Opinel Folding Saw - Why You NEED This in Your Fire Kit

[@OehlJim]

Something y'all can benefit from...Spray the blade of your saw/axe, etc. with WD-40. It keeps the sap and sawdust from sticking to the blade allowing faster wood processing and cleanup.

[@chuckfisher1351]

That's a great idea. I use to repair furniture and found that Pam spray worked well on my bandsaw don't know how it would work on green wood.

[@SH1974]

Don't use WD40, use Ballistol! Why? It's absolutely non toxic and 100% biodegradable. It is food-safe, You could even drink it! And last but not least it's the better conservation for metal (and also for leather or wood) than WD40, which in fact is a degreaser.

[@ryankanters4385]

Seeing this comment 2 years late hahaha but thank you! I will use that advice, know that its still appreciated after 2 years, brother 💪🏻

[@ianbruce6515]

I really like mine! Perfect for cutting fuel for a 'twig stove'. Burning twigs is annoying! You are constantly feeding it! What you need is thicker sticks! But those are too thick to break to the correct length. You can break thicker wood over your knee--I do it all the time. But you can't break it short enough. Thick pieces of stick, about four or five inches long (depending on your stove), burn hot and burn long! This is what the Opinel saw excels at! It has no problem cutting larger pieces that require batoning, either. Burning twigs is what puts people off of cooking on small wood burners.

[@GjVj]

Thanks, mate - exactly the comment I was looking for (along with the video, of course). Been thinking about getting one for precisely this purpose. Cheers!

[@petemainacc]

I have one and is even more poketable than i thought. I always catry it when i am on the woods. Perfect for collecting fuel for twig stoves.

[@bahjinelson3986]

Always wondered why the Opinel saws aren't more popular. I bought one a year or two ago just for cleaning up dead fall across the trail to make it easier to climb over. Big enough, but small, comfortable, and super light!

[@cardiacbob]

Love Opinel Products. I have Opinel knives in my cook kits. I always have a dedicated cook knife.

[@gordondavies7773]

' I need to add this to my collection. The Opinel oyster knife and the filleting knife are great and the standard steel knives are wonderful. Keep the blade slightly greased and it will never rust. I use of olive oil because I use the knife for cooking. Mine is about 40 years old.

[@hoser7706]

Opinel make beautiful tools. Beautiful saw.

[@redsorgum]

I have the Opinel number 12 saw and knife, great combo.

[@thomasmusso1147]

Opinel .. used within their design intent, excellent products.

[@MasterK9Trainer]

I was not aware of this, but I think I might get one. Multitools sometimes have little saw blades, but the Opinel looks like a real saw just compact, but capable.

[@thebeardedgorilla8596]

I have an opinel knife that I use for cutting food in camp and nothing else. Awesome products...

[@earljames453]

I hate ordering gear on line. So if I could find a store ,that was selling these, I would definitely buy one.

[@slickydicky]

I feel you, but sometimes online is the only option

[@Hootyhoo-jq9vq]

That would be nice for a hammock camper. Thanks for the review and specs.

[@GP452]

I have one. I have a Silky. I too use the Opinel more often than the Silky...on smaller projects and FireBox stoves.

[@mmiller73]

I just ordered one based on your recommendation. Can’t wait to try it out!

[@wursthaar9760]

i´ve used this saw for two years now. love it. and its super light.

[@neemancallender9092]

It is my backpacking saw I have had this for years Excellent piece of gear Beats the small Silky in weight Beats the Bacho in speed

[@JohnB-dr8sk]

Yes, great for backpacking and also to keep in a daypack as an ultralight survival saw.

[@chriscon8463]

That’s outstanding! It looks like a great size. I’ve got a little Opinel #6 in carbon steel, and I think it may be my sharpest knife.

[@greekveteran2715]

Morakniv Companion Carbon is the sharpest knife out there. Opinels have very thin full convex geometries that slice great, but nothing beats a scandi edge, in terms of sharpness.

[@chriscon8463]

@@greekveteran2715 I’ve got one of those. Excellent knife!

