No. 219 Santoku Intempora kitchen knife product image (primary)
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.

Opinel

No. 219 Santoku Intempora Kitchen Knife

CA$134.00CAD
In Stock

Opinel No. 219 Santoku Intempora is a full-tang kitchen knife made in France with a 17 cm (6.75") Sandvik martensitic stainless steel blade (0.52% carbon, hand polished, 3 mm thick) and a fibreglass polyoxymethylene handle. It is designed for chopping, slicing, and preparing fish and shellfish. Note that while the design is praised, some user reviews cite quality control issues, including bent blades on similar Intempora models, so inspection on arrival is recommended.

Material
Martensitic stainless steel blade with fibreglass polyoxymethylene (POM) handle
Category
Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Knives

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 is a fixed full-tang knife that brings the brand's pocket-knife ergonomics to a high-performance santoku format, built around a Sandvik 12C27M steel blade at 57–58 HRC and a moisture- and impact-resistant POM handle. Its core promise is precise, one-motion push cutting for fish, shellfish, and vegetables, aided by hollow-edge scallops that release food during fast slicing and a V-grip that guides the index finger and thumb for control. The main tradeoff is specialization: the stiff 3 mm spine and flat profile wedge in dense vegetables like carrots and resist rocking strokes, while the unfinished choil can irritate fingers during long pinch-grip sessions. Filleting and lifting are deliberately left to the flexible N°221. Opinel supports the knife with free factory resharpening (shipping only) and recommends hand-washing despite dishwasher-safe claims; at 134 CAD, it undercuts premium Shun santokus but costs more than Opinel's own Parallèle N°118, which uses a different steel. The result is a moderately heavy (211 g) Western-style santoku that excels at its intended fish-and-vegetable push-cutting role, provided you accept its quirks.

Verified claims

Materials
Blade uses Sandvik 12C27M steel (57–58 HRC); handle uses POM, resistant to moisture and impact.
Care
Opinel recommends hand-washing and 20° resharpening; factory re-edging is free apart from shipping.
Range comparison
At Opinel list prices, the Parallèle N°118 multipurpose chef knife is €26.10 cheaper and uses X50CrMoV15 instead of 12C27M.
Wedging
Buyers report the 3 mm spine can wedge in dense vegetables like carrots.
Cutting style
Designed for one-motion push cuts, not rocking strokes.
Food release
The hollow-edge scallops keep cut food from sticking during fast slicing.
Fish prep
Fish and shellfish prep works; lifting fillets is the N°221's role.
Weight
Weighs 211 g, a moderate heft for a 17 cm full-tang santoku.
Handle comfort
Curved handle reduces hand fatigue, but the unfinished choil is reported to cause pain in a pinch grip.
Handle lineage
Intempora's handle is modelled on the Opinel pocket knife, on a full-tang, high-performance line.
Ergonomics
Buyers report the V-grip supports a precise pinch, while the unfinished choil can hurt the index finger during longer prep.
Cutting profile
The 3mm spine makes it a stiff Western-style cutter; Opinel routes whole-fish filleting to the flexible N°221.
Push cutting
Built for push cuts, not rocking; its rigid full-tang blade and hollow edge keep slices moving.
Intended use
Marketed for chopping fish and shellfish; filleting belongs to Opinel's flexible 18 cm No. 221 Fillet.
Edge angle
Factory edge angle is 15 degrees per side; resharpening angle is 20 degrees.
Resharpening service
Factory resharpening is free except return shipping; turnaround about three weeks.
Cutting technique
Push-cutting suits this 3 mm, chef-knife-thick blade; rocking does not.
Fish role
Marketed for fish-and-shellfish chopping and slicing; filleting and skinning are the N°221's job.
Price gap
At official list prices, the Parallel N°118 is €26.10 cheaper than this santoku.
Format
The N°12 B in Opinel's BBQ set is a locking folding blade; this is fixed full-tang.
Aftercare
Opinel's workshop re-sharpens it in ~3 weeks for shipping costs only.
Value
At 134 CAD, entry cost sits well below premium Shun santokus.
After-sale support
Free Opinel factory resharpening (shipping only); Shun offers a lifetime warranty instead.
Dishwasher safety
Opinel says the No.219 is dishwasher safe, but recommends hand washing for the edge.
Edge maintenance
Opinel recommends a 20° sharpening angle; its workshop re-edges Intempora knives for shipping only.
Pinch grip
The V-grip handle positions the thumb and index finger on the blade to steer push-cut slicing.
Fish and shellfish use
Opinel markets the N°219 for fish and shellfish; filleting is left to the flexible N°221 fillet knife.
Sharpening
The factory edge is 15° per side; Opinel recommends resharpening at 20°, and its workshop will resharpen free except return shipping.
Cutting performance
Flat profile push-cuts and sweeps food off the board; buyers report its 3 mm spine wedging in dense root vegetables.
Handle design
Handle shape borrows Opinel's pocket-knife ergonomics, and its V-grip supports pinch-grip control.

Product record

Title
No. 219 Santoku Intempora Kitchen Knife
Brand
Opinel
Price
134 CAD
Availability
In stock

Image Analysis

3 images
No. 219 Santoku Intempora kitchen knife product image (primary)
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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionsx 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
No. 219 Santoku Intempora kitchen knife product image 2
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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 0.43 · y 0.93 · w 0.13 · h 0.06 (medium)
  • Product text“OPINEL”
    1 regionx 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
No. 219 Santoku Intempora kitchen knife product image 3
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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 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 regionx 0.29 · y 0.00 · w 0.42 · h 1.00 (high)
  • Top branding text“OPINEL SAVOIE FRANCE”
    1 regionx 0.36 · y 0.04 · w 0.28 · h 0.08 (high)
  • Cyan model band text“N°219 (17 CM) SANTOKU SANTOKU KNIFE”
    1 regionx 0.36 · y 0.45 · w 0.28 · h 0.08 (high)
  • Bottom product line text“INTEMPORA”
    1 regionx 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 regionx 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

Reddit Insights

2 threads · r/TrueChefKnives, r/Opinel

Reddit 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.

negative sentiment65% match

The most detailed review is strongly negative due to manufacturing defects, while other comments are neutral or non-specific positive.

Themes

Manufacturing Qualitynegative
Design and Ergonomicsmixed
Value Compared to Alternativesnegative

Use Cases

  • General kitchen prep

Watch Out For

highKnife may arrive with a bent blade and tang, rendering it defective.
mediumExtremely thick spine causes wedging in food.
mediumSharp points on the choil can hurt during a pinch grip.

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 →

Provenance

Merchant Link
https://www.simons.ca/en/kitchen-dining/kitchenware/kitchen-utensils-accessories/no-219-santoku-intempora-kitchen-knife--21668-25405008?colourId=0
Updated