Case vs. Queen

[sunnyd]

.. I also get tired of hearing people describe Tru-Sharp as "junk" or whatever, when it does the job that 99% of people need out of their pocket knives. It gives people new to knives a needlessly negative perception.

-- Sam

Thank You Sam!. Absolutely right, Tru-Sharp is a very fine steel, good serviceable steel too.

And let me just add that although there is quite a price difference, you ain't had any good D-2 until you have experienced Bob Dozier's D-2. It is far and away the finest that I have ever owned and used and makes Queen's or anyone Else's feel like junk!

 

[Silverdagger]

I don't know if it's "normal", but that's exactly my experience with Queen D2.

I also get tired of hearing people describe Tru-Sharp as "junk" or whatever, when it does the job that 99% of people need out of their pocket knives. It gives people new to knives a needlessly negative perception.

-- Sam

Paraglock, I did some research here one time on Tru Sharp. A guy had two case knives, if think peanuts. One was Tru Sharp and one was CV. He said something to the effect that he tried to do a cardboard scientific test and all he could prove was Tru Sharp could cut 128 14" cuts and CV did 136 14" cuts. After that, I decided it does not matter too much whether it is TS or CV and it comes down to personal preference.

 

[Will Power]

Got a Queen teardop liner lock in Bird's Eye Maple today through the post.

Initial reactions good but a bit mixed. I like the size of the handle for pocket carry and the BEM but it might not be to many peoples' taste...

Blade a bit small despite handle size (narrow blade) the D2 seems very sharp indeed despite other peoples' exp. Difficult to OPEN though, the nail nick is almost recessed into the handle

No bladeplay, lock is tight, general finish good except that the Queen shield is a bit rough and proud of the scales. So far, I think CASE has the edge in QC and finish. Nice unusual knife this model though.

 

[Blues]

Will, the one I got in amber carved stag bone is killer!

 

[Will Power]

Blues, that's what I wanted, but Bill Horn was unable to send me one as he wouldn't send out one with cracks:thumbup:

Looks like I'll have to wait a bit and get that too

Don't get me wrong, I like this BEM in this pattern a lot!

As for killer knife and screamer, that came today too Great Eastern Sheffield Tobacco!! These scales are so good I can't stop touching them.....

 

[Spydiefan04]

Since the original post was regarding the Canoe pattern I'll add my thoughts since it's my favorite traditional pattern. Cases are Great knives and if you want to buy a limited edition to look at GO FOR IT. I would however not buy a current Case Canoe as a user, more on that later. The D2 in the Queens is a great steel, but then again so is Case's CV and tru-sharp is as good or better than most people need also. But here's the thing with Canoes the Queen is made like the Case USED to be and like Boker made Canoes (however Boker last I heard quite making Canoes in Germany). What I mean by how the Canoe pattern is made is this: although they look almost exactly alike at first glance, if you look closer you'll see that current Case canoes have two tiny backsprings and two very thin blades, the main blade is especially thin to my taste. The Queen however has a single thick backspring and a MUCH thicker main blade, that makes for a sturdier knife and is how Case USED to make a Canoe, examine both in person and you'll see I'm right. Both companies make a great product and I usually prefer Case in slipjoints/traditionals but in a Canoe I prefer Queen or Boker and that's why.

 

[Zip7]

I'm fond of canoes, and I like the Queens for the reason that Spydiefan mentions - the single backspring and rounded bolsters.

However, all canoes have one feature I'm not so fond of. THe main blade is so wide that when you try to whittle on something with the small blade, the big one gets on the way of holding the knife to me. On the other hand, it being so wide makes it easy to open... but.. I wish there were a canoe with a slightly more slender main blade to avoid that awkward grip

 

[Florida_Marlin]

The canoe pattern is one of my favorites. I have Case (both older model wit the single spring and newer models wit dual springs). I also have a Queen 1095 canoe and two Winchesters that are Queen made. There is something to like about either the Case or Queen! However, may favorite, and the one's that end up being carried alot ar ethe Case pieces. My all time favorite EDC is a 1997 Canoe in CV. It has been my constant companion since 1998. The things that I like about the Case canoe : Thin profile, carries easy in the pocket. The two thin backsprings make for a good action, plenty of snap yt easy to open. That thin blade! The blade on the Case is very thin and flat ground, make for a wicked slicer. The Queen blade is a little thicker at the spine, although it is still relatively thin.

