Opinel
Parallèle No. 119 Santoku Knife
The Opinel Parallèle No. 119 is a Japanese-style Santoku knife designed for cutting, dicing, and slicing. It features a 17 cm stainless steel blade with high corrosion resistance and a varnished beech wood handle. User feedback notes good edge retention, though out-of-box sharpness can vary.
- Material
- stainless steel blade, varnished beech wood handle
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Knives
Specifications
Santoku knife from French brand Opinel with 17 cm stainless steel blade and varnished beech wood handle, designed for cutting, dicing, and slicing.
High corrosion resistance, straight silhouette for precise cutting, varnished beech wood handle.
- Material
- stainless steel blade, varnished beech wood handle
- Secondary
- wood
- Gender
- unisex
- Age Group
- adult
- Condition
- new
- Category
- Home & Garden > Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Tools & Utensils > Kitchen Knives
Additional Attributes
- stainless steel blade
- high corrosion resistance
- high-quality cutting
- varnished beech wood handle
- 17 cm blade
- versatile
- straight silhouette
- smooth and precise cutting movement
- French brand
Product Insights
Opinels Parallèle No. 119 Santoku knife combines over 130 years of French cutlery heritage with a lifetime warranty, featuring X50CrMoV15 stainless steel shared by premium brands, a bolsterless 17 cm continuous edge for simplified sharpening, and a 145g weight that enables effortless cutting with a pinch grip, though buyers may encounter inconsistent out-of-box sharpness and the blade is optimized for push-cutting rather than rocking, despite some users adapting it for rock chopping herbs; its beechwood handle from PEFC-certified French forests and corrosion resistance add durability, making it a compelling value in the sub-$100 Santoku category.
Verified claims
- Heritage
- Crowned Hand emblem (1909) and 1911 gold medal heritage, applied via Opinel's cutlery expertise.
- Sharpening
- Opinel recommends sharpening at a 20° angle on a steel rod, 6-8 strokes per side.
- Warranty
- Lifetime warranty from Opinel.
- Assurance
- Opinel offers a lifetime warranty and over 130 years of French knifemaking heritage.
- Cutting performance
- Bolsterless design gives a full 17 cm continuous edge for easier sharpening and efficient push-cutting and up-down chopping.
- Care
- Dense beech hardwood with two steel rivets resists cracking and loosening.
- Sourcing
- Beech wood sourced from PEFC-certified French forests.
- Out-of-box sharpness
- Out-of-box sharpness varies; some units may need immediate sharpening.
- Cutting technique
- Designed for push-cutting and up-down chopping, not for rocking.
- Rock chopping adaptability
- The straight Santoku blade is better suited to push-cutting and up-down chopping, though some users adapt it to rock chopping herbs.
- Heel design
- Continuous edge to heel without a bolster; easier sharpening, no finger guard.
- Corrosion resistance
- Resists rust and staining from acidic foods without special care.
- Cutting feel
- The 145 g blade-forward balance lets a pinch grip use the knife's own weight to drive cuts.
- Value
- Rare lifetime warranty in sub-$100 Santoku category lowers total cost of ownership at 81 CAD.
- Steel
- Stainless steel is X50CrMoV15, used by Wüsthof and Zwilling.
- Edge quality
- Fine grain from vanadium yields a non-toothy edge that cuts cleanly through soft herbs and tomatoes.
- Edge durability
- X50CrMoV15 edge resists corrosion from acidic foods and chipping from bone.
- Blade steel
- The blade is X50CrMoV15 stainless steel hardened to 56-57 HRC per Opinel's specification.
- Dimensions and weight
- The knife has a 17 cm blade, 13.2 cm handle, about 30 cm overall length, and weighs about 145 g.
- Tang construction
- The Parallèle line uses a half-tang stamped from a single piece of X50CrMoV15, keeping the knife light at 145 g.
- Handle care
- The varnished beech handle resists moisture and dirt, but most advise hand washing and occasional oiling to maintain it.
- Edge retention and sharpening ease
- The X50CrMoV15 blade is home-sharpenable and holds an edge well, with good edge retention reported.
