How is the quality of Winchester?

B

Beaver

Joined
Nov 24, 1999
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616
I am considering a Winchester slipjoint. I know they used 1095 blade steel in their older knives. Can anyone comment on the older ca. 1980s or newer models.

Jay
 
There is quite a range out there when it comes to Winchester slipjoints.

The ones made by Queen, from about 1987 to the present, will be of top-notch quality. Often these can be picked up on the cheap. 98% of them will be 1095 steel, but a few of the more recent ones are stainless. these knives hwow genuine old-time quality craftsmanship and the 1095 steel is awesome - properly heat treated.

Queen also made a lot of patterns in jigged black delrin handles and brushed stainless blade steel.

Then there are the Chinese made imports.....tons of these on the market.
 
Well that would depend on which ones. They've been made by blue grass, some by companies in Solingen Germany, and others.
 
I'm quite fond of the late 80's, early 90's era Winchesters. They're commonly available on eBay for less than new knives of lower quality.

Most of the newer ones seem to be foreign made with the exception of a few coming from Bluegrass, I believe even those are stainless though.

Here's a few of mine and they all get used frequently. All of these are late 80's era and will rival some customs in terms of walk and talk...

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How does one distinguish the Winchester models from the 80's from the more recent ones. Is there a difference in tank stamp? If so what is it? How is the stainless steel in the Bluegrass models. Also, I'm unfamiliar with the firm Bluegrass. Do they make their own, or owned by another company?

cpirtle, are those knives you posted made by queen, bone scales? all really nice.
JRC
 
There's no definitive way to tell they are made by Bluegrass/Queen, just that they are not made in China, Japan etc. They wil have a Winchester Made in the USA stamp. The type of packaging they come in is usually the best measure, they used small black boxes with form fitted inserts.

All of the ones I own have the model number and year stamped on the tang. An example would be 2913 1/2 88'.

Bluegrass cutlery is the company that contracts with Queen to have their Winchesters made. Recently Gerber also aquired the rights to use the Winchester name and they are marketed as Winchester by Gerber.

The stainless Winchesters if made by Queen would be their standard stainless which I believe is 420hc.

All of the ones pictured are carbon steel with brown jig bone scales. All but one were purchased on eBay for anywhere from $23 to $50. Some patterns are highly sought after and go for much more than that, sometimes you just get lucky. The teardrop pictured I snagged on a "Buy it Now" for $30, that same day the same style knife closed for over $65... just got lucky.
 
I use to have that teardrop jack on top! Bought it the year it came out, I beleive it was 1987. I also have the bow tie now. Those were really good quality ones!
 
HERE is one right now, not mine and I have no tie to the auction but they are definitely nice ones!

edited to add: I just realized that I have purchased from this seller before and he's a good one.
 
My favorite pattern is the large trapper like the Remington bullet "Old Reliable" I have about 7 Winchesters from the late 80's early 90's in that pattern. All carbon steel and excellent quality.
Scott
 
This is a pic of three that I have. The top is the buffalo shield, the bottom two is the rifle shield. The bottom stag one is one of my EDC's.
Scott
 
I have two of the Bluegrass/Queen Winchesters. These are from the 90s before the 420HC steel. They are very nicely made knives (and cost me way more than $30, thanks for ruining my day CPirtle!) but you have to be prepared to put an edge on them. One of mine didn't even really have an edge at all, just a vaguely edge-shaped area at the bottom of the blade. They are so beautiful that I think they figured they would only be displayed, so why bother putting an edge on them? I had to totally reprofile one with a DMT stone but it turned out good and now I can use it.
 
Sorry for bumming you out Torz :)

Razorback, those are some beauties you have there!

You guys need to check eBay regularly for Winchesters. Here are 3 that I've won this past weekend that were all excellent deals...

This was the best deal. $32 for an '88 Bluegrass Gunstock, Cutting Edge has the same one in stock right now for $225.

This is a newer stainless Bluegrass piece with Delrin scales. But for $18 I wasn't going to pass it up. It was probably a $50-$60 knife when current.

Finally, this may be the best deal of them all, won't know for sure until I see it in person. I think this is a 70's era Winchester, probably made in Germany. It's definitely not a Bluegrass, and definitely not a cheap import. For $25 it was worth a shot because I like the pattern, size and overall look of the knife.

All of these knives will be thrown into rotation for carry pieces, at these prices I can't buy new knives and why bother, these are better IMO.
 
Those are decent deals, especially with the way prices have been going on these. I bought some of the 1980's winchesters back when they came out and did not pay more than 39.00 for them new (apiece). Ive seen some go cheaper, and many go for much more.
 
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