Opinel No.08 Carbone Review

Overview

The Opinel No.08 Carbone is a French folding knife that has changed little in its basic form for over a century: a thin carbon-steel blade, a beechwood handle, and a rotating steel collar that locks the blade open or closed. At 45 g, it weighs about as much as a few AAA batteries, and it costs less than a trail-town dinner. The trade-off is upkeep. The blade rusts, and the wooden handle takes on water.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Weight	45 g
Blade length	82 mm
Blade thickness	1.7 mm
Blade steel	XC90 carbon steel
Handle	Beechwood
Lock	Virobloc safety ring
Length, open	194 mm
Length, closed	110 mm
Made in	France

Performance

Cutting and sharpening. The No.08 is a dedicated slicer. Its thin, full-flat-ground blade glides through cheese, salami, cordage and tinder, and owners who whittle or carve say it cuts easily and keeps a keen edge. XC90 is a soft carbon steel, and that cuts both ways. One reviewer who has used the knife for years reports it sharpens faster than any other steel he has tried, including Victorinox’s famously forgiving alloy. In his experience a dull blade is back to shaving-sharp in about ten minutes on a stone. The same softness means the edge rolls under abuse instead of chipping, and it doesn’t stay sharp as long as harder modern steels. On a long trip, a pocket-size stone or a strop is part of the kit.

Weight and carry. The 45 g figure is the headline for ultralight use. Reviewers who hike with it describe the knife as feathery, and its round, smooth profile doesn’t snag in a hip-belt pocket or a lid pouch. Closed, it measures 110 mm. Owners with larger hands note that the handle is short for extended work. One buyer said he would have chosen the longer-handled No.9 in hindsight. Most reviewers describe the grip as neutral and comfortable across several hand positions, with a flat spine for a thumb and a flat butt for a reverse grip.

The Virobloc lock. Twisting the collar locks the blade in either the open or closed position. It is secure once engaged, and reviewers who carve for long stretches value it. For quick tasks, it is another story. Bench Reviews found the collar fiddly enough that users tend not to bother engaging it, which defeats much of the safety benefit. Without it, the blade can fold on a finger.

Rust and moisture. This is where the Carbone asks for something in return. Opinel’s own guidance is blunt: dry the blade after every use and oil it regularly. Acidic foods such as onions and citrus can oxidize it quickly. A forum owner who left his knife unattended says it rusted just from sitting around. Owners who look after theirs describe the other outcome: a gray patina that gives some protection and, to fans, looks better with age. Some people force the patina with vinegar or mustard, or by stabbing the blade into an onion. Carbon steel also leaves a faint metallic taste on some foods, a complaint that persists for years in at least one long-term owner’s report.

The beechwood handle is unsealed from the factory. When it gets wet, it swells, and a swollen handle can bind the blade in the closed position. Humidity swings are enough to cause it. Owners wipe the handle with beeswax, walnut oil or another plant-based oil to slow the process. Bring a rag and a small dab of oil on a thru-hike through wet country.

Value. Retailers list the No.08 Carbone at roughly $26 in the US, and it is often cheaper elsewhere. It gets praise on price from nearly every owner group, from cyclists who ride with one to campers who keep a spare in the car. Dissenters exist: one reviewer in the humid South called it outdated and overhyped, and said he would pick stainless instead.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 45 g, with a smooth, snag-free shape
• Thin full-flat grind slices cleanly
• XC90 sharpens quickly and recovers from abuse by rolling rather than chipping
• Virobloc collar locks the blade open or closed
• Made in France, inexpensive, and easy to replace
• Develops a patina that some owners prize

Cons

• Rusts without regular drying and oiling
• Unsealed beech handle swells when wet and can stick
• Carbon steel can impart a metallic taste to food
• Edge retention is modest compared with harder modern steels
• Collar is slow to engage, so the lock often goes unused
• Handle is on the short side for large hands

Who Should Buy This

This knife suits backpackers who cut food, cord, moleskin and kindling, and who want to carry 45 g instead of 90 g or more. It also works for hikers who enjoy a bit of ritual in caring for their gear: a wipe, a drop of oil, a touch-up on the stone. Cyclists, campers and whittlers will find the same appeal. Hikers headed into persistent wet weather, anyone who tends to toss gear into a pack without cleaning it, and those who use a knife mainly for salty or acidic foods should look at the stainless Inox version of the No.08, which has the same shape and weight with far less maintenance.

Verdict

The Opinel No.08 Carbone is one of the lightest, sharpest, cheapest folding knives a backpacker can carry, and it rewards owners who dry it and oil it. For those who won’t, the stainless Inox version is the better choice. Buy the Carbone if upkeep doesn’t bother you.