Garage Gazette
TOOLS AND THE SHOP => GUNSMITHING/ KNIFEMAKING => Topic started by: muddy on June 06, 2022, 10:22:56 PM
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I'm sure most have seen the Opinel knives of this style. I had always liked them, but never got to getting one.
Well a Facebook post from Harry J Epstein caught my eye. I guess Opinel did them wrong (not sure the whole story) so they started carrying these Portuguese made ones.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10161784662724046&id=605159045
I ordered this one up. Nice knife, has a good blade with a nice edge on it.
The wood is unfinished, haven't decided if I want to stain it or just let it be let it gain a "finish" from use.
https://www.harryepstein.com/tool-brand/jose-da-cruz.html
(https://i.postimg.cc/3RKPyX17/PXL-20220607-030651620.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/94nxKqsN)
(https://i.postimg.cc/tT28Fsv6/PXL-20220607-030725484.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/k6RjmgmM)
(https://i.postimg.cc/0NGT2Wpc/PXL-20220607-030755282.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/wtvfwk4m)
(https://i.postimg.cc/gj75BfWk/PXL-20220607-030901017.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8fht7Xcq)
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Nice looking little knife there. Man I’ve been out of the loop for a while. The last opinel I bought was less than $10. Been a long time ago if the knockoffs are selling for $20ish.
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Pretty nice knife Tim. They are popular (Opinel and their knock-off cousins), but I never owned one.
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WOW, those Jose-da-Cruz is a good looking knife. I love the brass ring.
I have an opinel, I like the simplicity and ease of sharpening. I carry mine in the garden and it works great for harvesting gourds, peppers, etc. Only complaint I have is if you wet sharpen like I do with water the handle will swell up lock the blade in until it dries out.
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I'm all in on traditional knives and appreciate the old world simplicity of these, but never got around to the thicker round profile you're stuck to with the ring lock mechanism.
You can thin the handles, but you've still got the thick round bolster / lock.
I prefer a small 2 blade pen or jack configuration 3.25" closed or less myself, I want to like knives like this but just wouldn't carry it and have decided I have no room for knives I don't intend to use.
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Cool looking knife, not familiar with the brand.
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Cool looking knife, not familiar with the brand.
Never hear of them either.
I have to say my greasy oily hands are giving it a nice "finish".
Also have noticed that on humid days the knife picks up the moisture swells and is tough to open at times.
(https://i.postimg.cc/RCTqRxHp/PXL-20220627-204921637.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XXpVjhx9)
(https://i.postimg.cc/NFbMfRtv/PXL-20220627-204935414.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/fStZ8tk8)
(https://i.postimg.cc/brqrh3KR/PXL-20220627-204943810.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/ZBD4PFY9)
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Opinels have the same problem with the swelling wood. I like the lock on that one. The main problem I've ever had with Opinels is the slick lock ring. Especially when you have gloves on.
As I've aged it's gotten harder to open knives. Fortunately Ohio redefined the status of automatic knives. I'll try to post a pic of my current Boker carry once I get up for the day.