Queen Cutlery Company Closes

joeradza said:
That makes sense. In other words a few users but collectors tend towards older style?
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just what I imagne- and it´s a conclusion, I draw from selling my knives. The modern ones are sold quite immediately, the traditional ones lie around like bricks.
I think, collecting will lead one to special interests - normaly. A few of us are lead to traditionals and the longer you are into this, the more you are looking for quality and special items. And this special items can´t be sold in masses- if so they aren´t special any more ;) .
And because of the amount of those specials there is no place for many companies, they all won´t survive, if they just sell a few. So what we observe now is somehow the survival of the fittest, or as we call it: kapitalism :cool:
 
Not that it's on topic for the thread but I'm in the "dead wood and animal bits camp" lately. I've only recently returned to slipjoints but for me there is an artistic aspect and a soulfulness in traditional knives that is not often matched in modern folders. I love my Spyderco knives but I'd love to see them make a line of traditional covered knives.

Back on point, the observations that most avid collectors (Im assuming it's inferred they're collecting traditionals) aren't on social media is indicative of their age and willingness to accept and use those platforms as much as anything else. They're also likely to be an aging population who maybe aren't being replaced and the market is contracting?

But then again, there is a huge revival for "old stuff" going on. Hipsters anyone? Maybe Queen missed their chance to wrangle a niche and stay in the game. "Every bearded, plaid-clad young coffee house dweller needs a slipjoint in the pocket of his whiskered selvedge jeans."

I kid the hipsters amongst us!
 
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I'm 35 and I love stag, bone, horn, and tusk. A plain black plastic-based handle is not appealing to me in the slightest.

Regarding the many theories why this happened to Queen, it wasn't due to their handle material choices, patterns, steels, suppliers, or even their fit/finish. I wish the Daniels would speak up and say more about what happened to them, instead of letting the rumors spread like wild fire.
 
rswanson said:
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But then again, there is a huge revival for "old stuff" going on. Hipsters anyone? Maybe Queen missed their chance to wrangle a niche and stay on the game. "Every bearded, plaid-clad young coffee house dweller needs a slipjoint in the pocket of his whispered selvedge jeans."

I kid the hipsters amongst us!
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haha, Otter did it. Ova hea in every barnboard encased and scrap metal fitted hipster shop you find the whole Otter program of their knives. But I don´t know, how much they sell :cool:
 
Rookie82 said:
I'm 35 and I love stag, bone, horn, and tusk. A plain black plastic-based handle is not appealing to me in the slightest.

Regarding the many theories why this happened to Queen, it wasn't due to their handle material choices, patterns, steels, suppliers, or even their fit/finish. I wish the Daniels would speak up and say more about what happened to them, instead of letting the rumors spread like wild fire.
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Be in Louisville KY tomorrow and ask them
http://www.queencutlery.com/
 
And sadly the waves reach other shores: A statement of G. Homes from Trestle pine:

January 12, 2018Admin Comments, Trestle Pine KnivesQueen Cutlery, Trestle Pine KnivesGholmes2

After the announcement was official from Queen Cutlery on Wednesday regarding their cessation of operations I received a couple of emails and phone calls asking me did this affect Trestle Pine Knives and if so… now what? The short answer is I don’t know.

First, I hope they come out of this reorganization whole and can continue operations. The knife industry has changed dramatically in the last 10 years making it harder for everyone to maintain a big enough share of a shrinking market to survive. When I say ‘shrinking market’ I mean there are more and more products vying for a limited number of consumers. Queen had a unique niche manufacturing an old name representing a quality product that I hope they can focus on again.

Obviously, the fortunes of Trestle Pine Knives was/is tied to the ongoing operations of Queen Cutlery. I haven’t had any substantive conversation with anyone from Queen since the first part of October. Emails and text messages have gone unanswered or only vague replies were made. More recently, I sent in several customer knives for repair/replacement which were returned to me marked “delivery refused”. There are other personal and financial issues that make this particularly disappointing to me. In brief, I’m totally in the dark as to the future of Trestle Pine Knives. It all depends on Queens ability to recover.

I’ve been asked if I would work with another manufacturer. IF it were possible, I’d consider it. One of the problems is that the Trestle Pine’s are built using only premium blade steels which some manufacturers can’t or won’t work with. Second, not everyone is willing to work with some of the exotic woods that I’ve used with Queen. That leaves the option of following the market and building another traditional bone handled folder. Not an option for me.

It was a hope that I would continue to scale back the business this year and focus almost exclusively on the Trestle Pine Knives going forward. I had really hoped to have another knife released by now. The acceptance of the line has been steadily growing and Sven’s efforts in Germany has been great. But for now….. I don’t have a clue what’s going to happen.

