Antonini 01OB001 Old Bear Knife by Medium

I enjoy Opinels. They are simple yet robust for their minimalistic design. I also enjoy Antonini knives. I have two plastic handled folders that I keep in my backpack as knock around knives, or loaners. I came across this beauty and was intrigued. The first thing that you will notice is that it looks like and Opinel. It has a clip point blade, one piece wooden handle, and round metal bolster. While the design has similar DNA as an Opinel, it is a simple knife all its own. I dare say that the Lupo lock is personally favored over the Opinel Viro lock. The locking ring is an internal bar that slides over the blade tang and locks it open or closed. It's simple and easy to use. I liked it immediately. The handle is black walnut. The included paper says it is oiled, but mine is bone dry. The grain is open and has nothing filling it. I cannot decide if I will wax, linseed, or leave it dry to let the oil and dirt on my hands age it. There is a little lump near the bolster that makes you move your index finger onto the bolster or back behind on the handle. This seems to be purposeful. The blade comes with a very convex edge. I could not whittle softwood with it, but 420 sharpens easily. It may take a bit to remove the fat convex behind the edge. Seriously, it looks like the edge on an axe. Overall a really nice knife for the collector. It will right at home with your Opinel, Mercator, Douk Douk, Higonokami, and Laguiole. Would recommend. I included a picture of the knife next to my Opinel No. 8. It's almost the same size.

Thin very sharp blade. Love the locking mechanism. Light weight. Great edc knife.

My first impression of this knife is that it is a nice knife. The knife gives the impression of build quality. The brass collar and locking mechanism seems well made, the blade looks well finished, and the wood handle is finely finished. For a knife of this style in the $20-$25 range, this is a nice knife. My one surprise is that it seems light-weight for the size. Of course, the obvious question is how does it compare to the Opinel? It is a wood handle folding/locking knife of similar appearance. I have had this knife for a day, and I have owned dozens of Opinel knives for years and carry them daily. I would say that this knife is more refined in finish than your average Opinel. This "medium" seems to me to be about similar to a No.7 in size. The lock mechanism is more refined. The blade tang that fits into the pivot and lock mechanism seems thin to me, but the lock mechanism seems more sturdy. Initially, the lock and blade pivot is stiff, but I would expect that to improve over time. The overall shape of the handle is different from what I am accustomed to. This is not a bad thing, it is just different. I was not sure if I would like the brass collar, but I think it matches the knife style and adds to the old-style look to the knife.

An Italian near-clone of the Opinel no. 8 in basic design, dimensions, and weight, but improves on the Opinel's locking ring. You can lock the Old Bear with your thumb, instead of having to twist the ring with your other hand. The blade is thin like an Opinel, is 420 stainless steel, and it will throw sparks from a ferro rod. The Old Bear's handle is American walnut. Mine arrived bone dry, but the grain is beginning to look better after the first application of linseed oil and beeswax. I'm sure it will get better with more coats over time. Quality is at least as good as Opinel. If you like Opinel knives for their utility but are put off by the locking ring design, the Old Bear is a fine alternative.

Practically identical in size to an Opinel No8 but more nicely finished. Opinels still have the edge in quality of the blade steel, though the lesser edge holding of AISI 420 is perhaps made up for by its ease of sharpening. Example I received is easily sharp enough to cut paper out-of-the-box. The walnut forming the handle is very nicely finished with a luxurious satiny feel, and I appreciate how the wood grain is oriented perfectly in line with the handle (something which I can't say of my walnut-handled Opinels). Very satisfied, highly recommend!