Opinel
No. 216 Intempora Bread Knife
The Opinel No. 216 Intempora is a full-tang bread knife with a 21 cm (8.5-inch) curved Sandvik stainless steel blade made from high-carbon martensitic steel, and a moulded fibreglass polyoxymethylene (POM) handle. Designed for slicing all types of bread, it is especially effective on crusty loaves such as sourdough, with user reviews noting long-lasting sharpness and reliable performance. Hand polished and made in France, this knife is valued for its durability and affordable price point.
- Material
- Martensitic stainless steel blade with high carbon content and moulded fibreglass polyoxymethylene (POM) handle
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Knives
Specifications
A durable and high-performance bread knife with a curved blade and stainless steel construction, designed for slicing all types of bread.
Curved blade enhances cutting comfort; Sandvik stainless steel ensures sharpness and corrosion resistance; full-tang blade provides balance and robustness; moulded fibreglass polyoxymethylene handle offers durability and grip.
- Material
- Martensitic stainless steel blade with high carbon content and moulded fibreglass polyoxymethylene (POM) handle
- Secondary
- plastic
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Knives
Additional Attributes
- durability
- performance
- razor-sharp edge
- corrosion resistance
- easy maintenance
- curved blade
- triangular profile
- secure grip
- comfortable grip
- moulded fibreglass polyoxymethylene handle
- resistance to wear, water, and impact
- martensitic stainless steel with high carbon content (0.52%)
- full-tang blade
- hand polished
- made in France
Product Insights
The Opinel No. 216 Intempora Bread Knife is a professional-grade tool that cleanly slices hard crusts without crushing the crumb, staying razor-sharp for years due to its Sandvik steel blade at 57 HRC and scalloped serrations. Its full-tang construction and POM handle provide a balanced pinch grip, moisture-proof durability, and comfort in cold or hot environments, though the handle's functional design trades visual prestige for practicality. While the knife's features rival those of knives costing over 200 CAD, users must hand-wash it to preserve blade sharpness and use a ceramic rod for sharpening, as Opinel's free sharpening service does not cover this model.
Verified claims
- Crusty bread
- Slices hard crusts cleanly without crushing the crumb and stays sharp for years.
- Edge retention
- Buyers report the blade stays sharp for years with regular use.
- Balance
- Balance point falls under the pinch grip for a light, controllable tip.
- Control
- The handle transfers force without flex and the curved blade aids bottom-crust cuts.
- Comfort
- The handle stays comfortable in cold kitchens and does not become hot near a cooktop.
- Grip
- Triangular handle corners resist rounding, preserving grip security.
- Environmental resistance
- POM handle absorbs less than 0.3% water, resists stains, and withstands dishwasher heat.
- Mechanical integrity
- POM handle: fatigue-resistant, stiff, and grip-retentive.
- Construction
- Full-tang Sandvik steel blade (57 HRC) with balanced pinch grip and durable POM handle.
- Value for money
- Buyers describe the knife as offering good value for money.
- Build quality
- Full-tang blade and water-resistant POM handle deliver professional balance and hygiene.
- Design lineage
- Professional full-tang bread knife from Opinel's Intempora series.
- Handle
- POM handle resists moisture, odors, thermal extremes, and everyday wear.
- Blade
- 57 HRC blade resists chipping; curved blade eases bottom-crust slicing.
- Cleaning
- Hand washing is recommended; dishwasher heat is safe for the handle but dulls the blade.
- Sharpening
- Sharpening requires a ceramic rod; Opinel's free sharpening service excludes this knife.
- Aesthetics
- Buyers describe the knife as functional rather than flashy in appearance.
- Aesthetic durability
- Acetal handle resists staining and shape rounding, keeping its smooth finish with minimal care.
- Steel
- Sandvik steel at 57 HRC stays sharp for years.
- Serrations
- Scalloped serrations and curved blade slice hard crusts and rock through loaves cleanly.
- Blade length
- The No. 216 has a 21 cm blade; overall length including the handle is 34 cm (13.4 inches).
- Handle texture
- The POM handle has a smooth, velvety feel from its hand-polished finish and a curved triangular profile for a secure, comfortable grip.
