Let's see your Queen/Schatt & Morgan Knives

[Rhinofly]

Here is a hasty group photo of a dozen Queen Classics circa 2004, in D2 steel. Fit and Finish of this series is top notch and the bone/stag covers are wonderful.

From top to bottom, left to right they are:

#64 Canoe in Tortoise Shell Casein
#99 Cattle Knife in Winterbottom Bone
#32 Congress in Honey Jigged Bone
#3L Mountain Man in Redstag
#3L Mountain man in Burnt Sambar Stag
#20 Toothpick in Redstag
#49F Farrier in Worm Groove Brown Bone
#19 Trapper in Crimson Jigged Bone
#27 Muskrat in Burnt Sambar Stag
#66 Muskrat in Antique Brown Jigged Bone
#96 Doctor Knife in European Stag
#14 Peanut in European Stag

Production numbers on some of these are in single digits.

 

[Rhinofly]

One reason I love the original Queen Classic series so much (besides the outstanding quality and beautiful covers) is that, to me, they seem like Queen's last great Hurrah. They were made under Bill's supervision for Ken Daniels just before they started GEC together, and almost feel like trial runs to me. Every one I own is a gem.

 

[Markeologist]

Anybody know the story behind and/ or when the S&M Forest Rangers were produced? I’ve looked through on line sources and have come up empty. Best I can tell they made 30 of each curly maple, burnt white bone, and “reverse worm groove” bone like this (hat from my summer with USFS back in 1982):

 

[Modoc ED]

 

[Rhinofly]

Anybody know the story behind and/ or when the S&M Forest Rangers were produced? I’ve looked through on line sources and have come up empty. Best I can tell they made 30 of each curly maple, burnt white bone, and “reverse worm groove” bone like this (hat from my summer with USFS back in 1982):View attachment 1864094

Does your blade say, "1 of 30" on it? Is the box the later white S&M box? Does is have a pen secondary? If so, it looks like this was part of the 2016 issue of this knife, the #69B Forest Ranger. The earliest I know of this pattern from queen off hand is the 2001 NKCA Youth Knife, but I need to dig through some catalogs when I get home to verify that. Is yours stamped "DFC"?

These knives look very much like a 21st century revival of the Queen #27 Sheepsfoot Barlow with the bolster shortened and a bail added.

 

[Markeologist]

Does your blade say, "1 of 30" on it? Is the box the later white S&M box? Does is have a pen secondary? If so, it looks like this was part of the 2016 issue of this knife, the #69B Forest Ranger. The earliest I know of this pattern from queen off hand is the 2001 NKCA Youth Knife, but I need to dig through some catalogs when I get home to verify that. Is yours stamped "DFC"?

These knives look very much like a 21st century revival of the Queen #27 Sheepsfoot Barlow with the bolster shortened and a bail added.

Yes, yes, and yes…and yes. Unlike the youth knife; however, it is all steel, has a match-strike long pull on blade with a pinched and threaded (two rings) bolster. Also has secondary behind main…can’t recall if youth knife has secondary in front or behind main. Frame, blade placement, pins etc look to be very similar to my 2003 S&M Barlow and I was thinking youth knife was a bit smaller. Thanks for response!

 

[Jack Black]

 

[Rhinofly]

Yes, yes, and yes…and yes. Unlike the youth knife; however, it is all steel, has a match-strike long pull on blade with a pinched and threaded (two rings) bolster. Also has secondary behind main…can’t recall if youth knife has secondary in front or behind main. Frame, blade placement, pins etc look to be very similar to my 2003 S&M Barlow and I was thinking youth knife was a bit smaller. Thanks for response!View attachment 1864248

I believe the Forest Rangers are 3.5" long closed. I will measure my NKCA youth knife when I get home, but I am pretty sure that is the case.

 

[Markeologist]

I believe the Forest Rangers are 3.5" long closed. I will measure my NKCA youth knife when I get home, but I am pretty sure that is the case.

I googled the S&M NKCA youth knife…one less pin than the Ranger or Barlow of mine. Maybe smaller pattern? They do appear to have secondary behind main like the Ranger and Barlow though which I prefer.

 

[Rhinofly]

I googled the S&M NKCA youth knife…one less pin than the Ranger or Barlow of mine. Maybe smaller pattern? They do appear to have secondary behind main like the Ranger and Barlow though which I prefer.

Here is a comparison between my 2001 S&M and your knife (a picture I got off the web from a past auction). Both are the same length, and aside from decorative details they look like the same knife. Did you say yours has steel liners? The 2001 has brass.

 

[Markeologist]

Here is a comparison between my 2001 S&M and your knife (a picture I got off the web from a past auction). Both are the same length, and aside from decorative details they look like the same knife. Did you say yours has steel liners? The 2001 has brass.

Yes, the Ranger has steel liners AND one more pin than the Youth knife. As you thought, Ranger comes in at 3.5 inches.

 

[euroken]

Queen #2

 

[Will Power]

 

[Will Power]

 

[Rhinofly]

Beauties!

 

[yablanowitz]

I can't believe I haven't polluted this thread with my terrible photography...until now.

 

[mbkr]

I can't believe I haven't polluted this thread with my terrible photography...until now.

You win

 

[yablanowitz]

I've often wondered how they came up with their pattern numbers. Those are arranged in order by pattern. It has never made any sense to me.

 

[Rhinofly]

I've often wondered how they came up with their pattern numbers. Those are arranged in order by pattern. It has never made any sense to me.

I too wonder that. Nice collection you have there.

Do you happen to understand what is happening with the backsprings on those barlows? I have looked at pictures of the knives, but never seen a mechanical drawing showing exactly how those work.

 

[yablanowitz]

I too wonder that. Nice collection you have there.

Do you happen to understand what is happening with the backsprings on those barlows? I have looked at pictures of the knives, but never seen a mechanical drawing showing exactly how those work.

The frame and bolsters are all one piece of aluminum. A tab at the tail of the steel spring is inserted into a slot in the frame, the blade is placed on top of the spring and pressed down and the blade is pinned in place. Kind of odd, but it works.