For those who frequently go on outdoor adventures, the Opinel No. 12 Explore is a fantastic addition. It competes with the BlizeTec Survival Knife as one of the Best Survival Knives in the folding knife class.
Why We Like It – OPINEL No. 12 Explore Survival Knife Review
Opinel Knives have become a favorite for experienced outdoor enthusiasts, and the No. 12 Explore Survival Knife extends that legacy. It’s compact design includes several different convenient tools and is so well designed that you may forget you’re using a folding knife.
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- Strong locking mechanism
- Durable, shock resistant handle
- Versatile
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- Fire starter isn’t carbon steel
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Performance
The Opinel No. 12 is an easy addition to any pack or pocket. Although the blade isn’t particularly long or thick, it is bigger than other Opinel knives, which is appreciated. It’s good for precision cutting or carving, though it’s not the knife you want for heavy cutting and hammering.
The incorporated cutters are great for working with cords, rope, and other uses, which gives this knife great versatility.
Design
The fiberglass reinforced polyamide handle is designed to be as durable as a wood handle, but better when it comes to absorbing shock and withstanding different climates and weather conditions.
The beauty of the design is that Opinel has fit a survival knife, fire starter, gut hook, cutting hook, and survival whistle all into one compact pocket knife. While the knife is the star, the hook blade and gutting hook are great additions that give this knife much more versatility.
Value
This Opinel is a good value as far as folding knives go because of its quality. It minimizes its weak points to be longer lasting and less likely to fail on you. You can get folding knives for less, but you risk them falling apart more quickly depending on the heaviness of your use.
OPINEL No. 12 Explore Survival Knife Review Wrap Up
The Explore Survival Knife is sharp, versatile, and lightweight. What more could you want? If you want a bruiser, then go with the Ka Bar Full Size U S Marine Corps Fighting Knife, Gerber LMF II, or Morakniv Bushcraft. Honestly, though, you probably still want to bring along this Opinel on your adventures for its added utility.
