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A Opinel measurer, or simply Opinel, is a simple, inexpensive folding measurer with wood grasp, since end 19. Century one manufactures by the enterprise of the same name in the French Savoyen.
In the workshop of its father, the Werkzeugmachers in the small village Albiez Le Vieux with Saint Jean de Maurienne, the eighteen-year old Joseph Opinel designed a simple and a durable folding measurer in the year 1890. In order to adapt and the knife economically in quantity production to manufacture to be able form and function to its conceptions, it developed first a device from a small circular saw, with whose assistance it could saw a slot for the admission of the pushed to blade into the wooden grasp. Thus the draft of a very handy and besides inexpensive and durable work measurer for the trouser pocket, which sold itself in the Savoyen coined/shaped by the land work well, succeeded to it. Already 1896 manufactured three employees craftsmen of daily 60 copies. In the year 1901 the parental workshop had become too small for the measurer production, so that Opinel in the same place built a larger workshop, in which he fifteen coworkers busy. Here there was for the first time a direct current generator for the current supply. 1909 registered Joseph Opinel its brand name, the crowned hand, for the marking of its products.
Selling became the measurers first over Hausierer, who traveled at that time over country and whom with short goods supplied population - Josephs uncle Victor was even such. Opinel soon already opened however handing selling ways for far and began the export of the measurers into the neighboring countries Italy and Switzerland. 1911 it participated with its products in the international exhibition in Turin and received gold medal for its work.
Starting from 1920 production took place in a new Manufaktur in Cognin with Up to the beginning 2. World war 20 million copies were sold. Seat and largest production location of the company are since 1973 The company is until today in the Opinel' family estate and by Denis Opinel, a great-grandchild Joseph Opinels, is led. In Saint Jean de Maurienne one operates today "a Opinel museum "(Le de l'Opinel). Opinel employs today at the two manufacturing plants Cognin and approximately 100 coworkers. With the help of automated manufacturing processes four to five million the folding measurer for the world-wide selling are manufactured annually.
original, to model produced today is made of the materials typical for its place of origin: The grasp originates in from the wood of the beech, the blade becomes from carbon steel, as it in 19. Century in many places in France of local ironworks manufactured was forged. This thermally hardened cutlery steel has a carbon portion of 0,9 per cent. In addition, such a material makes a high sharpness and tenacity for the blade possible, leads to higher, although even wear, which makes regular resharpening necessary. Since this steel contains neither chrome nor carbide, the blade points to contact with acids annealing colors. It should be dried according to use and be treated at best with something oil, in order to avoid rust.
In the last years Opinel brought numerous variations of the basis model on the market. Also noble wood was used such as oak, walnuss, olive, rose wood and pickled Hainbuche, just as different materials as for instance horn of the African cattle. Stainless blade are likewise available. They are more schnitthaltiger with the pulling cut on lower level than the carbon steel blade, do not reach however not their sharpness. Also they can be sharpened due to the contained carbide more with difficulty.
The structure of the Opinel measurer is very simple, because it consists of only three and/or four construction units: A blade, a wooden grasp, a pivot for folding the blade as well as (except in case of the smallest models to quantity n"°5) a swivelling snap ring ("Virobloc "). This locks the blade in the open condition, in order to prevent injuries of the hand by unintentional pushing of the measurer to. The patented, in the year 1955 imported snap ring is expenditure-booked and by the pivot as seal around the grasp is led in such a way circularly. It is not absolutely cylindrically formed, but sound-laterally easily tapered, in order to exclude a loosening of blade locking reliably in the use. In the last years one continued to develop this mechanism, so that he can block now also the blade in the closed condition against unintentional opening.
The elegant blade form is ajar against a traditional, as well-known Design. The handle end reminds an element of the special suitability of the form of a fish tail, as an angler measurer, since with the grasp edge be caught fish fast and waidgerecht by an impact kill let.
There is in the meantime a multiplicity of different models. Some of it have rather collecting tank value as practical use, then there is an oversized version with 22 centimeters with "the Opinel "is enough for blade, which results in a measurer length of over 50 centimeters in the folded up condition. Narrower and longer models are suitable to file animals of fish. There are tools like a Hippe for the horticulture or a folding saw. Also kitchen measurers and cutlery without folding mechanism are sold under the mark Opinel. Ajar against the classical model also a measurer for children is starting from five years available in the quantity n"°7, whose point is rounded off.
Standard model well-known in the USA also as "French Knife the "is issued in the museum OF decaying kind in New York town center. In the year 1985 it was presented in the context of an exhibition over product Design in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
The symbol the Main ("the crowned hand ") was already in-punched on the first Opinel measurers. Later the words OPINEL and FRANCE were added, just like INOX ("stainless ") with blade from stainless steel.
The hand symbol was inferred from the Stadtwappen by Saint Jean de Maurienne. The holy Thekla is in 6. Century of three fingers of the hand of Johannes the from Alexandria as Reliquie into the place brought. The crown symbolizes the duchy Savoyen.
The classical Opinel is driven out in ten sizes, nummeriert from 2 to 12:
n"°2: Blade 3.5 cm n"°6: Blade 7 cm n"°10: Blade 10 cm n"°3: Blade 4 cm n"°7: Blade 8 cm n"°12: Blade 12 cm n"°4: Blade 5 cm n"°8: Blade 8.5 cm (n"°13: Blade 22 cm) n"°5: Blade 6 cm n"°9: Blade 9 cm quantities n"°1 and n"°11 were manufactured only until 1939. The small knife n"°1 with its scarcely two centimeters are enough for blade at a clock chain were carried and should for example as whistling or nail cleaners serve - these applications did not become generally accepted. In the 90's it formed the motive for a series of piece of decoration of Jacques Bellon. Original ones of this miniature measurer are no longer good today however as as available - even the manufacturer possesses only two copies. The production of the measurer with the quantity n"°11 ended, since folding measurers with one are not enough more than ten centimeters for blade very common at that time were, why one close lying sizes 10 and 12 as sufficiently regarded.
The knife n"°8 is the probably most popular Opinel, with a size handy for most applications. In addition, the larger models are well for the kitchen or suitable for the Campen.
The giant model "is marked with the statement of size n"°13. Contrary to the smaller models it was developed however never for practical applications and falls out by the enormous size difference to its brothers and sisters of the classical numbering.
Opinel measurer is since long time a the subject of the French everyday culture, with the value of a modern icon. The designation Opinel was transferred as Eponym to the general linguistic usage and for example in French-German dictionaries with "folding measurer "is translated.
The Design of the simply designed Opinel, which is essentially invariably sold in the meantime for over one century, is considered as classical. Opinels have handy to replace easily and in case of the loss inexpensive. Well maintained measurers can achieve a long life span, whereby steel blade and wood grasp at the age receive a pleasant patina.
One of the advantages of the simple construction and production is the small price of the Opinels. Others "classical "measurers like the Laguiole or the Nontron are clearly more expensive. Thus the acquisition of several copies, perhaps in different sizes, offers itself colors or materials approximately for collecting tanks. The low price makes possible also the selling in gift boxes with several measurers or as Werbegeschenk with firm name. Some owners use the measurers even as "raw material "for own creations, by transforming for instance the grasp by carving or Pyrographie (burn from symbols and writing).
While the measurers in Italy and in Switzerland are since then available already since 1914 and it found also there far spreading they became only a half century later in larger style to Austria and Germany exports, why it admits in this country less is, however in last years particularly among outdoor friends a name to have made itself.
Much is among friends of the camp travels, the camping and Trekkings the utterance "Opinel likes kills fast".
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