Winkler tomahawks have been making rounds on the internet, receiving rave reviews for their functionality and design. They’re admittedly beautiful axes with long tapered handles that you can customize according to your taste since some models of Winkler tomahawks let you choose from handle material options such as pine, maple, laminate, and canvas.
But that’s not all it takes to make a tomahawk good. While aesthetics are great, what makes a tomahawk worth it ultimately comes down to build quality and weight.
If you’re new to buying tomahawks, you may be wondering what sets them apart from regular hatchets and axes. The long and short of it is that tomahawks have longer handles and tapered heads which make them good for chopping wood and as a weapon. Though larger, they tend to be lighter and have a better weight distribution, making them easier to swing and cut with during a self-defense situation.
Who Makes Winkler Tomahawks?
When it comes to gear, an easy way to tell whether you’re going to get a good product or not is to check who made it. For example, Smith & Wesson generally makes consistently good knives and guns. While a trusted brand may not always hit the ball out of the park, you can trust them to get it right 9 times out of 10.
Fortunately, Winkler tomahawks are made by Winkler Knives. Winkler Knives is a custom manufacturer of tools like the one you see in the picture above. The company was founded by Daniel Winkler who was previously interviewed on the Loadout Room to speak about his award-winning custom knives.
If that’s not enough to win you over and convince you to give his tomahawks a chance, consider that Winkler is a certified Master Bladesmith with the American Bladesmith Society so if anyone’s passionate about bladed weapons, it’s probably him.
But credit aside, are Winkler tomahawks themselves actually good? To answer that, let’s look at a specific Winkler tomahawk: the Winkler SAYOC Tomahawk.
But Is the Winkler Tomahawk Any Good?
The Winkler SAYOC Tomahawk is one of the tomahawks on offer from Winkler Knives that features a handle made of premium maple wood. It’s a beautiful yet functional blade that looks just as great when in use as it does when it’s being displayed among your collection of tomahawks if you happen to have one.
This full-sized tomahawk comes in at just below one and a half pounds, making it fairly light and easy to maneuver while still having enough weight behind it to allow for powerful swings and slashes.
The blade measures 2.25 inches at the edge and has a black Caswell finish to help protect it from rust that can develop on stainless steel once it’s scratched. This helps extend the longevity of the Winkler tomahawk so you can get the most out of your money if you choose to buy one. Its blade is also full tang meaning that the blade is fully inserted and riveted into the handle.
This sets the Winkler SAYOC Tomahawk apart from cheaper tomahawks which typically don’t spend the extra metal needed to give you that added durability.
As for the handle, you’re getting 13 inches of high-quality premium maple which has this amazing premium feel to it that’s smooth yet not slip-prone at the same time.
Winkler also included a sheath with their Winkler tomahawk and it’s not just any cheap synthetic leather or plastic sheath. It’s actually a custom felt-lined Kydex sheath that keeps your tomahawk’s edges sharp and undented no matter how long you keep it in storage.
Overall, it’s a fantastic tomahawk, and Winkler’s satisfaction guarantee policy makes it worth trying out if you’re interested in getting a tomahawk.
If this Winkler tomahawk really isn’t what you’re looking for, why not check out these Winkler tomahawk alternatives that you can also get online?
3 Winkler Tomahawk Alternatives You Can Get Online
Luckily, there are several options for Winkler tomahawk alternatives online that you can get at a comparable price point to the Winkler SAYOC tomahawk. Most of these alternatives come from other trusted brands such as CRKT and Browning so you can trust that you’re getting a decent tomahawk.
1. CRKT Woods Nobo Tomahawk
The CRKT Woods Nobo Tomahawk is a decent budget tomahawk if you’re looking for an affordable alternative that will last. It has a very barebones design that focuses purely on function, taking the tomahawk back to its wild frontier roots.
This tomahawk features a hickory wooden handle that has enough natural texture to keep the tomahawk from slipping even if the handle itself has no finger grooves. The tomahawk also uses a forged carbon steel blade that brings the tool’s total weight to just under a pound, making it a great lightweight outdoor camping axe.
2. CRKT Kangee Tomahawk
The CRKT Kangee Tomahawk is an all-metal tomahawk that uses a lightweight, ultra-comfortable handle with checkered scales. Its sleek, almost futuristic design makes the axe feel much lighter than it actually is when you’re using it, despite the nearly 2 pounds of weight its axe head adds to the handle.
It comes with a plastic sheath with a strap attached to make transport and storage easier for you.
3. Browning Shock N’ Awe Tomahawk Knife
The Browning Shock N’ Awe Tomahawk Knife is slightly shorter than its other tomahawk cousins on this list. The tomahawk uses a continuous design meaning that the blade and handle are formed from one piece of1055 carbon steel, making it much stronger than most other tomahawks available on the market at this price point.