:eek::(
 
Enquiring minds want to know! o_O
Michael

Edited to add: I would love to see Queen pull it together and move forward for the sake of all involved.
I don't want to appear to trivialize what is happening.
 
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johnny twoshoes said:
On the topic of dead stuff, I’m 23 years old and feel a connection only to the natural knife materials, stag, bone, wood, horn.... etc.

Part of the desire to accumulate knives is for me is their use, I can admire a knife for its looks and build, but if I can’t use it chances are I don’t want it.

My connection to knives is the history they have for fellow outdoorsmen and the like, those who take to the fields to procure a meal and a memory all in one. Seeing the well worn knives of yesteryear has given me a desire to go the traditional route, knives that have lasted a century adorned with stag and a simple carbon blade that still has a bit of material left to push another century worth of use out. The knives that have helped shape this country into what it is, it’s taken a ton of them to get where we are and yet the dwindling number of knife users is shocking in retrospect.

This is why the thought of Queen closing is so disappointing, knowing that a man my age nearly a century ago may have skinned a squirrel with his new Queen stockman, how many people were given Queen knives as their first, how much joy they’ve brought on Christmas Day when they were slipped out of their box and thrown into a pocket.

Hoping they turn this all around.
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Great post and I couldn't agree more.

I know I'm drifting off thread but wanted to add some contradiction to what was said on the previous page. I'm on the younger side of collecting and using traditional knives being 40 years old. I've purchased 30 GEC made knives just in the past 1 year(only selling off 7). My Spyderco's, Esee's, Vic's are all strictly work knives. I do use 80% of my GEC's but it's also become a passion of mine to collect them. I really take pride in my "old timey" knives.
 
Rookie82 said:
I know a fair bit of what lead up to this. But if the Daniels wish for it to be known to all, they can tell it.
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I am totally fine not knowing any details, que sera sera, whatever will be will be....

We have less than a hand full of domestic tradition knife manufacturing companies left, it is sad to see one in trouble. It really doesn't matter to me the cause, I just like the knives that they have produced, and the history that they have kept alive.
 
sitflyer said:
We have less than a hand full of domestic tradition knife manufacturing companies left, it is sad to see one in trouble. It really doesn't matter to me the cause, I just like the knives that they have produced, and the history that they have kept alive.
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I agree 100%. They have a long history of very nice knives, and I Queen returns somehow and makes knives again.
 
This is disappointing. I really hoped that Queen could turn things around and be successful. I know they have had quality control problems, but when they got it right, they made some wonderful knives. It's sad to see the end of a company with such a long history, and I feel bad for the employees.

This thread has drifted into some interesting waters with discussion of trends in the knife business. What percentage of knife sales are to collectors vs users? Of the remaining USA cutlers, what niche in the market are they targeting, and how sustainable is that market?
How long will Bear & Sons/Buck/Case/GEC/Utica remain?

Queen City .jpg
I pledge to do my part by buying more knives. :)
 
I have read this entire thread with post that are both Pro and Con, Positive and negative, wishes and desires on both sides of the fence and some post that seem to just be argumentative in nature. But by far most folks here are wishing them well and hope they bounce back bigger and better. That is also my position without a doubt. I will however add my 2 cents with a few remarks.

I always hate to her of the close of any company because workers that are suddenly sent to the unemployment line face so many difficulties. It also has a trickle down affect to distributors suppliers and so forth. Then there's the impact to the families both financial and emotional. And this particular industry is so specialized that there are only a very limited amount of opportunities for these folks.

I agree with those here that have posted that the QC of Queen has been less than acceptable to most knife enthusiast for quite some time. I also know that they are quite capable of producing a knife that is as good as any traditional production knife available these days because I have a few manufactured under both the Queen and S&M brands.

As to the OP's original question of "any speculation" my only response is that even though I truly hope they reopen and do very well if they don't address these QC and other issues in a positive way I can't see them continuing to do business in the very limited $80 plus traditional knife market.
 
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somber said:
Great opportunity for Great Eastern Cutlery, maybe they can pick up some new employees and increase production without sacrificing quality.
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Or maybe a company will arise that can compare to and possibly rival GEC's manufacturing greatness. I mean, if this trend continues, GEC could be the only contender left, hate to say. I do wish them luck though. Their history deserves to be preserved.
 
They are (were?) located in an area deep in the economic doldrums, which makes it harder on anyone losing employment.

2016 data except as noted

Residents with income below the poverty level:
Titusville: 33.2%
Whole state: 16.8%
U.S. 12.7%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level (extreme or deep poverty) in 2016:
Titusville: 15.8%
Whole state: 5.7%
U.S.: 6.1% (2015 data)
 
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