Winkler - WK F3 Folding Knife

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JJ_Colt45

JJ_Colt45

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I own a few Winkler Knives fixed blades and I really like them ...

I have recently been looking at this Winkler - WK F3 Folding Knife ... I like the look especially the Curly Maple Handled Model ... I was curious if anyone has one of these or has any experience with these at all ... handled them at all ...

I know for most it might be a large and heavy folder with thicker blade stock ... but I would love to hear impressions or thoughts ... pros or cons ... about these folders if anyone has any experience with them.

Thanks JJ
 
Just looked them up, seem to be pricey for what they are and they have an ugly pocket clip. But if you like them go for it
 
Yeah I agree the clip may not be great but that could be fixed easily enough ... and the aren't cheap but neither are CRKs or Hinderers and some others I own and carry ... so cost wouldn't matter so much if I knew if the knife was the same quality as his fixed blades.

I wish I had a shop or even a knife show close by that I might he able to handle one but neither option is available ...

that's why I was hoping maybe a few had seen and at least handled them at a show maybe.

I prefer a bigger knife ... I love traditionals for the style and the are great for simple tasks but most are just to small to fit my hand to do much serious work with ... so my main EDCs right now are a CRK Umnumzaan or a ZT 0909 ...
 
I agree. I love the belt knife and think it is one the best looking fixed blades out there. But that old school look doesn’t work for me as a folder. It is also overpriced and the pocket clip is atrocious. I love my belt knife tho. Not a Winkler hater by any means.
 
I figured it would be a long shot to find anyone that had one but still hoping maybe a few have been to shows and had a chance to handle them.

Thanks for the reply ... JJ
 
I agree I love my fixed blade Winklers and admit the clip doesn't look great but could be changed for the better and also I have bought knives thatI thought I would hate the clip but it just worked great so I can't say ...

I know the design isn't for everyone ... but from the performance of his fixed blades I would expect similar performance but without handling one or hearing from someone who has handled them how they feel and function ... it's hard to jump in at that price ...

I'll hold out a few days and see if anyone happens to see this thread that has had hands on one to give an honest assesment of their thoughts ...
 
What sort of performance are you looking at from that folder? If you want something strong and sturdy there are much better options for the price
 
Not looking necessarily for sturdy or strong I have those bases covered with many fixed or folders ...

I just am curious about the knife ... like the look and wondered if it was worth the time and money to give it a try ...

as performance I am curious as to if it's comfortable to use ... and how the thickness of the blade is compared to the grind on it ... and if the action of the knife is smooth to use.

I'm not looking for a specific knife for a specific use ... this knife just caught my attention and I am hoping to learn more from anyone that has had a chance to handle one.

JJ
 
I ordered the knife directly from the manufacturer; it was delivered to my office on Monday, I'm back in the office today, so I opened the package.

In short: it's going back to the manufacturer. This isn't a $450 knife. I wouldn't call this a $100 knife, to be honest (basis of comparison is literally any Spyderco under 150 or 200 dollars, out of Golden or Taichung). It's my first in hand experience with Winkler knives. It's also my last.

Issues:
- pivot screw isn't the same as shown in product pictures (it's the old style, simple dome with dimples, not the new style, triangular machined pyramid);
- blade centering is off by a country mile;
- clip is mounted unevenly;
- clip is roughly finished (or unfinished), with 2 random textures on it;
- clip is poorly mounted, doesn't make contact with the scales, and has poor/no tension;
- Micarta machining along the pivot screw holes is disgraceful;
- blade isn't very sharp;
- action is ridiculously gritty;
- Liners & Micarta slabs on the clip side, at the handle tip, have been kept on the sander too long, and are uneven;
- Micarta color is dull and ugly, unlike product pictures in which it's shown as shiny and beautiful;
- one of the standoffs has a shiny spot, where it looks like it was aggressively rubbed against something (the liners and standoffs are a matte finish, except that one spot);
- weird rub marks and scratches on the blade finish - why? this is a NIB knife from the maker;
- massive lock stick;
- detent is borderline unusable (it won't flip reliably);
- weird divot machined in the flipper tab - why?
- overall, lousy F&F, comparable with something handmade in a cottage somewhere, but at $$$$$ prices.

