Opinions Wanted

A.P.F.

A.P.F.

Joined
Mar 3, 2006
Messages
7,132
Hi all! This is my first post in this forum, so please bear with my ignorance. :o

I have decided to embark in a new direction of my collecting, from new folders such as Spyderco, to more classic slipjoints. As usual, I like most everything I see, but I seem to be drawn to Queen, Great Eastern and Schatt & Morgan. Does anyone have any feedback on these makers?

As far as refining my collecting, I am trying to decide whether to collect a maker, or a pattern. Any ideas are welcome with thanks.
 
Welcome to Traditional and Folders!

I think you will really enjoy collecting slips. So many neat patterns and Makers. I think you will find the folks here very friendly and I am sure your going to get a lot of feedback on your questions. Some of the more knowagable people are on there way to the Blade show.

I think either way you start, maker or pattern you will quickly learn and enjoy collecting.

Ken
 
All of 'em are great makers.
Its probably easier to start collecting a pattern, because there are so many patterns, on the other hand, there are a lot of makers as well.

I, on my part started rather unusual, I collect traditional 'user' knives, the popular patterns like TL-29 (a favorite of mine), stockman, barlow, alox sak, little finn(another favorite) etc..

Good luck.

Peter
 
A few years ago when I rediscovered slipjoints, I began by collecting large Stockmen and Sowbellys, I liked the idea of 3 or more blades. But I quickly switched to different patterns. Slipjoints are actually more addictive then modern knives because of all the patterns and scale combinations. Plus makers like Schatt & Morgan and Case release limited production pieces.

Now I generally buy whatever I like, but sometimes I'll stick to a particular pattern or maker. Queen, Case , and Schatt&Morgan are all good makers to start with, I usually recommend Queen to someone coming from modern knives because of the D2 blades, but all the brands you mentioned are good.
 
what pattern... ya kinda have to just take the plunge or handle a bunch of patterns, ive found that either method works fine!
best of luck
ivan
 
Are you collecting knives to use, or to sit in a collection? If you are looking for users, I would steer you to Queen, since the blades are made of 1095 and D2 and make great users. If you are looking to collect only, S&M might be the way to go. They are made by Queen to a higher standard, but are mostly available only in 420.

I bought a S&M Premier #7 just to see the fit and finish. It was superb, but I didn't like the performance of the steel, so I ended up giving it away. The scales, walk and talk, everything were first rate, but the steel didn't do it for me as a user.

If you find some Northwoods, they are well worth owning. They are also made by Queen and made of D2, but the 2 I own seem to have better F&F than Queen's own brand. The stag scales on each are fantastic as well.

Good luck on whatever you decide. :thumbup:
 
Queen is making fewer and fewer knives with the Queen & Schatt/Morgan tang stamps due to overwhelming demand for contract knives. The Queen brand is not terribly collectible but a solid work knife, don't understand why since they make some of the more collectible brands. Schatt/Morgan are very nice; were exceptional up until the factory couldn't keep up, now the quality seems to be giving way to the quantity.

Great Eastern has gotten a slow start but is picking up nicely. Their knives are super heavy duty and the fit/finish is really coming around. They are a little more speculative shot as their numbers are lower and not bringing heavy premiums right now. If they succeed, their early knives go up; if they fail, their knives go up.

Canal Street may be another brand to watch as their completely in-house models start rolling out.

If you want a great knife that has exceptional build and a finite number for adding to a collection; look at the Winchester reproductions put out by Blue Grass Cutlery. American made and very nice products made in the late 1980's up thru mid 1990's. Later ones are few and far between, but they made some up until 2002. Stay away from the chinese models at Wal-Mart.

Mike Latham
CollectorKnives.Net
 
RobbW said:
Are you collecting knives to use, or to sit in a collection? If you are looking for users, I would steer you to Queen, since the blades are made of 1095 and D2 and make great users. If you are looking to collect only, S&M might be the way to go. They are made by Queen to a higher standard, but are mostly available only in 420.

