Opinel
No. 219 Santoku Intempora Kitchen Knife
The No. 219 Santoku Intempora is a French-made kitchen knife from Opinel, designed for chopping, slicing, and preparing fish and shellfish. It features a 17 cm (6.75") Sandvik stainless steel blade with a 3 mm thickness, granton-style dimples, full-tang construction, and a fiberglass-reinforced POM handle for durability. Some users of the Intempora line have reported manufacturing defects such as a bent blade, so it is advisable to inspect the knife upon arrival.
- Material
- Martensitic stainless steel blade with fibreglass polyoxymethylene (POM) handle
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Knives
Color
Size
Specifications
A versatile and durable Santoku kitchen knife from Opinel, featuring a 17 cm Sandvik stainless steel blade with full-tang design and ergonomic fibreglass-reinforced polyoxymethylene handle.
Full-tang blade provides balance and robustness. Razor-sharp Sandvik stainless steel edge with excellent corrosion resistance. Wide blade facilitates easy food transfer. Continuous edge for easier sharpening. Curved, ergonomic handle reduces hand fatigue. Hand-polished finish. Made in France.
- Material
- Martensitic stainless steel blade with fibreglass polyoxymethylene (POM) handle
- Secondary
- plastic
- Occasion
- everyday
- Gender
- unisex
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Knives
Additional Attributes
- reliable
- practical
- versatile
- sturdy
- razor-sharp edge
- corrosion-resistant
- easy maintenance
- full-tang
- hand polished
- made in France
- ergonomic handle
- fibreglass reinforced
- wide blade
- easy sharpening
Product Insights
The Opinel No. 219 Santoku Intempora, made in France since 1890, features a hand-polished full-tang Sandvik 12C27M steel blade (57–58 HRC) that offers edge retention surpassing X50CrMoV15 and budget Zwilling steels, with a corrosion-resistant finish and secure fiberglass-reinforced POM handle. However, sharp choil points cause discomfort in a pinch grip, the 3 mm spine wedges in dense vegetables, and quality control issues—including bent blades and inconsistent finishing—lead buyers to recommend Victorinox or Herder as more reliable alternatives at the 134 CAD price point.
Verified claims
- Quality control
- Buyers report sharp choil points and wedging in dense vegetables; concerns about consistency.
- Handle comfort
- Buyers report that the choil's unfinished edges cause pain during a pinch grip.
- Cutting feel
- The santoku balances better in hand than the partial-tang Fibrox.
- Build quality
- One reported unit had a bent blade causing severe imbalance and discomfort.
- Wedging
- Buyers report wedging in dense vegetables from the 3 mm spine.
- Edge retention
- 57-58 HRC Sandvik steel outlasts X50CrMoV15 and budget Zwilling steels.
- Hand-polished finish
- Hand-polished blade resists corrosion and cuts smoother than machine-ground.
- Full-tang design
- Full-tang allows full-edge sharpening but may wedge in dense foods.
- Cutting performance
- Sandvik 12C27M steel and hand-polished finish provide excellent edge retention and smooth cuts, but the thick spine can wedge in dense foods.
- Durability
- Full-tang bolster-free design and fiberglass-reinforced POM handle ensure a robust knife that outlasts budget alternatives.
- Ergonomics
- Sharp choil points can cause discomfort in pinch grip, and the handle shape may not suit all.
- Value
- At 134 CAD, QC issues reported by r/TrueChefKnives make Victorinox or Herder more reliable alternatives.
- French heritage
- Made in France at Opinel's Savoie workshop since 1890.
- Materials
- Blade uses Sandvik 12C27M steel (57–58 HRC); handle uses POM, resistant to moisture and impact.
- Craftsmanship
- Hand-polished full-tang blade with no heel bolster allows full-edge sharpening.
- Quality consistency
- One user reported a bent blade and tang on the No. 217 Intempora model.
- Grip
- Handle grip is secure when wet, but may lack texture for very greasy foods.
- Balance
- Full tang delivers balanced weight distribution, flex resistance, and full-edge sharpening.
- Ergonomic and cutting trade-offs
- The sharp choil can dig into fingers and the thick spine may wedge in dense foods.
- Handle design
- Fiberglass-reinforced POM handle is durable, water-resistant, and modern.
- Visual appeal
- Buyers report the knife 'looks pretty' with its satin blade and navy handle.
- Care
- Blade resists rust; handle needs no special care.
- Inspection
- Buyers report the blade may arrive bent; inspect immediately.
Product record
- Title
- No. 219 Santoku Intempora Kitchen Knife
- Brand
- Opinel
- Price
- 134 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Image Analysis
3 images- 01
Product
A santoku-style kitchen knife photographed flat with the blade pointing upward and the handle downward; visible features include a stainless-steel blade with hollowed oval dimples and a dark blue single-piece handle with a slightly flared butt.
