Daniel Winkler, Master Bladesmith and owner/partner of Winkler Knives, joins Bob "The Knife Junkie" DeMarco on episode 356 of The Knife Junkie Podcast (https://theknifejunkie.com/356). Winkler knives and tomahawks have been made for and featured in many movies and TV series, like the Last of the Mohicans, Zero Dark Thirty, Suicide Squad and the Terminal List.

Daniel became fascinated with the history of Early America as a child. It was that fascination that prompted him to become a historical enactor and, subsequently, a world-renowned maker of utilitarian art. From the beginning, and throughout his career, Daniel has drawn inspiration from the knives and axes of the American Frontier -- a time when the equipment a person carried meant sustenance and survival. He sold his first knife in 1984. Initially, however, his knife making was a creative outlet that helped defray the expenses of primitive treks and attending rendezvous. 

Winkler has a sheath maker and partner in Karen Shook. The combination of Karen’s unique leather work and Daniel’s historically influenced designs was in high demand, so both quit their jobs in March 1988 to pursue full-time careers in the custom knife industry.

Daniel began competing in Cutting Competitions in 2004, learning more about blade geometry and heat treating during his years of competing than in his previous 20+ years of making knives. He was accredited as a Master Bladesmith in the American Bladesmith Society in 1993, meaning that he had evolved to the forging of high-performance pattern welded steel.

When demand for his work exceeded his ability to hand forge specialized equipment for Tier 1 Special Operations Force Team in 2006, Winkler adapted his 31 years of knifemaking experience into a stock removal line of products called Winkler Knives II.

Find Winkler Knives online at www.winklerknives.com and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/winklerknives.

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