GEC vs Queen vs ?

S

SCWillson

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I've done numerous tacticals and neckers over the past few years and have enjoyed discovering them, but recently I've been looking more and more at traditionals. Right now I'm considering several small single bladed wharnecliffe GEC's and Queens. Traditionals from different companies often look very similar since they are recreating "classic" designs, so what makes some cost more? Is there a significant difference in quality?

Is GEC "better" than Queen, or is this another "Ford vs Chevy" argument?
 
In general, GEC has a higher level of fit and finish than Queen, though Queen is stepping up their game.
 
I prefer GEC's Northfield line of knives. They put a few extra steps into the package such as pinched bolsters and swedges in the blade. Some of their Tidioute knives come with swedges, but only a few (I could be wrong, but that is what I have noticed). There seems to be a bit more attention to detail with the Northfield knives. IMHO GEC knives are the closest in current production to what one would find for sale the early 1900's.

I have not owned a Queen in a few years so I can not say anything about their current offerings. The one I did have was nice. No worse or better than your average Case knife. I did like the D2 they used, but the edge came very thick and needed a bit of work to get it hair popping sharp.
 
I believe all the USA made traditionals are worth buying at their respective price points. GEC are at the top of the list, but they are also the most expensive. Queen's D2 is the best commonly available steel found in traditionals, and if you are good at sharpening, they are a great value. Their curly zebrawood knives are just beautiful. Case and Canal Street are also worthy of consideration.
 
They both have some things to offer over the other. Queen/Schatt & Morgan has a larger selection of steels, which is a good thing, imo (options). I currently own Queen/S&M products in 1095, ats 34, 440a, 420hc, and D2. As a collector of such do-dads, I guess one has to own both brands. But, for a person looking to get either or as a user knife, I guess one has to go with one's gut on which one one likes, neither will likely fail it's intended purpose :-)
 
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When you say Queen, you need to be more specific. Queen knives were working man's knives with D2 blades, delirin or wood handles. They are not the same as GEC. If you mean Queen's Schatt and Morgan line, which is more like GEC, I like Queens designs better. The company was recently bought out, so there is now "new Queen" and "new Schatt and Morgan."

Most people still believe that Ford is better than Chevy, particularly those involved in the current GM recall. Plus Ford did not need to be bailed out by Uncle Sam. :)
 
There have been a number of threads on this, but in my experience GEC makes a much more consistently high-quality product. I have owned a couple S&M slips, and I wasn't particularly impressed, especially for what they cost. I've seen some $20 Rough Riders with as much attention to detail. I currently own one Queen - a single blade jack, and it's a nice looking knife with pretty good F&F. But I'm not a big fan of D2, and prefer a good carbon steel any day.

I wouldn't say it's totally a "Ford vs. Chevy" thing - some of it comes down to what types of materials and patterns you prefer.
 
Smithhammer said:
There have been a number of threads on this, but in my experience GEC makes a much more consistently high-quality product. I have owned a couple S&M slips, and I wasn't particularly impressed, especially for what they cost. I've seen some $20 Rough Riders with as much attention to detail. I currently own one Queen - a single blade jack, and it's a nice looking knife with pretty good F&F. But I'm not a big fan of D2, and prefer a good carbon steel any day.

I wouldn't say it's totally a "Ford vs. Chevy" thing - some of it comes down to what types of materials and patterns you prefer.
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I tend to prefer carbon steels myself, and they make even more sense in a traditional.

Right now all 3 of the traditionals I'm looking at are GEC.

Dumb question: Is it still considered a traditional if it's a lockback? Or does that make it modern?
 
brownshoe said:
When you say Queen, you need to be more specific. Queen knives were working man's knives with D2 blades, delirin or wood handles. They are not the same as GEC. If you mean Queen's Schatt and Morgan line, which is more like GEC, I like Queens designs better. The company was recently bought out, so there is now "new Queen" and "new Schatt and Morgan."

Most people still believe that Ford is better than Chevy, particularly those involved in the current GM recall. Plus Ford did not need to be bailed out by Uncle Sam. :)
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There is also Queen City (Cutlery Company), or QCCC. These are heritage-inspired knives made in 1095. I believe the overall average quality on these is a bit higher than their main Queen line.
 