Product record
- Title
- Parallèle No. 119 Santoku Knife
- Brand
- Opinel
- Price
- 81 CAD
- Availability
- In stock
Buying Guide
1 comparison · 18 sourcesUses
Everyday chopping and slicing for home cooks
This santoku suits everyday kitchen prep, with a 17 cm stainless steel blade that Opinel says resists corrosion and a 3 mm-thick blade that stays rigid and stable while cutting. The beechwood handle is described as comfortable to grip and secured with two stainless steel rivets. One customer reports the Parallèle santoku arrived razor sharp and holds its edge well, finding it a big step up from the knife set they had used for 15 years.[1,3,5,7,8]
Easy at-home touch-ups between sharpenings
The Parallèle No. 119's continuous cutting edge leaves the heel of the blade free, which Opinel states is designed to make the knife easier to sharpen. A customer reported that the santoku arrived razor sharp, holds its edge well, and only needs periodic touch-ups to stay in good working shape for everyday cooking.[3,4,7,9]
Product comparison
Compared within this brand.
| Parallèle No. 119 Santoku Knife: Choose this if you want a compact santoku for everyday prep: it has a 17 cm, 3 mm-thick stainless steel blade (X50CrMoV15, stamped from a single piece) with high corrosion resistance, a continuous edge with a freed-up heel the maker says makes sharpening easier, and a varnished beechwood handle secured with two stainless steel rivets. It also carries a lifetime warranty. A user who is not a chef reported both Parallèle knives arrived razor sharp, held an edge well, and performed far better than the older set they had used for 15 years, though that comparison reflects one person's experience.[3,4,5,6,7,8] | No. 219 Santoku Intempora Kitchen Knife: Choose this if you want a versatile, all-purpose santoku for chopping, slicing, and preparing fish and shellfish: its 6.75 inch (17 cm) Sandvik stainless full-tang blade is described as rigid, sharp, and corrosion resistant, with a wide blade for sweeping food off the board and granton-style hollows that help keep cuts from sticking. The moulded fibreglass-polyoxymethylene handle is made in France and designed for a secure, low-fatigue grip, though be aware the blue fibreglass can show slight white streaks after washing, which the maker says light oiling restores. Since one reviewer noted they would want to hold the handle shape before judging it, consider whether its contoured profile suits your grip preference.[10,11,12,13,14] | Parallel N° 118 Multipurpose Chef's Knife: Choose this if you want a multipurpose chef's knife with a 20 cm stainless steel blade (high corrosion resistance, per the merchant), a 20-degree sharpening angle, and a varnished beech wood handle designed to resist moisture and dirt. It is designed and made in France, and its continuous cutting edge frees up the heel for easier sharpening; one longtime owner reports it sharpens easily, holds an edge fairly well, and remains their pick for rock-chopping herbs thanks to the minimal bolster. The same reviewer enjoyed it as a first chef's knife before eventually moving on to higher-end knives, so it may suit everyday use rather than serve as an end-point upgrade.[2,15,16,17,18] |
Image Analysis
2 images- 01
Product
Front-facing santoku-style knife shown upright with stainless blade above and a straight wooden handle below; blade has small vertical printed text near the spine and two circular metal fasteners visible on the handle.
- Overall orientationKnife shown vertically centered with tip upward and handle downward, photographed on a plain white background.
- Blade shape and profileSingle-piece flat stainless blade with a gently curved cutting edge and a slightly angled rounded tip typical of a santoku profile; blade spine is straight and tapers slightly toward the tip.
1 region
x 0.20 · y 0.02 · w 0.60 · h 0.58 (high) - Blade surface finishSmooth reflective metallic finish with subtle horizontal texture visible across the blade surface.
1 region
x 0.28 · y 0.06 · w 0.44 · h 0.50 (medium) - Printed blade text and markShort vertical block of printed text and a small logo or mark located near the spine on the right half of the blade.
1 region
x 0.55 · y 0.26 · w 0.15 · h 0.28 (medium) - Legible blade text“OPINEL”
1 region
x 0.57 · y 0.30 · w 0.07 · h 0.16 (high) - Handle shapeStraight wooden handle with a squared-off rectangular profile and a gently contoured upper heel where it meets the blade.
1 region
x 0.36 · y 0.60 · w 0.28 · h 0.36 (high) - Handle fastenersTwo round metal rivets fasten the handle to the tang, both visible on the handle face.
2 regions
x 0.54 · y 0.66 · w 0.06 · h 0.06 (high); x 0.54 · y 0.78 · w 0.06 · h 0.06 (high)
Other
Plain white studio background with even lighting; product centered and fully visible; no props or packaging present.
- Background and lightingUniform white background with soft, even lighting and minimal visible shadowing.
- Shot compositionKnife vertically centered in frame, full product visible from tip to handle end with slight margin from image edges.
Colors
metallic silver· blade#DDDDDBlight beech wood· handle#D3B196matte silver· handle rivets- 02
Product
A santoku-style chef knife displayed on its packaging: a broad stainless blade with a rounded tip and a straight cutting edge, and a light natural wood full tang handle with two visible metal rivets.
- Blade shapeBroad stainless steel santoku-style blade with a gently rounded tip and a near-straight cutting edge; blade shows a uniform matte metallic finish.