I bought a S&M Premier #7 just to see the fit and finish. It was superb, but I didn't like the performance of the steel, so I ended up giving it away. The scales, walk and talk, everything were first rate, but the steel didn't do it for me as a user.

If you find some Northwoods, they are well worth owning. They are also made by Queen and made of D2, but the 2 I own seem to have better F&F than Queen's own brand. The stag scales on each are fantastic as well.

Good luck on whatever you decide. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Thank you all for the warm welcome and advice! Robb, you bring up a good point with regards to steel type. Some of these slippies will be users and some will be shelf queens. I think what makes a good knife is it's quality of fit and finish, as well as the caliber of steel, so like you, 420 just doesn't do it for me either. I want a good steel whether the knife is for show or go.

John said:
it really doesnt matter what pattern you start with... you are gonna get one of each eventually anyways
Click to expand...

Knowing myself, I have a feeling you are right. :)
 
What is interesting in the shift from tactical to traditional is the de-emphasis of super steels.

There are many excellent knives in 440 or 420, that in tactical would be made fun of because of the 'cheap' steel.

With that in mind:

ATS-34
Schatt & Morgan, File and Wire

D2
Most Queens
Northwood
Canal has some

Carbon 1095, but you have to search for it.
Great Eastern
Queen Classics
 
I am also new in collecting slipjoints myself, so I am not qualified to give advice. But what I would like to add is that, in addition to the brands you mentioned you can also get very good choices from Case (their CV models), Boker and Mooremaker.

Just my two cents' worth, welcome to the fold. The field of traditionals is both more wide and vast than you may think!
 
A.P.F. said:
I have decided to embark in a new direction of my collecting, from new folders such as Spyderco, to more classic slipjoints.
Click to expand...

Welcome home ! All of the makers you mentioned are good, and there are so many different ways to collect. Maker, pattern, blade type, handle type, jigging and so on, but buy what you like. Happy hunting ;)
 
:thumbup:Welcome to the tradational world been watching and waiting, I'll throw my .02 in here FWIW no mention of SCHRADE :D they made some great knives back before their demise in "04. The older USA made knives are IMO some of the best out there especially users The Old Timer line (mostly) used 1095 steel while the Uncle Henry's are high carbon SS 440 line you can see lots of them back in the collectors forum and lots of knowledge to boot. (not to slight that pool of knowledge here).!:p
 
Thank you all again for the warm welcome! Your kindness has made me feel right at home. :thumbup:

It is interesting that you mention Canal Street, Mike, as it is one of the makers that has caught my eye. They have some knives in D2 and 440C, both of which I like.

I am having a great time pouring over all the wonderful slips that are offered. They harken back to a more simple time, where things seemed to make more sense. (My age is showing.) As well, I feel like I am supporting worthy businesses that have kept their manufacturing in the States, rather than the Orient. I guess that I am just a sucker for traditional values.

Thank you all for your input as it will be listened to. I am feeling great about my switch to slipjoints, as well as joining this forum.
 
A.P.F. said:
Thank you all again for the warm welcome! Your kindness has made me feel right at home. :thumbup:

It is interesting that you mention Canal Street, Mike, as it is one of the makers that has caught my eye. They have some knives in D2 and 440C, both of which I like.

I am having a great time pouring over all the wonderful slips that are offered. They harken back to a more simple time, where things seemed to make more sense. (My age is showing.) As well, I feel like I am supporting worthy businesses that have kept their manufacturing in the States, rather than the Orient. I guess that I am just a sucker for traditional values.

Thank you all for your input as it will be listened to. I am feeling great about my switch to slipjoints, as well as joining this forum.
Click to expand...

Canal St makes a fine knife too. I have one of their Gunstock Trappers in Amber bone/ ss and I love it.

One of the things I like about Canal St is that they don't usually put graphics on their blades. Their prices are reasonable too....

Good Luck in your quest.
 
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