No. 03 Carbone - Carbon Steel Folding Pocket Knife, Beechwood Handle, Iconic Simple Design, Non-Locking, Made in France Since 1890

The Opinel No. 3, the smallest of the traditional Opinel line, is a marvel of miniaturized utility. Don't let its diminutive size fool you; this little knife is a precision instrument, perfect for delicate tasks and everyday carry when space is at a premium. What immediately impresses is the sharpness of its slender blade. Even at this scale, the Opinel's renowned edge holds true. It's ideal for tasks requiring finesse, such as opening small packages, detailed crafting, or even precise food preparation on the go. The classic beechwood handle, while small, remains comfortable and secure in the hand. The simple, elegant design is a testament to Opinel's enduring appeal. It's a knife that exudes a sense of timeless craftsmanship. The Virobloc locking ring, even in its smaller form, functions flawlessly. It provides a secure lock, ensuring safety during use, a crucial feature in such a compact tool. The No. 3's ultra-compact size makes it incredibly easy to carry. It disappears into a pocket or bag, making it a perfect companion for travel, picnics, or any situation where a small, precise knife is needed. While it may not be suitable for heavy-duty tasks, the Opinel No. 3 excels at what it's designed for: delicate work and effortless portability. It's a testament to the fact that even the smallest tools can deliver exceptional performance. If you need a tiny, sharp, and reliable knife, the Opinel No. 3 is a perfect choice.

This is a tiny tool, to be sure. I have not purchased an Opinel smaller than No. 06 (a handy pocket carry with the locking system), but I wanted something on the smaller side. I got my wish with this one. Even when studying the dimensions, I didn’t envision it being as petite as it is. But I am not disappointed. I was looking for an addition to my light, small knives in the “Sunday carry” category. An unobtrusive knife for dress slacks attire. This is a cool, funky addition to my collection. For comparison, the knives pictured alongside it in the photos are: Old Timer Mighty Mite, Gerber Silver Knight, and an executive Wenger Delémont I picked up in Switzerland years ago. The Opinel is by far the lightest of the bunch because of the thin blade and beechwood handle. Feathers in the pocket. It’s not a utility knife, but a handy cutter for light duty jobs. Of course, I would like a locking mechanism, but that’s not an option on these small Opinels. And frankly, you don’t need a lock for small jobs. It’s a nice, functional little knife for a small investment. I consider it a good value. For those wondering, I did a 24-hour force patina on the carbon blade in an onion to resist corrosion. It will hold a good edge for a long time and sharpen easily. If you are interested in little and light knife for your collection, this is a winner. It feels right.

It's a solid choice still. It's a good compromise in size and utility. A nice tool with a good history behind it. It's not as thick as other more modern knives but the light weight and ease of maintenance more than make up for it sharp out of the box and easy to keep sharp, a favorite of mine in any size.

Closed, this #2 version of a great knife is only about an inch and a half long. Too small to be much more than a letter opener or used to sharpen your pencil. It makes an awesome ferro rod striker though, as do all the Opinel carbon blades. Just close the blade and use the sharp exposed spine to strike. Tons of sparks. Thin blade holds a really sharp edge, and responds well to stropping. Seriously though. It's awfully small. And there's no locking collar as with larger versions. I also have a #4 and a #7. The 4 is also a bit on the small side and has no lock collar for the blade either. I like the 7 for basic food prep and basic cutting/slicing. I'm thinking a #6 would be best as a pocket knife, size-wise. Because they're wood at the blade hinge, take care not to get the handle wet. The wood swells and pinches the blade closed or open. Let it back in the sun for a little while to dry it back out if it gets damp or wet.

Very small and sharp knife. I simply didn't have any use for it, so I decided to return this knife. While I had it, it was very very compact and very sharp. What would you use it for though? Intricate detail work, perhaps? Anyway, amazing knife, but wasn't for me. Seems a bit gimmicky and cute, but maybe you'll have an actual use for it. Double-check the overall knife length to see if this is for you. Make sure you know what you're getting. This sucker is small. Very much a desk knife... or with a charcuterie board. Overall, wasn't for me but still great quality.

Having seen these classic, simple knives in various examples for years, I finally decided it was time to see what they were about. Unsure what the best size would be, I chose the #5 as it was the largest of the non locking style. Carbon steel (cause I appreciate the extra effort needed for maintenance for being so easy to sharpen), and pocket sized. Smaller than I expected, but the feather weight disappeared in my pocket, and didn't flag "knife!" with a pocket clip. Feels good in the hand, and the decent factory edge let me make my kids lunch with it out of the box. All knife nerds need at least one of these as an example of a classic European working man's pocket knife

this puppy is sharp and small... great to keep in a desk. I can hardly overstate how sharp it is out of the box. Did I mention it's sharp?

Just somewhat disappointed that Opinel #4 came with no locking ring . Thee quality of this one just isn’t there and I’ve bought other Opinel knives. Seems like it would be dangerous to use without the locking ring . Hoping they could replace it for me!