[@paul-jt7sg]

Nice saw but so happy you left the snake alone they are gorgeous if you just give them their space, well done

[@jhippl]

the spine on that saw is one of the better ferro rod strikers ive ever used

[@carls.6746]

perfect size, exactly what i needed.

[@KaylynnStrain]

have been thinking about either the Opinel 10 or 12, I do love my Opinel 8, its my go to camp cooking knife

[@danofiremano]

Nice saw, If I decide on it, I'll use your link.

[@sherwinpalacio3227]

Love your videos!

[@adammcmillen977]

I love my Opinel saw! Good choice!

[@71cromag]

Ohhh....Firekit !! Great video.

[@rickfoley5596]

Great review, I have been thinking of getting one but I always have a Leatherman on me with a decent little saw as well as a bacho when I go out. So I haven't been able to justify a 3rd saw but I still want it.

[@Oldsparkey]

I have several Opinel knives and really like them. For dead wood to use in my camping /backpacking stove it's the Swiss Army Ranger Grip 55 ( 12 functions ) knife. My titanium Firebox Nano Gen 2 does not require large pieces of wood. For day hikes I like the Swiss Army Huntsman ( 15 functions ). Both of the knives saw blades cut on the push and pull. The Huntsman a 2 3/4 inch saw blade , The Ranger a 4 inch saw blade.

[@pboone1231]

Opinel saw looks awesome - been eyeing it for a while - havent pulled the trigger. When it comes to the silky I go with the Corona saw. For the money it is close or as effective as the silky for half the money. Would like to see a comparison review of the Silky and Corona - if you havent done that video already. Thanks.

[@paulmitchell9349]

I have a no 12 knife and the no12 saw together in in my haversack,great combination

[@hikewithmike4673]

I carry a larger saw Japanese suizen very lightweight I wish it was folding though so packing in the pack takes up space but it cuts really well but I will have to check out the Opinel!

[@bazza1carter]

If I need a dedicated folding saw this would be it!

[@johnfortwengler4496]

I have a larger opinel saw they are great it is baco laplalander size

[@earlelzy7243]

I got one of these in a Steel to Reel box.

[@Palmetto705]

Ernie good video. I have one of these saws and agree that it is perfect for a fire/stove kit. A good piece of gear.

[@asmith7876]

I've never used the Opinel. The Silky Pocketboy is a similar size and the blades are replaceable. I wonder how they would do against each other? My money would be on the Silky, just awesome little tools.

[@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234]

😊looks nice. Thanks 😊

[@MichaelR58]

Good review , thanks for sharing , God bless !

[@torfinnjohnsrud793]

I love opinel knives for many reasons, but there is one issue that makes me reach for alternatives for any multi-day far and/or remote outdoors excursions. The handle swells with any contact with water (even just a splash or two while washing the blade in the faucet) making it very hard to open and close. I think they should modify the hinge portion to be plastic or something for an outdoor version!

[@memathews]

Agreed. That wood hinge is a problem in wet climates such as here in Oregon.

[@Tom_Bee_]

Yes. Needs bushes. I have found a dash of WD40 from time to time helps a lot, but that's just for the saw, obv not a knife used for food prep. I've been meaning to try food grade mineral oil on the basic folder to see if it helps at all

[@startsontime]

Sawzall makes one with replacement blades that can cut any variety at materials. I believe it is cheaper as well.

[@DrDennis]

Sold Out

[@pierrejohnson6264]

Nice video as always. What part of Louisiana are you from. I live near Lake Charles.

[@Canadian_Craftsman]

Excellent review on a Excellent product I've way overlooked thank you for pointing this out I'm totally adding this saw to my collection!!(=✌💚

[@oliverjiang712]

what do you think of the swiss army knives that come with saws? definitely smaller, but would they be serviceable for the purposes of day hikes? I know most thru-hikers don't even carry saws

[@chriscon8463]

I’ve got an 84mm SAK “Walker” that is just perfect for my day hiking pack! It has a blade, saw, & bottle/can opener (plus the obligatory toothpick & tweezers). Their saws are ridiculously sharp & make short work of anything about 1 1/2 inches & less.

