How do I loosen the Virobloc® safety ring on my Opinel knife ?

Sometimes the safety ring on your Opinel knife is too tight and needs to be loosened.

In the article below, we’ll teach you how to adjust it so it regains its safety functionality.

How do I loosen the Virobloc® safety ring on my Opinel knife ?

How do I loosen the Virobloc® safety ring on my Opinel knife ?

To perform maintenance on your security ring, you’ll need to a few items:

  • Circlips® pliers
  • a hammer
  • a cloth, regular or microfiber
  • Edible oil (canola, grape or sunflower oil). Avoid olive oil, which is a fatty oil that may leave a sticky residue on the knife.

How do I loosen the Virobloc® safety ring on my Opinel knife ?

How do I loosen the Virobloc® safety ring on my Opinel knife ?

1. Take the knife in your hand with the blade closed. Insert the two tips of the pliers into the opening of the safety ring to grip it.

2. Once the safety ring is gripped, spread the clamp apart so that the Virobloc loosens. Using an upward motion, gently remove the ring.

How do I loosen the Virobloc® safety ring on my Opinel knife ?

How do I loosen the Virobloc® safety ring on my Opinel knife ?

3. Spread the diameter of the ferrule by spreading the Circlips® several times.

4. Take your knife and clean the fixed ring with the cloth. Then put a few drops of edible oil on the cloth and rub it onto the fixed ring to oil it and guarantee a better glide when you put the rotating ring back on.

How do I loosen the Virobloc® safety ring on my Opinel knife ?

How do I loosen the Virobloc® safety ring on my Opinel knife ?

5. Take a cloth to clean the inside of the safety ring so no residue remains. As in the first step, insert the pliers into the opening of the ring to grasp it.

6. Take your Virobloc safety ring and insert it onto the knife in its original location.

How do I loosen the Virobloc® safety ring on my Opinel knife ?

How do I loosen the Virobloc® safety ring on my Opinel knife ?

7. Check that the ferrule turns more easily and it's done!

Tip: To orient yourself and make sure you put the ring on the correct way, make sure the safety notch faces down.