I had some problems with my Queen #26 stockman- broken mainspring on two knives! I commented on the first one to break on this site. I sent it in during the first quarter of this year and the repairs they did were horrendous! Here is a list of the problems I saw-
1. The run up on the spey blade is not flush with the spring. It extends approx 1/8 above the spring.
2. The run up on the sheeps foot blade is not flush with the spring. It is recessed approximately 1/8 below the spring.
3. The bolster and liner on the clip blade bolster is not flush. The liner extends visibly past the bolster.
4. The liner and the spring have a visible gap between them.
5. The scale and the liner have a visible gap between them.
After I saw these problems I was reluctant to return the second knife to them but thought "What have I got to lose" since I still had a broken knife. I sent both knives (the broken one and the one with the bad repairs) to the attention of Ken Daniels. I explained my disappointment in a letter and waited for the postal system.
Not too long ago I received a letter with two boxes and a packing slip marked "REPLACE ASAP". In it were two brand new Queen #26's in Curly Zebra wood. As I examined one, my first thought was "This isn't my old Queen knife!". There were clearly some major differences between the New Queen and the Old Queen, and all of them for the better!
The knife has been made a little flatter- the old Queen #26's had slightly rounded handles and very slightly rounded bolsters. The new model is flatter in profile. The sheepsfoot blade is shaped differently to allow the edge to rest inside the grip. Fit and finish is solid. One thing I noticed but haven't verified yet is that the blades seem to be ground thinner than the Pre-Daniels models. I haven't had a chance to look at edge geometry yet, but I remember the time spend with diamond stones trying to thin out the edge on an old Queen! It looks like this one won't require all that time and effort.
I must admit after my first repair experience with Queen, I was ready to throw in the towel with them, even after carrying a #26 for quite a while. I had grown accustomed to the shortcomings because I had a small knife that held a razor edge for a long time (after some sweat and elbow grease to get it there) with a great steel and didn't cost an arm and a leg. I did buy a competing brand to put in my pocket but it has never replaced the #26 in my heart. Now that I have a new and improved #26 back, I have to get over admiring it and just USE it.
Thank you Ken Daniels for showing me the New Queen and what you are capable of doing. You returned my faith in the product. Now to find one of those green linen micarta Country Cousins!!!
1. The run up on the spey blade is not flush with the spring. It extends approx 1/8 above the spring.
2. The run up on the sheeps foot blade is not flush with the spring. It is recessed approximately 1/8 below the spring.
3. The bolster and liner on the clip blade bolster is not flush. The liner extends visibly past the bolster.
4. The liner and the spring have a visible gap between them.
5. The scale and the liner have a visible gap between them.
After I saw these problems I was reluctant to return the second knife to them but thought "What have I got to lose" since I still had a broken knife. I sent both knives (the broken one and the one with the bad repairs) to the attention of Ken Daniels. I explained my disappointment in a letter and waited for the postal system.
Not too long ago I received a letter with two boxes and a packing slip marked "REPLACE ASAP". In it were two brand new Queen #26's in Curly Zebra wood. As I examined one, my first thought was "This isn't my old Queen knife!". There were clearly some major differences between the New Queen and the Old Queen, and all of them for the better!
The knife has been made a little flatter- the old Queen #26's had slightly rounded handles and very slightly rounded bolsters. The new model is flatter in profile. The sheepsfoot blade is shaped differently to allow the edge to rest inside the grip. Fit and finish is solid. One thing I noticed but haven't verified yet is that the blades seem to be ground thinner than the Pre-Daniels models. I haven't had a chance to look at edge geometry yet, but I remember the time spend with diamond stones trying to thin out the edge on an old Queen! It looks like this one won't require all that time and effort.
I must admit after my first repair experience with Queen, I was ready to throw in the towel with them, even after carrying a #26 for quite a while. I had grown accustomed to the shortcomings because I had a small knife that held a razor edge for a long time (after some sweat and elbow grease to get it there) with a great steel and didn't cost an arm and a leg. I did buy a competing brand to put in my pocket but it has never replaced the #26 in my heart. Now that I have a new and improved #26 back, I have to get over admiring it and just USE it.
Thank you Ken Daniels for showing me the New Queen and what you are capable of doing. You returned my faith in the product. Now to find one of those green linen micarta Country Cousins!!!
