Winchester slipjoints

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Aug 4, 2001
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I just got my second Winchester slipjoint and they do make some nice stuff. By "they" I mean Bluegrass Cutlery or whoever actually makes the knives. This one is a "Stockman/Whittler" which appears to be (naturally enough) a large stockman and whittler hybrid. It has a clip blade at one end and a spey and pen blade at the other end.

The other one is a wharncliff whittler. Both of these knives are gorgeous and sadly they are too nice to abuse. The bone scales are perfectly fitted and nicely polished, the shields are pinned on and the nickel silver bolsters look nice. Fit and finish is pretty tight, there are no gaps anywhere.

They don't just "walk and talk", I'd say they "swagger" like the Rat Pack on a warm summer night in Vegas.

On the issue of sharpness they don't quite cut it. Out of the box one was fairly sharp and the other was barely sharp. I guess it's not an issue when most of these will be collected rather than used (each model is usually made in small runs). I use 90% of my knives but in this case I can't bring myself to sharpen them up and really carry them.

That being said, if you hold one of these in your hand you will see that they would make great users if you can bring yourself to do it. I guess I'll just keep buying Winchesters until I find a less-than-perfect specimen for a user.
 
Thx for the review Torz - I have seen several pics on different sites and Winchester knives always look like they are top quality but buying a new brand without actually handling one always feels a bit hit and miss to me. Not heard the name mentioned much here on BF.
They make a Sowbelly which I very much like the look of. If you don't mind me asking where did you get them - a link if its online.
The stockman is my favorite pattern and I like the sound of a whittler/stockman hybrid.
 
Good write up Torz. I have a few modern Winchesters and I agree. I just have not used one either :D. I have put a Schatt and Morgan to use and was well satisfied. It is not carbon but it holds a fine edge for a decent period of time.

I think Queen does a good job with their steels. Had to resharpen a D2 Dr. knife to a less acute angle, but I have been impressed with it also. It holds an edge longer than any factory multiblade that I own. (Takes a while longer to sharpen to an angle that I liked, but now I just strop every week or so.)
 
I think that you will like Winchester knives as "users", too. The 1095 that Queen uses in the carbon steel Winchesters sharpens easily yet takes and holds a pretty good edge. I think that you owe it to yourself to "steel your courage" (OK! Bad pun!) and actually sharpen and use at least one of your Winchester knives. You may find, as I have, that these knives "work" as well as they "look". Besides, don't you deserve to carry and use something this nice, every day? Don't be like the proverbial sad old lady who had a beautiful set of silverware, crystal, and china but who never used it because she could never find an occasion "good" enough!
 
all the newer line of winchesters (ones made in the last 15 yrs (?) or so are all made by bluegrass cutlery. I have some of the first ones they did, fit and finish then, well weren't quite refined yet.
 
smoky mountian has sold them before. Ive seen them in the showroom, and Im sure if you called they might be able to find you one.
 
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