Product record
- Title
- No. 216 Intempora Bread Knife
- Brand
- Opinel
- Price
- 127 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Buying Guide
1 comparison · 8 sourcesUses
Slicing all kinds of bread, from crusty sourdough loaves to the bottom crust
This serrated bread knife is designed for slicing all types of bread at home. The 21 cm curved blade is made for cutting comfort, and one owner notes it works well for finishing off the bottom crust of a loaf. A long-term user who bakes sourdough reports it has cut countless loaves since 2020 while staying very sharp, though that's an individual experience rather than a guaranteed result.[1,2,4]
Slicing the bottom crust of a loaf
This Opinel bread knife has a curved blade that one longtime owner found nice for finishing slices through the bottom crust of a loaf. They described it as not the fanciest knife, but one that does the job.[1]
Product comparison
Compared within this brand.
| No. 216 Intempora Bread Knife: Choose this if you want a single, durable bread knife for slicing all types of bread: it has a curved 21 centimeter (8.5 inch) serrated Sandvik stainless steel blade for a sharp edge and corrosion resistance, a full-tang build for balance, and a moulded fibreglass polyoxymethylene handle that resists wear, water, and impact. It is made in France, and long-term users report it staying razor-sharp through years of loaf slicing. One user calls it not the fanciest but says it does the job, and its look is described as smart though not necessarily cool.[1,2,3,4,5] | Parallel N° 116 Bread Knife: Choose this if you want a dedicated knife for slicing crusty loaves: it has a 21 cm serrated stainless steel blade with high corrosion resistance and a curved profile that one user found nice for finishing the bottom crust of a loaf. The varnished beech wood handle is described as comfortable in hand, and long-term owners report it cutting countless loaves while staying sharp. One user called it not the fanciest but said it does the job.[1,2,6] | Parallèle Bread Beech Wood Block Set Of 5 Knives: Choose this if you want a complete starter kitchen set from Opinel's Parallèle collection: five stainless steel knives with varnished beech wood handles, covering a 20 cm chef's knife, 17 cm santoku, 16 cm carving knife, 8 cm paring knife, and a 21 cm bread knife. The five-slit beech wood block stores them vertically with through slots for easy cleaning and includes silicone pads. Note the light natural wood block shows grain and has an engraved logo, so it suits a natural, understated look rather than a sleek modern one.[7,8] |
Image Analysis
3 images- 01
Product
A full bread knife is shown flat on a white background, blade pointing up. The knife has a long serrated stainless steel blade with scalloped teeth on the cutting edge and a smooth dark navy synthetic handle with a flared butt.
- Blade shapeLong straight blade with a slightly rounded tip and a single cutting edge that has scalloped/serrated teeth along one side.
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.12 · w 0.31 · h 0.52 (high) - Blade finishSmooth metallic stainless finish on the flat faces of the blade with a visible satin reflection band near the spine.
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.18 · w 0.24 · h 0.34 (high) - Serration detailEvenly spaced scalloped serrations along the cutting edge; serrations are pronounced and visible for most of the blade length.
1 region
x 0.46 · y 0.18 · w 0.10 · h 0.36 (high) - Handle shapeSingle-piece dark navy synthetic handle with smooth matte surface, gently tapering toward the blade and flaring slightly at the butt into a small faceted heel.
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.57 · w 0.17 · h 0.36 (high) - Blade marking“Raised or printed word 'OPINEL' visible on the blade near the ricasso area.”
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.34 · w 0.12 · h 0.08 (medium)
Other
Lifestyle styled shot on a white surface with assorted breads and scattered seeds around the knife; even studio lighting with soft shadows.
- Background and propsWhite flat background or cloth covered in scattered seeds and multiple loaves and slices of bread arranged around the knife.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 1.00 · h 1.00 (high) - Shot compositionTop-down centered composition with the knife positioned vertically in the image center and breads placed asymmetrically around it.
- Lighting and shadowsSoft, diffuse studio lighting producing gentle shadows beneath breads and a subtle reflection on the blade face.
Colors
stainless steel· blade#BEC1C2dark navy· handle#15213E- Blade shapeLong straight blade with a slightly rounded tip and a single cutting edge that has scalloped/serrated teeth along one side.
- 02
Product
A full-length serrated bread knife shown upright on a white background; stainless serrated blade with scalloped teeth and a single-piece metal collar transitioning to a smooth, dark blue elongated handle ending in a flat metal butt cap marked with model text.
- Blade geometryLong straight spine with a gently upturned pointed tip and a continuous serrated cutting edge formed by repeated scalloped teeth along one side.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.02 · w 0.60 · h 0.62 (high) - Blade material and finishSmooth metallic silver blade with a satin finish reflecting light evenly across the face.
1 region
x 0.24 · y 0.02 · w 0.52 · h 0.50 (high) - Blade marking“OPINEL”
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.33 · w 0.16 · h 0.14 (medium) - Collar/bolsterShort metal collar at blade-to-handle junction with a shallow rounded profile sitting flush with the handle top.
1 region
x 0.39 · y 0.61 · w 0.22 · h 0.07 (high) - Handle shapeElongated tapered handle with a gentle hourglass curve, thicker near the collar and narrowing slightly toward a flared flat butt.
