'91 Quest-No, it's not broken.

Plumberdv

Plumberdv

Joined
Sep 26, 2008
Messages
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Here's some comparison photos of the '91 Quest and it's offspring, the Zipper.

In the '91 catalog, the Quest was shown as not available yet but coming. The following year, the Vanguard was introduced in the catalog but no mention of the Quest. Then in '93 the Zipper appeared with a redesigned blade. The rubber Quest and the rubber Zipper share the same model number 691.

QuestandZipper1.jpg


QuestandZipper2.jpg


Questlabel.jpg
 
I'd never heard of such a critter. Thanks Plumberdv! May have to keep my eyes open for one.
 
Hey Dave, you should email Joe or CJ about that knife! I had one of each in a display and theres a cool story about that Quest model. They found out it didnt work on a hunting trip that CJ (and I believe Joe went on.) CJ took it back to Buck and they redesigned it and renamed it the "Zipper" because thats how it worked. The Quest snagged the hair etc, and got clogged up. Alot of history with that knife! Nice score!!! ;) The Quest was actually not "released" and the ones that did get out were recalled, but over the years I did manage to snag 5 of them. One actually arrived to me in a "Zipper" box. Joe couldnt really explain to me why they changed the name but it kept the same model numbers. Thats probably how 100 +/- stayed out there for us collectors ;)

-Jim
 
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postfallsidaho said:
Hey Dave, you should email Joe or CJ about that knife! I had one of each in a display and theres a cool story about that Quest model. They found out it didnt work on a hunting trip that CJ (and I believe Joe went on.) CJ took it back to Buck and they redesigned it and renamed it the "Zipper" because thats how it worked. The Quest snagged the hair etc, and got clogged up. Alot of history with that knife! Nice score!!! The Quest was actually not "released" and the ones that did get out were recalled, but over the years I did manage to snag 5 of them. One actually arrived to me in a "Zipper" box. Joe couldnt really explain to me why they changed the name but it kept the same model numbers. Thats probably how 100 +/- stayed out there for us collectors ;)

-Jim
Click to expand...

As you can see in the picture, it was signed by CJ in '06. The other end of the box has a Cabela's sticker on it. I've had it since the end of '09 and I remember reading the story about it somewhere. I didn't know that it had been recalled. Thanks for letting me know. :thumbup:
 
Just remember Dave, It's not the size that matters, it's how you use it. But, you have not doubt already heard that;).

Thanks for sharing that knife, I had never seen one of those before.
jb4570
 
I remember that hunting trip. The Quest gut hook did not even pretend to work. As soon as we got back, CJ shut down production until we could design one that actually functioned and was not just a gimmick. In field testing the new design, guys kept saying that the new gut hook worked like a zipper so that name eventually stuck.
I checked the archives and it looks like 193 of the rubber handled Gutting blades were actually sold at the end of 1991. I dont know how many, if any, of those came back.
399 of the wood handled gutting blades were sold and again, we dont know how many came back to the factory.
I think its funny that they are listed in the 1991 catalog as "coming soon" yet they are not even named yet. Unless you consider "Rubber handle gutting blade and wooden handle gutting blade" names? :)
 
Thanks for the update Joe!

Dave, I bet that one was signed by CJ at the Richfield WI grand opening of Cabelas ;)

(It is a small worls afterall) ;)

What makes the "Zipper" in your pics a Custom shop? BG-42 blade? Nice knives!!!

-Jim
 
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