List of products by brand Opinel

Like many brand names in France, such as Kleenex for tissue or Frigo for refrigerator, Opinel has become a common name for a pocket knife. Invented in 1890 by Joseph Opinel, the Opinel is an indispensable tool for everyday use. Simple and ingenious, the Opinel folding knife has become a design icon recognized the world over as THE French knife.

In 1909, Joseph Opinel registered the Opinel trademark, along with the “Crowned Hand” of the Duchy of Savoy, which appears on every blade. The famous safety ferrule dates from 1955.

The company is still owned and run by the Opinel family, with Maurice Opinel (grandson of the founder) first as managing director, then chairman from 19987. Maurice Opinel (1927-2016)8 led the internationalization of the company. His son Denis Opinel (great-grandson of the founder) was appointed General Manager in 19984.

In 1985 the Victoria and Albert Museum in London selected the Opinel knife as part of an exhibit celebrating the “100 most beautiful products in the world”, featuring the Opinel alongside the Porsche 911 sports car and the Rolex watch. The Opinel was also selected as one of the 999 classic designs in Phaidon Design Classics, and has been exhibited by the New York's Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) as a design masterpiece.