Opinel
Parallel N° 118 Multipurpose Chef's Knife
Opinel Parallel N° 118 is a multipurpose chef's knife with a 20 cm stainless steel blade and a varnished beech wood handle. It is used for cutting, slicing, and chopping in home kitchens. User reviews highlight good sharpness, easy sharpening, and strong performance for rock-chopping techniques like mincing herbs.
- Material
- stainless steel blade with varnished beech wood handle
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Knives
Specifications
A 20 cm stainless steel chef's knife with a varnished beech wood handle, designed for precise cutting.
High corrosion resistance stainless steel blade, varnished beech wood handle, smooth balancing motion for effortless precision.
- Material
- stainless steel blade with varnished beech wood handle
- Secondary
- wood
- Occasion
- everyday
- Gender
- unisex
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Knives
Additional Attributes
- 20 cm stainless steel blade
- high corrosion resistance
- varnished beech wood handle
- multipurpose
- French brand
- smooth balancing motion
Product Insights
The Opinel Parallel N°118 is a French-made chef's knife that translates the brand's 1890 folding-knife heritage into the kitchen, with design lineage from the 2016 Parallèle line and an icon status recognized in dictionaries. Its core promise is a forged X50CrMoV15 stainless blade with an unbroken edge to the heel, a hardness of 56–57 HRC, and an edge that holds for 2–4 weeks of regular home use before needing a standard 20-degree sharpenings. The varnished, PEFC-certified beech handle from France's Jura and Vercors is shaped to prevent hand clenching and is reported to reduce fatigue, yet the main tradeoff is its behavior when wet: the varnish becomes slick with wet or oily hands and is not a waterproof coat, requiring hand washing plus immediate drying despite a dishwasher-safe specification.
Verified claims
- Design lineage
- The N°118 comes from the 2016 Parallèle series, Opinel's kitchen adaptation of its 1890 folding knife.
- Cultural icon
- The Opinel name was entered in the Larousse dictionary in 1989 alongside Bic and Frigidaire.
- Made in France
- Designed and made in France; an Opinel sells every five seconds worldwide.
- Handle provenance
- The varnished beech handle is PEFC-certified wood from France's Jura and Vercors regions.
- Steel
- Blade steel is X50CrMoV15 — a corrosion-resistant true stainless, not carbon steel.
- Hardness
- Opinel specs 56–57 HRC; dealers often list around 58 HRC.
- Edge retention
- Blade holds an edge roughly 2–4 weeks of regular home use before honing.
- Sharpening
- Full edge sharpens on basic stones and rods at a standard 20-degree-per-side bevel.
- Dishwasher safety
- Dishwasher safe in specs, but Opinel advises hand-washing to protect the blade.
- Beech handle
- PEFC-certified, varnished French beech handle rates ~1,300 lbf on the Janka scale.
- Handle care
- Hand wash, dry immediately, and store in a dry place to preserve the varnished beech handle.
- Handle feel
- Beech handle is shaped to prevent hand clenching and grip well in use, though glossy varnish gets slicker when hands are wet.
- Varnish
- Varnish protects against moisture but is not a waterproof coat; soaked beech swells and the joint stiffens.
- Wet grip
- With wet or oily hands, the varnished handle can feel slicker than synthetic handles.
- Handle comfort
- Buyers report the beech handle reduces hand fatigue and stays comfortable while rock chopping.
- Blade construction
- Fully forged X50CrMoV15 stainless steel blade, not stamped.
- Edge geometry
- Cutting edge runs unbroken to the heel, with no bolster dead spot.
- High-carbon stainless steel
- The N°118 uses X50CrMoV15 stainless steel, a high-carbon stainless alloy that includes chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium for corrosion resistance and edge retention.
- Edge symmetry
- The blade edge is symmetrical, making the knife suitable for both right-handed and left-handed users.
- Out-of-box sharpness
- Out-of-box sharpness can vary.
Product record
- Title
- Parallel N° 118 Multipurpose Chef's Knife
- Brand
- Opinel
- Price
- 81 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Buying Guide
0 comparisons · 3 sourcesImage Analysis
3 images- 01
Product
Single chef's knife shown vertically from tip to handle; stainless straight-edged blade with a curved tip and a light wood full-length handle with two round metal rivets.
