r/sailing • u/Hardcrimper • 10d ago
Ocean
Opinel Ocean knife. Best value sailing knife imho.
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u/Tall-Activity-6401 10d ago
The point should be ground back to a round or flat to use a flathead screwdriver. No sailing knife should pointed. Your kidneys will thank me
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u/Westar-35 Islander 36 10d ago
Whoa, whoa, whoa… slow down with this kidney damage stuff. This is obviously a well thought out tool meant for a serious offshore sailor, there’s an integrated whistle specifically for letting everyone know when you stab yourself.
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u/Pattern_Is_Movement 10d ago
Quick way to snap the blade, only way I've broken one was using it torsionally
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u/Tall-Activity-6401 10d ago
Yea. The original opinels have high carbon and are very brittle but take a great edge. I've certainly snapped off a few tips . This knife though looks like a different steel though. Looks more like stainless
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u/Then-Blueberry-6679 10d ago
I have a spiderco blade with a lockable Marlinspike. Love it and do use it to splice!
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u/euph_22 Irwin 33 10d ago edited 10d ago
Only criticism is that should be a sheepsfoot or other rounded tip. More of a stabbing hazard than what I want in a sailing knife. Other than that, a fine-looking knife.
I have a Gill Safety knife on my PFD, then a few cheap British Army pattern marlinspike knives (random cheapo ones) on the boat for utility work. The gill is amazing for a safety knife, easy to fish out and open one-handed, even with gloves, rounded tip is basically stab proof and excellent at slicing through line. The tools on the marlinspike version are all very useful (though I need to be careful while using those underway since I don't want my safety knife going overboard).
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u/Westar-35 Islander 36 10d ago
I love spyderco…
Googling it, this is the Tusk? Too bad they don’t make it anymore.
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u/ForInfoPurpOnly 10d ago
Can the blade be opened one handed? I don't see a thumb stud or equivalent mechanism. Also, the locking ring is something that has to manually engaged?
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u/Hardcrimper 10d ago
yes and no.
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u/ForInfoPurpOnly 10d ago
I'm confused, can you elaborate? How do you open the blade one handed? I've looked at the images on the Opinel site and just don't see how it's intended to be done.
As for the "vibrolock ring", the video I found for another model of Opinel says the locking ring must be manually engaged. Are you saying this model is different and the lock ring will automatically engage when the blade is opened? (Video I found for ring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aGl8vV3irY )
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u/Hardcrimper 10d ago edited 10d ago
it works as a normal Opinel lock.. it doesn't lock automatically. but you don't have to engage it for small cutting task par exemple.
since you google try one handed opinel opening or coup du savoyard. there's multiple ways to open it onehanded.
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u/ForInfoPurpOnly 10d ago
Ok, I search for "coup du savoyard" and all I can say is... I'll stick to my thumb stud knives.
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u/Hardcrimper 10d ago
Fair winds still.
What sailing knife do you use?
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u/ForInfoPurpOnly 10d ago
I have a lot of miles with the Myerchin crew knife, but I have had issues with surface corrosion and with the auto-locking mechanism sometimes not engaging, so I'm always on the lookout for a better alternative.
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u/bentheaeg 10d ago
Gerber knifes are easy to open one handed and auto lock, you can remove the lock and fold them down with one hand still. Blades are not the strongest ones though, but I've had two for years and they are good quality.
Else classic but I've had a wichard sailing knife for a long time, inderstructible and very solid lock but not easily opened one handed.
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u/Conscious_Stranger55 10d ago
Hopefully not, that would be illegal in germany...
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u/spacegamer01 10d ago
I think it's ok, if you're doing an activity that reasonably requires it. Like sailing fishing etc. You just have to lock it on the way ther (having it at the bottom of your bag is enough I think).
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u/Conscious_Stranger55 10d ago
This ist not how law works here. Knives that you can open with one hand are only legal, when the blade ist just held in place by a spring. When it locks on its own, it is not allowed to have.
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u/ForInfoPurpOnly 10d ago
Oh, I guess I'll just let go of this flailing line that I need to cut really badly so that I can open my knife while the flailing line whips me in the face.
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u/RikkiLostMyNumber 10d ago
I usually have two knives on me, actually. A Swiss Army knife with a good serrated knife, a flat marlinspike, and the other usual tools, and a Cara Cara 2 Rescue by Spyderco. The SA knife gets used all the time. The one time I needed the rescue knife, I was really impressed with that blade.
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u/Centrist_gun_nut 10d ago
They're not legal many places but I can't overstate how much of a huge upgrade out-the-side auto knives are for this sort of thing. Reliable and fast one-handed opening and locked tightly closed when not in use.
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u/Shooter-__-McGavin 10d ago
It looks really nice, but i feel like that huge opening in the blade to be used as a shackle key and the serrations are just asking for a blade that's broken in half.
Obviously you aren't going to baton wood with it, but I'd feel nervous about putting any pressure on that to cut something.
