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Thinking of buying a winkler belt knife I just have a few questions for the pros
- Thread starter No1up
- Start date
Barman1
Gold Member
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- Jun 21, 2013
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- 6,697
Like all sharpening systems practice is key to success.
And I wouldn't practice with a Winkler on a Worksharp.
Tip rounding and scratching are common with beginners.
Maybe the advice you read had something to do with ruining a big dollar knife??
And I wouldn't practice with a Winkler on a Worksharp.
Tip rounding and scratching are common with beginners.
Maybe the advice you read had something to do with ruining a big dollar knife??
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 90,915
No1up, welcome to Bladeforums! 
I moved this thread to our sharpening forum. Whatever system you decide on, take it slow and practice on cheap simple knives.
Look up Murry Carter videos on YouTube.
I moved this thread to our sharpening forum. Whatever system you decide on, take it slow and practice on cheap simple knives.
Look up Murry Carter videos on YouTube.
- Joined
- Mar 14, 2015
- Messages
- 304
Buy a few cheap knives off of Amazon or Ebay for $15 and practice with those. The issue with the Worksharp or any belt sander, is that they are really powerful and really eat up the steel, so unless you're really experienced, you will more than likely create an uneven edge..the angle doesn't matter because it's only determined by how straight you can keep the knife with your hands while grinding...and since you're human, it won't be perfect. If you're a person who wants a nice edge, you don't want to mess with that unless you're planning on practicing quite a bit. I would recommend the Spyderco manual Triangle system....I don't think that's what it's called, but if you research Spydercos sharpening system, it will come up. It's a great way to start learning about edges and it works really well. If you're serious about a sharp edge, a wicked edge system is what the pros use. With the WE, you're not relying on your ability to hold the knife at an angle perfectly the entire time.
I own a Ken Onion edition Worksharp with the knife sharpener attachment and it really made me appreciate and have a better understanding of how skilled knife makers really are...grinding metal into flat or straight lines isn't easy.
Jason B.
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2007
- Messages
- 11,196
Basic rules of knife sharpening... Don't use power tools. I'm a professional sharpener and have sharpened tens of thousands of knives on a grinder... I still don't like using a grinder.
Buy a stone, Norton oil stone, Japanese waterstone, or any stone that makes you happy. Something in the 300-1000 grit range is all you need to start with.
The winkler knife is 52100 IIRC and the HT is very good so expect it to be rather tough to sharpen the first few times. Once you establish the edge you like it should be easy to maintain from there. They are a little thicker and have an obtuse edge grind from the handful I have seen so if you are not confident it might be best to have it professionally sharpened to get the edge where it needs to be.
Buy a stone, Norton oil stone, Japanese waterstone, or any stone that makes you happy. Something in the 300-1000 grit range is all you need to start with.
The winkler knife is 52100 IIRC and the HT is very good so expect it to be rather tough to sharpen the first few times. Once you establish the edge you like it should be easy to maintain from there. They are a little thicker and have an obtuse edge grind from the handful I have seen so if you are not confident it might be best to have it professionally sharpened to get the edge where it needs to be.
The older Winkler are 52100 the new ones are 80crv2.
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Winkler come with a very thick edge on them and can be a pain to sharpen. I spoke with Daniel on the subject for awhile and he has his personal knives set at 18 degrees per side .
Because of the clients of his knives he has tried to find an edge to please everyone out of box . Like I said Daniel and I talked awhile about his knives . They have an excellent heat treat now and can be a pain to reprofile . I think factory comes around 22 -23+ but they are very thick ,thickest edge on a knife ive owned !I have owned a few and they vary my newer one was closer to 20 ,still thick BTW.
He recommended the wicked edge to me and told me that's what they use at the shop.
I have the work sharp as well as the blade grind attachment, it is not for a newbie at all! You will round your tips and possibly damage your knife .
If you decide to get a Winkler I'd get a bench stone or at least a sharp maker to maintain it. No power tools ...
.
Winkler come with a very thick edge on them and can be a pain to sharpen. I spoke with Daniel on the subject for awhile and he has his personal knives set at 18 degrees per side .
Because of the clients of his knives he has tried to find an edge to please everyone out of box . Like I said Daniel and I talked awhile about his knives . They have an excellent heat treat now and can be a pain to reprofile . I think factory comes around 22 -23+ but they are very thick ,thickest edge on a knife ive owned !I have owned a few and they vary my newer one was closer to 20 ,still thick BTW.
He recommended the wicked edge to me and told me that's what they use at the shop.
I have the work sharp as well as the blade grind attachment, it is not for a newbie at all! You will round your tips and possibly damage your knife .
If you decide to get a Winkler I'd get a bench stone or at least a sharp maker to maintain it. No power tools ...
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Daniel is one of the nicest guys I've ever met or talked to . Don't hesitate to shoot him an email with questions , he will respond . Not a worker or a robot but Daniel himself and he will answer all your questions. He cares about his work and if something isn't right he wants to know and he'll make it right for you. If your knife isn't cutting right he'll help you make it right .
I’m an Eagle Scout and an old deck ape (Boatswains Mate) who knows how to sharpen and maintain knives. The Winkler Belt Knife I own is a professional tool and is priced accordingly. It’s very tough and can endure much abuse. Notwithstanding these traits, I would not recommend it to average/recreational campers or hunters. The blades are remarkably difficult to sharpen and they don’t hold an edge long at all. If you can reliably achieve a 17-20 degree edge with a backpacking stone, then the extra weight and hassle might be worth it, but I find myself grabbing my Snoody Benchmade hunting knife when backpacking. It’s lighter and stays razor sharp for up to a week of camping and backpacking duties including daily fish descaling and processing for dinner (usually up in Hilton Lakes/Bishop CA parts of the Muir trail). That extra $250 you’ll save can go a long way towards fuel or a new rain fly, etc. Currently, my Winkler sits on my gun belt and cuts line from time to time. My $.02 for what they’re worth and glad to join the forum.
They are super friendly and helpful.