- Blade shapeLong stainless blade with a slightly convex cutting edge that rises to a pointed curved tip and a flat spine.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.02 · w 0.64 · h 0.60 (high) - Blade finishMatte to satin stainless steel finish with visible subtle linear grain along the blade surface.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.10 · w 0.40 · h 0.50 (medium) - Blade text and logo“Vertical printed text and a small logo near the blade heel on the right-hand side of the blade.”
1 region
x 0.56 · y 0.40 · w 0.12 · h 0.18 (medium) - Handle geometryLight-colored rectangular wooden handle with slightly rounded long edges and a flat butt end with a small chamfer.
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.62 · w 0.32 · h 0.36 (high) - RivetsTwo visible circular shiny metal rivets flush with the handle surface, aligned along the handle centerline.
2 regions
x 0.46 · y 0.68 · w 0.04 · h 0.05 (high); x 0.46 · y 0.78 · w 0.04 · h 0.05 (high)
Other
Product photographed on a uniform light gray/white background centered in the frame with even diffuse lighting and minimal shadows.
- Shot compositionKnife is centered in a vertical portrait crop filling most of the frame from tip near the top edge to the handle near the bottom edge.
- BackgroundFlat uniform very light gray or off-white background with no visible props or packaging.
- Lighting and shadowEven diffuse lighting with soft, minimal shadows and a faint reflection/highlight along the blade spine.
Colors
stainless silver· blade#C3C3C3light beech wood· handle#D6B99Cmetallic silver· rivet heads#D5C9C2- Blade shapeLong stainless blade with a slightly convex cutting edge that rises to a pointed curved tip and a flat spine.
- 02
Product
A chef's knife mounted on a rectangular kraft card: a long stainless blade with printed labeling and a light wood full tang handle secured by two visible metal rivets and an orange plastic guard near the butt.
- Blade shape and finishSingle-piece stainless blade with a broad, slightly curved chef's profile tapering to a pointed tip; blade surface is reflective matte-metallic without visible serration.
1 region
x 0.25 · y 0.08 · w 0.50 · h 0.50 (high) - Printed blade text (large)“Large printed text on the blade reading 'PARALLELE' with vertical double-bar motif and a large 'N°118' below it.”
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.28 · w 0.34 · h 0.20 (high) - Printed blade text (descriptor)“Printed text under the model number reading 'COUTEAU CHEF' and on the next line 'CHEF'S KNIFE'.”
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.44 · w 0.30 · h 0.06 (high) - Vertical fine-print on blade“A narrow column of small vertical text printed near the blade's lower-right edge; characters are legible as a vertical block but too small to fully resolve in this image.”Partial
1 region
x 0.56 · y 0.46 · w 0.08 · h 0.20 (medium) - Handle geometryLight-colored wooden handle with a rectangular cross-section, slightly rounded edges, a subtle finger contour near the blade, and a flat butt end.
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.58 · w 0.32 · h 0.36 (high) - Handle fastenersTwo circular metal rivets visible on the handle, aligned along the handle centerline.
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.68 · w 0.14 · h 0.18 (high) - Orange guardSmall orange plastic guard or spacer positioned between the handle butt and the card, visible as a narrow horizontal tab.
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.82 · w 0.12 · h 0.04 (high)
Packaging
Product is mounted on a tall rectangular kraft-colored backing card with a punched hanging hole and a clear plastic cover holding the knife in place; dark blue printed branding appears on the upper card area.
- Backing card materialTall rectangular kraft brown card forming the full-length backing for the knife, visible around the blade and handle.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.02 · w 0.40 · h 0.96 (high) - Hanging hole and reinforcementDie-cut hanging slot with a round reinforcement hole near the top center of the card.
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.02 · w 0.12 · h 0.06 (high) - Branding on card“Dark blue printed brand name and small emblem near the top of the card; the word 'OPINEL' and smaller text under it are visible.”
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.04 · w 0.28 · h 0.08 (high) - Clear plastic coverTransparent plastic blister or sleeve holds the blade and handle against the card, visible as a subtle sheen and edge along the knife outline.
1 region
x 0.24 · y 0.06 · w 0.52 · h 0.90 (medium)
Other
Studio product shot with the knife and card centered on a plain white background; even diffuse lighting with minimal shadows.
- Shot compositionVertical centered composition showing the full length of the packaged knife with ample white space around the card.
- BackgroundUniform white background without visible props or textures.
- Lighting and reflectionsDiffuse even lighting producing soft reflections on the blade and minimal cast shadows around the card edges.
