Winkler belt knife for bushcraft etc

jharpphoto

jharpphoto

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Jan 22, 2011
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https://winklerknives.com/collections/frontpage/products/wk-belt-knife?variant=4214028795927

I just watched a youtube video on the Winkler belt knife. In this video in the comments section someone mentions that this knife wouldn't be good for feather sticks or bushcraft. It got me wondering why this knife would not be good for those jobs and another Winkler knife would be more suited for bushcraft. I really like the looks of this knife. I know Winkler makes some specific models that are more geared toward bushcraft uses. Why would a viewer of that video suggest that the belt knife wouldn't be good for bushcraft uses?
 
Well I have a Belt Knife and it's pretty solid. You could probably make 4 bushcraft knifes with that amount of steel.

Some bushcraft folks exist in a weird subset where small is big.

But for starters you're reading YouTube comments which is a complete mistake any way you cut it.
 
Geometry cuts. On my Winkler Belt knife, the edge is sharpened to 40 degrees inclusive. I put this profile on. If I remember correctly, it was less acute from the factory.

At that angle, the edge shoulders are 0.051 inches wide. This behind-the-edge width is pretty thick for fine cutting and slicing.
 
The winkler will come with a fairly obtuse edge. Reprofiling will fix this and it will be useful for "bushcraft" no matter what some random youtube weasel says. I've had many winklers and used them for everything from butchering animals to processing wood for camp fires.

Great knives.
 
Yep. Obtuse edges are the bane of feather sticks. Most knives of this size and “style” tend to need a reprofile IME. They seem to be made for the lowest common denominator. AKA the guys in ski masks beating them through concrete. :D
 
Shotgun said:
Yep. Obtuse edges are the bane of feather sticks. Most knives of this size and “style” tend to need a reprofile IME. They seem to be made for the lowest common denominator. AKA the guys in ski masks beating them through concrete. :D
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That concrete ain't gonna break itself.

I cut some kindling with mine and the it worked to start a fire. I"m guessing in that some bushcraft subspecies have fixed rules for the depth, length and number of cuts. For me though; any event judged on appearance over results has limited appeal.
 
Danke42 said:
That concrete ain't gonna break itself.

I cut some kindling with mine and the it worked to start a fire. I"m guessing in that some bushcraft subspecies have fixed rules for the depth, length and number of cuts. For me though; any event judged on appearance over results has limited appeal.
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Yeah, they can get pretty particular and in the end if it works it works but a finer edge will get you finer curls which will be easier to light and carving is MUCH easier with a thinner edge. It just depends on the persons needs and how they “bushcraft”. There’s no rules, just personal preference. If a thick edge is what a person wants that’s cool too. You can always make curls with a pocket knife because honestly, what bushcrafter has only one blade on them?
 
"That concrete ain't gonna break itself." :p

I like my Belt Knife a lot. I thinned out the edge and it cuts better. But, I do think the Bladehq Bushcraft knife by Winkler is probably a better woods knife. Also, his new knife with Jason Knight (pathfinder) looks pretty great.
 
Twindog said:
Geometry cuts. On my Winkler Belt knife, the edge is sharpened to 40 degrees inclusive. I put this profile on. If I remember correctly, it was less acute from the factory.

At that angle, the edge shoulders are 0.051 inches wide. This behind-the-edge width is pretty thick for fine cutting and slicing.
Click to expand...

:eek::eek::eek:

Dang, that be one HEAVY edge!
 
chiral.grolim said:
:eek::eek::eek:

Dang, that be one HEAVY edge!
Click to expand...


Yes, it is.

I just checked it again. I don't remember the edge angle when I first got it, but it was not very acute. I put a 40-degree (inclusive) edge angle on it to make it more useful as a knife. The more acute angle pushed the edge shoulders higher into the blade, making the edge shoulders wider than stock.

It would take a regrind to make it a good slicer. But as it is, with a very sharp edge, it will slice notebook paper cleanly. It does a poor job with cardboard.

The five-inch blade is my favorite size for a non-chopping fixed blade. The spine thickness at the handle is 0.21 inches. The distal taper begins about mid blade. The edge shoulders near the tip are 0.067 inches. It's pretty stout. I think that's what the designer intended.
 
Honestly winkler makes other knives. The belt knife is built for a specific reason and happens to be his most popular but something like his field or hunter or woodsman might be better suited. Take a look at his whole line up. He makes awesome blades and the belt knife is not the only one.
 
I think the native design is the thinnest one he makes. That’s probably more up your alley
 
Winkler knives are great knives ... but I can see why many would say they aren't good for bushcrafting ... they are relatively thick blade stock ...

although I believe they now actually offer a bushcraft knife ... that may be thinner stock I know it has s very different blade shape ...

but thinning the blade a bit behind the edge and I could do almost anything I can with a Mora ... exceptions may be to carve a spoon or something ... and a thin blade stock like a Mora might make feather sticks better ... but I could get by with my Winklers in any situation I can with any other knife ...

it's the knowledge in your head and the skills you have practiced that make the bigger difference over what knife you use ...

I have used mine for hunting knives mostly and for camping some ... so I like my Winklers ... but no matter what the chore is there is almost always certain knives or blade styles or grinds or thick or thin that perform some chores better then others ... but a sharp knife and knowledge will get you through most anything you'd need a knife for.
 
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