Queen Country Plowboy

L

libbyhuck

Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
134
Hey all..I have a Queen Country Plowboy SJ. It looks very similar to a Case Sodbuster...black plastic or resin handle, SJ, very well made...4-5/8" closed...appears to be SS material w/brass liners...any one know anything about the Queen? Thanks!
 
Could you be thinking of a Queen Country Cousin? It is similar to the Case Sodbuster. The Queens are D2 steel.
 
I have always liked the Case Sodbuster, it reminds me of my youth :)
So libbyhuck's post inspired me to order one of the D2 Queens.
Someone please tell me the best way to get that nonsense etchings off the blade.
 
tomason-
have you asked in the maker's section? I like the etching, myself.
 
Blade is etched Country Plowboy...tang stamp is a "Q" w/a long tail to the right and a Crown over the "Q", also says 78 USA to the right of the tang stamp...??? It could be D2 steel...I am just guessing here guys!!!
 
libbyhuck said:
Blade is etched Country Plowboy...tang stamp is a "Q" w/a long tail to the right and a Crown over the "Q", also says 78 USA to the right of the tang stamp...??? It could be D2 steel...I am just guessing here guys!!!
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I'm guessing thats an older model. Queen used "queen steel," which has always been stainless, and by most accounts 440A or C, for many years before offering the standard line in D2. Knifeaholic would know for sure, but the D2 offerings began in the 90s or maybe even 00.

Strangely enough, Queen was the first slippie manufacturer to "commit" to SS early, like in the 60s when SS was a general-purpose no-no in most knives.

Funny thing about D2. Someone somewhere mentioned that it was a "modern steel." It's not really. D2 has been in the tool and die makers repertoire for decades. It has not been used as a cutlery steel with regularity, however, until fairly recently. Which is sort of odd, because other tool steels, such as O1, have been used in knives for decades. I wonder why someone didn't ooch over from O1 to D2 long ago (I think Bob Dozier is generally credited with making D2 popular in knives). Maybe they just didn't want to screw with it.
 
Where can you find one of these with D2 steel? How much are they costing?

What type of steel if found in the Case Sodbuster and German eye version?

This is my favorite pattern pocket knife.

Thanks.
 
I've been told that if it's D2 you'll find "D2" on the tang. My D2 toothpick has it on the tang.
 
Would the 78 be year of manufacture?...thats my guess or is it a model number? The steel appears to have a bit more shine than say a SM Mountain Man which I believe is D2 and made by Queen...I scored this for just a few bucks and am thinking I got lucky...it is new and unused...what would you guys value it at...about $20 would be my guess...I appreciate all the help...
 
Dijos - I prowled around the maker's forum regarding the blade markings as you suggested. Various grids of sandpaper and/or Scotchbrite pads were the most often mentioned. Who knows? I may just leave it on.

Terry - I ordered mine from GPKnives.com. I have never bought from them before but the comments in GB&U were all positive. The Case Sodbuster uses their CV steel. I dont know about Eye brand.

libbyhuck - Thanks for bringing this up and turning me on to the Queen version.



edited - (that's "grits" of sandpaper, not "grids", Thomason you doofus)
 
My queen's writing was just on the surface. Flitz and 1000 grit sandpaper took it off real easy.

The same pattern is also available from Eye Brand, I believe in both stainless and carbon steel. I think there is another german maker that does the patter also.
 
Terry Newton said:
Where can you find one of these with D2 steel? How much are they costing?

What type of steel if found in the Case Sodbuster and German eye version?

This is my favorite pattern pocket knife.

Thanks.
Click to expand...


Mail to ya!


Thomas Zinn
 
I think there is another german maker that does the patter also.
Click to expand...

Boker. Kissing Crane.

You can also get a Stanley sodbuster (rebadged Kissing Crane?) from Ragnar.
 
According to my Queen chart it was made in 1978. Queen started using the year of manufacture in 1976 and continued until 1983. In 1984 they switched to the Q with crown with a knife coming through the middle of the Q forming the Q's tail.

Queen stainless dates as far back as 1946. In 1949 they started using the term "Queen steel" instead of stainless. Other manufacturers were having problems with stainless and it created a backlash against it. Queens 440C did not have the same problems and they continued to use it but changed the name to "Queen steel" to avoid the association with other problematic stainless steels.

I believe the D2 in Queen knives has only been around for a few years. They also produce their "file and wire" series with ATS-34 but that has only been around a couple/few years.
 
Thomason said:
I have always liked the Case Sodbuster...
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I'm pretty fond of this pattern too and carry a custom Sodbuster quite a bit. This one has an 01 blade with NS bolsters.

Nothing quite like a nice big Slipjoint!

(Sorry for the crappy scan..)

attachment.php
 
Queen went to D2 in 2002. I read the article in Knife World about the switch, and promptly started ordering a few.

I have an Eye Brand small sodbuster, and the large sodbuster with saw and stag handles. Most of their knives have forged carbon steel, and I have had good results with them. Although I have seen a few threads lately by people who have been unable to get a good edge on Eye Brand knives, by far the sharpest edge I have ever put on a knife was an Eye Brand that I convexed. I finished with 2000 grit sandpaper, then stropped with Metal-Glo and then plain leather. It came out sharper than the straight razors that I have.
 
Terry - I ordered mine from GPKnives.com. I have never bought from them before but the comments in GB&U were all positive. The Case Sodbuster uses their CV steel. I dont know about Eye brand.
Click to expand...

I cannot say enough good things about Grand Prairie Knives. I have a branch in the area and manage to stop by when I am in town. They are good people that will tell you if they have something in stock.

Mr. Zinn - Thanks again for the website link.

I have always loved the larger Case Sodbuster, the handle and blade fits so well in my hands it is unbelievable.

I noticed on the Queen website they are making a fixed blade that looks much like the folder. Does anyone have experience with this knife?

Since 2002 all of the Queen Sodbusters have been made with D2? Is that correct?

Thanks for the great thread. I had no idea there was so much interest in my favorite, plain jane, pattern.
 
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