Opinel
Parallèle Bread Beech Wood Block Set Of 5 Knives
Opinel Parallèle 5-piece knife block set from Simons Maison includes five stainless steel knives with varnished beech wood handles: a 20 cm chef’s knife, 17 cm Santoku knife, 16 cm carving knife, 8 cm paring knife, and 21 cm bread knife. The knives are stored in a five-slit beech wood block with through slots for easy cleaning and silicone pads, featuring a burned logo on the front. User reviews highlight easy sharpening and good edge retention, though some report inconsistent factory sharpness.
- Color
- beech
- Material
- Stainless steel blades, varnished beech wood handles
- Style
- classic, traditional
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Knives
Specifications
A set of five kitchen knives with a beech wood block, featuring stainless steel blades and varnished beech wood handles, inspired by the classic Opinel pocket knife design.
Stainless steel blades, varnished beech wood handles, block with through slots for easy cleaning, engraved logo, silicone pads
- Color
- beech · brown
- Material
- Stainless steel blades, varnished beech wood handles
- Secondary
- wood
- Style
- classic, traditional
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Knives
Additional Attributes
- stainless steel blades
- varnished beech wood handles
- block with through slots for easy cleaning
- engraved logo
- silicone pads
- set of 5 knives
- French brand Opinel
- Parallèle collection
Product Insights
The Opinel Parallèle Bread Beech Wood Block Set of 5 Knives offers the same X50CrMoV15 stainless steel used in Wüsthof Classic knives at a fraction of the cost—$380 CAD for the set versus over $700 for two Wüsthofs. Drawing on 130 years of pocket-knife heritage, each blade (numbered 118-126) features a full-tang, ambidextrous handle that fits naturally in the hand. The steel is corrosion-resistant and restores shaving sharpness in under 10 minutes on a stone, but its softer temper (57-59 HRC) causes the edge to roll under lateral stress, requiring a quick realignment on a steel more often than harder blades. The beech block stays stable on the counter, and the handles need occasional oiling to preserve their organic warmth. The tradeoff: a low-maintenance, high-value set that prioritizes easy sharpening and corrosion resistance over ultimate edge-holding toughness.
Verified claims
- Numbering system
- Each Parallèle knife carries a number (No. 118-126) extending Opinel's historic numeric naming.
- Handle design
- Handle design inherits pocket knife geometry, full tang, and ambidexterity.
- Edge retention
- Edge rolls under lateral stress and realigns quickly on a steel, needing touch-ups more often than harder blades.
- Sharpening
- Restores a shaving-sharp edge in under 10 minutes on a 1000/6000 combination stone.
- Corrosion resistance
- Resists rust and staining from acidic ingredients even if not washed immediately.
- Steel composition
- Stainless steel (X50CrMoV15 at 57-59 HRC), the same alloy used in Wüsthof Classic knives, at a fraction of the per-knife cost.
- Value
- At $380 CAD, this 5-piece set costs less than two Wüsthof Classic knives while using the same steel.
- Maintenance
- Blades resist rust, roll to realign for easy honing, sharpen in under 10 minutes; handles need occasional oiling.
- Design and heritage
- Design combines 130-year pocket knife heritage with ambidextrous knives and a beech block with through slots for easy cleaning and silicone pads.
- Sharpness
- Out-of-box sharpness varies; the blades hold an edge well for home cooking.
- Handle care
- Hand-wash and dry after each use; oil twice yearly to prevent cracks.
- Heritage connection
- The handles use the same varnished European beech as Opinel pocket knives, carrying the brand's material heritage into the kitchen line and giving the handles an organic warmth that ages with use.
- Stability
- Block stays stable and non-slip on countertops when fully loaded.
- Steel alloy
- The blades are made from X50CrMoV15 stainless steel, a high-carbon stainless alloy with good corrosion resistance and edge retention.
- Handle finish
- The beech handles are varnished, not oiled, and should still be periodically treated with food-safe mineral oil.
- Bread knife maintenance
- The 21 cm bread knife has a serrated edge that remains functional on crusty loaves without regular steeling or sharpening, so it is the lowest-maintenance blade in the set.
Product record
- Title
- Parallèle Bread Beech Wood Block Set Of 5 Knives
- Brand
- Opinel
- Price
- 380 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Buying Guide
1 comparison · 9 sourcesUses
Everyday food prep with a full five-knife set
This Opinel Parallèle set covers common kitchen tasks with five knives stored in a beech wood block: a 20 cm multipurpose chef's knife, a 17 cm Santoku, a 16 cm carving knife, an 8 cm paring knife, and a 21 cm bread knife. It suits cooks who want dedicated blades for chopping, slicing, carving, peeling, and cutting bread without buying knives separately. The five-slit block keeps the knives organized on the counter.[2]
Countertop storage for the five-knife set
Use the five-slit beech wood block to store the set's chef's, Santoku, carving, paring, and bread knives upright on the counter, with each blade slid into its vertical slot. The block's through slots make it easy to clean. Its light wood grain finish suits display on an open countertop.[2,3]
Product comparison
Compared within this brand.
