About Winkler Knives
Winkler Knives is a limited production company that custom manufactures a diverse line of high performance edged tools. It was established in response to requests from within the SOF Community for specialized breaching tools and has become widely acclaimed for its no frills approach to tactical and rescue operations. Winkler Knives’ products boast attributes such as tapered or skeletonized tangs, no-glare finishes and multi-option carry systems. Each tool is made from specialty steel best suited to the intended use of the equipment. Our unique processes, executed by craftsmen under the direct supervision of Master Bladesmith Daniel Winkler, result in handmade knives and axes without custom made prices.
Winkler Knives has had the honor of providing Team specific knives and axes to some of America’s most elite fighting forces since 2004. The Company’s history of producing custom-made cutlery, as well its origin in working with Special Operations, began long before that.
The Tradition of the Past,
A Legacy for the Future
Daniel Winkler began making knives in 1975 and became a fulltime bladesmith in 1988. He earned accreditation as a Master Bladesmith from the American Bladesmith Society in 1993. As a historical enactor, he drew inspiration from the knives and axes of the American Frontier- a time when the tools a man carried meant sustenance and survival. That influence translated to a recognizable style that brought Winkler and his sheath-making partner Karen Shook widespread fame. That same influence remains evident in the tools created by Winkler Knives today.
Winkler’s focus on Early American weaponry led to his making knives and axes for the motion picture LAST OF THE MOHICANS. As unlikely as it may seem, that job led to his working with SOF Teams from around the world. Just after ‘MOHICANS’ was released to theaters in September 1992, a Navy SEAL based in the Virginia Beach area having just returned from deployment in Operation Desert Storm, was tasked with sourcing a high-performance breaching/combat axe. After watching the film, the SEAL inquired as to who made Magua’s tomahawk. As Winkler was the maker, the SOF Operator contacted Daniel. What followed was the first Winkler Knives Breaching/Combat Axe. The Operator immediately recognized the virtue of an integral full tang axe with a combat spike, however, funding issues prevented the project from becoming a reality. The SEAL personally purchased the prototype axe, carrying it with him on every deployment for the remainder of his Naval career, and after military retirement as a game warden in North Carolina.
The world changed on September 11
The world changed on September 11, 2001, as did the life of the former SEAL who first approached Daniel Winkler in the early 1990’s. The retired combat veteran re-entered service in Army Special Operations. Before long, his full tang axe was back in action. As his new Teammates and fellow Warriors saw the effectiveness of the axe, Winkler was asked to make more. Demand soon exceeded Daniel’s capacity to hand forge the axes. The proven performance of the axes prompted additional projects. Special Ops translated to special needs. In response, Daniel developed technology to increase production without any compromise to quality or performance. The end result- Winkler Knives.
The Team
Winkler Knives’ operation is in Boone, North Carolina. Master Bladesmith Daniel Winkler and his longtime partner/wife Sheath Maker Karen Shook operate Winkler Knives with the same attention to detail and standards of excellence that brought them acclaim in the custom knife industry. The two have chosen and trained Blue Ridge Mountain artists to carry on their motto: The Tradition of the Past, A Legacy for the Future- edged tools that are designed to provide sustenance and survival and crafted to last for years to come.
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Eligibility
Prize winners must be U.S. residents at least 18 years of age who have made one or more qualifying contribution of at least $20 each to Knife Rights, Inc. (“KR”) during the eligibility period or who have submitted an entry in accordance with the published rules. Winners of firearms, suppressors or knives must not be prohibited from owning or possessing them under applicable laws.
Rules:
Offer void where prohibited. Donations to Knife Rights, Inc. are not tax deductible charitable contributions. No more than one (1) prize will be awarded to any one person in each of the Early Bird Bonus Drawing and Main Drawing. No more than one (1) prize will be awarded to any one person in the Tail End Drawing, if held. A Tail End Drawing is not guaranteed to be held. You can donate as often as you like, but each donation is separate and independent from previous donations and will only entitle you to the number of entries specified at the donation level you have selected at the time of each donation.
Each donation must include full name, donation amount, shipping address, email and phone number (cell phone strongly recommended) to be valid. Winners need not be physically present at the drawing to win.