[@oliverjiang712]

@@chriscon8463 same, I have the SAK "hiker" and I think SAK's are the best choice for hiking/backpacking for the price, weight, and utility. Unless I'm genuinely doing some bushcrafting, as opposed to just backpacking, anything else seems to be an over optimization

[@ssos4540]

I have a Farmer X, which is a 93mm alox Swiss Army knife with saw, and think it is one of the best knives for outdoors.

[@JohnB-dr8sk]

Victorinox makes good saws. But they are very short and thick and don't nearly as fast as a dedicated saw like the Opinel, Bahco or Silkies. And because they are so short, you are really limited on the size of what you can cut. If you use a portable wood stove like an Emberlit Fireant a lot, then a dedicated saw is well worth it to carry because they save time and energy, allowing you to enjoy your hike more. But if all you have is a SAK, it is still a great tool and can get the job done if necessary.

[@tiagon19]

The Largest Victorinox (Ranger 55 Model) have a 4in saw, but you also have a 4in blade on the same tool. Would that be worth it? For almost that same saw length. A little lighter too, given the combo/package.

[@JohnB-dr8sk]

Yeah, those are great. They are the modern replacement for the original Victorinox One Handed Trekker. The saw won't cut nearly as fast as a dedicated saw like the Opinel or Silky, but because of it's extra length, you can do a lot with it. Corporal's Corner on KZbin has made a bunch of shelters and bed platforms using just the Ranger or the Trekker back in the earlier days of his videos. Me personally, I save my One Handed Trekker's saw for emergency use and carry the Opinel or a Silky when I'm out, because they saw much faster and make my day hikes easier and more enjoyable. Hope that helps.

[@robertdepaulis5188]

Thoughts on the Silky Pocket Boy ?

[@JohnB-dr8sk]

It's a great saw. I own both the Pocket Boy and the Opinel #12 Saw. The huge advantage the Opinel has is it is much lighter than the Big Boy and also much smaller without losing that much on performance. If weight and size isn't a problem, then the Big Boy is a better overall saw. But if you are trying to pack light and only have so much space, the Opinel Saw is far superior.

[@4StonesHandcraft]

I keep one in my EDC pack, though for assorted yard duties I use a Corona. Good for light duty, probably not so much for heavier duty. Of course I always reshape the handles of opinels to suit my tastes. Does anyone NOT do that? ( :

[@gregorybarra5376]

I know this video is a year old, but I have a question. Is the spine of the saw blade ground prpoerly so you can strike a ferro rod with it? Thanks in advance...

[@OlliC1981]

Should work well. It has rather sharp etches on the backside.

[@romeur8709]

Queria ver a comparaçao desta serra com a serra do victorinox forest. O preço aqui é praticamente o mesmo

[@auldreekievaper5394]

Opinel are excellent I got the number twelve knife from them in stainless Steel with my name engraved on the blade directly from opinel in France so if you are struggling to find it on say amazon you may be better off just ordering it straight from them in France it may work out cheaper but I'm not shure on the shipping to the states

[@oinc7320]

In NC on rare occasions you would come up on a timber rattlesnake. Once a friend and I heard one while hiking, he was sitting under a pine tree, we took off hell bent one way, snake other. Timber rattles aren't territorial like your friend, they just want to escape because you aren't a meal, a cotton mouth is a nasty snake, in the water they will come after you.

[@bradmiller9993]

I have a few of their knives and I like them alot. Just thought I'd mention though that this saw appears to be fifty bucks on Amazon right now.

[@starlingblack814]

AMAZON is selling this saw for over $45. I wanted one, but found that price a little crazy. As for pit vipers....I ran into a huge rattlesnake on an Arizona hike; its head was as large as my fist! Ruined the rest of my hike because it put me on edge and gave me the heebeejeebees so badly that I was jumping every time I saw a long stick on the trail. Thanks Doc for another informative video.

