No.08 Grey Birch Edition folding Knife $43

Opinel’s iconic No.08 [size] folding knife has been produced essentially unchanged since the French company’s founder Joseph Opinel designed and developed the first ‘Opinel’ folding knife c.1890. Originally sold as a simple working man's knife, the Opinel has since become an iconic symbol of French culture and lifestyle. Pablo Picasso used an Opinel as a sculpting tool. Éric Tabarly, the long-distance solo sailor and yachtsman, swore by the Opinel, which he always carried aboard his sailing yacht, the Pen Duick. In 1985 the Victoria and Albert Museum in London selected the Opinel as part of an exhibit celebrating the ‘100 Most Beautiful Products in the World’ featuring it alongside the Porsche 911 sports car and the Rolex watch. Both smart and simple, the Opinel No.08 features a sharp 8.5cm blade, a comfortable 9cm handle, a (Virobloc) locking ring which locks the blade open or closed, and weighs in at an efficient 45 grams. An everyday carry for seafarers, farmers, handymen, a go-to for chefs, the perfect picnic knife - folds & locks, carries nicely in a pocket or picnic basket.

The No.08 Laminated Birch Limited Edition Knife offered here, features an 8.5cm blade of high-grade Sandvik Stainless Steel, that holds an edge well, hones easily on any sharpening device and slices beautifully through delicate foods. The contoured handle is a laminate of Finnish birch with a Grey tint, wonderfully reminiscent of driftwood.

Notes on care:

Cutting food with your Opinel - to preserve and protect the cutting quality of your blade, working on hard surfaces is not recommended (glass, marble, ceramic, etc) - use softer supports such as wooden or food-grade plastic cutting board as often as possible. Cleaning - with your Opinel open, run warm water on the blade and wipe with a sponge and dish detergent. Rinse the blade with warm water while being careful not to soak the wooden handle. Leave the blade to dry before closing. Never wash in dishwasher or leave your Opinel standing in water, as this could warp the wooden handle.