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.65 · w 0.34 · h 0.32 (high) - Handle finishSmooth, slightly glossy dark blue finish on the handle surface.
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.65 · w 0.34 · h 0.30 (high) - Butt cap text“n216”
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.94 · w 0.14 · h 0.05 (medium)
Other
Studio product shot on a plain white background, centered vertical composition with even diffuse lighting and minimal visible shadow.
- Shot compositionKnife centered vertically in frame, shown full length from tip to butt with small margin to image edges.
- BackgroundUniform white background without texture or props.
- Lighting and shadowEven diffuse lighting with soft highlights on metal surfaces and a faint soft shadow beneath the handle area.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.84 · w 0.40 · h 0.12 (medium)
Colors
stainless silver· blade#D5D4D2dark navy blue· handle#343A4Dmetallic silver· butt cap#9C9BA2- Blade geometryLong straight spine with a gently upturned pointed tip and a continuous serrated cutting edge formed by repeated scalloped teeth along one side.
- 03
Product
A serrated stainless-steel bread knife blade and a dark smooth molded handle are visible through a tall rectangular display window in the packaging.
- Serrated bladePart of a long serrated metal blade is visible through the box window; the blade shows scalloped cutting teeth along the visible edge and a matte metallic finish.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.10 · w 0.40 · h 0.44 (high) - Blade markingsSmall printed or engraved marking is present on the blade near its center but characters are not legible at this resolution.Partial
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.28 · w 0.14 · h 0.08 (medium) - Handle shape and finishA single-piece dark smooth handle with a slight ergonomic curve and a flared end is visible; finish appears glossy or low-sheen plastic.
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.54 · w 0.32 · h 0.36 (high)
Packaging
A tall rectangular retail box with a vertical clear window, dark blue printed panels with white geometric patterning, a yellow product callout label, and printed brand text at top and bottom.
- Box formatTall narrow rectangular cardboard box with a vertical die-cut clear window revealing the knife inside and a hanging tab at the top.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.03 · w 0.64 · h 0.94 (high) - Top brand text“OPINEL SAVOIE FRANCE”
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.05 · w 0.28 · h 0.06 (high) - Yellow callout“Nº 216 (21 CM) COUTEAU A PAIN BREAD KNIFE”
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.38 · w 0.20 · h 0.08 (high) - Bottom product line text“INTEMPORA”
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.90 · w 0.28 · h 0.06 (high) - Side panel vertical text“INTEMPORA”
1 region
x 0.78 · y 0.35 · w 0.10 · h 0.50 (medium) - Geometric patternWhite geometric line pattern printed on the interior panel visible through the window and on the outer panels alongside the window.
2 regions
x 0.26 · y 0.18 · w 0.36 · h 0.72 (high); x 0.74 · y 0.18 · w 0.16 · h 0.70 (high)
Other
Studio product shot on a white background with uniform diffuse lighting and minimal shadows; image is vertically oriented and the product is centered.
- Shot compositionProduct photographed upright, centered in frame with ample white surrounding margin.
- Lighting and shadowEven diffuse lighting with soft shadowing mostly below the boxed product; no strong specular hotspots.
Colors
metallic silver· blade#C5C3C3very dark navy· handle#0D1624deep navy blue· main box panelsPackaging#163351yellow orange· callout labelPackagingwhite· pattern and textPackaging#D5D4DA- Serrated bladePart of a long serrated metal blade is visible through the box window; the blade shows scalloped cutting teeth along the visible edge and a matte metallic finish.
Brand PDP Lookup
- Brand
- Opinel
N°216 Bread knife Intempora
Documents & Data
Reddit Insights
3 threads · r/Sourdough, r/chefknives, r/BreaditReddit users praise the Opinel bread knife for its excellent value, durability, and performance on crusty bread, though it's not the fanciest option.
All mentions are positive, highlighting sharpness, longevity, and affordability, with no negative comments.
Themes
Use Cases
- Slicing sourdough and crusty loaves
- General bread slicing
Watch Out For
Source Threads
Endorsement from user who bought on pro baker's recommendation
I bought the Opinel on recommendation from a pro baker in 2020. It's cut countless loaves and still sharp as a razor. Bonus is it's not very expensive!
u/Greggybreadr/SourdoughView thread →
Brief recommendation in chefknives thread
The Opinel bread knife is good, well made and looks smart (thought not necessarily cool), and the price is good
u/canardgrasr/chefknivesView thread →
Two-year user review highlighting performance on crust
I've had this opinel bread knife for two years now, not the fanciest but does the job, the curved blade is nice for finishing to slice the bottom crust of a loaf.
u/victowangr/BreaditView thread →