Dogleg Jack BEM: a 7 month review

K

kidwholaughs

Joined
Jan 17, 2004
Messages
1,189
Hey Guys,

Firstly, let me thank Neeman, Morrow_j and everyone else who recommended Queen. Queen is the only company in this country that still makes their knives on the original machines from 100 years ago. Since, Scharad and Camilius closed, this is also the last company that makes their knives the old way. The dogeleg jack is a very old pattern. I have heard that it inspired the trapper pattern, but I am not certain. If you want to see a old school craftsmanship, this is the knife to get. I will point out some of the things about this knife by what I like and don't like.

On with the review, the dogleg jack is 3 1/2 knife with clip and pen blade in D2. Both blades have drawn swedges. The springs are stainless steel. The bolsters are molded and pinned on to the liners. This gives thick bolsters and sets up the scales for a nice haft. The scales on this knife is really well hafted. The corners of the scales are ground and rounded to meet the liner. This is an extra step that gives the knife handle a round cross section. If you notice, Case does not do this. Therefore, Case knives have a "boxy" feel.

I really enjoy the sharpness of the D2 steel. The handle scales are very nice. BEM can be every striking. The shape of the handle is very comfortable.

There are some things I that did not like about this knife when I first got it. Since, Queen knives are made on 100 yr old machines, I guess their QC is also a bit slow. The spring of this knife stood out for about 1/32 of an inche when the knife is open. I took care of this by filing the blade to get the perfect fit in all 2 positions. The half stops on this knife makes it a bear to open. I am only 27 now. When I get to be 97, I will sent this knife in to be adjusted for a soft pull.

All in all I really enjoy this knife. It feels good in the hand. It carries well. It's got a lot of history. If you want to see how quality knives were done 100 years ago, this is the knife for you.:)

God Bless

A word to the wise: Get a diamond sharpener when you buy Queen knives ;)

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Thanks for the review. The dogleg jack is on my X-mas list this year as the knife. I thought it over for months and looked at many offerings. I finally chose the Bose/Case Dogleg Jack. That is the first one that caught my eye several years ago and it is still my favorite. Can't wait for X-mas.

I would like to hear more about your experience carrying and using this pattern. Was it your exclusive EDC for 7 months? Did you use both blades a lot or mostly the pen for the little EDC jobs?
 
Gone Jeepin said:
Thanks for the review. The dogleg jack is on my X-mas list this year as the knife. I thought it over for months and looked at many offerings. I finally chose the Bose/Case Dogleg Jack. That is the first one that caught my eye several years ago and it is still my favorite. Can't wait for X-mas.

I would like to hear more about your experience carrying and using this pattern. Was it your exclusive EDC for 7 months? Did you use both blades a lot or mostly the pen for the little EDC jobs?
Click to expand...

FYI...there is a dramatic size difference between the Queen dogleg and the Case/Bose dogleg. The Queen is much smaller.

@ kidwholaughs

I'm glad you're liking that knife. I have a couple of that pattern with Cocobolo handles and ordered one in BEM the other day. It's the perfect size for front pocket carry IMHO.
 
morrowj_98 said:
FYI...there is a dramatic size difference between the Queen dogleg and the Case/Bose dogleg. The Queen is much smaller.
Click to expand...

The Case/Bose collab dogleg is 3 3/4" - it's at the upper end of the size range of the old originals - basically as big as anyone made the true dogleg jacks back then. Considering that the dogleg was traditionally a heavy duty pattern anyway, it scales up quickly - or in other words, it's a chunk - a very nice chunk, but still a chunk - more than I personally like to EDC. I love Tony's take on the old originals, but I kinda wish he'd modified it to be a single blade instead.

-- Dwight
 
Hi Morrowj - You bet, the Case/Bose is at the upper end of my EDC size limits. I have been sorely tempted by the Queen Doglegs many times (to the point of adding them to the shopping cart and deleting them later). My sharpening skills are still developing so I have been worried about D2 steel as well. For now, I will just admire the pics of the Queen Doglegs.
 
Useful and interesting review thanks Kid.

