A folding pocket knife is always handy for picnics, be it to cut a sliver of Brie or to saw through a crusty baguette. So it’s fitting that the world’s finest traditional carbon steel knives are not only French, but also surprisingly affordable.

Opinel knives have been crafted in the Savoie region for over a century, and are something of an icon in France. French authors such as Jacques Lanzmann, Michel Déon, Gérard de Villiers, Jean Dutourd and Jean-Pierre Chabrol have immortalised the Opinel in their books. (Olivier, the hero in Robert Sabatier’s Wild Nuts, is proud of his “great Opinel in the name of the heroes of the chanson de geste”.)

The design of Opinel knives has remained essentially unchanged since 1890, and even the original sizes have been preserved. The tiny #2 has a 3.5cm blade and a 4.5cm handle, while the #12 has a blade of 12cm. All models with blades over 7cm have a safety collar to lock the blade when closed. And there are special designs with pointed, curved, stainless steel, or tapered blades, or handles crafted from exotic woods.

Opinel products are now widely available throughout New Zealand. Click here to find a retailer near you. Or read more at the Opinel Museum site (in English) here.