Opinel No8 Animalia Knife

Opinel’s No.8 knife has been around for ages, and years ago there was a box of the basic version on the counter of every outdoor gear or hardware shop in the UK. Nowadays, there are several versions with different blades and handles, to suit a variety of uses. The Animalia version on test is one of the nicest looking.

The knife has the standard 8.5cm clip-point blade, made of Sandvik 12C27M stainless steel and despite being relatively thin, it is rigid and retains an edge very well. The feature that is probably most commonly associated with the No.8, is the Virobloc ring that locks the blade in either the open or closed position. It is a very strong and simple mechanism. A quick twist of the ring blocks the hinge so the blade cannot move, and it does not slip in use.

This version features an oak handle with a laser engraved wild boar scene on the side. This makes the knife more attractive and also enhances grip in the wet. The blade cut a variety of materials very cleanly and it stays sharp.

At £17.95, this is a great little spare or ‘back up’ knife to keep in your kit.