I've seen a few and they were fine, but i did not take a magnifier to them. :) Queen also makes a lot of contract knives. I don't think they get the credit they deserve for the high quality of some of those knives.
 
These Winchesters were made by Queen on contract for Blue Grass Cutlery:

Winchester006_zpsd980f982.jpg


Winchester001_zps87e7478a.jpg


They're on par with GEC. Bill Howard, the owner of GEC, was still at Queen when these were made.

For all but the big whittler (top knife in first photo), I paid about $40 each (this year). IMHO, they're some of the very best deals out there.
 
Look at the price point in $20 jumps, from 40, to 100.
Price point means what you are getting for the price, ie # of blades, F&F, and the quality of the bone or wood

Queen outshines most manufactures in the 40 to 60 range (a Gunstock in delrin and carbon for $35)
60 to 80 Queen is close but not as good a GEC (a stockman in ebony and carbon for $65)
80 to 100 GEC come thru with a consistantly better F&F
 
I think the big thing with Queen has been consistency. There have been times when the company has made quite nice knives, other times just ok quality. And they certainly have made some quite nice knives under contract (such as the beautiful Winchesters above). By accounts of those in the know, quality is picking up again. For a moderate price, a Queen can be a good deal. If it's a higher-priced Queen, I'd want to see it in person before paying too much for it.
 
GEC is more of a short run, pattern variety type knife maker. They are generally better in the fit and finish department.... but not always.

Queen has a more standard pattern production philosophy. They also have a wide range of economy to upscale knives (Schatt and Morgan, Queen, Queen City, Queen Workhorse).

Don't forget Case and Canal Street which make great knives too.


I really like all of those companies, but for different things. Most of my pocket knives tend to be Case, but I do like them all for what they are.
 
black mamba said:
I believe all the USA made traditionals are worth buying at their respective price points. GEC are at the top of the list, but they are also the most expensive. Queen's D2 is the best commonly available steel found in traditionals, and if you are good at sharpening, they are a great value. Their curly zebrawood knives are just beautiful. Case and Canal Street are also worthy of consideration.
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+1. Summed up well
 
Smithhammer said:
I think the big thing with Queen has been consistency. There have been times when the company has made quite nice knives, other times just ok quality. And they certainly have made some quite nice knives under contract (such as the beautiful Winchesters above). By accounts of those in the know, quality is picking up again. For a moderate price, a Queen can be a good deal. If it's a higher-priced Queen, I'd want to see it in person before paying too much for it.
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A big part of this consistency problem has been the changes of ownership. Ten, maybe fifteen, years ago, Queen was an independent company. That's when those Winchesters got made. Not perfect, but pretty darn nice. Then Ontario bought them, and without needlessly slagging Ontario, it appears their focus was more on the bottom line. Ontario may have laid some folks off, or something they did caused some of the old timers to retire or their methods just weren't quite up to snuff. Quality suffered. Now they are independent again and owned by knife folks and seem to be back on the upswing.
 
I have only one example of each (both a whittler pattern), which makes for a pretty darn poor statistical sample. That said... the GEC is a very nice knife.
The Queen is on the way back to the factory for warranty work. Granted, the Queen is probably from the 'bottom line' years, but still should not have left the factory in its condition.
I would not buy another without handling it first.
 
MarkPinTx said:
A big part of this consistency problem has been the changes of ownership. Ten, maybe fifteen, years ago, Queen was an independent company. That's when those Winchesters got made. Not perfect, but pretty darn nice. Then Ontario bought them, and without needlessly slagging Ontario, it appears their focus was more on the bottom line. Ontario may have laid some folks off, or something they did caused some of the old timers to retire or their methods just weren't quite up to snuff. Quality suffered. Now they are independent again and owned by knife folks and seem to be back on the upswing.
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Actually, Queen was purchased by Servotronics in 1969. At some point (I do know know what year), Servotronics purchased Ontario Knife Company. So Queen and Ontario were "sister" companies both owned by Servotronics. Servotronics sold Queen to the Daniels family in 2012. I believe that Servotronics retained ownership of Ontario.
 
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