No. 09 Carbone - Carbon Steel Folding Pocket Knife, Beechwood Handle, 3.51 in Blade, Virobloc Safety Locking Collar, Made in France since 1890

About this item

This essential tool is unchanged since 1890 and is a must have for outdoorsmen and handymen alike
The Stainless Virobloc safety ring has two sections, one fixed and one sliding for secure locking
Opinel's carbon steel is extremely hard, thereby guaranteeing excellent cutting quality
Handle is made from hard, durable Beechwood from France
Opinel products are guaranteed under normal use and exchanged in case of manufacturing defects

• Big Jon

  Carbon steel folders are hard to find these days and most people have never even picked up a quality made, well tempered piece of steel. For those of you who havent yet experienced the joy of owning and using one, I envy you. You are in for a pleasant surprise.These knives are well engineered. The design is simple, robust and economical to produce. They have evolved into their current excellent form after years of use. They have an economy of design that translates directly into lower costs, and lower weight. This is a 4.75 inch by 1 inch blade and it weighs nearly nothing.The wooden handle is reinforced by a steel bolster so it can't break and the locking ring is more secure than any of the tang locks you see on all the other folders. This is a very strong design.These knives are made of top quality materials. Not expensive materials, but appropriate materials without trying to cut costs by using cheap components. The blade is made of some kind of high carbon steel. The handle is a solid block of hard wood. The other parts, including the rivet and bolster appear to be low carbon steel and the locking ring is stainless steel.These things come from the factory very sharp. They can be made even sharper with a few minutes on a whetstone. The steel is quite good and well tempered, so they hold an edge well, even if you want them sharp enough to shave with.Don't be put off by the shape of the handle. It comes from the factory with a large "utility knife" handle more suitable for a wood shop than a pocket. You can fix that by removing some wood to customize your handle or make it fit your pocket better. Because there is no spring in the tang, you can remove a lot of wood from the back, sides and rear of the handle without effecting the integrity of the handle at all. Or, you can leave it alone. It works great just like it is.The number 12 knife is a VERY LARGE KNIFE. If you are buying this as a pocket knife, be aware that folded up, these are 6 1/2 inches long and an inch thick...too large for most people to want to carry around. Of course, they weigh so little, you might not mind the size too much. It won't pull your pants down around your knees like some folders.This is a great knife. I highly recommend it.

• i4ot

  - Impressive performance at an unbeatable price point of 15-25 dollars.- Comes relatively sharp straight out of the box, ready for immediate use.- Easy to sharpen, even for those with limited experience in knife sharpening.- Maintains its cutting edge for a long time.- Gives off a vibe of sturdiness and durability, seeming well-made.- Highly recommended for anyone seeking quality without the hefty price tag.

• Lacey Lace EDC

  Took an amazing edge on a 400, 600, 1000, 1200 DMT 8x3 diamond progression and then stropped 8 micron, 3 micron, 1 micron, 0.5 micron, 0.1 micron on cow leather and the finer diamond spray on Kangaroo leather strops.I took it to 15 degrees per side and I must say the steel they use takes a mighty fine edge (as fine as powder metallurgy steels, takes an edge very much like CPM S35vn does on this type progression) it's a complete mirror finish and will whittle hair WITH THE GRAIN and that's dang impressive.How long it will hold the edge I can't speak to yet but judging by how it felt on the stones it will hold an edge decently... I would say it's around 58-59RHC so not super hard but pretty hard (the steels heat treat is excellent and it feels very good on the stones and deburrs very easily) its also very quick to sharpen and strops very well so I would assume you will be able to easily maintain the edge with just stropping so long as you don't get any rolls, dings, chips etc in the edge for a while until new steel is needed. I did do a simple 400, 600 grit diamond plate edge on it for two sharpening to remove burnt steel from the factory edge (this is a must with all knifes as when they sharpen them on belt sanders its burns the steel so it will take a couple sharpening to reach good steel that wasn't burnt and you get peak edge retention)My normal EDC knifes are PM2s, Manix 2, Manix 2 XL, PM3s and some other spydercos and this wouldn't replace them but is a perfect in the pocket pocket knife to accompany my normal EDCs that cost many times more so should I need to use it for tasks that I wouldn't use my higher end knifes for that's where this Opinel comes in to play.Over all a excellent little knife and if the steel holds an edge decently then it's an amazingly pocket knife or back up pocket knife for us guys and gals that like to carry two knifes.I will say this the factory edge was not good at all, decently sharp but a very poor and inconsistent bevel.. But the steel cuts well so it was easy to fix the bevel and it really didn't matter to me any how as I was going to put my edge on it before use anyhow. By my sample I would not expect a shaving sharp knife out the box, mine wasn't close to being able to pop hairs. The blade geometry is excellent for a very slicey knife and will cut card board and stuff like that very easily even when not that sharp due to the thin blade stock and flat grind... The #10 is fairly thin behind the edge as well, the grind is perfect for a 15 degrees per side edge geometry. I will update if the steel isn't able to hold up with a 15DPS edge and let everyone know if it should be a 17 or 20 DPS edge. By how it felt on the stones it should hold up decent and not roll with 15dps edge so we will see.