[@ronaldmoody8113]

Just ordered from fleabay for 36.87

[@JohnB-dr8sk]

They're back down to $36.95 on Amazon as of Aug 2024

[@johnburgin7478]

Not a bad looking or sized saw . Doesn’t look much bigger than a large pocket knife. Curious on the strength of the locking mechanism but I’m not familiar with the brand . Cottonmouth looked healthy. Have a good one

[@RealShamanX]

How does this compare with the Silky Pocketboy with 130 millimeter (5.12”) blade?

[@alphaomegasurvivalsupply6548]

It doesn't the silky is a far better saw

[@RealShamanX]

@@alphaomegasurvivalsupply6548 Thanks.. I have a Gomboy 240 and have been eyeing the Pocket Boy for a smaller lighter option..

[@alphaomegasurvivalsupply6548]

@@RealShamanX now that I would recommend, it cuts way above its size lol I have 3 pocketboys

[@misolgit69]

I've got the original version must have bought it 30 or so years ago, the only difference is the shape of the handle it's fitted with the no 12 knife handle and doesn't have the flare like yours

[@robertmitchell832]

How about tool comparison. If you can only bring 1. Small saw, hatchet or large knife.

[@thomascronquist1604]

Again, out of stock. Don’t know when it will be back in stock. Thanks again,

[@starlingblack814]

Out of stock on AMAZON for over $45. I found it on EBAY in stock for a little over $28.

[@mikesouthey1657]

Hehe, nothing like nearly standing on a snake to get the heart going. As a 5 yr old I nearly did that to a puff adder in the back yard. Granma didn't see it at all.....😳

[@arctodussimus6198]

I started making fire kits as a hobby well over twenty years ago. Folding saw is standard in the kit now, but I don’t have one with the Openel saw.... yet. Thanks for this video. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@ttrguy9952]

I use the Silky Pocket Boy curve and straight and will never look back. I also carry the GOMBOY and BIGBOY on my motorcycle adventures. I've owned the Opinel and it sucks by comparison. The blade is only plain carbon steel and dulls quickly. There is no known way to sharpen it in the field and they don't have replacement blades. The locking mechanism pales in comparison to the Silky design. Throughout history, the Japanese defined cutting stuff. The French.... Not so much. If you get the Silky fine tooth blades they are fantastic for the tiny stuff. I recommend the straight vs curved blades for small stuff.

[@JohnB-dr8sk]

The Silky Saws are amazing, but the Opinel #12 is far superior to any Silky when you have limited space in your pack and can't carry too much weight but still need a decent saw. It's kind of a niche saw in that way but nothing else compares to it for its size and weight.

[@unknowuser1843]

Probably not designed for this, but I wonder how well it'll work for splitting A deer pelvis for gutting one out for hunting.

[@waynehead7271]

Here's a tip that I got from an old French fisherman: Tap the butt of the handle on something, even your hand, and it will spit out the blade to make it easier to grab and open.

[@jackvoss175]

A folding pruning saw that cuts faster than Opinel costs less. Their saw is slick, nice and I like it. But it is insanely expensive.

[@Texo_McKevo]

I got a Walmart saw and found out about this

[@charlesfaulkner8653]

Ernie it seems like every time you review a product it’s out of stock. Same with this one on Amazon.

[@starlingblack814]

I found it on EBAY, but out of stock on AMAZON. Cheaper on EBAY too.

[@DannyB-cs9vx]

The price went up to $44 in a matter of days.

[@fallyn2920]

Ha. I already have a good saw. In my leatherman. Beat that.

[@mazepa-slavaukrayini932]

Nice video but never ever would most Americans purchase a product made in France.

[@josegouveia2391]

Words...words...words...

[@StevenKeery]

I thought you always carried a small pistol to dispatch any venomous snakes you found. I must be confusing you with someone else.

[@ChatGPT1111]

….and now it is unavailable so there’s that.

[@bassfishingwiththeantichri2921]

Opinel is overrated. They sound great when you get debris in the “locking mechanism.” I saw a video of an American in France doing a review at an Opinel shop. He said it was made out of special “Carbone” (Car-bone-nay) “Sacrebleu!”