I have the same knife but handled in Carved Stag Bone and I'd like to add a comment or two. The fit&finish on mine is high too, only a hint of a gap, it actually came sharp!(the one that got away:D)
The spring is strong but I favour that-yet the nail nick is small&shallow which makes opening a bit tricky.Mine is flush on open position, very nearly on half too. The Carved Stag Bone is an off white colour with black markings,goes well with the brass pins. My only real gripe is tht the scales are poorly matched, both nicely finished and same thickness but the mark side is this very attractive off white/black colour, whereas the pile side looks more like rotting banana hue:eek:

Strange that Queen didn't offer this in Amber Stag Bone as this is a very credible and worthwhile pattern, elegant yet a good carry size all round, in my view.

I've been thinking of doing a Jack Knife trial review, surveying this Queen with similar sized 2 bladers, say CASE Small Texas, Mini Trapper Wharncliffe,Bulldog Teardrop and maybe a Rough Rider.

You are right about that diamond sharpener for most Queens though......
 
Apologies if necroposting is no good ... but I just wanted to add that I picked up this knife ... just today it landed on the doormat. In BEM. I am astonished by it. All the words about fit and elegance are right ... even down to the hint of a gap between one of the springs and liners.

I have a ton of Queens, F&W Schatts, Winchesters, Robesons, Moore Makers .. this one really is right up there. A scarcely known gem
 
As long as you are adding something substantive to the thread, it's cool. Adding your own experience with the knife featured in the thread counts in that regard.

On the other hand, we frown on resurrecting a thread just to say, "Oh Cool."

And BTW, I also have a Birds Eye Maple (BEM) Queen dogleg jack.
I don't have a production knife of any brand with finer fit and finish.
 
Thanks for the line on that knarfeng.

So, I'll just eulogize a bit more. This one is, as indicated, a beautifully finished piece that sits in the hand just so, and discretely in the pocket.

The shield on mine sits slightly proud ... only flaw.

What I really like are the thunderous half stops for such a small piece .. both blades too. And at this scale the figuring in the maple really comes into its own. Maybe I got a particularly good one. But any case, this is going to get a lot of pocket time and I think I will probably get another one against the dread day of losing this one ... How could you not? They don't even cost fifty dollars shipped :D

I'l put a few pics up later, as there ain't many nice (or even particularly informative) ones on a google image search
 
I envy you that cobo piece 2Dead ... I envy you no end :)

Weird bouncy light here meant taht none of the pics I just took were much use detailwise ... I'll have another go when the sun's had a bit of melatonin
 
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3 years ago, that one was the only coco one I could find and it was the last one the dealer had. When I ordered it... he sent a coco doctor's knife instead... Luckily no one else ordered it or bought it in person while we sorted it out :)

I wonder which other ones Queen has made and for what years. I remember seeing Will's white carved stag bone one but that's the only one I'm aware of that I don't have. The delrin one is a recent release.
 
Thanks Trand, here it is nearly five years later....I've also got a Whittler, Utility and Teardrop liner lock in the WCSB. All very nicely finished knives that any company would be proud to put out, and me to own. Regards, Will. (damn Photobuket wont rotate the shot aarfghh!)

IMG_0912.jpg


I'd like to see this in Zebra Wood but Queen thinks otherwise.
 
Thanks for the pic Will :) I agree on the Zebra wood although that mini trapper is only my 2nd (mini) with a spey secondary so I don't mind THAT much... but I probably would have gotten the jack instead :o
 
Trand, the Zebra on your Trapper variant looks a treat.

The 51 frame could be a useful platform for other Jack configurations. For example, Wharncliffe, Sheepfoot secondaries would be popular or even a Big Jack style with Clip/Spear.
 
2Dead said:
When I ordered it... he sent a coco doctor's knife instead... Luckily no one else ordered it or bought it in person while we sorted it out :)
Click to expand...

That'll get your heart pounding. Who needs exercise when scarce folders can do that :)

I have a cobo large trapper, mountain man and canoe ... I'd love a dogleg .. or a large stockman
 
I have to say, if I had discovered about this very pattern a few months ago, it would probably have been my only knife buy this year (instead of another beautiful knife that should be here soon). Luckily, it seems that there still are a few jacks out there for grabs...so who knows :rolleyes:
The thing with this knife is, it's basically the same frame than the GEC 48, CSC half moon, and so on...yet in a more comfortable (to me) size for pocket carry. I agree with Will about the versatility of this frame (a straight edge secondary would fit in nicely, and a single bladed version wouldn't be bad either...) ;)
I fear that one more picture might make me fall :o

Fausto
:cool:
 
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Fausto, I hope this will give you the nudge you seem to need. Remember, you asked for it.
 
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