XC90 Carbon Steel (Carbone) and 12C27 Stainless Steel (INOX)
PATINA
Due to the high carbon content of XC90 steel, blades are expected to patina over time. Patina is displayed as a darkening of the steel from years of use, oil from hands, food and woods. Patina is completely normal and will actually help aid rust-resistance of your carbon blades.
RUST
CARBON BLADES WILL RUST if not cared for properly. If you own an Opinel Carbon Folding knife and your blade has begun to rust, it is important to grind or brush away any rust before using your knife on food. Proper care tips (below) will help keep your blades free from rust for years to come.
CARE
We suggest using light oils to condition your carbon blades and improve longevity. Mineral oil and olive oil are two food-safe options which will help defend against unwanted rusting. If you do not use your knife for food preparation, you can also use WD-40 to lubricate and condition carbon blades.
PRODUCT LINES
Carbon Blades, Folding Saws, Carbon Steel 4" Paring Knives No.102 (Box of 2)
We use Swedish 12C27 Modified stainless steel in our INOX blades. Thanks to the addition of 14.5% chrome it offers a high resistance to corrosion and doesn't require any particular maintenance other than regular sharpening. It's carbon content of at least .5% gives an excellent cutting edge. This grade provides strong resistance to abrasion which allows the blade to regularly be in contact with hard material such as ceramic without needing to be re-sharpened.
CARE
Just because the blade is made from stainless steel doesn't mean it is 100% maintenance free. You will still need to sharpen it from time-to-time and we suggest wiping away debris from the blade before storage as dirt, residue and other particles can build up on the surface over time.
PRODUCT LINES
Folding Knives, Small Kitchen Knives, Intempora Kitchen Knives, Garden Knives, Table Knives
Highly resistant to corrosion, robust and durable X50CrMoV15 Stainless Steel is a top-quality blade for an kitchen knife task. We use this steel in two of our Large Chef Knife collections because of its qualities. The X50CrMoV15 we use is all sourced in France.
PRODUCT LINES
Les Forgés 1890 (Full Forged), Parallele (Stamped)
Depending on the product, we sharpen anywhere between 30° and 40°. For our large chef knives we sharpen at 15° on each side of the blade to create a 30° blade-angle. For pocket knives and the rest of our small kitchen knives we suggest anywhere between 15 and 20° on each side.
BLADE PROFILE
Our blades are sharpened to be convex rather than a standard flat grind. Convex-sharpened blades have more material towards the leading edge of the blade which improves overall cut quality, but also durability. This method is what gives our folding knives their signature "Opinel sharpness."