Firearms and suppressors will not be shipped directly to winners, but rather to Federal Firearms Licensees (“FFLs”) specified by winners (or selected by KR or Hill Country Class 3 LLC d.b.a. Silencer Shop (Silencer Shop), in KR’s and Silencer Shop’s sole discretion). Winners can only take possession of firearms and suppressors from the FFLs. Optional suppressor included with some firearms prizes can be excluded if the winner is ineligible for any reason or prefers not to become subject to the requirements of the National Firearms Act (NFA). Current wait times for NFA transfers conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) are nine to twelve months and could be longer. KR is not responsible for tracking such wait times. Winner is responsible for compliance with the NFA and all state and local laws governing the possession of NFA items in the winner’s jurisdiction. Neither KR, nor Released Parties (as defined below), nor their successors or assigns, nor the supplier of the suppressor prize, are responsible for failure to complete delivery of such prize for any reason, including without limitation the prize winner’s failure to comply with any legal requirements. Declining to accept a suppressor prize, or failure to satisfy the legal requirements for a firearms or suppressor prize selected, forfeits any claim to that firearm or suppressor prize and no replacement, alternative prize, or cash equivalent will be provided. Automatic knives will not be shipped directly to winners unless a legal recipient under 15 U.S.C. §§ 1241-1245 and 18 U.S.C. § 1716(g), but rather to an authorized dealer in eligible winner’s state from which winner can claim prize.
Some prizes are subject to additional limitation(s) that is/are included in prize description and by selection of such a prize the winner automatically accepts and is bound by the stated limitation(s) and rules regarding selection and delivery as if the limitation(s) was/were included herein. Claim to prizes is not transferable with the exception that delivery of a suppressor prize can be received by a trust of which the winner is a responsible person qualified to receive an NFA item.
The odds of winning vary based on the number of donations and amounts donated. Winners will be drawn on or after August 1, 2023, for the Main Drawing. Early Bird winners will be drawn on or after June 5, 2023. If held, Tail End Drawing winners will be drawn on or after August 1, 2022, immediately prior to the Main Drawing. The closing date of the Main and Tail End Drawings may be extended due to exigencies beyond the control of KR as necessary. Winners drawn will have first choice of prizes available after any prior winner(s) have selected, in the order in which such winners were drawn (“Winner’s Choice”). Accordingly, the final posting of winners may take up to 180 days post drawing.
Winners must comply with all applicable legal requirements prior to taking possession of firearms, suppressors or knives. Winners are solely responsible for determination of legality. If for any reason winners cannot comply, prizes will be held for 30 days and then will be forfeited and returned to KR. Winners of firearms are responsible for shipping charges ($40 Pistol Caliber Pistols / $70 Rifle Caliber Pistols and Long Guns), transfer fees to FFL and any other applicable fees and may be required to prepay such expenses by valid credit card or other method to be determined in KR’s sole discretion. NFA prizes will be transferred via the “Powered By Silencer Shop” dealer network. Winner will not incur any additional charges unless exceptions are made. Exceptions include but are not limited to: changing SOT dealers after paperwork is filed, changing registration type, facilitating a dealer outside of the “Powered By Silencer Shop” dealer network. In most cases, Silencer Shop will handle the transfer from start to user receipt and will require contact with the winner to insure registration information is valid and complete. If communication cannot be facilitated between Silencer Shop and the winner, NFA Prizes will be held for 30 days before return transfer to the supplier is initiated.
All prizes other than firearms will be shipped at KR’s expense via a shipping method of KR’s choice, signature required at KR’s option, to the addresses provided by winners, insured. If winner declines KR’s signature required delivery, they accept all risk for non-delivery regardless of cause. If delivery is not completed on original shipment, regardless of fault, winner is responsible for any redelivery charges. Winners are hereby warned not to sign for delivery without the package in hand and undamaged. If your prize packaging arrives with visible damage to the box or shipping container, you must take photos of the damage before opening and take photos of any damage to the contents so that we can make a claim, then immediately contact Knife Rights within 5 days of receipt. Retain all packing materials and damaged packaging and they must be available for inspection by the carrier. Failure to follow these steps may result in insurance claim being rejected with no payout to winner for the loss or damage. Winners who do not respond to a delivery notice, regardless of reason, are responsible for any redelivery charges. Winners of prizes after the Winner’s Choice prizes are selected will be sent their prizes without prior notification to the address provided. It is donor’s responsibility to notify KR of any change in address.
KR is not responsible for lost, damaged, stolen or undelivered prizes, regardless of cause, and winners agree to look solely to insurance carried by KR or included by shipper with regard to same. KR is not responsible for reimbursement of any insurance deductible, which may be in an amount of up to $500. Risk of loss or damage is solely with winners.
KR will attempt to notify all Winner’s Choice winners using the contact information supplied. It is donor’s responsibility to notify KR of any change in contact information. Any prize not claimed by a Winner’s Choice winner within 48 hours from KR’s first attempt to notify the winner will be forfeited and all other winners drawn will move up one place in priority. If a Winner’s Choice winner that does not respond within the 48 hours later contacts KR, they will be offered the choice of prizes then currently available if within the Winner’s Choice draws, if any, after the current notified winner selects a prize. Otherwise, prize will be forfeit. All entries and donations are non-refundable and will become the sole property of KR once submitted. Acceptance of a prize constitutes winners’ permission for KR to use winner’s name and likeness for KR promotional purposes without additional consideration.
