Winkler Knives fixed-blade knife

Winkler Knives is a limited-production company of the cutlery which custom-makes a diverse range of high-performance edged tools. It was created in response to requests from the SOF (Special Operations Forces) community for specialised breaching tools and has become widely acclaimed for its no-frills approach to tactical and rescue operations.

Winkler Knives products feature characteristics such as tapered or skeletonised handles, anti-reflective finishes and multi-option carry systems. Each tool is made from specialised steel best suited to the intended use of the equipment.

Our unique processes, carried out by Knife makers under the direct supervision of Master Bladesmith Daniel Winkler, result in handmade knives and axes without custom prices.

The Tradition of the Past, A Legacy for the Future Daniel Winkler began making Fixed-blade knives in 1975 and became a full-time bladesmith in 1988. He received Master Bladesmith accreditation from the American Bladesmith Society in 1993.

As a historical re-enactor, he drew inspiration from the knives and axes of the American Frontier, a time when the tools a man carried meant sustenance and survival. This influence resulted in a recognisable style that brought Winkler and his sheath-making partner, Karen Shook, worldwide renown. That same influence is still evident in the tools created by Winkler Knives today.

Winkler's focus on weapons from colonial America led him to make knives and axes for the film THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS. As unlikely as it may seem, this work led him to work with SOF teams around the world. Shortly after "MOHICANS" was released in cinemas in September 1992, a Navy SEAL based in the Virginia Beach area, who had just returned from a deployment during Operation Desert Storm, was tasked with finding a high-performance breaching/combat axe. After seeing the film, the SEAL asked who had made Magua's tomahawk.

As Winkler was the manufacturer, the SOF operator contacted Daniel. What followed was the first Winkler Knives breaching/combat axe. The operator immediately recognised the value of a full-tang axe with a combat spike; however, funding issues prevented the project from becoming a reality. The SEAL personally purchased the prototype axe, taking it with him on every deployment for the rest of his naval career, and after his military retirement, as a game warden in North Carolina.