the brand story:

Hailing from two generations of edge-tool maker s, Joseph Opinel, born in 1872, worked in the family workshop when he was 18 years old. He had a passion for new machines and innovative technologies which led him build his own camera and then eventually turn his focus to an object he could manufacture with modern techniques, even though it was against his father’s wishes. He spent his free time refining the shape and manufactured a small pocket knife: the Opinel was born! Joseph had the idea of making his knife into different sizes which would be suitable to different hand sizes or used for various tasks. So, in 1897, he developed 12 different sizes numbered from 1 to 12. Commercial success followed and he soon left his father s blacksmith workshop. His factory, located at Chambéry in the heart of the Alps, is still run by the descendants of Joseph Opinel and manufactures items whose quality has made the brand famous for nearly 130 years. The collection contains knives and pocket tools for DIY, sport, outdoors activities and gardening as well as kitchen knives and table knives.