Opinel – история, качество и дизайн

Opinel – History, Quality, and Design

Everything started at the beginning of the 19th century when Victor-Amédée Opinel decided to install a forge in the small town of Gevoudaz, Savoie, in the French Alps.
He was an edge-tool maker producing nails, axes, plow blades, and various knives. The forge was powered by the Arvan stream.

Joseph Opinel, Victor-Amédée’s grandson, continued the family business and had the idea to make folding knives for local farmers and workers.

In 1890, Joseph created his first folding knife with a wooden handle that fit perfectly in hand and a steel blade that was efficient, precise, and elegant. The famous folding knife was born.

A technical innovation was the handle: cutting it all the way would make it weak, so Joseph designed a mechanism that removed only the necessary material.

In 1896, 3 workers made 60 knives per day.
In 1897, Joseph created the Opinel range from No1 to No13. No1 was used to clean a smoking pipe, No13 for cutting large pieces of meat. The most famous remain No7 and No8.

Each knife has a wood handle – beechwood or cherrywood – and a steel blade in yatagán style.

The crowned hand was stamped on the first models: three fingers representing Saint John the Baptist relics and the crown for the Duchy of Savoy.

In 1901, Joseph created the first Opinel factory and installed the first machine to manufacture handles. Fifteen cutlers worked there.

In 1911, Opinel received the gold medal at the Alpine International Show in Turin.
In 1915, the factory moved to Cognin, near Chambery.
In 1939, No1 and No11 were discontinued.
In 1955, Marcel, Joseph’s son, invented the Virobloc ring to lock the blade.

In 1973, the factory moved to Chambery.
In 1985, Opinel was nominated by the London Arts and Science Museum as one of the 100 best designs in the world.
In 1986, stainless steel blades were introduced.
In 2006, Phaidon Design Classic included Opinel among the 999 most perfect designs.

An Opinel consists of only 5 parts. The brand is protected with patents for its name, logo, and Virobloc system.

Today, 130 years later, Opinel remains true to its legacy and is valued for quality, ruggedness, style, and affordable price.

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