cleaning recon. Was "helo-evac" back to Saigon, sewed up, no infection and flown back to "hamlet pacification" 7 days later.
Took the drain tube and stitches out myself,, and stitched that closed.
A sturdy, very light knife, sharp as hell steel.
I can draw you a picture of one in my sleep.

[kxxr]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunnel_rat
wow and holeee crap!!

[scottg]

Opinel knives come in at least 4 sizes.  Little 3" model up to a  6-7" (closed) toad sticker size. Huge.
  They were the best knife for the least money, why they were invented.

 The Imperial scout knives are the ones following the more famous Camillus pattern, that were sold for years and years.
    Before that, the fabulous Ulster scout knives.  Jigged bone handles and very thick snappy springs. Probably weigh twice what the Imperials weigh, or more. Ulster was not messing around, they are fine knives.
 
 The first Girl Scout knives (that I know of) come from Utica. Real bone handles, but sporty aluminum frames/bolsters. A nise spear blade, with a long pull, and fairly weak springs.  Easier for the girls to get out.
  Later the GS handles went to black celluloid and lost the bail to hang them off a pack or whatever. 

 I like the chefs knife. Nothing like homemade.
   yours Scott

[64longstep/Brian]

I like the chefs knife. Nothing like homemade.
   

I'm with you on that one...

[scottg]

Oops I was wrong. I just looked it up.
 Opinels come in 10 sizes, plus a dinky keychain model.
I never realized there were that many!
  yours Scott