Old new guy needs help.

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mickeyblueyes

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Jan 28, 2011
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Hi guys, I am starting a collection of pocket knives for one of my grandsons, I have started with about 25 Case Russlocks because I like the look,I alos pick up a few one arm Razors. Now I want to move on slowly. I saw 2 knives I really like , a Canal street Moon Pie. And a Schatt & Morgan, File and wire series do you guys think this is a good place to start? or give me some idea, thanks.
 
I don't know if there is a wrong place to start. Your grandsons are going to have some great memories of you regardless. Were all going to be attracted to something different. Personally, I am fond of Great Eastern Cutlery, especially anything in yellow bone.

I personally own no Canal Street so I cannot comment on those. I do own some Schatt & Morgans, and I think they make a fine knife.
 
I have a bunch of Canal Street Half Moon Pies but not a full Moon Pie so I can't comment on the full trapper exactly but all my CSCs have been very sharp out of the box. The springs tend to be softer than those than my Queens and GECs which not everyone likes but it makes most of the blades pinchable too.

I second Great Eastern Cutlery (GEC). My collection of GECs has been growing faster than any other maker. Usually much stiffer back springs on these.
 
Need another grandson? ;)

I think anything will be great. I would submit that the knives I have from my grandfather that he carried and used the hell out of mean a lot more to me than the few 'new' fancy knives he gave me.
 
One thing to consider...although it is awesome that he will have a bunch of knives coming to him, probably the ones he will cherish the most are the ones you use yourself and put through hell and back. Make sure to give him a few that are all beat up...if he's anything like me, those will be his favorite.
 
mickeyblueyes said:
I saw 2 knives I really like , a Canal street Moon Pie. And a Schatt & Morgan, File and wire series do you guys think this is a good place to start? or give me some idea, thanks.
Click to expand...

Canal Street knives are manufactured by Queen. I remember reading somewhere that Queen does the main work, but CSC puts the finish on them. This makes for a well-built knife with a nice shine and polish. I have a CSC Hawbaker muskrat, and it's very nice. Since CSC is a different company than Queen, I think you can expect less chance of getting a lemon; Queen has been known to be hit-and-miss when it comes to QC and their factory edges are notoriously dull. Not so with CSC's, as far as I've heard (and experienced myself with my one example). The Moon Pie Trappers have either 14-4CrMo, which is excellent, or 440C, which is also very good.

Schatt and Morgans, of course, are also made by Queen (are in fact a division of Queen). Generally speaking the F&W series are of a higher quality than the normal S&M line, which has a reputation of being better than the normal Queen line. However, since Queen and S&M are one-in-the-same, you might get a lemon. If you do though, Queen'll take care of you.

FYI, Queen also makes knives for Moore Maker, Robeson, Northwoods, Colonel Coon (a SMKW brand now), Cripple Creek, A.G. Russell, Titusville Cutlery, and probably others.
 
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I really like my half-moon trapper, but it is the only slippy I own that has a weak enough backspring that I have actually had it snag-and-open when pulling it from my pocket. It has only happened once, but it was almost a VERY memorable experince (in a bad way). I still really like the knife -- I am just a bit more careful with it now.

Also, I have a bias. If you like Russlocks, than you light also like single-backspring canoes. The Queen pattern canoe is one of my favorites. The aged honey amber bone ones are very nice. My 'collection' is probably 2/3 canoes...
 
If you want to add non American knives to the mix, don't overlook Böker Germany.They do very good Whittlers and Stockman in carbon.Not dear either.
 
I have several of the Schatt and Morgan knives and think very well of them.
 
Hey Mickey Blue Eyes, I am an old guy too. Mid 60s to be exact, but have an 18 year old son who likes knives. Was lucky to get an early collecting start in the late 60s and picked more than a few dogs, but some really nice older Case knives. Could not afford knives for a while and by then GEC, Canal Street and Queen/Schatt & Morgan really caught my eye. Someone said there is not a bad place to start and I agree with that. For a long time I had to resist the urge to buy something that I really did not want and now discipline is allowing me to get some knives that my son will really enjoy when he gets to an age to appreciate them as much as we all do now.

Good Luck.
 
Canal Street and Schatt & Morgan both make great knives, Great Eastern Cutlery is also another place to look.

Good luck, your grandsons may not realize it immediately, but one day they will really appreciate what you're doing.
 
As a really old guy whom the other posters here have attempted to educate, I have some comments.

I agree with all of the earlier posts. At the end of my rant below, I have some positive suggestions. AG Russell, GEC, many of the brands mentioned above and the Case/TB stamped production (I have only had one bad one out of 15). Almost all mint USA Schrades and Case knives are acceptable and sharp with many great patterns.

Any Case/Tony Bose Stamped knife except the First Production Red Bone Back Pocket, is of excellent quality, fit and finish.

As others have said, Queens in all of their label variations are spotty, at best. The small Queen DB Barlow is as perfect a production knife as there can be. The blade on my Queen DB Grand Dad Barlow lays against the the frame. I cannot put a piece of paper between the frame and the blade. Same with the Case Red Bone BP. Shame on these guys. I have several nice Queens, but I aso have another one where the blade point sticks above the frame. Some may think these are minor quibbles, and they may be. They may say I should grind the kick, which we all know would work. I think knowingly selling poor quality is unacceptable in any business.

I have never had a bad GEC, and Christine at the main office goes out of her way to make sure that you are fully satisfied, if the pull or some other item needs attention.

The other suggestion is that whatever AG Russell puts his name on, where ever it is made, he will stand behind it. I have never had a bad AG Russell knife, and I have bought many used ones. I am not talking about all the stuff he sells. He does not feel responsible for Queen QC, but if the Queen has a Russell Stamp, it will be perfect.

These are my observations and I am willing to be corrected by more knowledgeable and experienced BF folks.

Mike H.
 
Crossing over to the dark side now... China. (DUN DUN DUUUN!)

Well, I can't say I'm an expert on traditionals. As you can see, I'm just over 20 posts. But if you look up Rough Rider, and try a few out, you'll be pleasantly surprised. They, (and Sanrenmu) are the only decent knife makers in China. Rough Rider makes tons of stuff in tons of patterns and at low costs. Besides one faulty large stockman that I sent back, all others cost around $10, give or take.

They've got surprisingly good fit and finish (although the dyed bone is a little cheap) and acceptable steel. A little stockman, canoe, whittler, congress, or barlow couldn't hurt, and you won't be so bummed out when you lose one.

Of course, you can't go wrong with a Case, either.:p

PS: I impulsively bought a "new" schrade OT on ebay a month ago, just for the brand name. DON'T GO THERE. Ugh, absolutely horrible.
 
for the money,i agree on the rough riders.
but the china mark scares off alot of folks....i have yet to
get a bad one...and i probably have 30 at least....
now the taylor brand schrades may not be as good,but all i have seen were put together well.
i don't know if there better now,or if i just have some older ones.
i think it's better now though.....i believe the ones i have were just built a few months ago if not weeks....
i carry a new old timer and it's been thru alot so far....still sharp as the day i get it....
if you don't mind my asking,what was wrong with your new schrade knife?
and,sorry to hear that you got a lemon,
jd
 
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