Opinel Updates Its Iconic Knives

French brand Opinel is widely regarded as one of the most iconic knife manufacturers in the world.

The company’s wood-handled folding knives are famed for their simple quality, helping hunters, fisherman and survivalists since 1890. Now, Opinel made a new survival knife model with extra features, known as the No.12 Explore.

This time around, the company has done away with its classic wooden handle in favor of a rubber and reinforced fiberglass version which holds in-handle accessories like a whistle, fire starter and gut hook blade.

Opinel claims the whistle can produce sound as loud as 110 Decibels, which could be a real help if you are lost or injured. At the same time the removable ferrocerium rod can be rubbed on the back of the blade to produce 5,000-degree sparks, more than enough to start a fire.

You can choose from two different color handles for the No.12 Explore, and the rubber coated handle provides extra comfort. The blade is 4 inches long and the whole unit measures 10 inches with the blade deployed. Opinel uses a twist lock system in the end of the handle to hold the blade in position, which is more than sturdy enough for most applications.

While Opinel is hardly aiming to take on the Swiss Army knife, these extra features are a welcome upgrade to the standard company knife. At $49, the No.12 Explore won’t break the bank and is a good option for backpackers who might need a knife with a few safety features built in.