Let's talk Queen/S&M

picturerock · Jul 27, 2016

First, let's stipulate that at times, Queen can be a step or two behind in quality, so the thread doesn't deteriorate into a quality comparison with GEC.

Having said that, Queen/S&M is making some really nice knives these days. I've ended up with several this year, and they are all very good products which I'm happy to carry and use. Let's hear about your Queen or S&M knife.

Post pictures if you can. My latest:

Ernie1980 · Jul 28, 2016

I can't post pictures right now, but I have several Queen/SM knives and like them very much. My latest acquisition is a S and M pen that came flawless

My other queen knives include a canoe and slim trapper. Queen's D2 is right up there with my favorite blade steels!!

traumkommode · Jul 28, 2016

What are the two swell centers called?

RobbW · Jul 28, 2016

This Queen Copperhead is a frequent carry. I thinned the primary grind and the bevel quite a bit. The D2 is a mean slicer that works and works. The handle fits my hand really well.

This 2009 Forum knife, well, I'm just proud to own it! One blade stamped Queen, the other stamped Schatt-Morgan. Clip and Wharncliffe blades. What's not to love?

RobbW · Jul 28, 2016

Well, as long as I'm posting Forum knives: This Queen made 2010 Bullhead is exceptional as well.

kamagong · Jul 28, 2016

For a long time Queen was my favorite slipjoint manufacturer. This was before GEC hit its stride, when they seemingly specialized in grotesquely proportioned knives.

The HJ2 from 2006 was my first high quality slipjoint. Made when Bill Howard was still running the show at Queen.

This black box Winchester congress pen was also made during Bill Howard's watch.

A mini-trapper with green bone covers. I wish I had held on to this knife. I don't care for two-bladers, but I could've sent it off to Glenn to work his magic.

The Dan Burke collaboration Rancher.

A Scagel English Jack from when Dave Shirley owned the marque.

The 2010 forum knife.

And last but not least, a Heritage Series jack in ebony. It checks off a lot of boxes for me -- spearpoint blade, iron bolsters, barehead configuration. I don't carry it much, but it'll probably become my old man knife as it pulls off the task of having a nice and easy pull as well as wonderful walk and talk.

picturerock · Jul 28, 2016

The orange one is a half whittler, and the other is a full on whittler.

meako · Jul 28, 2016

Ooh yeah -the 2010 forum knife-ebony so black even the white bits are black. Pics in the morning -dark here now -but not as dark as that ebony-magnificent. Got a a real Schatt n Morgan treat too.

Will Power · Jul 28, 2016

As I've said before, some of my Queen D2 knives in WCSB or ACSB from the early years of this century are simply fantastic quality knives. The Utility, Muskrat, Teardrop liner lock, 48 Whittler, Dogleg, Small Stockman 26. They give nothing away to contemporary GECs and are superior in proportions - something GEC has yet to master with most smaller knives.

Recent output under the new ownership has impressed me much less though. Good patterns, but bone colour and jigging not always credible, certain finish issues at times too.

The Heritage series and some QCCC knives were variable, but when right they were super.

Talking of Ebony knives, here's another shot of the Teardrop, the high polish crocus like finish on the carbon blades impresses.
I have the Forum 10 Knife but it's one of the FKs I don't use, the blades are absurdly thick and the pattern feels awkward to me, strongly sprung though.

wazu013 · Jul 28, 2016

I have a few Queen and S&M knives. I only had problems with one. The rest have been well made.

MJ71 · Jul 28, 2016

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MJ71 · Jul 28, 2016

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Rich S · Jul 28, 2016

I have a Queen single blade bone stag barlow in D2 and love it. Came very sharp, well centered, works smoothly. Great knife.
Rich

Rockon75 · Jul 28, 2016

I like me some QCC. Here are some:

A gift from KBA-

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Mostly QCC, this is my favorite gunstock pattern, I need to update my collection pic, but you get the idea, one of my favorite patterns-

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Not my pic, but I have one-

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The #85 fixed blade that I've carried since I started hunting those frogs in NW PA, not far from the QCC factory-

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One of those knives that you give away and wish you still had, this was awarded to a cousin at the annual family reunion and now resides in Meadville, PA-

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A gift from KSF, that I paid for, I still consider it a gift because Tyler helped me out and it has the best stag of any in my collection-

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Not mine, but how cool is this one, I watched it go to a higher bidder-

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The top one is QCC, the bottom a #38, the QCC has the "Dawn of a New Era" etch for when the Daniels took over-

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A proto pipe-tool knife-

I like them, to say the least.

mrknife · Jul 28, 2016

that is so cool! a tiny saw!

irona · Jul 28, 2016

I've always been deterred from Queen because of what I've heard about QC issues, but from what I've seen from this thread, I'm guessing that they might be worth looking at? Plus, I really like the look of some of these patterns!

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Cannonball970 · Jul 28, 2016

kamagong said:
This black box Winchester congress pen was also made during Bill Howard's watch.

My S&M mini muskrat looks like a close cousin of that pattern.

mrknife · Jul 28, 2016

irona said:
I've always been deterred from Queen because of what I've heard about QC issues, but from what I've seen from this thread, I'm guessing that they might be worth looking at? Plus, I really like the look of some of these patterns!

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there are many qc issues, there is a different post that really goes into it. I have shared pictures of how flawed some of the ones I received have been.

pgockley · Jul 28, 2016

My Queen mades. The sunfish had metal shaving lodged in tang/liner/pin at one end. Terrible walk & talk. Finally got out, had to squeeze bolsters back together, regrind pin flush and polish. Working much better now, how I like it. Was a learning experience, but that shouldn't gotten past QC. I do like the sunfish, nice handful.

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Dr-Mabuse · Jul 28, 2016

This here is a #31 and I have a terrible confession to make... I like it better than my GEC #62. Which makes me feel foolish for paying 3x more for the GEC but such is knife collecting.

This beast handles everything I ask of it. Lately it's been cutting a ton of carpet and zip ties while I redo my downstairs. Queen's D2 is just so good. It took me awhile to put an intial edge on it with just a sharpmaker (why spend money on better sharpening equiment when you can buy more knives, amirite?) but once it's there oh my goodness does it like to work. The winterbottom carved delrin may not look as pretty as acrylic but is tough and shows no scratches.
Then there's the real winterbottom bone. It is really hard to show you how nice it looks in person. Let's just say this is my favorite jigged bone of all time.

Slightly more refined blade shape and a pretty neat etch.

D2 for days!!

The 32 is a solid chunk of steel and bone. Also, four blades with no rub.