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Opinel 7 Carbone: Unboxing and Initial Thoughts

This was an impulsive buy for me. I just happen to be at the basement of Makati Cinema Square and found out first hand that the place is full of tactical shops selling guns, knives, vests, bullets, military gear, etc. I found a small store that sells mostly knives and bags. It is one of the stores that don't sell guns. I was a bit afraid to walk in a gun store.

As I browsed through their inventory, I noticed they sold Opinel knives. I asked to see the number 8 and 7 in both carbon steel and stainless steel. I opted for the number 7 carbon steel Opinel since the size was just right for me and I've been wanting a carbon steel folding knife for a while now.

Got this for a shop called FORGED.

Carbon steel blade. This will need much more maintenance than stainless steel.

Multi-language blister pack.
I didn't get the one with the leather pouch since it's much more expensive. I can make do without the pouch.

The knife features a locking collar called VIROBLOC. This is of course made in France.

Here it is out of the package. CARBONE is most likely French for CARBON??

Opening the blade is easy enough.
Opening the blade for the fist time was a bit difficult. The blade seems to be stuck tightly between the wooden handle. Opening and closing it a few times made the blade easier to flip open.

As I opened the package, the smell of varnish filled the room. Reminds me of burnt pine resin. Apparently, the wood handle is varnished.

Fully open. Blade is a clip point style.
Above photo shows the knife fully open. To prevent the knife the accidentally closing, the collar must be turned. The blade has "CARBONE" on it signifying that it is carbon steel. The stainless steel variant has "INOX" on the blade.

Holding the knife for the first  time.

Fits my small hands just right.
The knife size is just right for me. At 8cm blade length, is is just right for slicing and dicing food. I will most likely take this with me on my next camping trip.

I recommend this knife for those considering starting a pocket knife collection. It's affordable at Php 650. Of course its not very robust since the handle is all wood, but for an every day carry utility knife, it certainly is worth the money.

If you want a larger blade, go for the higher numbers. The No. 8 seems to be the one that most people go for.

If you are not comfortable in caring for a carbon steel blade, you can get the stainless steel version for a higher price. I for one don't mind taking care of the carbon steel blade and preventing it from corroding. I have a bit of experience with carbon steel blades since some of the knives I own are made of carbon steel.

I will be sharing my way of taking care of carbon steel blades in a future post.

Enjoy!

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