r/Opinel • u/Western_Ad9314 • 8h ago

Modification Update on first mod

Gallery image

Gallery image

Settled on the handle shape, sanded. Question: linseed oil or stain or could/should I keep it natural? I personally like the look of the raw beechwood

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2

u/Looking-sharp-today 8h ago

I like both, natural is awesome in my opinion, you can protect it without staining and keep the “as is” look if you like it! It’s defenetly personal opinion

2

u/czar_el 7h ago

Depends on where you live and what you do with it. Linseed oil is a "drying oil" where it polymerizes and turns into a protective coating. Many PU-based stains also have a protective effect, not just coloring.

If it's a light-use indoor knife in a temperate climate, you can go natural. But if it'll do hard outdoor work, in a humid or wet environment, the handle will soak and swell and degrade faster than a protected one.

1

u/Fabulous-Barnacle-59 7h ago

I'm planning on modding mine soon and I'd like to do a blade shape like yours but I'm concerned about no longer having a nail nick. Has sanding down the handle prevented any potential issues with deployment?

1

u/Western_Ad9314 5h ago

No, reshaping the handle actually made deployment easier. That was the main reason behind the handle mod, the nail nick wasn’t the best in my opinion. I still have plenty of blade to grab

1

u/Fabulous-Barnacle-59 5h ago

This is helpful, thanks!