| Parallèle Bread Beech Wood Block Set Of 5 Knives: Choose this if you want a complete kitchen starter set in one purchase: five Opinel Parallèle knives covering everyday prep, including a 20 cm multipurpose chef's knife, a 17 cm santoku, a 16 cm carving knife, an 8 cm paring knife, and a 21 cm bread knife, all with stainless steel blades and varnished beech wood handles. The tall rectangular beech wood block stores all five knives vertically and has through slots for easy cleaning plus silicone pads, with a design inspired by the lines of the squares used for Opinel pocket knife handles. It comes in a single one-size, assorted-color variant.[2,3] | Parallèle Trio Beech Wood Box Set 3-Knife Set: Choose this if you are just starting to build a kitchen: reviewers recommend it as an ideal starter set, with a comfortable, ergonomic handle that makes it a go-to for new cooks. The boxed trio covers the essentials—a 20 cm multipurpose chef's knife, a 16 cm precision carving knife, and an 8 cm paring knife—with Sandvik stainless steel blades and varnished beech wood handles that are dishwasher safe, and the merchant presents it as suited to gifting. One Reddit commenter enjoyed the Parallele chef knife but has since moved on to higher-end knives, so consider it a solid beginning point rather than an endgame set.[1,4] | Essentials Beech Wood Box Set 4-Piece Set: Choose this if you want a compact four-piece starter set covering everyday prep: it includes a No. 112 paring knife, a No. 113 serrated knife, a No. 114 vegetable knife, and a No. 115 peeler, all with varnished beech wood handles and Sandvik 12C27 stainless steel blades that the manufacturer states are formulated for high-quality cutting and corrosion resistance. It suits small-hand, delicate kitchen work such as peeling, garnishing, and cutting fruit—the vegetable knife has a fine curved 7.5 cm blade with a scraping back for cleaning vegetables—and the riveted handle construction and kraft gift box with display window make it presentable as a gift. Note that the vegetable knife is made in Portugal while the other three pieces are made in France, and the vitamin-preserving benefit of the scraper back is the source's stated purpose rather than a reported outcome.[5,6,7,8,9] |
Image Analysis
3 images- 01
Product
Visible beech wood knife block with five vertical wooden knife handles inserted; three handles fully visible from the top face and two partially visible. Printed knife blade illustrations appear on the box but only the wooden block and handles are the physical product shown.
- Block material and shapeRectangular beech wood block with a plain light wood grain finish and flat top surface; top slots hold knives vertically.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.44 · w 0.42 · h 0.44 (high) - Knife handlesFive straight, light beech wood handles with rounded rectangular cross section and visible metal rivets; three handles are shown fully from the top down and two are visible from the side toward the right edge.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.12 · w 0.30 · h 0.48 (high) - Handle detailsEach visible handle shows one or more circular metal rivets flush with the wood surface; wood grain and end-face of handles are visible.
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.16 · w 0.16 · h 0.36 (high) - Printed blade illustrations on frontPhotorealistic illustrations of five different knife blades with wooden handles are printed on the front face of the packaging below the block image.
1 region
x 0.16 · y 0.70 · w 0.30 · h 0.20 (high)
Packaging
Tall rectangular retail box with dark teal front panel, mint green diagonal accents, product photography and descriptive text panels on the right side; brand name OPINEL and product descriptors printed on the front.
- Brand wordmark“OPINEL”
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.06 · w 0.20 · h 0.06 (high) - Brand location text“SAVOIE FRANCE”
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.12 · w 0.20 · h 0.04 (high) - Prominent product count text“5 PARALLELE”
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.56 · w 0.20 · h 0.12 (high) - Beech block label“BLOC EN HETRE - BEECHWOOD BLOCK”
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.64 · w 0.32 · h 0.07 (high) - Knife type list“OFFICE - PARING KNIFE
COUTEAU CHEF - CHEF'S KNIFE
COUTEAU SANTOKU - SANTOKU KNIFE
COUTEAU A DECOUPER - CARVING KNIFE
COUTEAU A PAIN - BREAD KNIFE”
1 region
x 0.22 · y 0.71 · w 0.32 · h 0.12 (high) - Right side descriptive panelsVertical column of product description and small knife silhouette illustrations printed on the right side panel; text is small and mostly illegible at this resolution.Partial
1 region
x 0.56 · y 0.06 · w 0.38 · h 0.88 (high) - Fine-print blockDense fine-print block on lower right panel that is illegible at this resolutionPartial
1 region
x 0.56 · y 0.62 · w 0.36 · h 0.30 (high) - Small hand logoSmall stylized hand logo with a crown printed near the OPINEL wordmark
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.08 · w 0.04 · h 0.06 (high)
Other
Studio product shot of the boxed knife set on a white background with soft shadow; image is vertically oriented and the box is centered with a slight perspective showing front and right panels.
- Shot compositionSingle tall rectangular box photographed on a white background with slight right-facing three-quarter perspective.
- Lighting and shadowEven studio lighting with soft shadow visible along the lower left and bottom edges of the box.
- Image qualitySharp main subject with small text on the right panel too small to read clearly.
