The Opinel Knife company is no ordinary company, and its knives are themselves not ordinary. The history of one of the worlds best-selling knives extends back beyond 1890 when the first Opinel factory was established in Savoie, France. Since then, the company has sold more than 15 million knives a year and the range has extended from a simple, folding knife loved by farmers, soldiers, and outdoorsmen to a range of practical knives for most edged applications. The knife has become a symbol of French culture, was used by Pablo Picasso to sculpt, and continues to be used by Michelin Star chefs and the ordinary working man.