Queen Cutlery History

[afishhunter]

philisophy aside. Made by Americans in America is not too much to ask for.

It’s such a shame to see these great American companies go away like this.
Why buy a name associated with quality if you can’t make quality product?
Camillus, Colonial, Schrade, Marbles, Polaroid, the list goes on and on. I’d rather see them go away than see their good names dragged through the dirt.

Apparently you've never tried one of the BTI (an American Company) Schrade, or a SMKW (also an American company) Marbles knife.
You may not like to hear it, and probably don't want to hear it, but the truth of the matter is the offshore produced knives are every bit as good as the quality as the old made in USA are.
By the way, after the Providence, RI plant burned down, All Imperial knives were manufactured in Ireland and later England, at plants they bought in each respective country. Apparently it cost less to buy a couple active cutlery companies overseas, than it did to rebuild the Rhode Island plant.
Even before that, most of Imperial-Schrade USA's OHO's were manufactured in China.

Camillus was bought by ACME United. As far as I know, most of the current Camillus knives are made in Michigan, or Ohio.

SMKW has some of the Marbles "Ideal" fixed blades made in the USA. I don't know they contracted with for them.

When did Colonial go under or get bought out? As of August, 2020, at any rate, Colonial was owned by the same family as always. Steve is/was at the helm.
The last time I looked at Colonial's website, the Paratrooper automatics were made in the USA, as were their "modern" OHO's.
I think they had 3 or 4 different knives available. Two variations of the paratrooper (colors) one or two OHO's, and a limited number of WW2 vintage life raft knives, "found in a warehouse".
Like UTICA-Kut Master (still made in Utica, NY) their selections has dropped way down from just five years ago. (Utica-Kut Master no longer has a slipjoint, for example.)
Other than Colonial's top management, and the employees at the plant, no one knows where in the USA Colonial's factory is. The management and employees ain't talking, either. The address given for the company is an office complex, with zero manufacturing capability.

Polaroid made instant cameras and the film for the same. That market bottomed out in the mid/late 1970's with the advent of digital photography. (as did film photography in general.)
I haven't seen Polaroid film of any size/type (recall there were several) in 20-25 years, including at the big photography stores in NYC (print catalogs and online)
Polaroid cameras are plentiful. However, like an old 828 or 620 roll film camera, with no film made for them, they are only "good" for display.
Not that it means squat, but I am not aware of anyone making a "Polaroid" camera or film, anywhere on (or in) this planet, or in this galaxy.
(talk about a money losing venture if anyone is ...)

The new Queen knives are being made by Americans.
Unless Alabama has succeeded.

SMKW is the current owner of both "Queen Cutlery" and "Queen City" brands. I don't know if SMKW also got Schatt and Morgan, or any of the other Queen brands.
At least some of the SMKW Queen are made in the USA. The red bone Trapper, for example.
Others are made offshore. The Made in USA run 2x to 4x the cost of the offshore, which are in the Case price point vicinity. The USA is in GEC territory price wise.
Either way, the SMKW Queen products are way outside my budget. So what?
Like GEC, Böker (made in Germany) Tree Brand, Lion Steel, CRK, Benchmade, and any other premium manufacturer you can name, I am not in their sights as a customer. (big deal. like I care ... There are plenty of other USA cutlery companies I can give my funds to. )

 

[eveled]

Any of the new Camillus Schrade or Marbles I’ve seen and used were not the same quality as the old ones.

Nobody can find the new Colonial factory. Certainly not the Colonial of the old days. I was disappointed with my recent purchases from them.

I heard SMK was using the Queen name on Chinese Rough Rider patterns. My apologies to the fine folks in Alabama.

The Polaroid name is being thrown on all sorts of foreign electronics the original company never was associated with.

Waltham watch is another, once a world class precision watch maker. I’ve seen their name on plastic wall clocks. Just shameful.

The list goes on and on. I just don’t see the sense in buying a good name if you are just going to let down the buyers who trust that name.

I agree off shore stuff can be high quality. If that is the priority. Usually low cost is the priority.

And depending on the country there are other issues, like working conditions slave labor and disregard for the environment.

 

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Queen Cutlery’s elusive Smoked Pearl pocketknives are in the Queen Cutlery History, Historical Knife Spotlight this month. Discover facts about these rare and beautiful knives and enjoy the new photos.

 

[craytab]

Polaroid made instant cameras and the film for the same. That market bottomed out in the mid/late 1970's with the advent of digital photography. (as did film photography in general.)
I haven't seen Polaroid film of any size/type (recall there were several) in 20-25 years, including at the big photography stores in NYC (print catalogs and online)
Polaroid cameras are plentiful. However, like an old 828 or 620 roll film camera, with no film made for them, they are only "good" for display.
Not that it means squat, but I am not aware of anyone making a "Polaroid" camera or film, anywhere on (or in) this planet, or in this galaxy.
(talk about a money losing venture if anyone is ...)