Colors
matte stainless steel· blade#CCCCCClight beech wood· handle#DCBA94bright orange· guard#DC7C4Ckraft brown· cardPackaging#C49A7Ddark navy blue· printed textPackaging- Blade shape and finishSingle-piece stainless blade with a broad, slightly curved chef's profile tapering to a pointed tip; blade surface is reflective matte-metallic without visible serration.
- 03
Product
Close-up of a stainless steel chef blade lying on a wooden cutting board; water droplets sit on the blade and a light natural wood handle is partially visible at the right edge.
- Blade geometryWide chef-style blade with a gently curved cutting edge and a straight spine that tapers toward the tip; visible portion shows the face of the blade across most of the image.
1 region
x 0.06 · y 0.06 · w 0.74 · h 0.66 (high) - Blade finishMatte brushed stainless surface on the blade face with a subtle linear grain visible along the length.
1 region
x 0.12 · y 0.10 · w 0.63 · h 0.52 (high) - Water dropletsSeveral clear water droplets and short streaks rest on the blade surface, creating small reflective highlights.
3 regions
x 0.16 · y 0.14 · w 0.20 · h 0.12 (high); x 0.34 · y 0.28 · w 0.20 · h 0.10 (high); x 0.56 · y 0.44 · w 0.18 · h 0.12 (high) - Handle visibleShort section of a light natural wood handle with a visible round metal rivet where the handle meets the blade.
1 region
x 0.78 · y 0.62 · w 0.18 · h 0.20 (high) - Blade stamping“OPINEL”
1 region
x 0.74 · y 0.40 · w 0.12 · h 0.12 (high) - Blade stamping second line“INOX”
1 region
x 0.75 · y 0.48 · w 0.10 · h 0.08 (high)
Other
Image is a close-up product detail shot on a wooden cutting board with a sliced beet and some green stems visible; shallow depth of field and soft natural lighting produce a focused blade and blurred background edges.
- Cutting board backgroundDark wooden cutting board with visible knife marks and food residue beneath and around the blade.
1 region
x 0.00 · y 0.00 · w 0.98 · h 0.98 (medium) - Foreground propSingle halved beet with glossy textured interior sits at the lower left corner and slightly overlaps the blade area.
1 region
x 0.02 · y 0.66 · w 0.40 · h 0.34 (high) - Shot compositionTight oblique close-up taken from above and slightly to the left, producing a diagonal blade orientation from top left to bottom right.
- Depth of fieldShallow depth of field with the blade face in focus and the background wood grain and greens partially blurred.
Colors
matte stainless steel· blade#C2C6CAlight natural wood· handle#D3BB93- Blade geometryWide chef-style blade with a gently curved cutting edge and a straight spine that tapers toward the tip; visible portion shows the face of the blade across most of the image.
Brand PDP Lookup
- Brand
- Opinel
N°118 Chief Multi-purpose Parallèle
Documents & Data
Reddit Insights
2 threads · r/chefknives, r/OpinelOverall, Reddit users find the Opinel Parallele chef's knife to be a solid, affordable entry-level knife with good sharpness and edge retention, best suited for rock chopping, though quality can be inconsistent.
Most comments praise the knife's sharpness, edge retention, and value, though some note inconsistency in factory sharpness and limitations compared to higher-end knives.
Themes
Use Cases
- Home cooking
- Mincing herbs / rock chopping
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Euroline Kramer and Florentine F4
The Opinel Parallele is a more affordable option with similar functionality for rock chopping.
vs Cheap wedding knife sets
The Parallele knives are a significant upgrade in sharpness and edge retention.
Source Threads
User discusses the Opinel Parallele chef knife's performance and value
My first chef knife was an Opinel Parallele. I enjoyed it before moving onto some higher end knives. It sharpens easily enough and holds an edge fairly well. I really appreciate the minimal bolster on the Parallele when it comes to sharpening. I still reach for it when I'm mincing herbs as I like rock chopping herbs. This new range from Opinel looks beautiful for sure. If I enjoyed knives with this much belly, I'd definitely consider the Opinel a solid option that's a lot more affordable than a Euroline Kramer or a Florentine F4. Though I wish Opinel made more of their kitchen knives with Carbon steel as an option.
u/a_r_dr/chefknivesView thread →
User praises the Parallele santoku and paring as razor sharp with good edge retention
I have the Parallele santoku and paring, and both were razor sharp out of the box. I touch them up periodically and they've been great. The steel holds an edge really well. I'm no chef, but they've been way better than the wedding set I've been using for 15 years lol.
u/neverbunt84r/OpinelView thread →