• Maku Ravenoff

  I already have a No. 8 Inox (Stainless Steel) Opinel, but wanted something a tad smaller and was curious about the Carbon Steel version. It has been an awesome collection that has become part of my EDC.With Carbon Steel, I was afraid of rust being a problem; but after some research, I learned that creating a patina would help protect it. Usually a patina develops naturally if the knife is used frequently, but I wasn't I would be able to develop one because I usually don't expose my knives to acidic product frequently. Thus I learned about forced patina via acid everyday products and certain fruits and vegetables. I wanted a nice dark patina to cover ans protect my blade. Doing some research showed me it wasn't hard at all.As seen in the picture, my blade was patina with instant coffee. I didn't want anything to happen to the wooden handle, so I disassembled it as soon as I got it and exposed just the blade to my big pot of cheap coffee. It was really easy and didn't take long. About an hour after having just received the knife, I had a nice dark blade and, in my opinion, looked pretty nice. Since then, I have been using it for all kinds of ventures and the blade is still sharp. Perfect for cutting fruits, veggies, and meats on the fly. Later down the line, I plan to dip my toes further in customizing my little Opinel. I love it.

• Hazelnut

  I got a 7 and 10, the 7 deploys relatively easily, the 10 is suuuper tight. I guess it's a humid environment in the Seattle area, but I, too, had to learn the "Opinel Death Blow" or whatever they call it, to actually get the #10 out of it's wooden confines.Built quality is definitely there. The blade edge wasn't the smoothest but was still pretty sharp. Feels very solid. The is not a knife for kids, you have to put your hands all over this thing, very close to the edge, and fiddle with it considerably to get it up and running and there are ample opportunities to make a mistake. In use, there are no finger guards, no choils, nothing to suggest that thrusting is an option. Indeed, I'd be hard-pressed to have to depend on an Opinel in a self-defense scenario, better than nothing but only just.Get the #8 to actually use and anything bigger just for the heck of it, nice option in a backpack, glove compartment, etc. Not an EDC knife, and it isn't intended to be.At the end of the day, around the campfire, these Opinels aren't Spydercos or even Moraknivs, but they do fold & lock closed, cut things, and cost very little, and so they occupy a unique space and are worth a look.

