HAH! I've been working on several swiss army knives making Sambar stag scales for them, and just finished up an Opinel No.8 project using a Sambar stag roll (all the Sambar was bought off of ebay)... I used my 4" belt & 6" disc sander and a 1" belt sander for my swiss army knives... just the 1" belt sander for the Opinel knife... definitely generates some burning bone smell, even with a dust collector hook up to my shop vacs (this is my basement do to cold weather)... I kind of like the smell, but my wife had a fit after I started on the Opinel knife project, claiming that the smell was making her sick... I had to wait for her to go to bed so I could do some final Dremel tool sanding on the Opinel, mainly using a metal sanding disc to cut the blade slot, which is really the hardest part of the Opinel project.
Thanks for this. The intimidating part for me was shaping the neck. I used a Dremel but your hacksaw/file method smells a lot better and has more room for mistake Also tip for anyone reading, use a spring loaded auto punch/window breaker pen to take out the pin. Super smooth stuff and costs like $5
Nice video... wish I would have seen it before my first Opinel project that just finished using a Sambar Stag roll for a No.8... a Dremel tool really comes in handy... didn't know they made a hand belt sander like that... I used my Harbor Freight 1" belt sander to form the core that holds the knife. I had already watched a couple of videos that inspired me to do an Opinel knife... they both made it look too easy... I realized after finishing my first Opinel project ! I used a 40mm diameter circular metal saw disk on my Dremel tool to cut the knife slot, which worked fine until I reached the pointed knife end of the handle, then had to use a small file and a broken off hacksaw blade, and a couple different Dremel tool bits... had to use the small file pretty much on the hole slot. I like how you changed the shape of the blade... it took some time for me to get the slot just right so the knife was completely recessed into the handle so the point didn't stick out. Good idea on using the Superglue to strengthen the part of the handle that secures the blade... I'm going to do that with mine now too ! I always use mineral oil on my stag knife scales & handles... suppose to keep them from cracking... plus it gives them a nice look & sheen ! The Sambar stag roll that I used is about 3 3/4 inches long with the end being about one inch in diameter... I found a nice 1 Franc silver coin, dated 1918 (on ebay of course) that is about the size of a USA quarter, and epoxied it on the end of the handle... Looks great ! Now I am thinking about how to tighten up the metal rotating collar that holds the knife open and closed... I think it might just need to be removed again, and squeezed in a bit.
A very nice video. I want to try something like this eventually but first I have to get ahold of an antler big enough. All but one of the deer I've managed to bring in so far have been does.
Hmm Im not a hunter but first piece a friend sent me was plenty large for a piece to shape for no 8 handle. Ebay is full of Antler far more than size, too
I liked the opinal blade . I stopped using mine right away . In the field it got wet and swelled. I will try this next time mine turns up . Thanks for sharing.
Very nice! I usually don't care the modified Opinel handles I see on youtube. But your antler handle is cool and looks great. Opinel should consider offering stag horn and/or bone handles.
Das ist das schöne am Opinel -man kanns ganz nach seinem Geschmack bearbeiten,ich hab das aus Carbon, die Klinge mit Senf bearbeitet,den Holzgriff bearbeitet,nun ist's perfekt für mich 🙂
Мой вам совет - когда ставите лезвие, добавьте две хорошие шайбочки латунные, ну или фторопластовые. Тогда ход клинка будет приятнее. И не забываем отверстие под темляк.
@neonpike. Try your local pet store or Pets r us, They sell deer anler as dog chews! I have used them for scout woggles, knife handles and tops of thumbsticks.
I woulda used the original beech hinge joint and hollowed in into the antler as even stabilized the antler core is pretty weak as its just too porous. its a beautiful piece just my thoughts from my exp using antler for fixed blade puko style knives :)
