Opinel Second Chance Intempora 7" Santoku Knife – Dimpled Blade, Dishwasher-Safe Full Tang, Fiberglass-Loaded POM Handle

I cook dinner most nights for a family of five, and this 7" santoku handles about 80% of my prep. The dimpled blade genuinely keeps potatoes and cucumbers from sticking, which sounds minor but saves real time. Full tang construction means no wobble after months of heavy use. If there was a flaw from the Second Chance inspection, I never found it. Paid less than half of the original and got my new favorite knife.

Sharp out of the box, keeps its edge decently, and the grantons really do reduce sticking on wet vegetables. I've run it through the dishwasher at least twenty times with zero rust or handle degradation — the fiberglass-loaded POM looks brand new. Only note is that santoku style takes a slight adjustment if you're used to a chef's knife rocking motion. Happy overall.

Sharp, balanced, dishwasher safe. Zero regrets at this price.

The blade itself is excellent — sharp, well-ground, the dimples work as advertised. The handle on mine has a visible scrape near the bolster, which I assume is why it landed in the Second Chance bin. It doesn't affect function at all and my hand covers it when I'm using it. Just know these are final sale, so inspect carefully when it arrives. For a functional blade at this price, still worthwhile.

After forty years of cooking for a growing family, I finally retired last spring and wanted a proper knife for all the cooking I now have time for. This Opinel santoku at $44 was exactly the right purchase. The blade glides through onions without the slices clinging, and it's light enough that my arthritic wrist doesn't complain after big prep sessions. The full tang gives it a sturdiness my old lightweight knives never had. I hand wash it anyway despite the dishwasher-safe rating — old habits. A wonderful knife that makes daily cooking a pleasure again.

My partner swore by chef knives until this arrived. Now the santoku does all the vegetable work — the flat profile and dimpled blade make for clean, fast slices. It came sharper than knives costing triple. Minor ding: the handle texture is a bit plain and slick-ish with oily hands, so I wash mid-prep. Second Chance or not, it performs like new. Four and a half stars really.

The santoku blade itself deserves five stars — sharp, well made, dimples work. But the handle on mine had noticeably rough molding seams that I can feel while gripping, not just see. After an hour of holiday prep it actually created a small blister on my palm. Maybe mine was worse than typical Second Chance stock, but 'fully functional, inspected' should not include a handle that's uncomfortable to hold. Returning wasn't an option due to final sale, so I'm stuck sanding the edges down myself. Disappointed.

Took a chance on the Second Chance listing and came out ahead. The knife cuts like new, edge retention has been solid for two months of daily use, and the dimples do their job with starchy vegetables. Nobody can find the reason it was discounted. $44 for a full tang santoku is ridiculous value.

Everything about the blade is great: sharp, smooth cutting, no sticking, easy maintenance. The caveat is the balance point sits slightly blade-heavy, which some will love and some won't. I adapted after a few sessions. At clearance price it's an easy recommendation for anyone building a knife collection on a budget. Would happily buy another Opinel Second Chance item.

Bought three of these during the clearance because the price was too good. Kept one, gave one to my brother and one to my neighbor who just moved into her first apartment. All three arrived in excellent shape with no visible flaws. Everyone reports the same thing: razor sharp, comfortable, easy to clean. The dimpled blade is especially appreciated by my neighbor who's learning to cook. Can't beat Opinel quality at a fraction of the price. This is how you build brand loyalty.