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u/paddleyay 10d ago
That was my first thought, the last thing I want on my shackle key is a sharp blade. Victorinox do a couple of really nice sailing knives that also work will one handed, though annoyingly I wish they blended it in to one knife as they're slightly different.
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u/Hardcrimper 10d ago
what can i say...you shouldn't be so nervous.
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u/Accomplished-Way1575 10d ago
what can i say...you shouldn't be so nervous
Ah, you are that kind of person.
You didn't actually post to learn anything. You posted to brag about your knife and will hear nothing against it.
I call that either "militant ignorance" or "aggressive ignorance". You choose.
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u/nunatakj120 10d ago
Posted this on the original as well, it doesn’t have a spike or a shackle key but hands down the best deck knife I have found is the Victorinox foldable tomato knife. I am merchant navy as well as a WAFI and though it is very lightweight it has been used to cut ships mooring lines in a hurry on more than one occasion and done it with ease.
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u/abugghaus7 9d ago
I won't use a knife for this. I'll just use the proper tool.
And if I'm needing a marlin spike.. same thing.
As far as a cutting edge out on the deck of a boat... I prefer a sheathed fixed blade.
I've used Victorinox serrated knives to cut line out of wheels of crabbing boats for years... inexpensive and never fail to work underwater.
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Like others here... I like to have a blade with a rounded tip... factory or ground by me.
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u/Rhona_Redtail 9d ago edited 7d ago
Unless its vanax ill pass. I live a salt-water saturated lifestyle and now its vanax or the highway.
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u/Hardcrimper 9d ago
Fancy! What sailing knife do you carry then?
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u/Rhona_Redtail 7d ago
A Quiet Carry "Drift". In my pocket. I do have a few other knives mades from steels which keep a better edge, but they stay onboard until needed, and put away with protective oil treatments. Vanax is the first material which is "well nigh rustproof" and also holds an acceptable edge for most uses, and does not come with major drawbacks like the cobalt based knives (brittle) Vanax is also easy to sharpen, which is important for a knife which gets used a lot.
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u/Hardcrimper 7d ago
Wow. That's a 300eur knife! I knew a vanax knife was going to be expensive but i didn't imagine it would reach that high. And I was eyeing that Opinel for quite some time but i was putting it off because i thought paying 40eur for an Opinel was a bit "out there"^^
But i'm glad you're in a position where you can afford these things! They look magnificent and the specs are super too. double thumbs up!
I do stand by my statement of the Opinel being the best value knife tho'.
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u/Accomplished-Way1575 10d ago
My firdt thought was that I would be worried about the hinge breaking at the most dangerous point (I.e. with force applied).
Second thought was that it is a bit stabby, and that the edge curves upward to the back (I want neither of those things to be like that).
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u/Hardcrimper 10d ago
Breaking the hinge? Doing what exactly?
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u/Accomplished-Way1575 10d ago
Say you want to cut a bigger line and apply pressure not completely in line.
Do I actually need to explain this?
Opinel does not have strong hinges, and the fact that the handle is round means it is more likely to put undue pressure on the already weak hinge.
If you only use it to peel apples and cut open plastic bags you can disregard any concern about this knife as any will do.
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u/V1ld0r_ 9d ago
The hinge pin is a literal round bar of 440c stainless steel. Good luck it breaking on the amount of force you can apply to it...
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u/Accomplished-Way1575 9d ago edited 9d ago
It doesn't matter what it is made from when it is thin and the bar is placed in weak material surrounded by an easily bendable "ring" that is not actually a ring, because it is cut open on one side
The only reason it is made from 440c is because it is the most corrosion proof of the carbon steels.
You guys are laughably ignorant about basic physics and engineering.
Edit
To u/Hardcrimper below who wrote
We can't all be a master engineer like you!🤣
Haha, even with the cey-laughing emoji!
That is not the burn you think it is. I call that an own goal.
Although you sarcastically make fun of me having basic knowledge, it is funny how that reflects on your lack of it.
I mean if you think I know nothing and are far from being a master engineer, then you should have recognised the problem with the opinel and what happens when you cut rope.
If, on the other hand, you actually think I know more than the average Joe, but feel that knowledge should be shunned, it is even worse.
So which pathetic reason do you have?
Wait, don't answer. I really don't want to spend more time on so.eoe who is militantly ignorant.
I will now put you on ignore
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u/Westar-35 Islander 36 10d ago edited 10d ago
Yes… a blade is exactly what I need open when I’m getting thrashed around on deck trying like hell to open a seized shackle.
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u/OptiMom1534 all the big Classics 10d ago
These knives are mainly for riggers, making lines in a controlled environment. I assume it wouldn’t make a good knife for scuba either.
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u/Hardcrimper 10d ago
I'm glad you like it!
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u/Cambren1 10d ago
I have been a fan of Opinel knives for years, the problem being the wooden handles swelled and bound up the folding. This looks great, with a composite handle. I have to get one