Opinel No.08 Ellipse Folding Knife — Ebony Handle, Mirror-Polished Stainless Steel Blade, Gift Box

The mirror polish on this blade is stunning — photos don't do it justice. The ebony handle with the circle inlay feels like something you'd inherit from a grandfather. It still cuts like a proper Opinel No.08, which is to say, beautifully. The wooden gift box made it a perfect present for my brother.

This is the dress version of the classic Opinel and it delivers. Mirror finish is flawless and the ebony is smooth and dense. I keep it for special occasions rather than pocket carry since the finish will show scratches over time. Five stars for beauty, four for practicality.

Bought this for my father's 70th birthday. He carried a basic No.08 in the garden for forty years and this elevated version made him genuinely emotional. He says the polished blade 'cuts like it's greased' and the ebony feels warm in the hand. The gift box presentation was a lovely touch.

No doubt it's a handsome knife and the action is classic Opinel. But the mirror polish picks up fingerprints and micro-scratches almost immediately, which slightly defeats the 'special occasion' vibe. I'd probably prefer the satin finish for daily use.

I know this is meant to be a showpiece, but I use mine daily — opening packages, cutting twine in the workshop, slicing apples on hikes. The ebony has developed a gorgeous patina and the blade still looks great. Squeeze the coin slot with a penny and the lock is rock solid.

The knife arrived flawless, but after a month the blade developed noticeable side-to-side play in the handle. Cutting performance is still fine, and the aesthetics are superb, but I expected tighter construction at this price. Return process was painless though.

Ordered this half expecting a gimmicky polished version of a cheap folder. Instead I got a genuinely refined knife: dense ebony, flawless mirror blade, satisfying fit and finish. The inlay detail is subtle and classy. At $64 it punches way above its price class.

The Ellipse line keeps everything I love about Opinels — the Virobloc lock, the simple geometry, the honest steel — and adds real elegance. Takes and holds a nice edge. Docked one star because the lock stick was a bit stiff for the first week.

Needed a meaningful gift for my partner's promotion and this fit perfectly. Presentation is genuinely nice, not an afterthought. He now shows it to anyone who visits. Cutting an apple with it became a small ceremony in our house.

Smooth ebony, mirror-bright blade, sharp as a razor. Beautiful knife.