Walked into a NC knife store...

[stonebuster]

While visiting family in NW North Carolina my B-I-L took me to a knife store. Literally wall to wall knives. I passed a display case with this handmade Winkler belt knife and it stopped me in my tracks but I knew it was going to be expensive so I moved on. It kept drawing me back so I walked out with my first real quality fixed blade(4.5"). Daniel Winkler is a NW NC master knife smith with over thirty years experience and his wife makes the leather sheathes custom fitted to the particular blade.

 

[hso]

Daniel is an outstanding maker.

Where in NC were you?

 

[jmr40]

I like that

 

[stonebuster]

hso, I bought the knife at the Mast general store in Valle Crucis. We also stopped at Raleigh Avery's knife shop and met his wife who was very nice. Her great grandfather's shotgun was hanging on the wall which she said pre-dated Smith and Wesson. We were staying in Seven Devils at the S-I-L's "cabin" that's bigger than my house. From the bottom of their mountain we had a good view of Grandfather Mtn. We went to Banner Elk, Boone, Grandfather Mtn and Roan Mtn in Tennessee. We drove some of the Blue Ridge Parkway & Skyline Dr. on the way back. Beautiful country. Here's the belt clip side of sheath.

 

[lemaymiami]

Very, very nice... wonder if anyone has some good close up photos of that blade in natural condition (not blacked out so you can see the details...).

 

[stonebuster]

Very, very nice... wonder if anyone has some good close up photos of that blade in natural condition (not blacked out so you can see the details...).

I don't see any non treated blades on any of his offerings on his website.

 

[hso]

natural condition (not blacked out

https://winklerknives.com/collections/frontpage

 

[hso]

Case has licensed version if paying for a Winkler is just out of reach (although Daniel's knives are pretty close in price to the Cases when you get his basic versions of the same models).

https://caseknives.com/collections/case-winkler

 

[hso]

Mast general

Drop into Smokey Mountain Knife Works sometime.

Mast carries knives, but they're a "lifestyle" retailer. Fun stores and you'll see more knives, and better, than gun or most sporting goods stores, but I hope you get to visit a store dedicated to knives sometime soon...mind blowing.

We have a Mast and I drop in every few months to chat them up about their knives and who they may want to look into adding.

BTW, Daniel's shop is in Boone and if you get there you may get him to sign your sheath.

And this list of NC Knifemaker Guild folks will empty anyone's pockets! http://www.ncknifeguild.com/members.html

 

[stonebuster]

View attachment 1105472

https://winklerknives.com/collections/frontpage

When I scroll down to "knife specs" it lists black oxide finish. Picture maybe makes it look lighter? The black handled knife is the same as mine. BTW, great links!

 

[Boattale]

Great thread. Love seeing well made tough using knives made here. In my birth state which makes me a tarheel from then on.

 

[Brian Williams]

KNice Knife. Looks well-made and I bet it handles very well.