Rough Edge EDC: A bit of EDC perfection from French Alps
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – A package in the mail brought a gift from France. Well, at least from the Midwest region of the U.S.
Regular readers of this column know that I have teamed up with John over at J.O. Ventures Outdoors quite regularly. He has made close to a dozen leather slips and sheaths for my knives.
We recently worked out a trade in which I ordered a Opinel No. 6 pocket knife with a carbon steel blade and beechwood handles. I bought it from Amazon and had it shipped to John in Indiana.
In return, he made a custom slip for my new Bear & Son 4-inch Barlow.
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Well, when I got my half of the trade in the mail, it, of course, included a beautiful brown leather slip for the Bear and Son, that matches several other slips I already own.
But he pulled a fast one on me. He included one of his older Opinels in the package for me as a gift.
For the uninitiated, Opinel has been making classic, rustic-looking knives in the France Alps since 1890.
The knife looks like something a farmer or shepherd would use and carry with its wood handles and rotating piece of metal that locks the blade either into an open or closed position.
It has a timeless look. It reminds me of my grandfather who I seem to remember carrying one of these knives when I was a boy.
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The one John sent me was an Opinel No. 6 (2.87-inch blade, 6.5 inches when open).
It has olive wood handles and that rotating locking mechanism that conjures up idyllic images of the French countryside. It also weighs in at feather-like 1.2 ounces.
Just a little bit of EDC perfection, with a big touch of nostalgia thrown in.
Here is a little bit of history and background on the Opinel brand.
Joseph Opinel invented his version of a small pocket knife in 1890 and his family has been making them ever since.
These knives have become so iconic over the years that the Victoria and Albert Museum in London recognized the Opinel as among the best designed items in the world alongside the Porsche 911 and the Rolex watch, according to Opinel.
After more than 125 years of operating in France, the Opinel brand went global in 2016 and opened a U.S. office in Chicago.
Even with the opening of a U.S. office, Opinel knives are still manufactured in the French Alps, much like company founder Joseph Opinel did back in 1890.
I know plenty of knife enthusiasts who swear by the different patterns and styles offered by this company.
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After checking it out up close and personal and doing some research, I was shocked to find my knife listed on the Opinel website for just $16.
An absolute steal considering the quality, craftsmanship and history behind the brand.
Besides the knife and a flawless leather slip, John also included a channel sticker, a table coaster from his J.O. S.A.K. Pack initiative (that asks knife collectors to show their Swiss Army Knives!) and a leather tag with my initials burned into it that can be used on my keychain or a travel bag.
Overall, an amazing mail call from a great friend.
Here is a link to Opinel and the No. 6 knife.
Here is a link to J.O. Ventures Outdoors.
Here are some other YouTube channels on knives and EDC gear that I enjoy in no particular order.
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