Queen Cutlery D2-What's your opinion

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mrd74

Joined
Dec 1, 2001
Messages
607
I'm seriously thinking about getting a Queen slip-joint in D2 steel as a user and would like the opinions of those of you who already have one. How good is Queens heat treat on D2 and how does it stack up to other high end production slippies?
Thanks
 
I have bought two queens with D2, but have not taken to carrying them just yet.

In my experience you will have to touch up the edge since it could be very rough out of the box.

Also, I strongly recommend you handle any Queen before purchasing. There are some good ones floating around, but there are also some out there that are not worth half of what the retail price is. :(

The only comment I can make on the steel is that it has been easy for me to touch up the edge and get it very sharp!

There are many, many people that carry D2 religously, and many that carry Queen products.

What pattern do you like? I have a Cocobolo Mountain Man, and a yellow Sodbuster.
 
Well, I've bought four Queen slippies. The first two were when they first came out, and the edges that came on them needed quite a bit of profiling to become good slicers. The next two I bought were much improved on their factory edges. I have had no problems with heat treat or performance issues on any of the four. I particularly like their cattle king stockman, a large and very useful pattern. The other three knives were the slightly smaller size stockman pattern. Hope this helps.
 
Terry Newton
I haven't made my mind up yet but have narrowed it down to Queens canoe pattern or their teardrop with liner lock. I was also wondering if the teardrop has enough blade exposed when closed to pinch the blade to open it rather than use the nail nick as I'm a lefty. I would appreciate if someone could post a pic of it in the closed position.
Mike
 
mrd74 said:
Terry Newton
I haven't made my mind up yet but have narrowed it down to Queens canoe pattern or their teardrop with liner lock. I was also wondering if the teardrop has enough blade exposed when closed to pinch the blade to open it rather than use the nail nick as I'm a lefty. I would appreciate if someone could post a pic of it in the closed position.
Mike
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I am a lefty also, and I could pinch the blade OK, I have at last count about 8 Queen D2 slipjoints and lockblades and love them all. The Canoe is really nice. I love D2, holds an edge really well and holds up great.

You won't be disappointed with a Queen D2!
 
As has been stated already, be prepared to spend some time on the edge. I bought 4 this year, all trappers, and none of them had the out of box sharpness I expect from a knife in this price range. But, once I got the blade sharpened up, I couldn't be happier with the performance. Easy to keep sharp and opening a closing is nice and crisp. I will likely buy more when I start missing the hours of sharpening.:D
 
tmay
Which do you recommend, 30 or 40 degree edge? How is the D2 regarding chipping?
 
I've had good experience with Queen D2. I reprofined both a whittler and congress to about 10 degrees per side and then finished on the Spyderco Sharpmaker. Mine haven't chipped, but then I've used them mostly on soft wood, cardboad, paper, but also on oak. I'm not cutting wire, nails or cinder blocks with them. ;) My subjective impression is that similarly sharpened Shrades (1095) and a Case (CV) do not hold an edge as long for whittling soft wood.

As others have mentioned, you have to be willing to carefully inspect the knife and send it back if necessary. Several Queens I've bought have come with one or another annoying problem. Once you get a good one, it's worth it.
 
mrd74 said:
I was also wondering if the teardrop has enough blade exposed when closed to pinch the blade to open it rather than use the nail nick as I'm a lefty.
Click to expand...
Definitely not. On mine, the blade protrudes just enough when closed to expose the nail nick, maybe 1/16". On the plus side, it opens very easily; perhaps you could use the nail on your forefinger?
 
I have had good luck with Queen's D2 (I have five of them). As noted, they can sometimes come with an obtuse edge (about half of my blades did), but once you have the profile thinned out they cut well and hold a great edge.
 
I have the d2 congress, and it was dull out of the box. dull enough that it would not cut ANYTHING. typical for queen knives from what i've gathered. spend some time getting a good edge on it, and you will not be disappointed!
 
I have a Queen D2 Doctors' knife with MOP handles. It was moderately dull from the box, but it didn't take much to get it very sharp.
 
I own and use several models in D2. Like others have said I have reprofiled the edges to a more acute angle than the factory edge and have been thrilled with them all. I find the acute angle better for the cutting tasks I perform with a slip joint. (Even more so than the ATS-34 in some limited Queen runs and the "File and Wire tested models of the Schatt & Morgan series.)

If you are looking for a finer fit and finish check out some of the Canal Street Cutlery knives in D2.
 
Queen's D2 is awesome. I have a large toothpick in D2 in my pocket right now.
It sharpens well (not too difficult to get good results), takes a great edge, and holds it for a while. Poifect!
I also have a canoe in D2, and love that one too. Fit & finish are better on the toothpick than on the canoe. Just make sure you get yours from someone reputable, so you can be positive they'll pick a good one for ya.
Go for it. You won't be disappointed.
 
I must be the lucky guy, all of my Queens wold shave hair from my arm out of the box, I haven't had to reprofile one yet.

Bastid, what models of Canal Street are D2? So far all the ones I have seen are 420HC, from blades made at Queen, then assembled at Ellenville.
 
maximus otter said:
My review of my Queen D2 Large Stockman on British Blades:

http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17238

maximus otter
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Excellent review. I'd also echo the comments of those whose Queens came with a "safety edge." Of the half dozen or so I've bought, only one could shave out of the box, and all of them had edge angles too obtuse to allow sharpening on a Sharpmaker.

Last Confederate -- you're lucky. Must be that clean livin'. ;)
 
KeithAM said:
Last Confederate -- you're lucky. Must be that clean livin'. ;)
Click to expand...

Naaa.....I haven't tried that yet! :D

Bastid, I found the C.S.C. D2 models, that drop point hunter ROCKS!
 
The Last Confederate said:
I must be the lucky guy, all of my Queens wold shave hair from my arm out of the box, I haven't had to reprofile one yet.

Bastid, what models of Canal Street are D2? So far all the ones I have seen are 420HC, from blades made at Queen, then assembled at Ellenville.
Click to expand...

Last year at the Canal Street booth, I handled a trapper and a doctor pattern in D2. Finish on them was as good as it gets on a factory slipjoint other than the Case/Bose collaborations of the last couple of years.
 
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