Opinel No.8 Stainless Steel Knife

The must-have N°08 stainless steel knife has a beech wood handle.

Opinel’s most iconic size, the N°08, is the knife that started it all. Dating all the way back to 1890 when Joseph Opinel created a simple yet robust tool for the everyman, the N°08 has been featured in countless museums, books, and galleries around the world. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your pencils, or prune your roses, the N°08 has been a favorite of explorers, artists, farmers, and chefs alike. The perfect size to keep in your pocket or your bag, you'll be glad to have this folding knife close at hand. This size features the Virobloc® safety ring.

The iconic N°08 pocket knife is available with a stainless steel blade for excellent corrosion resistance. Its beech wood handle makes it feel secure and comfortable in the hand. The N°08 is the most popular knife in the collection. This multi-purpose tool is a real must-have to carry with you day-to-day.

Features

• Blade
• Stainless Steel (INOX) Blade
• Opinel uses Sandvik 12C27 modified stainless steel. It is anti-corrosive thanks to the addition of chrome and requires no special maintenance. Carbon content of at least 0.40% provides an excellent cutting edge and is easily sharpened
• The stainless steel used in OPINEL blades is a grade optimized to guarantee both high corrosion resistance and high mechanical performance. 
• The blade offers excellent sharpness and high resistance to abrasion (wear) which allows it to withstand regular contact with hard materials, such as ceramics, before requiring re-sharpening. Stainless steel has the advantage of requiring no special maintenance under ordinary conditions of use, unlike carbon steel. Nevertheless, it can meet its limits when it is put in prolonged contact with an aggressive environment (acid, salt water, detergent ...)
• Yatagan Blade
• The classic Opinel blade has adopted a Yatagan shape. The Yatagan shape is inspired by a traditional Turkish saber, the toe up. The blade is ground to an exclusive convex profile that ensures the strength of the blade and allows efficient regrinding
• The Handle
• Opinel’s selection of wood is very precise and meets strict standards for social responsibility and the environment. Opinel selects beech, hornbeam, walnut, and ash wood, among other varieties, from ecologically managed French woodlands in the Alpine region and Jura mountains
• Beech
• Beech is the most commonly used wood for the manufacture of Opinel handles. From France, Opinel’s beech is hard, durable and easy to work. With a homogeneous appearance, its light color varies from yellow to pink. It is characterized by the presence of numerous small dark dashes
• Virobloc Safety Ring
• Opinel’s patented locking mechanism developed in 1955 keeps the blade securely opened, or closed. To lock your knife, simply twist the locking ring clockwise into the closed position during transport, turn the locking ring counterclockwise to prevent the blade from folding during use
• Invented by Marcel Opinel in 1955, the Virobloc safety ring is fitted to all folding knives from the N° 06. Cut out of stainless steel, the Virobloc has two sections, one fixed and one sliding. In addition to locking the blade open (safety in use), it is now possible to lock the blade closed (safety in transport)

Details

• Tradition and Heritage
• For over 130 years Opinel has been crafting knives and tools in the heart of the French Alps. Much like Joseph Opinel did from his workshop in 1890, today Opinel still manufactures their products from their factory in Chambery, France
• Stainless Steel Folding Knives
• When Joseph Opinel designed his first pocket knife in 1890, the French blacksmith created a tool that was robust, simple, and beautiful. Crafted in the Alps from local materials, that knife would go on to become a design icon, passed down by generations of artists, explorers, farmers, and adventurers
• The Crowned Hand
• In 1565, King of France Charles IX commanded every knife maker to stamp an emblem on their products to guarantee their origin and quality. In 1909, in order to honor this tradition, Joseph Opinel chose the Crowned Hand as his emblem, a very symbolic choice, as it represents the blessing hand of Saint Jean-Baptiste which is featured on the coat of arms of the city of Sant-Jean-de-Maurienne. Opinel added the crown as a reminder that Savoie was originally a duchy. All Opinel blades since have been stamped with the Crowned Hand
• Limited Lifetime Warranty
• Little has changed since 1890. Rooted in history and a commitment to craftsmanship, Opinel is still following in Joseph Opinel's footsteps nearly 130 years later. From their home in the Alps, Opinel makes tools designed to stand the test of time. They value the quality of their knives and tools, and offer a limited lifetime warranty for all Opinel products. In the event of a manufacturer's defect or workmanship, Opinel will exchange the products affected
• Care
• Hand wash only. Do not immerse your knife in water, as this could warp the wooden handle. Dry the blade before closing

Specs

• Construction
• Blade Characteristics
• Folding/Fixed
• Folding
• Hardness
• 55 - 57 HRC
• Shape
• Yatagan
• Material
• Blade
• Sandvik 12C27 Modified Stainless Steel
• Handle
• Beechwood
• Safety Ring
• Stainless Steel
• Measurements
• Length
• Blade
• 3.28” / 8.5 cm
• Handle
• 4.31” / 10.9 cm
• Overall
• 7.59” / 19.4 cm
• Weight
•  1.6 oz / 45.4g
• Country of Origin
• Steel
• European Origin
• Manufacturing
• Made in Chambéry, Savoie, France
• Manufacturer Product Code
• 123080