1 region
x 0.27 · y 0.08 · w 0.46 · h 0.50 (high) - Handle constructionLight natural wood handle with a rectangular profile that tapers slightly toward the bolster area, showing two circular metal rivets set flush in the handle face.
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.56 · w 0.34 · h 0.30 (high) - Blade surface marking“Small vertical text printed near the ricasso area on the blade face, legible as a brief brand mark.”Partial
1 region
x 0.44 · y 0.40 · w 0.08 · h 0.14 (medium) - Fine-print blockNarrow block of small text on the lower blade area that is too small to read at this resolution.Partial
1 region
x 0.49 · y 0.45 · w 0.11 · h 0.18 (medium)
Packaging
Knife is mounted on a tall kraft cardboard backing and covered by a clear plastic blister; packaging includes printed dark blue branding and product name near the blade and a die-cut hang slot at the top.
- Backing materialRectangular kraft brown cardboard backing visible behind the blade and handle.
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.03 · w 0.32 · h 0.94 (high) - Clear blisterTransparent plastic blister covers the blade area and overlays the cardboard backing, visible by reflections and slight edge outlines.
1 region
x 0.26 · y 0.05 · w 0.48 · h 0.52 (high) - Top hang slotDie-cut hang slot near the top center of the cardboard backing with a circular reinforcement hole to the left.
1 region
x 0.42 · y 0.01 · w 0.16 · h 0.07 (high) - Brand wordmark“OPINEL”
1 region
x 0.40 · y 0.06 · w 0.20 · h 0.06 (high) - Brand location text“SAVOIE FRANCE”
1 region
x 0.42 · y 0.11 · w 0.16 · h 0.03 (high) - Decorative logoSmall hand-and-crown pictogram to the right of the brand wordmark, printed in the same dark blue ink.
1 region
x 0.60 · y 0.06 · w 0.06 · h 0.07 (high) - Product line text“PARALLELE”
1 region
x 0.33 · y 0.25 · w 0.34 · h 0.10 (high) - Product number“N°119”
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.33 · w 0.30 · h 0.11 (high) - Product description bilingual“COUTEAU SANTOKU”
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.41 · w 0.30 · h 0.05 (high) - Product description English“SANTOKU KNIFE”
1 region
x 0.34 · y 0.44 · w 0.30 · h 0.04 (high) - Metal strapThin metal strap or clip holds the handle to the backing near the bottom, visible as a small horizontal metal band with slight blue tint.
1 region
x 0.39 · y 0.80 · w 0.22 · h 0.05 (high)
Other
Studio-style product shot with a clean white background, even frontal lighting, and minimal shadows; image is vertically centered and tightly cropped around the packaging.
- BackgroundPlain white studio background occupying the entire image outside the product and packaging.
- Lighting and reflectionsEven frontal lighting with soft reflections on the blade and subtle highlights on the clear plastic blister.
- Image crop and orientationPortrait-oriented image with the packaged knife centered vertically and horizontally in the frame.
Colors
matte steel silver· blade#C5C5C5light beech wood· handle#DBB493kraft brown· cardboard backingPackaging#C49C7Cnavy blue print· printed text and logoPackaging- Blade shapeBroad stainless steel santoku-style blade with a gently rounded tip and a near-straight cutting edge; blade shows a uniform matte metallic finish.
Brand PDP Lookup
- Brand
- Opinel
N°119 Santoku knife Parallèle
Documents & Data
Customer Reviews
1 total1 reviews · out of 5
Excellent substitut
Je voulais un couteau japonais de qualité, mais je ne voulais pas payer 300$. Ce couteau Opinel est de très grande qualité et le prix me convenait mieux. Je l'utilise à tous les jours et je fais attention de le laver à la main.
Reddit Insights
3 threads · r/chefknives, r/OpinelThe Opinel Parallele Santoku is viewed as a solid, affordable kitchen knife with good edge retention and ease of sharpening, but suffers from inconsistent out-of-box sharpness and a stainless steel that leaves carbon enthusiasts wanting.
Positive feedback highlights sharpness and durability, while reports of dull edges and a preference for carbon steel create a mixed overall sentiment.
Themes
Use Cases
- Rock chopping herbs and general kitchen prep
- Everyday home kitchen tasks
Watch Out For
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. I still reach for it when I'm mincing herbs as I like rock chopping herbs.
u/a_r_dr/chefknivesView thread →
Skepticism about stainless steel in Parallele Santoku
Thanks! I had seen that one, but unfortunately, it's stainless steel - I specifically like carbon steel Opinels, not the stainless steel ones. I doubt that this would take the same edge with the same ease
u/failarmywormr/chefknivesView thread →
Positive experience with Parallele santoku sharpness
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 →