Opinel No. 12 Review (2026)

Name: Opinel No. 12
Brand: Opinel
Price: 45.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 8.4 (1 reviews)

Opinel's saw applies the company's century-old approach — a simple wooden handle, a carbon steel blade, and minimal moving parts — to a folding pruning saw rather than a knife. The XC90 carbon steel takes and holds an edge well but, unlike the stainless blades on most competing saws, needs to be wiped down and lightly oiled after wet use to prevent surface rust, the same maintenance routine familiar to owners of Opinel's classic carbon-steel knives.

Check price at Opinel USA →

$45 retail

8.4

/10

TrailCraft Score

What Works

Beechwood handle and carbon steel blade match the classic Opinel aesthetic and feel
At 5oz, light enough for backpacking without feeling like a toy
Simple, field-serviceable design with no plastic parts to fail

Limitations

Carbon steel blade requires active rust prevention — wipe dry and oil after wet use
4.75-inch blade limits it to smaller branches and kindling, not firewood rounds

Specifications

Blade Length4.75" (121mm)

SteelXC90 carbon steel

HandleBeech wood

Overall Length12" open

Country of OriginFrance

Score Breakdown

Cutting Speed

8.0

Weight/Pack Size

9.0

Ergonomics

8.6

Value

8.0

What Sets It Apart

At 5 ounces it's genuinely backpack-worthy, and the beechwood handle gives it a warmth and grip feel that stands out against the all-plastic and rubber handles common elsewhere on this list.

The same beechwood and steel construction Opinel has used since 1890, sized for camping

Who This Is For

The Opinel No. 12 is right for: Opinel knife owners who want a matching saw in their kit, campers who prefer natural materials and don't mind basic carbon-steel maintenance, and gardeners or hikers who need a light-duty pruning saw for branches under 4 inches.

A note on pricing and links: Prices are current as of July 2026. Some links are affiliate links.

How It Compares

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All 15 best camp saws in this category ranked side by side.

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Common Questions

Does the Opinel No. 12 saw need special care like Opinel's carbon steel knives?

Yes — the XC90 carbon steel blade will develop surface rust if left wet, so it should be wiped dry and occasionally oiled after use, the same routine recommended for Opinel's carbon steel knife blades.

What size branches can the Opinel No. 12 cut?

Its 4.75-inch blade is best suited to branches and small trees up to about 4 inches in diameter — beyond that, cutting becomes slow and a longer-bladed saw is a better tool.

Is there a stainless steel version of the Opinel saw?

Opinel's saw lineup is built around the carbon steel XC90 blade; for a stainless alternative with similarly traditional materials, most buyers look to Silky's chrome-plated saw line instead.