Most of my Case experience is with the CV steel, but I have to admit that I only recently got over a case of "Tru-Sharp" bias. I obtained a recent (2006) Case with SS blade, and I have been pleased. I have been able to get the knife to take a fine edge. I used that knife to replace my '97 CV for about 2 months. I strop it about once per week, keeps the edge sharp. Does it hold an edge forever and cut through cement blocks? no, but I cleaned a big mess of Suwanee river Red-bellies without missing a lick! Thats probably the most important test! Have to say, I have never had a Queen with D-2, so can't comment on that. I do have a Canal Street (made by Queen?) drop point hunter in D-2, and I can get thet thick blade sharp. I use it for my belt knife when I go hiking. I have't given it a good workout yet, but it took a very sharp edge.

So, do the smart thing and get-em both! Regards, F_M

 

[insector]

My experience (just in the last 6 months for what it is worth) with D2 and 1095 high carbon steels has been with Ka-bar and Ontario knives that I recently purchased. I prefer 1095 since it is easier to sharpen. The D2 does seem to hold the edge longer but takes longer to sharpen. I like either type over any stainless that I have without going into further detail. Can I generalize and say non-stainless is better than stainless except for corrosion resistance? Perhaps not all D2 and 1095s are alike between companies. If that is true then there must be almost no end to comparing the infinite number of blade combinations that are out there, stainless or not. Am I all wet? Do I need more chromium? Shows how much I know....

 

[Carl64]

Queen's D2 is not as hard as many expensive D2 working knives, so with all of the praise you hear for D2 it is not as good as it could be. But it's still better than 440a or 420hc (very possibly what Tru Sharp is). You WILL want to sharpen it when you get it, as they tend to have a wide edge angle.

Case's CV is definitely some kind of good tool steel. It's good, but it too is not as hard as it could be, while still being a good improvement over Tru Sharp. I prefer Case's CV over Queen's D2.

Tru Sharp is just basic stainless steel, whatever it is, not exceptionally great but still usefull. I have been carrying some stainless Case models recently, and it IS still a knife. AG Russell's website says the hardness is 54-57, while Buck says their 420HC is "58" (I'm guessing it really means 57-59).

Here are some pictures of a Case CV canoe vs. a Queen D2 canoe:

1. Basically the same size. The Case blades are really dark because I stained them on purpose. They don't get like that on their own, but CV does tend to get dark on its own to some degree, while D2 is nearly stainless depending on the humidity and what it is exposed to. The Queen is much newer. The Queen is a brushed finish here, but their fancier bone handle models are mirrored just like Case.
2. Case uses 2 separate thin layers, one for each blade. Queen uses a single very thick layer, but grinds the main blade in a taper so it doesn't run into the small blade. Both knives come down to about the same thickness near the edge.
3. One thing I don't like about many Case models is the blades don't open as far as I would often expect. Also note the Queen has more of a point at the tip.
4. Slightly different small blade as well.
5. The Queen bolsters have more of a rounded shape. Some Case models have more rounded bolsters, but this flatter shape is very common.

 

[silenthunterstudios]

As a big Queen fan, I will say that Cases CV is a better steel for my traditional uses. As far as looks go, I prefer rich wood handles, and Case doesn't really have those. My Queens need a good edge put on them, and after sending my Mountain Man back in to them to be tightened and sharpened, their sharpening skills are lacking. They obviously touched up my blade, but for this folder, I want a razor edge.