Winchester knives?

[Draven]

Howdy folks
I've been looking to try out some different knives including some bigger American styled knives and I've seen a lot of Winchester knives about. Anyone have any experience with them, good or bad? Most of the time they seem to cite the steel as "400 grade stainless" but I've no idea what that really means.

Cheers
Pete

PS: They're often advertised as "Gerber/Winchester" - is Winchester a subsidiary and does it mean that quality is comparable? If so, are Gerber knives decent?

 

[Shambling Shaman]

I have a winchester some were dont think I have used it?
will find a post a pic.

 

[Shambling Shaman]

Has a nice feel and balance,
Now it says Surgical Stainless Steel on one side and "made in China" on the other

 

[Draven]

Heh, I thought they were american-made. Reminds me of a guitar I heard of which said "Made in America. Parts made in China. Assembled in Mexico"

Any thoughts on edge retention mate?

 

[Barn Owl]

Winchester just get the name put on a lot of cheap garbage.

If there is any decent Winchester blades out there then I stand corrected.

I had one of their mini-tools...

 

[Oblio13]

Winchester uses their brand recognition to sell cheap knives from China.

 

[Ogri the trog]

Winchester just get the name put on a lot of cheap garbage.

If there is any decent Winchester blades out there then I stand corrected.

I had one of their mini-tools...

I had one of their multi-tools as well......

..... absolute pile of junk...... avoid them like the plague.

Ogri the trog

 

[dogwood]

+1 on the comments above.

The Winchester knife (or Smith & Wesson, etc.) is just a licensing deal where a cheap producer purchases rights to use the name. All are mediocre at best, trash at worst.

Stick with real knife companies, or better still, a custom maker.

You can almost always get a custom for close to the same price as a production knife and at custom maker will always produce better quality. I don't buy production knives any longer, except for Moras and Opinels (special cases, those...)

 

[Draven]

Cheers folks Good to know even if it's bad news

 

[Barn Owl]

American fixed blade cheapish..Benchmade Rant.

Their axis folders are superb.

 

[michiel]

I've got a winchester knife which was still made in the US. Nice knife.
The chinese stuff is crap though.

regards,

Michiel

 

[Shambling Shaman]

I've got a winchester knife which was still made in the US. Nice knife.
The chinese stuff is crap though.

regards,

Michiel

Looks like I have found my new work knife

 

[Hoodoo]

Winchester uses their brand recognition to sell cheap knives from China.

That's about it. If you want a good Winchester knife, buy an old one made by Bluegrass Cutlery.

 

[Hoodoo]

I have to admit, this $10 Chinese-made sunfish did catch my eye once.

 

[wanderingblade]

Winchester are good value for money - certainly nothing to write home about steel / edge retention wise but one of the better Chinese made brands and definatly useable. Very similar to the Elk Ridge brand.

 

[John Fenna]

I had a look at some Chinese Winchesters with a view to getting some for review..
Realised that I would not have anything much positive to say about them and dropped the idea......
They sell cause they bear a famous name!
Without the name they would cost peanuts if they sold at all.

 

[Chinkapin]

Draven, since no one answered your question about Gerber knives being any good, I'll attempt to. First off, there is no connection that I know of between the cheap Winchester knife and Gerber. Gerber knives sell for quite a bit more but are not what you would call expensive. I have a folder called the "Gator." This is a fairly large folder with some class of rubber for the handle. The steel is bead blasted to a satin finish. It sharpens easily, holds an edge and is as rigid as a non-folder when locked open. It is not particularly pretty, because of the handle, but it is very comfortable to use. The handle does not get hot or cold and works very well wet. I consider it a great knife and have used it for years and it still looks like new. I also have a tiny little Gerber made tool that holds a razor blade. can be easily carried in the pocket or with the attached clip. you would not believe how useful it is. It is all stainless steel and cleverly designed. I think it only cost about 10 or 11 dollars. I carry it a lot.

 

[rg598]

I have two of them, a medium size and a small. They are not bad knives-very solid, strong blades. Edge retention is not great, but is OK. Les Stroud uses the medium Winchester in his last season of Survivorman. For $10 you can't go wrong. Not as sharp as a Mora, but much, much stronger. Stay away from the multi tools though.

 

[Chinkapin]

For a cheap knife, the Winchester looks pretty decent. I have never used one and consequently won't say anything against them. They do look strong. As far as the Gerber multitool, I tend to agree with you, I had one for about ten years, and it seemed well made and all of the tools worked ok, EXCEPT every time I used it as a wire cutter, the flesh of my palm would roll between the two handles and then when the wire would give way the handles would suddenly slam shut and I would pinch the palm of my hand quite badly every time. (my hands are not fat, by the way,) The end came one day when I used it to turn the front hubs on my Toyota pickup from free to lock and while under almost no stress at all, one of the jaws just snapper off. I was stunned and couldn't believe they had snapped. On the plus side the company replaced them with the current version, which does not pinch. If I was starting with a clean slate I would probably get a Leatherman.