I previously did a review of the #7 Opinel and this is my favourite knife to carry for wild camping, overnight hikes etc. This is a quick comparison between that blade and its little sister the #5. The #5 is something I have chosen as an EDC knife alongside the other useful EDC piece of kit I always have to hand which is a micro torch.
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As discussed in my #7 overview, that knife is not actually legal as a everyday carry type of knife without “good purpose”. Being both over 7.6cm in blade length and with the classic opinel locking ring. The viro bloc as it’s branded.
The #5 is the largest standard Opinel in the range that does not feature the locking ring, with a blade length of 6cm, and is therefore legal for everyday carry. Some people talk of removing the locking ring on the #6 with its 7cm blade to render that legal carry, I am not sure that is worth the effort. i.e. if I have a real need for a larger blade then that presumably covers good purpose which therefore allows a locking version with a longer version anyway.
The version I am looking at in this post is the #5 in Carbon steel. I covered some of the merits of the different blade types in my #7 review, summarising as ease of maintenance (stainless) versus absolute achievable sharpness (carbon steel). Albeit you can get the stainless edge plenty sharp for anything other than shaving.
So the number 5 is a pretty small little thing. With the 6cm blade, handle of around 8cm and a quoted weight of a dinky 15g, it’s pretty small in the hand. Certainly the shaped beechwood handle is nice to touch although a bit small to be a perfect fit to the hand. But of course far comfier than a thin metal handled pocket knife to use. Probably the most famous point of note is that Pablo Picasso was said to use one of these to sculpt with. And I can kind of see how this small precise blade might work nicely for working in clay in a picasso esque style.
Now the slightly odd aspect of UK knife law is the point around locking blades. If you are working with a knife for more than small quick cutting jobs a locking blade is almost always safer. However as I use this as an “odd job” knife for quick small, precise cutting jobs, I think that is no major handicap for the Opinel #5.
Another concern held by some is the lack of spring or other mechanism to keep the blade shut. Now the blade hinge seems to have plenty of friction, and I’ve not personally experienced this getting floppy or suchlike so this is not of real concern to me. I suppose a small rubber band, or even sleeve or suchlike could be used if that is a worry.
As a tool for everyday carry/ use the main criteria I consider is what I am going to use it for. And in all honesty whether in the office, or on a day walk it’s mainly light duties. e.g. peeling an apple, sharpening a pencil, opening a packet or a parcel, cutting a bit of string. And these are all things that this knife is perfect for.
Heavier duty whittling probably no, and for sure this is not a blade you would use for prying open tins or suchlike.
So there we have it, if I am looking to absolutely save grams and as a knife to sit in my pocket or bag when out and about its a good choice. I won’t use it in preference to my #7 for most hiking, wild camping trips due to the slightly reduced versatility but its a great bit of lightweight kit. It is the knife that can sit in my laptop bag/ pocket, first to hand for opening a parcel or cutting some string. At a retail price typically £6-10 it is also a bit of a bargain. A quality item for little cash.
Opinel Knives are available from a range of retailers including Amazon: https://amzn.to/3X6ZuRP*
The little Opinel is a great EDC knife. My other essential EDC item is a torch and current favourite the Lumintop Pico. Check out the Pico review here.
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