Pics below: https://photos.app.goo.gl/G69c25cgDpCp8HPH8

P.S. "OP, you're a crybaby. I disassemble, tune, and sharpen all my new knives, regardless of price / You can always oil Micarta so it's shiny and vibrant! / It's a *HARD USE* folder, for *HARD USE TIER 1 OPERATORS* you just don't get it / etc etc etc" Yeah ... no.

EDIT: added video of the blade and action.
 
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I'm a crybaby ? ... not sure where you get that ... I simply asked people for their experience with this knife ...

and you come rant about how terrible the knife is ... and then call me the "OP" a crybaby? ... ummm ok ...

I appreciate anyones thoughts and I have found a hadful of people that have not been impressed with the Winkler folder ...

but I have no idea where you come up with me being a crybaby ... o_O
 
I should've been more clear in my expression: I'm not calling you a crybaby, I'm preemptively mockingly calling myself a crybaby, in anticipation of inevitable comments like "well, if it's not sharp, just sharpen it, it's what I do", or "well, if it doesn't flip right / blade isn't centered / detent is untuned just disassemble and tune it, it's what I do" etc etc etc ... You usually hear this from extreme fanboys / weeaboos: it's always your problem, never the knife's. In other words, after having spent a not insignificant chunk of change on a tool, it falls on my shoulders to ensure the tool works as intended.

Bit of humor, sorry if it came across as uncouth.

By the same token, you buy a brand new car, and when you get home, you immediately put it up on a hoist, pull the engine, and start fiddling with it, just so it will run normally.
 
No problem ... yeah it just read that way.

And I don't blame you if there are that many issues with a knife of this price ... and as I stated I've seen a handful of others with similar issues ... and the lock up and not having a stop pin or system where as the knife can fail even used properly and give way backwards.

I like my Winkler fixed blades alot ... but seems they missed their usual quaility on this folder.
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
No problem ... yeah it just read that way.

And I don't blame you if there are that many issues with a knife of this price ... and as I stated I've seen a handful of others with similar issues ... and the lock up and not having a stop pin or system where as the knife can fail even used properly and give way backwards.

I like my Winkler fixed blades alot ... but seems they missed their usual quaility on this folder.
Click to expand...

I'd very much wish I hadn't bought this. I would like to pick up a 'hawk and a belt or field knife from them, but this experience has been shockingly upsetting. I can't put too fine of a point on it. I'm startled at what kind of product they sell at this price point.
 
Oh, I forgot the obligatory conciliatory "well, just give them a call, they'll make it right" and/or "well, XYZ maker is a stand-up guy, they'll take care of it" and/or "well, their customer service is excellent, they'll make it right."

Because we all have extra free money & time to manage product returns, emails, phone calls and so forth.
 
I haven't ever handled the folders ... but most I've talked to have aten't overly impressed.

But I own three Winkler fixed blades ... the Blue Ridge Hunter ... the Hunting Knife ... and the Winkler/Jason Knight colab Jager knife ...

all three are great blades ... the Jager is a small knife and is very handy ... the others are tough as nails and after thinning them out a bit behind the edge they cut very well for a heavy stock blade ... and have field dressed several animals.
 
JJ_Colt45 said:
I haven't ever handled the folders ... but most I've talked to have aten't overly impressed.

But I own three Winkler fixed blades ... the Blue Ridge Hunter ... the Hunting Knife ... and the Winkler/Jason Knight colab Jager knife ...

all three are great blades ... the Jager is a small knife and is very handy ... the others are tough as nails and after thinning them out a bit behind the edge they cut very well for a heavy stock blade ... and have field dressed several animals.
Click to expand...

Maybe, someday, I'll pick up one of their fixed blades/hawks, but only after handling it in person. I can't shake the feeling that this is an April Fools joke, but in December.
 
I handled a few of the first generation F3s at a local gun store about 3 yrs ago. They had several versions and I was very unimpressed since I had gone in with intention to purchase one. The one I handled had less than desirable f&f. I’m a user and have pretty low standards when it comes to blade centering or detent issues. My two big issues were the ugly pocket clip and the pivot. For some reason the pivot screw was not center in the Micarta scale. It appeared that the counter sunk hole was drilled too big and the pivot didn’t sit in the center but off to the side. After seeing the same thing on two other F3s in the case I wrote the knife off.
 
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