Tony, you owe it to yourself to try a similar size Antonini 'Old Bear'; I think the 'medium' size is close to an Opinel #6. I might have to get it Friday. CF63 3RF. This has been a good three read. I cannot comment on sharpness because the Old Bear is not sharp out of the box and I have not touched up the edge yet. However, the Old Bear is a good knife for the price range, and they make interesting options (coloured handles, all-black models, various woods, etc.). The blade is stainless steel and is stone sharpened by skilled and qualified craftsman. Been using it around the house and it does perfom very well. I also purchased an Opinel no 8 stainless, Opinel no 9 Carbon and a Martin’s Eco GB. #29 GearGuy69 , Nov 19, 2015 Cobra 6 Actual and Nick4305 like this. The blade: overall built quality on my knife was close to Opinel but a notch below. On the occasion of Antonini's 90th birthday, the Antonini Old Bear Olive series was created. Your Product of the Year and Best of 2020. Walnut wood handle. Most people settle on the 8 as the most popular or go big for tasks you might use IE an Old Hickory for. It is essentially a Viroblock that is inside the handle rather than outside like on the Opi. It is easy to use and the tab is unobtrusive in the pocket. Discussion in 'Knives' started by Cobra 6 Actual, Nov 6, 2015. I like it more than the Opinels but I don't any of them. It does work. If you like Opinel, then check out the Antonini Old Bear. Collection Point Hours Yea I'm also thinking to get one...I have to stop coming here, Please visit following page for more information, (You must log in or sign up to post here. It is hard to put a good edge on the Antonini. Unit C, Atlantic Gate The Old Bear's ferrule (the metal part that surrounds the hinge) is about 1 millimeter bigger, and, more importantly, the Old Bear's handle is about a half-inch (1 centimeter) longer. Made in Italy. | Joseph Opinel designed his first folding knife in 1890, creating a tool that is as robust and functional as it is simple and beautiful. Well worth $25! So the Old Bear will sit a little bigger in your pocket. The Antonini Old Bear series could best be described as what you would get if you bulked up the lock on an Opinel and then steeped it in rugged charm. Atlantic Trading Estate Nice alternative to an Opinel, very similar construction and locking mechanism, handle came up nice after a few coats of tru oil (was a bit dry out of the box). Collectibles. On the occasion of Antonini's 90th birthday, the Antonini Old Bear Walnut series was created. 3/32" thick brass bolster band with steel ring lock. The Opinel is invisible in my pocket, so I'm not sure this matters much. so that we can arrange for your item This series represents a compelling interpretation of the classic utility pocketknife. Never heard of Old Bear (Italian) until the other day, so thought I'd give one a go. Plus there is this kind of choil near the ring, which allows for a very secure choking grip. The Opinel is invisible in my pocket, so I'm not sure this matters much. Old Bear ® did not like this disturbance of the peaceful forest, so to protect his family he began to destroy all that the humans had brought with them. Sat / Sun / Mon CLOSED ! I had one Opinel with a poor edge I had to touch up prior to use before, but I also had many more Opis and they all came with better finished blades. My preference for pocket carry is the 6. 3.0 out of 5 stars Antonini Old Bear versus Opinel. I added one star as a result. Antonini Old Bear Medium Pocket Knife is a handmade Italian folding knife with a wood handle and a no-return safety ring. The classical Old Bear knife by Antonini Knives is available in either oil-treated walnut or olive wood. Tue - Fri 09:30 - 16:30, Office Hours Another similar knife is the MAM which is Portuguese The small Old Bear is about the same size as the Opinel 7. Our retail store will close 5.00pm Thursday 24th December and re-open 8.00am Monday 4th January 2021. © Copyright 2006-2017 EDCFORUMS.COM All Rights Reserved. i have a opinel nr.8 but i agree the antonini old bear looks better, the opinel is still a good knife but i bet the antonini is just as good as the opinel. ANTONINI OLD BEAR Classical Walnut Small - Carbon Knife Shop Australia Festive Season Trading: Orders placed after 12.00 noon Thursday 24th December will ship on or after Mon 4th January. The best feature of the knives are the wooden handles, which carry the traditional locking mechanism. Related: antonini knife old bear knife opinel knife. Walnut handle, subtly more ergonomic than the Opinel with a nicer finish IMNSHO! I like the walnut handle too. We only ship to Canadian & U.S. addresses. Oct 22, 2016 - 9307/21_ln - old bear - antonini knives - maniago, italy Categories. The Old Bear's ferrule (the metal part that surrounds the hinge) is about 1 millimeter bigger, and, more importantly, the Old Bear's handle is about a half-inch (1 centimeter) longer. So the Old Bear will sit a little bigger in your pocket. The Antonini Knives Old Bear is a traditional clasp knife like the Opinel knives, but with a more ergonomic wooden handle and a more intricate locking mechanism. The OB has a walnut handle, which is untreated / dry. The Antonini Old Bear series could best be described as what you would get if you bulked up the lock on an Opinel and then steeped it in rugged charm. Just received the small version the other day at a cost of £14.95. ...in some respects! Its razor sharp blade made it a performer much like the Opinel. The Old Bear knife comes without a return spring, instead the blade locking system features a solid safety ring that fixes the handle in open and closed position. The best feature of the knives are the wooden handles, which carry the traditional locking mechanism. The handle: here the Old Bear does better. The edge had burr, asymetrical grind, and is ever so slightly bent (or maybe it is the grind). Official website of Opinel USA. Selected category All. Collect it from a choice of over 2,800 stores, Quick and easy returns available on this item. Made by Antonini, this lovely folder has nice oil treated handle and a mix of copper and steel made it appealing to the eye. The straight forward handling and exceedingly classic look of this traditional pocket knife with walnut scales in combination with the affordable price make the Old Bear a more than attractive purchase. 