One of the most recognized knives in the world is the Opinel Knife.
It is a quintessentially simple, sturdy, practical, low cost pocket knife with a wooden handle.
The knife has been exclusively manufactured for over a century in the French town of Saint Jean-de-Maurienne in the Savoie region.
History The simple and rustic Opinel Knife was created in 1890s in a mountain village, Maurienne in France.
Joseph Opinel made this knife, inspired from the heritage of his father and grand-father in producing edge-tools.
Joseph produced his knives in twelve different sizes, numbered from 1 to 12.
Ever since then, all kinds of knife lovers have used Opinel knives because of their basic simplicity and great dependability.
Legend has it that Pablo Picasso used the Opinel Knife to carve stones into female profiles and heads of bull.
Manufacturing Opinel S.
A.
produces over 4 million units every year, nearly half of which are sold all over the world.
An estimated 210 million units have been sold in the last one century.
The company takes pride in the fact that every Opinel Knife is 100% made in France.
The design, research and development of its knives are done in-house.
Even the machinery used in the manufacturing process has been largely built by Opinel ever since its operations commenced in 1890.
Now the company employs advanced production processes in order to combine technology with craftsmanship.
Opinel Museum Any knife enthusiast visiting France cannot afford to miss a visit to the Opinel Museum in Saint Jean de Maurienne.
For hobbyists, professionals and knife collectors, it is a great opportunity to see exotic collections of the historic knife.
The museum also features 100 year old machineries that were originally used to manufacture the Opinel Knife.
Product Quality The traditional Opinel Knife is recognized by its beechwood handle.
The blade is made of high carbon steel, which gives it a very sharp edge.
But it must be protected from dirt and moisture in order to maintain its edge.
In the last few years, variants of the original knife have used other unique woods as well, such as oak, olive, rosewood, walnut, and stained hornbeam.
The knife is also available in stainless steel blades for those who want a more practical and maintenance-free product.
Recognitions The Victoria and Albert Museum of London brought out its collection of "100 most beautiful products in the world" in 1985.
Opinel Knife was included in that exalted list.
The knife is also exhibited by the New York's Museum of Modern Art for its design ingenuity.