Opinel Knives from France – Timeless Craftsmanship Since 1909

OPINEL Knives – Pocket Knives and Kitchen Knives from France since 1890

OPINEL Pocket Knives – Inox stainless steel  |  OPINEL Pocket Knives – Carbon steel (not stainless)

OPINEL Pocket Knives – Overview  |  OPINEL Kitchen Knives and Chef Knives

OPINEL is not a knife manufacturer in the usual sense. OPINEL is an attitude — a quietly stubborn refusal to complicate what already works. Since 1890, knives have been made in Savoy that do not need to explain themselves. They simply perform.

The soul of the brand lives in its pocket knives. This is OPINEL’s true specialty: clean lines, honest materials, the iconic rotating safety ring, wooden handles without theatrics. An OPINEL does not try to impress. It exists to be used. That restraint is precisely what makes it timeless.

The story begins in 1890 in Albiez-le-Vieux, when Joseph Opinel developed an idea both modest and enduring: a small, reliable cutting tool for everyday life. Within a few years, knives were produced in twelve plainly numbered sizes, free of exaggeration. The numbers stayed. Fashion moved on.

In 1909 the brand registered its symbol, “La Main Couronnée.” The crowned hand engraved on every blade is not decoration, but a quiet declaration of origin. It stands for Savoy, for craftsmanship, and for continuity. OPINEL knives are still made in France today — not out of nostalgia, but conviction.

Whether Inox stainless steel for easy daily care or carbon steel for those who appreciate an honest patina, OPINEL knives are light, sharp, balanced, and comfortable in hand. An OPINEL does not age — it gains character. Those seeking flawless surfaces may prefer display pieces. OPINEL is made for real life.

Over time, kitchen knives and chef knives joined the collection, shaped by the same philosophy. Tools for people who cut, cook, and work. No staging. No trends. Just solid craftsmanship.

OPINEL remains a quiet counterpoint to excess. A French classic that never needed to announce itself. Or, put more darkly: these knives don’t shout — they simply do their job.

Order OPINEL knives, pocket knives, and kitchen knives directly from our specialist store Messer Rödter, founded in 1909. For questions about Santricot, please contact us by email.

Order from Messer Rödter, a family business founded in 1909.
Messer Rödter – Inhaberin Susanne Frécôt e.K.
kontakt@scharferladen.de