- Overall orientationKnife lies flat on its side, blade tip pointing toward top center and handle toward bottom center of the image.
1 region
x 0.35 · y 0.16 · w 0.30 · h 0.68 (high) - Blade shapeWide santoku-style blade with a gently curved cutting edge and a broad flat spine that tapers toward the tip.
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.16 · w 0.18 · h 0.38 (high) - Granton / hollowed dimplesA single row of evenly spaced oval hollows (Granton-style dimples) runs along the blade face near the edge.
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.20 · w 0.16 · h 0.25 (high) - Blade material and finishBlade appears metallic stainless steel with a satin to matte finish and subtle reflected highlights.
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.16 · w 0.18 · h 0.38 (high) - Blade text marking“Small printed text and mark visible on the lower portion of the blade near the heel; characters are legible in part.”Partial
1 region
x 0.51 · y 0.41 · w 0.08 · h 0.09 (medium) - Handle shapeSingle-piece dark blue handle with an oval to flattened profile, a straight midsection and a slightly flared butt end.
1 region
x 0.45 · y 0.51 · w 0.18 · h 0.37 (high) - Handle finishHandle has a smooth, slightly glossy finish consistent with molded plastic or resin.
1 region
x 0.45 · y 0.51 · w 0.18 · h 0.37 (high) - Butt markingSmall light-colored marking or label visible at the very end of the handle butt; characters on it are small but present.Partial
1 region
x 0.51 · y 0.86 · w 0.04 · h 0.06 (medium)
Other
Flat lay lifestyle composition on a white surface with assorted food ingredients arranged around the knife; soft diffuse lighting produces minimal hard shadows.
- Shot compositionTop-down flat-lay arrangement with knife centered vertically and ingredients placed around it in a loose grid.
- Background surfaceWhite, slightly textured surface used as the backdrop for the flat-lay.
- Visible props and food itemsOctopus tentacle at top, ginger root left of blade, halved lime lower left, romanesco broccoli lower right, lemongrass stalks and scattered sesame-like seeds across the scene.
3 regions
x 0.25 · y 0.02 · w 0.50 · h 0.28 (high); x 0.05 · y 0.35 · w 0.30 · h 0.35 (high); x 0.35 · y 0.80 · w 0.18 · h 0.16 (high) - Lighting and shadowsEven diffuse lighting with soft, low-contrast shadows under objects and mild specular highlights on metallic blade and glossy handle.
- Image qualityHigh resolution and in-focus for the knife and nearest ingredients; small text on blade and butt is partially legible but not fully resolved.
Colors
stainless steel silver· bladedeep navy blue· handle#23264A- Overall orientationKnife lies flat on its side, blade tip pointing toward top center and handle toward bottom center of the image.
- 02
Product
Single santoku-style knife shown straight on with full blade and handle visible. Satin-finish stainless blade has a series of horizontal oval scallops along the face; handle is smooth, gently curved, and dark metallic in color.
- Blade profileStraight-edged santoku-style blade with a gently tapered rounded tip and a flat spine that curves down toward the tip.
1 region
x 0.17 · y 0.02 · w 0.52 · h 0.56 (high) - Granton / hollowed scallopsSeries of evenly spaced horizontal oval scallops (granton-style) running along the blade face from near the spine down toward the edge.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.06 · w 0.28 · h 0.45 (high) - Blade finish and markingsSatin/brushed stainless finish on blade face with a vertical stamped marking reading OPINEL near the bolster.
1 region
x 0.42 · y 0.36 · w 0.10 · h 0.18 (high) - Handle shapeSingle-piece contoured handle with a gentle S-shaped curve; profile tapers slightly toward the blade then widens near the butt for a flared end.
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.56 · w 0.28 · h 0.39 (high) - Handle finishSmooth metallic dark blue-gray finish with a subtle sheen, appearing uniform across the handle.
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.56 · w 0.28 · h 0.39 (high) - BolsterSmall polished metallic bolster between blade and handle with a rounded top profile.
1 region
x 0.42 · y 0.50 · w 0.10 · h 0.06 (high) - Butt cap detailFlat polygonal butt cap visible at handle end with a small inscribed marking that is not fully legible at this resolution.Partial
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.93 · w 0.13 · h 0.06 (medium) - Product text“OPINEL”
1 region
x 0.42 · y 0.36 · w 0.10 · h 0.18 (high)
Other
Studio product shot on a white background, centered vertically; soft shadowing beneath the knife indicates overhead lighting; image is full-frame and vertically oriented.
