Not having an Opinel is like having no toothbrush , it's like the "Telecaster" of knives if you prefer .. I still have my Opinel Carbon number 8 that i modded the same way back in the 90's , adding also a small leather cord at the end of it. Greetings from France

I like the idea of making a bit of a hollow in the handle so the blade is easier to open.

I admit I didn't have much faith by the middle of the video whether it's worth watching all the way, but I have to say both the blade and the wood handle turned out to be simply beautiful.

These knives are so fun to personalize and make it your own. The carbon blades take a wicked edge. I own several and they all have a special significance. I thought of fashioning a deer antler for a handle. Maybe I will try that next. Awesome knives!

The best bit is when he pulled out the retractable utility knife and then just sharpens his pencil.

I've only heard of these knives in the past week or so, but I have to say it has to be my favorite looking knife I've ever seen...I'm definitely going to invest in a couple myself.... and I like what you did with this one here...

Awesome video, I would love to see something similar with the cold steel pipe hawk!

Your video production really is second to none man, your channel will go very far. Amazing video and mods.

Beautiful - just bought my first opinel last week. Want to try some of these modifications

I really love the burning process (yakisugi technique) but I recently saw a boiling technique, in oil. I tried on a couple of my Opinel (sanded before), in linseed oil, 20 minutes, the color is homogeneous, even in the blade slit and around the collar.

Nice work. It's cool that you can customize the wooden handles if you have the skills. Opinel also makes knives with unfinished handles you can carve. Wish I had some carving skills...that's something I can work on when I retire. 😊

Great looking knife! I just ordered my first Opinel, should be here tomorrow!

Found your channel while researching Opinel mods. Great video. Great channel. You’ve got a lot of interesting content. Sub’d. I’ve known about Opinel knives since I was a kid, but I was always a huge Swiss Army Knife fan - thanks to MacGyver. These days, I’ve been interested in collecting a few of the iconic, legendary blades: the Ka-Bar USMC, Buck, Case pocket knives, Victorinox Swiss Army Knives, and last but not least, Opinel. Knives like Opinel, that have been around as long as dirt, and remain popular throughout the world, have such an enviable status for a reason: they handle the tasks for which they were designed, and they do it with panache. However, the Opinel knives have one extra feature that most knives lack: because of how they are designed, and that wooden handle, they quite naturally lend themselves to the owner making modifications and adding a bit of flair and personalization. Great video. I’ll have to modify my NO. 9 soon.

I am a woodworker by training and I was impressed that you used a rasp, that is a tool that so many guys either never get or if they have one they almost never use.

Now that has come out effin awesome, great job !

Awesome job, man! You've earned yourself a new subscriber :)

I love the beginning : you've one of the best pencil sharpener on the table and you use... a poor plastic knife 🤣

This is easily one of the coolest knife mods I've ever seen. Well done amigo.

I have a No. 6 Carbone with beech handle. I coated the handle with olive oil and baked it in the oven. It came out looking like walnut but with less prominent grain.

I've only carried case knives my entire life, but that will soon change...

Everyone has an idea what they want in a knife and how it should feel in THEIR hand. Make it so!

Looks awesome! My son and I did mustard tiger stripe patina on one today. This gives me new ideas. I would like to try some file work on the spine.

Nice job! Have to say I'm a little envious of you workshop!

if you cook the handle in oil you waterproof it, darken it and you don't need the paint stripper...

Great mods sets the Opinel apart nice individuality.

Great job, but I have noticed that it seems the leading purpose for the Opinel's is food prep, will cold bluing the blade like that prevent it from being safe doing food prep work?

excellent work, don't know if I'd put that much effort into an Opinel

Very pretty. Nice workstation!

Wow, at first, I thought no way. That is a really fine job, and anyone would be happy with that finished knife, great job, great video.

Beautiful work! May i find out which Varathane Wood Stain color you used? Thanks so much!

Superb. Great work, a lovely personalised Opinel. 👍👍

Great video. Now I have the itch to buy another Opinel just to modify it. I have a question though. Is the bolster/locking sleeve stainless or carbon steel? I like the idea of a bare steel blade with a blued bolster but SS won't take a blued finish.

Gorgeous rustic treatment and awesome vid. One question - what was the tool you used to apply focused spray paint to the locking collar? Looks like a space age Dunhill lighter...

That really looks amazing! Just to get the details straight, you are torching the wood, sanding & staining it, right? Could you please tell me which wood stain color that is? I really have to try this, thanks for the amazing video!

I just wish the handles were stabilized wood. They get wet. The wood swells and then you have to slow dry them before you can readily open or close them.

What did you use on the handle after you burnt it?

Kimberley Clark Gloves, my Dad used to work for them in the UK before they moved.

Nice mod like how it came out. What kind of lighter did you first use to char the handle?

Love Opinel knives, nice mods, greaT VID.

HOW COULD You PUT WOOD IN A VICE WITH NO SOFT JAWS

Opinel owes you big time!

