This Is the Absolute Finest Take on an Iconic Century-Old EDC Knife Design Ever

French design and Japanese craftsmanship collide in this highly refined folder.

Close-up of a knife blade showing a distinctive hamon pattern along the edge and a hammered texture on the upper part of the blade. The blade has a sharp, pointed tip and a polished cutting edge. The background is dark and textured.

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By Sean Tirman

Published August 15, 2025

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Updated November 10, 2025

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French brand Opinel’s folding knives are among the most iconic EDC cutting tools ever made. The knifemaking brand has remained largely true to its distinctive styling for well over a century (it was founded in 1890).

But remaining true to an overarching style doesn’t mean you can’t do interesting things, as the brand’s latest limited-edition release proves. The Opinel No.10 Shiori combines the brand’s classic style with high-end materials and traditional Japanese craftsmanship.

A knife with a hammered, patterned steel blade and a light-colored, textured wooden handle resting on a dark surface. The blade has a wavy edge design near the cutting edge and a small notch near the handle. — Boasting the same iconic design the brand is known for, this Opinel scores major points in the materials category.

East meets West

The most eye-catching part of this knife is easily its blade. But even its striking good looks don’t really do it justice.

You see, this 3.92-inch beauty is made from high-end VG7 steel. But that’s not all; the brand actually worked with a Japanese master blacksmith by the name of Nigara Hamono to craft each one.

A close-up of a Japanese-style knife blade with a hammered, textured pattern near the spine and a sharp, polished edge. The blade features engraved Japanese characters and has a black handle visible on the right side. The background is a dark, textured surface. — The blade is made from high-end VG7 steel and hand-forged and -hammered for a distinct appearance.

Each one is hand-forged and Tsuchime-hammered from layer upon layer of steel, granting it its distinctive texture. The sharpening process also brings out the equally unique hamon pattern of the edge (that wavy line that follows the edge itself).

To finish it off, each blade has the blacksmith’s Japanese kanji carved into it near the base of the spine. The hand hammering also does not interfere with the blade’s nail nick, maintaining its classic manual deployment.

A blacksmith wearing a white traditional shirt and black gloves is hammering a glowing hot piece of metal on an anvil, causing sparks to fly around. The workshop is dimly lit with industrial equipment and tools visible in the background. — This knife was made in collaboration with a Japanese master blacksmith.

Style meets substance

The knife’s stunning blade is mated to a curly maple handle, which provides some stylistic contrast with the blade while still elevating the whole knife.

You’ll find another Opinel mainstay between the blade and handle: the brand’s signature Virobloc safety ring. This one boasts a matte black finish, but still functions the same as ever: twist it and it locks the knife in position (either open or closed). Twist it back the other way to unlock it yet again.

A man is closely inspecting or working on a wooden object, possibly shaping or sanding it. He is leaning forward with intense focus, and wood dust particles are visible in the air, illuminated by soft, warm light coming from a window behind him. The setting appears to be a workshop with woodworking tools and equipment. — The sharpening process brings out the distinct hamon pattern of the blade.

That mechanism is brilliant in its simplicity, but it also provides all the security you could hope for without bogging the knife down with heavy, extraneous materials.

There’s just one catch: this is a limited release. Only 200 examples will be made available in the US. On the upside, at least it comes with a lifetime warranty, so you don’t have to worry about any defects if you can get your hands on one.

A knife with a hammered, patterned steel blade and a light-colored, textured wooden handle resting on a rectangular block of similar light wood, all placed on a dark textured surface. — This might be the finest Opinel folding knife ever made.

Available now

The Opinel No.10 Shiori is available on the brand’s site for $380. While that might seem like a lot, this could be the most stunning, high-end folder the brand has ever made, making it well worth the investment.