3 5/8" 420 stainless steel blade. Yeah, I don't think I will be batonning any wood with it. As the active partner for this project, Todesco (Maniago/Italy) had already patented this mechanism in 1985 as a lock for pocket knives. COVID-19 Update: We are open for business and are taking orders and shipping as normal. Always liked Opinel, so was interested to see how they compare. Imported by Boker USA. This is due to the knife sitting too high when extended so it does not allow enough clearance for the lock to move over the knife and enter the slot on the opposing side of the handle. Classical "OLD BEAR ®" knife Line "Old Bear ® " is Antonini's new and exclusive folding knife line featuring simple and ergonomic lines. Similar but I like it a little better. On the occasion of Antonini's 90th birthday, the Antonini Old Bear Walnut series was created. The blade shape is almost exactly the same as well (the main visual difference is the nail nick and the obvious Old Bear markings). Include description. I bought the Old Bear XL, which is the same size as the Opinel #10. Like the Opinel, it has a thin stock blade (actually a little bit thinner than the Opinel) so it makes for a good slicer. From his workshop at the foot of the French Alps, Opinel forged a cult classic. Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2019. "Old Bear®" is our exclusive folding knife line created to celebrate the 90 th anniversary of our company (1925-2015), characterized by simple and ergonomic shapes and created by engaging traditional production techniques with a high level of manual skills. The Bear also has some cool etching on the blade. Sat-Sun Office Closed. Collectible Modern Factory Manufactured Folding Knives; ... Antonini Old Bear 9301/19LN Messer M 19 cm Taschenmesser Walnussholz arretierbar See more like this. Great for camping and outdoor activity. Are you a current member with account or password issues? Then, there is the price; talking about the standard knives, they are supposed to be users and I think Opinels are better value for money in that regard. Then last Christmas an interesting peasant’s knife caught my eyes going by the name Old Bear. Plus the lock mechanism is a distinct step above. I have curious to see for myself how this rather obvious competitor of the Opinel perfoms. ). YOUBOOB is full of Opinel projects from pickling the blade to embellishing the handles. A rotating ring inserted into the brass collar secures the blade in the deployed as well as closed position. The Antonini Old Bear series could best be described as what you would get if you bulked up the lock on an Opinel and then steeped it in rugged charm. U.S. Orders by PayPal only. Please visit following page for more information. True. It seems that Fantonini listed the main gripes people have against Opi handles: sides are flat so it does not roll all the time, the butt is rounded so it does not dig in your palm if you have bigger hands. to be picked from the warehouse. Antonini Knives & Old Bear "The legendary Antonini logo along with the area trademark guarantee the quality of the raw materials used and the quality of workmanship that, under the “Made in Italy” banner, mean the highest possible resistance, durability and cutting performance parameters. I purchased the XL model in stainless, which is almost exactly the same size as the Opinel #10. That part of the knife is actually better built than the blade! The Bear has a better blade lock, and the Opinel has a better blade. Opi system is so simple and tested that I would give novelty kudos to Old Bear but the win to Opinel. So, the first thing was a coat of oil and then wax, which brought it up nicely. Aesthetically it is nice looking, but the blade bites like crazy. join our mailing list for a chance to win £150 Sign Up, Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales. I touched up the edge and I must say that it is now very sharp for 420 steel. The best feature of the knives are the wooden handles, which carry the traditional locking mechanism. i have a opinel nr.8 but i agree the antonini old bear looks better, the opinel is still a good knife but i bet the antonini is just as good as the opinel. Learned a bit along the way. Out of the box, the Antoninis carry a bit better than Opinels, because the pommel lacks the Opinels’ signature flared profile that makes them a bit of a lump in the pocket. Thanks, Adahn. This series represents a compelling interpretation of the classic utility pocketknife. The knife locks in the closed position but requires a lot of force due to poor quality and it does not lock fully when the knife is open because nothing seems to line up correctly. Finally, the locking mechanism. Advantage to Old Bear. Old Bear at work "It is possible that mean creatures will not always be so or behave badly forever. The locking slide bar is too thick to enter the slot on the opposing side of the handle. I would not recommend this knife based on my experience. Antonini Knives Old Bear Large folder 930121. BARRY Potentially it looks like is would be less subject to get dirt in (I once dropped my Opinel in sand and it took me forever to get rid of the sand grain stuck in the Viroblock). This series represents a compelling interpretation of the classic utility pocketknife. I did extensive research before purchasing the Antonini Old Bear. However, in terms of functionality, it does not bring much more since it is possible to lock or unlock an Opi one-handed (and opening or closing the blade is still a two-hand job). Top Band. This traditional clasp knife features a 4 5/8″ sculpted walnut handle. I will say a big advantage to Opinel. Mon - Fri 09:00 - 17:30 It marks and celebrates the 90 th anniversary of our company (1925-2015), and intentionally involves a production process engaging high levels of manual production, skilled and experienced manufacture. 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