- Shot compositionKnife centered on a plain white background, shown full-length with blade up and handle down.
- Lighting and shadowsEven diffuse lighting with faint soft shadow visible below the handle and blade indicating studio illumination from above.
- Image qualityHigh-resolution product image with sharp edges and clear detail across blade and handle.
Colors
satin stainless steel· blade#D8D7D5metallic navy gray· handle#353945polished silver· bolster/butt cap#BDBDBA- Blade profileStraight-edged santoku-style blade with a gently tapered rounded tip and a flat spine that curves down toward the tip.
- 03
Product
A santoku knife is visible inside a narrow retail sleeve: a stainless-steel blade with scalloped (granton) dimples and a dark smooth single-piece handle; the knife is shown full-length, centered and facing blade-up.
- Blade shape and surfaceBroad santoku-style blade with a rounded tip and a series of shallow scalloped dimples (granton-style) along the blade face; blade shows a satin stainless finish and vertical orientation with cutting edge to the right (not fully visible).
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.06 · w 0.28 · h 0.48 (high) - Blade printed marking“Small printed text and mark visible on the flat of the blade near the handle; characters are small and partially legible from this view.”Partial
1 region
x 0.46 · y 0.30 · w 0.12 · h 0.06 (medium) - Handle material and shapeSingle-piece dark smooth handle with an ergonomic, slightly curved silhouette that tapers inward near the middle and flares slightly at the butt; glossy or semi-gloss finish.
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.54 · w 0.20 · h 0.32 (high) - Knife orientationKnife is presented vertically inside the package with the blade at the top and handle at the bottom, fully visible within a cutout window of the sleeve.
Packaging
A tall narrow retail cardboard sleeve in deep navy with a central die-cut window shows the knife; a cyan product band across the blade area contains model and size text, and decorative white patterned insert is visible behind the knife.
- Sleeve shape and windowTall, narrow rectangular cardboard sleeve with a vertical die-cut window aligned to show the full knife; hanger tab with a cutout is present at the top.
1 region
x 0.29 · y 0.00 · w 0.42 · h 1.00 (high) - Top branding text“OPINEL SAVOIE FRANCE”
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.04 · w 0.28 · h 0.08 (high) - Cyan model band text“N°219 (17 CM) SANTOKU SANTOKU KNIFE”
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.45 · w 0.28 · h 0.08 (high) - Bottom product line text“INTEMPORA”
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.92 · w 0.28 · h 0.06 (high) - Decorative insertWhite background insert with diagonal navy stripe geometric pattern visible through the window behind the blade and handle.
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.12 · w 0.32 · h 0.76 (high)
Other
Studio product shot on a plain white background with even lighting; centered composition and minimal shadows.
- Shot compositionKnife and sleeve are centered vertically and horizontally in the frame with ample white space around the product.
- Background and lightingUniform white background with soft, even lighting and minimal visible shadows or reflections.
- Image qualityHigh-resolution studio image with clear focus on product and legible printed text on packaging; no visible obstructions or props.
Colors
stainless silver· blade#C5C3C9dark navy· handle#0E1A2Edeep navy blue· sleeve backgroundPackaging#13314Ebright cyan· product bandPackagingwhite· insert patternPackaging#D5D4DA- Blade shape and surfaceBroad santoku-style blade with a rounded tip and a series of shallow scalloped dimples (granton-style) along the blade face; blade shows a satin stainless finish and vertical orientation with cutting edge to the right (not fully visible).
Documents & Data
Reddit Insights
2 threads · r/TrueChefKnives, r/OpinelReddit users report severe quality control issues with the Opinel Intempora line, with a No 217 arriving bent and poorly ground, while others find the knives aesthetically pleasing but lack hands-on experience with the Santoku.
The most detailed review is strongly negative due to manufacturing defects, while other comments are neutral or non-specific positive.
Themes
Use Cases
- General kitchen prep
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Victorinox
Victorinox is recommended over Opinel Intempora for a budget-friendly option.
vs Robert Herder Santoku
Robert Herder santoku is suggested as an alternative with better grind and carbon steel.
vs Zwilling
Lower-tier Zwilling knives are considered a better choice.
Source Threads
Review of Opinel Intempora No 217 reveals severe quality control issues
Out of the box, the knife is bent. If you want to cut round corners, this is your tool. The blade is bent, and the tang as it runs through the handle is bent, and the handle has been machined around the bent steel.
u/GrippyEdr/TrueChefKnivesView thread →
User finds Opinel Intempora knives aesthetically pleasing but unsure about ergonomics
They look pretty. I am not sure about the handle shape. I would want to hold them.
u/ExcaliburZSHr/OpinelView thread →