In 1890, Joseph Opinel was to taillandier in Albiez-le-Vieux, small municipality near(about) Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne in Savoy. With his father, he forged the tools which the farmers in surroundings used(got) and already they came from a distance to buy axes, billhooks and renowned pruning knives which went out of a small family workshop(studio). And yet this hard Savoyard fabricated for some friends of jackknives, simple, strong, and cheap. These knives had so much success, on which one day Joseph Opinel decided to begin(undertake) manufacturing in a more important way. More than hundred years afterwards, the famous knife Opinel in mark(brand) "The Crowned Hand" is broadcast(diffused) on all continents. He(It) is present at the Modern Art museum of New York and in 1985, Victoria and Albert Museum de Londres chooses it in "the good design guides", collection of 100 more beautiful products of world! Today, Jacques Opinel and Maxim Opinel, descendants of the famous family manage "the Opinel museum", having installed(settled) in old(former) cutlery industry of Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne. In the smithy which kept(preserved) its pestles(drumsticks) and martin, an exhibition(exposure) redraws the history of the Savoyard knife, of family Opinel and of industrial adventure; a video allows to visit the current factory and to discover all phases of manufacturing.
Website
http://www.opinel.com/musee
Phone
04 79 64 04 78

Address
25, rue Jean-Jaurès, 73300 Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Savoie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France