Quick question, what was the point for burning the wood?

I've been watching a lot of opinel knife videos and this one just ads to my collection of videos haha

Looks great! Subscribed. Have you seen the pics online where folks who obviously have a lot more carving talent than I (which isn't hard to do) have done detailed carvings on Opinel handles, such as carving the butt end of the handle into boar's heads and so on? Pretty amazing.

Great video. Sometimes frustrating that we can't see the product you're using. What was that you put on the locking collar?

My favorite mod is filing grooves all around the collar for easier opening and grip. Homemade jumping if u will...

all that paint stripper poured out just to put a small dab on a brush

Just a heads up folk, that Blue stuff is poisonous, so if you use the knife for cutting apples, I suggest using vinegar, or if you want a pattern, mustard.

Here is a question for you guys. I am interested in putting a CA finish on my Opinel knife and I am wondering if doing so will make it harder to open? My fear is that it may force moisture afterwards to only wick from the untreated joint area of collar.My Opinel has always been hard to open and the only reason I am putting a finish on it at all is because I want to use a rasp to essentially do the same mod as in the video. The knife is so tight I have to get a pliers to get it open because grabbing by the nail nick doesn’t work anymore. Modding should give me the necessary blade purchase to pull open.

The background music should be "What a Waste" by Ian Dury

After you burned it, what did you used to wipe it down? Was that a high grit sandpaper?

Nice job! I'm definitely trying this with my No.8 👌👍

Great mod, Going to try this out myself, what grit sandpaper did you use?

opinel should hire you, this handle looks way better then original, best!

gonna do my no.9 also with a little cut out. easy reach for the blade . thanks

looks like a real nice penny knife from the olden days, good job.

Nice work! Looks GREAT!

Great video and a very cool mod!

Excellent job! Thanks for the inspiration. Love my Opinels!

It looks much better. I really like this one. Even to buy it and make it the same as you. Nice job.

Mmmh, love your mod work and got to say....I love the music too. Pretty, pretty, pretty, sweet.

Great vid, and great music!!!

I’ve watched a ton of these videos and haven’t seen anyone use Yakisugi on the handle! I know what I’m doing tomorrow! Thanks

hi, would the locking mechanism rust?

Браво маэстро,теперь и я так сделаю.Хорошая идея.👍

Perfect, so beatiful

Why did you use stripper to take the coating off the handle when you went ahead and sanded it afterwards? Why not just sand it from the beginning and not use any chemicals?

What did you put on the lock collar?

love the music!

To be honest nothing can really improve an opinel unlike much French design that knife is eloquent simple and highly practical

how about just dark brown varnish?

Truly impressive. Subscribed.

Where is it that I can get one just like that

Another perfectly good knife knackered up

"Ну красаучик точно ножевище от природы"

Lol he's got a knife, but he gets a knife from the wall to sharpen the pencil

While the blueing looks really nice i would suggest just sinking the blade into a lemon overnight (longer if you want it darker) for a nice forced petunia

I notched the handle just like you did on my first Opinel to make opening easier, then someone showed me how to open it. Hold it near the fulcrum, blade down and tap the opposite end on something hard, the blade will pop out. That wood isn't enhanced by stain, IMHO, no figure at all.

I like. I'm going to mod mine with a couple of these ideas.

Wonderfull mod buddy I love the shape but what love on top of it is the blade color mod that's awsome👍👍👍 you have an impressive tools wall 😍😍😍

What is that "thing" u use at 4.57 ? Very nice vid. Keep up the good work and vids

you basically gave it a patina that would have taken years to develop naturally i would like to see what it looks like after heavy use if possible. great craftsmanship

Tu sais que le couteau ouvert, tu peux verrouiller la lame en tournant la bague métallique ?

I love these guitar riffs! what are these songs called?

The pain stripper seemed a bit over the top. Just scrape the varnish off.

Did the French army carry these knives. I'm just wondering because the company was founded in the late 1800s and are very well built. Along with being cheep to manufacture and buy, since France wasn't the richest nation at the time.

Почему без разборки? Он разбирается элементарно...

You did not try to disassemble the design? Did you study humanities?

Now it looks old and been rolling around in the bottom of a truck mechanics tool box... 😁

Looks sweet brother!

Looks great. How much to do mines?

Pourquoi il y a que des anglais sur un custom de couteau français ? Notre coupe fromage est si connu que ça ?

Dude i tool a swig of my beer almost at the exact same time 🤣🤣🤣

Water test will fail. Water protection first - Disassemble, tick oil, and after it do any other mods.

Very nice 👍🏻 knife, better music 🎶, please post where to get the music

very Nice done buddy I did one myself a while ago atb Steve

That looks fantastic ......... I want one!

All those tools and you don't have a simple sanding disk?

Good work!! 04:18 what is super blue exactly? is it make patina on carbone steel blades? or to make patina is easy with winegar?

wait what in the god damn??? you blued stainless steel?? ive tried hat with my bowie, its stainless and wont take the blueing, same bottle too.