• Karl Erich Martell

  One of the better deals available on a quality knife.I've seen Opinels for years, but received a No. 8 and No. 10 in carbon steel as a gift from a friend a few years ago. They came with okay edges, took a great edge and they were of a useful size and shape, but I just never got around to doing anything with them for a while: frankly, the weird ring lock, thick beechwood handle and small nail nick made them seem impractical for EDC.But they've really come into their own as camping and kitchen knives. First off, that ring lock was redesigned a few years back to also lock the blade CLOSED. That's pretty nice when you've got a mess of things rattling around in a backpack or a drawer - keeps the blade SHARP and SAFE. The ring lock keeps blade locked OPEN as well - very positively. This is a strong lock: it's not going to let go and hurt you (as I always worry a liner lock might). The carbon steel is really the stuff you want if you can trust yourself to engage in the minuscule level care it requires (hand wash, dry and oil, of course, and realize it'll develop a patina): it maintains a wonderfully sharp edge for a lot of use.I use my No. 10 in the kitchen (a very handy supplement to my kitchen knife collection), and my No. 8 for cooking on backpacking trips. I can't say about Opinel's stainless line (and frankly, it doesn't interest me at all), but this is a phenomenally inexpensive kitchen knife with a high quality that blade for which I'd expect to pay ten times as much. The reason this popped up for my review on Amazon is that my dad was visiting and was so impressed with the one I use in the kitchen that I grabbed the laptop and had Amazon send one to him to chuck into the kitchen drawer in his pop-up camper. I expect I'll buy more for younger friends and relatives over the years.

• Jolly

  I love this now.It feels a little odd when you get it, it is light weight, not something to beat on, like I am used to.Not a glamorous knife.But once you get used to it, it is a very comfortable practical knife.I carry this one now.This one is a tool.

• DavidGee

  Truly a superlative cutting tool as it comes from the factory. The the factory edge is more than serviceable, the stock handle is plenty ergonomic on it's own and the fit and finish is astounding considering the price point. The blade is smack in the center of the groove cut into the beechwood. These knives, especially the carbon steel do require some routine maintenance bit nothing inconvenient. Keep the blade sharp, you don't even need to run out and buy a set of stones. A wide, strapish piece of leather with some polishing compound worked into it is adequate to bring the edge back, in the absence of a chip in the blade of course. This is a personal gear you can tweak to your liking. The handle succumbs nicely to some fine grit sand paper allowing you to refine the handle to a wonderful fit in the hand. If you sand it, seal it back up. I like a little bit of beeswax worked into the grain and polished. I've seen some of these knives carved into pure art. Carry it how it is or modify it to your liking. Either way a great tool. Not Even Remotely tactical. Takes two hands to open.Update/A couple of random thoughts:Have been carrying this tool for a number of days; exclusively. Having read knife reviews as I'm sure many other purchasers have. A lot is made of blade play. Fore and aft play. Side to side play. Movement at the pivot. For a lock blade it seems to be the kiss of death. I've used this opinel for quite a few tasks over the past days. Getting used to the shape again. The blade has been torqued into cuts into hardwood in the pursuit of whittling out the shape desired. It's opened a few boxes. Helped with dinner prep. Not even a wiggle. No blade play at all. I happened to notice this while whittling on the handle. Blade open and taped up. Applying torque on both this knife and the knife used to whittle.....the whittling blade hadnoticeable play. A victorinox one hand trekker, not bleeding edge, top of the line but up there in terms of quality control. 3 or 4 times the expense. Not dissing the OHT. It's a great general use blade. The little opinel was solid. Beautifully solid. Oblivious to the forces being applied to it.Secondly and I'll try to be brief. The wood of the handle works so nicely. Soft so a blade bites well, hard enough to get nice curls up. A pleasure to carve on. Rasps nicely and sands to a superb velvet feel. Getting ideas though to hand carve a total new handle out of local Russian olive, we'll have to see. It's fine as it comes, truly. I just can't leave well enough alone.

• Andrew

  Opinel No.09 -The Stainless Virobloc safety ring is a new system to me, but a welcome change. Not quite as secure maybe as other systems, it does the job. The blade is carbon steal of varying sizes (depending on which you decide to order). The knife itself is very light in hand while also being very comfortable due to its shape. This knife has been around for a very long time with very little change... for a good reason. This may be a great knife for someone's EDC or, like me, a nice addition to my collection.

• Steve Vogt

  This knife is the most practical pocketknife that i have ever owned. The thin blade is useful when using in the kitchen or opening packages. Love it