New Knife, very old school
Opinel No. 7
I remember my grandfather and my uncle both having Opinels when I visited them in Spain back in the 1970s. It was their utility knife, but my memory is seeing them in a field during lunch using them to slice through their meal of bread, sausage, cheese and apples. It was also at that time that I was given my first Swiss Army knife and I became a fan of it for life.
But after slicing my hand the other day with a cheap Walmart knife while trying to cut into an apple, I realized that I needed an inexpensive knife yet sharp and proven. Opinel has been doing that for over a century, so I finally got me one.
I ordered a No. 7 ($17) knife and right out of the box it passed the “shave arm hair” test with high marks. The locking ring works as intended and it does not feel weak or unsafe. As long as you understand that this is not a tactical knife which will deploy with a flick of the wrist and pry open a submarine door, you will be fine. This is Very Old School Knife to be used to cut everyday items.
Mine will go in my lunch container to murder apples and other meal items. And hopefully not any exposed body parts.
Your post triggered a similar memory for me, of my father giving me a Case BonesStag Medium Stockman so I would stop stealing his bench knife and that same year my grandfather thought it was time to take the first step in being a man by giving me a Swiss Army Officer's Knife. I still have both knives in my desk center drawer. The memories are priceless.
Why would I use a knife to pry open the door on a submarine? That's what the shaped charges are for, aren't they?
Anyway, glad you got a good knife that you like. For me, it's like some music and art ... it doesn't appeal to me personally, but I appreciate the aesthetic.