Colors
light beech wood· block#E4D1BDlight beech wood· handles#E3CBB4deep teal· front panelPackaging#0B4362muted mint green· accent trianglesPackagingmedium brown· top panelPackaging#B59379- Block material and shapeRectangular beech wood block with a plain light wood grain finish and flat top surface; top slots hold knives vertically.
- 02
Product
Tall rectangular beech wood knife block shown with four inserted knives; visible end-grain lamination on the block side and beech wood knife handles with visible metal rivets and narrow metal spine strips. A small burned logo (crown over hand) is visible on the front lower face of the block.
- Block geometryTall vertical rectangular solid block with flat top containing vertical knife slots; front face is a smooth planed surface and right side shows end-grain laminated pattern from assembled wood strips.
1 region
x 0.18 · y 0.28 · w 0.64 · h 0.62 (high) - Top slotsFlat top surface with multiple narrow vertical slots where knives are inserted; slot edges are visible around each handle base.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.06 · w 0.44 · h 0.18 (high) - Knife handlesFour exposed wooden handles rising from the block; handles are rectangular with slightly rounded top edges and tapered inner profile where they meet blades; each handle shows two or three round metal rivets and a thin visible metal spine inset along the inner edge.
1 region
x 0.30 · y 0.01 · w 0.40 · h 0.36 (high) - Rivets and metal spineSmall circular metal rivets set into the wooden handles and a narrow elongated metal inlay or spine visible along the inner length of each handle.
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.06 · w 0.34 · h 0.28 (high) - Burned logoSmall burned or laser-etched mark near the lower center of the front face showing a simple crown symbol above a stylized hand.
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.78 · w 0.20 · h 0.12 (high)
Other
Studio product shot on a plain white background with even soft lighting and minimal shadow; image framed to show the block and handles from a slightly front-right angle.
- Background and lightingPlain seamless white background with soft, even studio lighting and faint soft shadow under and to the right of the block.
- Viewing angleCamera positioned slightly right of center, showing the front face and the right end-grain side of the block with knives visible from the side and front.
- Image qualityHigh-resolution studio image with sharp detail and minimal noise; colors appear neutral and natural.
Colors
light beech wood· block front and top surfaces#E9CBB4pale beech end-grain· end-grain laminated side#D2BBACwarm beech wood· knife handles#E4C29Cmatte silver· rivets and metal spines- Block geometryTall vertical rectangular solid block with flat top containing vertical knife slots; front face is a smooth planed surface and right side shows end-grain laminated pattern from assembled wood strips.
- 03
Product
Vertical rectangular beech wood knife block with multiple vertical blade slots on the top face and a small burned logo on the front lower face; smooth sanded light wood surface showing natural grain.
- Overall shapeTall upright rectangular solid block with straight vertical faces and a flat top surface; edges are sharp to lightly eased.
1 region
x 0.15 · y 0.05 · w 0.70 · h 0.90 (high) - Top blade slotsSeveral parallel rectangular vertical slots cut into the top face, varying slightly in width and arranged roughly across the top near the front edge.
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.02 · w 0.34 · h 0.12 (high) - Surface material and textureLight natural beech wood with visible straight and wavy grain patterns and a smooth, sanded matte finish.
1 region
x 0.15 · y 0.05 · w 0.70 · h 0.90 (high) - Brand markSmall burned or darker engraved emblem near the lower center of the front face depicting a crown above a stylized hand; mark is darker than surrounding wood.
1 region
x 0.43 · y 0.78 · w 0.14 · h 0.12 (high)
Other
Studio product shot centered on a white background with even lighting and minimal shadow; image framed to show the front face and top slots of the block.
- Background and lightingPlain white background with even, diffuse lighting and no visible props or supporting surface; minimal soft shadow around base.
- Shot compositionProduct centered vertically and horizontally in the frame showing the front face and slightly the top face; cropping includes full height of block with small margins.
Colors
light beech tan· main body#EBD2BDburned brown· burned logo- Overall shapeTall upright rectangular solid block with straight vertical faces and a flat top surface; edges are sharp to lightly eased.
Brand PDP Lookup
- Brand
- Opinel
Parallèle Bread Block
Documents & Data
Reddit Insights
2 threads · r/chefknives, r/OpinelOpinions on Opinel Parallele kitchen knives are mixed: some praise their out-of-box sharpness and value, while others caution about inconsistent quality and recommend avoiding the lowest-priced lines.
Positive comments highlight razor-sharp edges and easy sharpening, but negative experiences include uneven factory sharpness and the perception that the cheaper lines may not be durable for regular use.
Themes
Use Cases
- Daily home cooking and meal prep
- Herb mincing and rock chopping
Watch Out For
Compared To
vs Euroline Kramer and Florentine F4
The Opinel Parallele is considered a solid and more affordable option compared to higher-end knives like the Euroline Kramer and Florentine F4, according to one user.
Source Threads
Opinel Parallele as a first chef knife
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.
u/a_r_dr/chefknivesView thread →
Razor sharp Parallele santoku and paring experience
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 →