The misinformation here is staggering. You mean the late 1990's not 1970's. You can very easily still buy polaroid film and cameras. Not sure why you bring this up on a knife forum but I hope your knife information is more accurate than your camera information...

 

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This month's Historical Knife Spotlight on queencutleryhistory.com is focused on Queen Cutlery’s # 11, 11EO utility and # 24 slim trapper knives. At a quick glance, the patterns look essentially the same, but there are subtle and not-so-subtle differences. You will see details and photos of several of these fine knives.

 

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A new Historical Knife Spotlight has been posted to queencutleryhistory.com. This months topic is the series of rare pocketknives with satin-finished blades made by Queen in 1960, as a marketing experiment. Some mis-conceptions about these knives have been cleared up and detailed photos are included.

 

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A new Historical Knife Spotlight has been posted at queencutleryhistory.com. This month's spotlight is on the rare Queen #44 short frame folding hunter. Of course background on the standard-size #44 is included as well. It's an interesting story and worth a look.

 

[PirateSeulb]

The misinformation here is staggering. You mean the late 1990's not 1970's. You can very easily still buy polaroid film and cameras. Not sure why you bring this up on a knife forum but I hope your knife information is more accurate than your camera information...

Sadly I am only able to give 1 like to this

 

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The new Historical Knife Spotlight on queencutleryhistory.com shines on some beautiful pearl handled knives, with hand filing and burnishing by English immigrant cutler Samuel Nelson. The article, by David Clark, includes a short biography of Nelson as well as photos of some rare, artistic knives.

 

[Bolstermanic]

Is it inappropriate to post owned Queen swag here? Until I get an answer, here's a placeholder...

 

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There is a new Historical Knife Spotlight article at queencutleryhistory.com. This month's feature is the 20 year run of the highly collectible Keystone Series. In 1991 Queen revived the Schatt & Morgan brand with an annual set of limited issue, hand crafted, premium quality pocketknives. Have a look!

 

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A new Historical Knife Spotlight has been posted at queencutleryhistory.com. This month's feature kicks off a limited series on Schatt & Morgan and Queen contract knives, spanning more than a century. You'll read about brands you know and some you may never have heard of. Check it out!

 

[USMCPOP]

I only have 2 Queen knives. A couple small slicers for roasts and such. Got them from a thrift store for about $3 - $4 each, in their original, decaying cardboard "sheaths". I think the handles are bone. Must date to the 1950's or early 60's. Kinda cool.

 

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The latest Historical Knife Spotlight at queencutleryhistory.com is the second installment of a series on contract knives made by Schatt & Morgan and Queen. This month's feature covers the Griffon Cutlery and Curtin & Clark knives made years ago by Schatt & Morgan. Several photos of rare knives and actual tang stamp dies and impressions are included.



Also new at QCH (and available for download) is a supplement to the Tang Stamp Guide covering Dollar Knife, Tuna Valley and Robeson.

 

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Queen Cutlery History has just added David Clark's interview with legendary Queen collector Joe Dial. Joe recounts the early days of his collecting "career" as he travelled throughout the South in the 1970's and '80's. Along the way he acquired many unused and mint Queen knives from old displays in now forgotten small town shops. Have a listen!

 

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In this month's Historical Knife Spotlight at queencutleryhistory.com we share the story of the recent discovery of an intact, late 1950's Queen knife display. The display, including 39 unused knives will soon be available for all to see at a Georgia winery

 

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This month’s Historical Knife Spotlight at queencutleryhistory.com is focused on some very rare knives which were made well over a century ago: the Schatt & Morgan Gowanda knives. Produced only from 1897 to 1902, before S&M moved to Titusville, many of these knives formed the inspiration for the Schatt & Morgan knives of recent years.

 

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At queencutleryhistory.com Queen Cutlery’s Heavy Duty Jacks are in our Spotlight this month. These sturdy folding knives have their roots in the Queen City era (before World War II) and are anchored by the ubiquitous # 10 pattern. Sharing the same frame as the # 10 are the # 18 which has been referred to as both a “Heavy Duty Jack” and a “Spear Point Special”, as well as the # 40 “Heavy Duty Screwdriver”.

 

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The December Historical Knife Spotlight at Queen Cutlery History features the 9 rare Queen Cutlery Collectors limited edition knives which were issued between 1999 and 2007. With only a couple of exceptions, production runs were limited to just 50 knives. Have a look!

 

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In this month’s Historical Knife Spotlight at Queen Cutlery History we feature Queen City and Queen Cutlery’s use of Rogers Bone handles. The article includes several photos of rare examples of Queen folders which have used this distinctive material.