Designed over 130 years ago by Joseph Opinel, the Opinel foldable knife is now a real object of the French heritage. If its range has been developed through the years, the simple and sturdy design which makes the Opinel so special has crossed the ages with brio.

The characteristics of the traditional OPINEL foldable knife

The Opinel knife really represents the Savoyard spirit, the region where it was created. It is sturdy, simple and efficient, and made with 5 elements: a blade, a fixed ferrule, a turning ferrule, a rivet and a handle.

The blade

The blade of an Opinel foldable knife is as resistant as possible, thanks to several elements:

  • The Yatagan blade: A slightly-convex blade with a reflex sharpening angle
  • Corrosion-resistant stainless steel with a highly-resistant mechanism
  • A blade which folds back so that it does not touch the sides, in order to limit frictions.

The handle

The Opinel handle, whose shape has remained unchanged since its creation in 1890, is rustic. It is made with beech tree wood, selected for its resistance to shaping. This wood is varnished to protect it from humidity and stains.

The ferrules

The Opinel foldable knife has 2 ferrules: 

  • The fixed ferrule, necessary to assembly the blade and the handle solidly
  • The Virobloc©, a patented blocking system of the blade which has largely contributed to the reputation of this knife. A turning ferrule is added to the fixed one, and thanks to a slide system, the blade can be blocked both when the knife is open and closed.

WHERE ARE THE OPINEL KNIVES PRODUCED?

The Opinel pocket knives are made in France in a factory located in Chambéry, in Savoie. The latter employs 130 people, including 75 who are directly related to the production. There is also a museum in Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, the Opinel’s historical city. The company is still run by Joseph Opinel’s descendants.

WHICH NUMBER SHOULD YOU CHOOSE?

The numbers of the Opinel knives refer to their size. Les Artisans du Couteau offers you the most polyvalent and functional knives, which suit most hand sizes and many uses. We have therefore selected knives n°08, n°09 and n°10, which can perfectly adapt to the shape of your hand. They are perfect for daily and frequent tasks: DIY, gardening, cooking…

N°8 knives

N°9 knives

N°10 knives

WHAT IS THE BESTSELLER AMONG THE OPINEL FOLDABLE KNIVES?

The most popular is by far the traditional Opinel foldable knife n°08! This is mainly due to the fact that it was the first one to be created, and which was therefore designed to satisfy most people. The n°08 knife is made with an 8.5 cm pointed blade, a comfortable 9 cm beech-wood handle, and 45 grammes of efficiency! It can adapt to any times and uses. The little pocket knife is passed from generation to generation, and its silhouette, unchanged since 1890, has made it both famous and endearing.
As a popular object, the Opinel n°08 knife is an indispensable companion: simple, faithful and efficient. More than a knife, this is a multifunction tool, an objet d’art which makes France proud!


If the Opinel foldable knife became famous thanks to its traditional n°08 knife, the brand is now expanding its range. Les Artisans du Couteau has selected for you the bestsellers and must-haves: traditional foldable knives, top-of-the-line knives, sommeliers knives, gardening tools, but most of all, Opinel table knives.

Paypal VISA American Express MasterCard Chronopost Colissimo 100% artisanal et régional