If payment of any donation is rejected, denied, returned for insufficient funds, refunded for any reason or otherwise not made, and the responsible party does not subsequently make full payment plus processing fees of $50.00 that clears no later than 7 (seven) days prior to drawing, the entries related to that donation will be removed from the drawing. Winners of “Early Bird” prizes are eligible for (and their winning entry will be automatically entered in) the Main Drawing. If held, winners of “Tail End” prizes are eligible for (and their winning entry will be automatically entered in) the Main Drawing. Once an individual winner has been selected as a prize winner in the Main Drawing, that winning entry is removed. There is no cash substitution for any prizes.
Winners Choice winners will be notified using the contact information supplied and informed how to claim prizes. Only those named as the entrant on a valid winning entry form are eligible to claim a prize, and such persons may be required to provide proof of identification acceptable to KR in KR’s sole discretion. KR shall not be liable for failure of notification arising from incorrect or illegible contact information supplied, or email or voice mail induced failures, or failure of entrants to respond to communications (or failure of KR to actually receive such responses regardless of cause) within 48 hours of KR’s first attempt to notify the winners. KR’s obligation is limited to making good faith efforts to notify winners. Once all winners are drawn and notified, names of winners (given name and surname initial.) will be posted at the Knife Rights Ultimate Steel web site: www.KnifeRights.org/UltimateSteel.
All prize winners are subject to applicable drawing procedures, restrictions, rules, directives, applicable laws and regulations, and are solely responsible for all applicable taxes, fees, assessments and charges relating to the prizes. Your participation in this fundraiser (including without limitation the act of submitting a donation and/or winning a prize) signifies and is conditioned upon your acknowledgement, agreement, covenant, representation and warranty to KR and Silencer Shop, based on good and valuable consideration, receipt of which you acknowledge, that (i) KR, its officers, directors, affiliates, professionals, personnel, representatives and members, together with Silencer Shop and its officers, directors, affiliates, professionals, personnel and representatives together with prize donors and their officers, directors, affiliates, professionals, personnel and representatives (collectively, “Released Parties”) shall have no liability whatsoever in connection with this fundraiser, the prizes (or their acceptance, possession, use, or misuse), or anything arising out of or relating thereto; (ii) you waive and release any and all claims you may now or ever have against Released Parties”) ; and (iii) you will not make any claims against Released Parties”) and shall be estopped from so doing.
KR makes no claim regarding the actual value of any prize and is not responsible for the accuracy of any value estimate provided by prize donors or anyone else listed as “Retail Value” and a prize may not realize the Retail Value listed if sold by winner. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price are listed for production items which may be purchasable for a lower price. KR does not guarantee the accuracy of the prize descriptions published. Prizes are in as-is condition. KR makes no warranty as to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, suitability or condition of the prizes. Prizes donated by individuals may have been previously used. Prize may have been exhibited and may have been cosmetically damaged as a result. Firearm prizes may have been converted to non-firing condition for exhibition and back to firing condition and Winner should have a competent gunsmith inspect firearm to ensure it is safe for use upon receipt. Any repair required is the responsibility of the Winner. Firearms prize package accessories may have been mounted for display and then dismounted from the firearm and may have been cosmetically damaged as a result. Notice is hereby given that prizes incorporating Mammoth, Mastodon, or Fossil Walrus ivory, tooth or tusk (and/or other materials that may become prohibited or regulated) are prohibited by state law from being claimed by residents of some states, including but not limited to California, Hawaii, Illinois, New York and New Jersey.
Prizes subject to change without notice. Production prizes may be substituted with prizes of equal or greater value prior to prize selection. Some prizes were not received by KR prior to the start of the fundraiser and KR is not responsible for the failure of any prize donor to fulfill the obligation to deliver the prize by the drawing date resulting in prize withdrawal.
A donation is not required to be entered in the drawing. To enter without making a financial donation, send a postcard with your name, phone number (cell phone strongly recommended), email and shipping address to: Knife Rights 2023 Ultimate Steel, PO Box 657, Gilbert, AZ 85299. Your postcard must be received no later than June 1, 2023, for the Early Bird Drawing and August 1, 2023, for the Tail End Drawing, if held, and Main Drawing to be considered a valid entry. Only one postcard per person is allowed. KR is not responsible for undelivered or illegible postcards.
Knife Rights, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) exempt organization. Donations to Knife Rights, Inc. are not tax deductible charitable contributions. Check with your tax professional for additional information.
