I was able to fondle some beautiful Winkler hawks at blade in '12, I sought out his booth because I fell in love with the way his hawks look and then after falling in love I researched them and found out that they're not only gorgeous but are top tier hawks- sweet!
I spoke to Mr. Winkler for about 30 minutes, he let me fondle every axe he had for the show, rubber handles, wood handles, tribal carved wood handles, different sizes, spikes and hammer pols, etc. fit and finish on all of them was superb and the weight distribution was just perfect; the larger hawk felt like you could take a tank apart with it.
Needless to say I was very happy to have that opportunity and only had one concern about the design before dropping that much cash on something I'm going to beat on. My concern was about the height of his handles and that it looked to me like you'd damage them when chopping through anything inorganic. He told me that it was an honest concern but that he had far fewer handles come back with problems done this way than the way that he used to do them, he more or less told me that I don't need to worry if I buy one and if I remember correctly that it was covered if I broke it.
He was a stand up guy who was a pleasure to speak to, was very kind, and is a master craftsman. I'd spend my money there in a minute if I thought that his hawk suited my needs, unfortunately all of the ones I handled seemed to me to be made for fighting as job one and for destruction as job two. The head height was a little short for my taste, and the handle thing bugged me just enough (all in my head, I know) that I ended up buying a couple of RMJ Hawks.
I also had the pleasure of speaking with Ryan for about 5 minutes, salt go the earth kind of guy who gave a serviceman a new hawk in trade for his old one on the spot just because the guy had mentioned that he liked the new skull crusher cap on the shrike and that he had wanted a different color but could only get what he had. Ryan switched it for him with the only request being that the serviceman sign the old hawk so Ryan could put it up on his wall- AWESOME GUY, master craftsman, and a pleasure to speak with. I did spend my money on his products later, a Shrike (full size), and a Jenny Wren.
The Shrike fits the bill for what I need a hawk for, the handles aren't " in the way", I like that it's a rubberized handle, and I don't know if it's lighter but it sure feels like it is while still having a proper weight distribution that gives the impression that you could take apart an APC with it. Feels just a little less like a property destroyer than the Winkler (to me) while still retaining the feel of being a great fighter and very useful tool for whatever task you throw at it.
Someone above posted that they're like a Kia and a Bugatti, I disagree wholeheartedly. I'd say that they're like two of the same Lamborghini, both fast and perfect, just depends on which color you like best and how hard you plan on mashing the pedal.
Good luck choosing. I say if one looks sexier to you then get that one first.
