Queen D2 Congress

[klattman]

Well, finally got a CSB Queen D2 Congress.
Amazing user knife.

1. It has a total of 7.32" of D2 steel edge (sharpened edge)!!

2. Largest blade is 2.5" (total blade length from handle) so legal almost everywhere (including Boston).

3. CSB handles are beautiful and quite grippy. The fit is very close, only a very tiny gap from the bolsters on each side, cannot see it but you can feel it with a fingernail. (Probably on purpose in case the bone scale gets larger with humidity.)

4. Blades (2 sheep, two pen) are fit perfect and the walk and talk is superb.

5. Springs (2) are just the right strength, strong, but not a nail breaker.

6. Finish is very good, everything is tight except the small gap mentioned already.

7. Plan on spending a few hours minimum putting a convex edge on all the blades. The pens were obtuse (50 degrees?), and the sheeps had no edge whatsoever. Cuts like crazy now though.

8. Backsprings (2) are 2.5mm, the sheeps have a 2.2" edge and the pens have a 1.65" edge.

9. The closed length is exactly 4" and the total width is 0.61". It will just barely fit in the watch pocket of my jeans.

10. Full half-stops on each blade. Very nice!

11. One caveat: The spine of the blades near the pivot have rough square edges and can catch. I imagine a little sanding to knock off the corners would do the trick though.

Great knife, it has beat my Queen Canoe as my EDC. I hope my mini-review was helpful.

With this much razor sharp D2 I should be able to go for a very long time without having to sharpen or even touch up.

P.S. I could have put this in reviews, but it would get buried quickly, and folks here are probably more interested.

 

[Bobwhite]

I just had one pass through my hands in a passaround and I think your review covers it all.

 

[knifeaholic]

Hi Klatt;

I have the exact same knife as a user....its a real pocketful, but what a classic pattern. Over the holidays I used one of the sheepfoot blades to cut up a TON of corrugated boxes for the recycle bin....never had to go to a second blade because the first one really held up.

BTW...are you in Boston? I'm in central MA....have you ever been to the NCCA knife shows? Until recently, I used to get a table at the Marlboro show every month...I had a large assortment of the Queen D2 knives on display along with my primary knives of interest which are antique slipjoints.

 

[klattman]

Nope, I'm not in Boston, but I travel there frequently. I use Boston as an example of the 2.5" rule, because I like to remind everyone as often as I can how stupid it is (2.5 means that technically, even a standard SAK is illegal), _and_ because I don't want to carry an expensive EDC if there's even a remote chance of losing it.

 

[Sword and Shield]

Nope, I'm not in Boston, but I travel there frequently. I use Boston as an example of the 2.5" rule, because I like to remind everyone as often as I can how stupid it is (2.5 means that technically, even a standard SAK is illegal), _and_ because I don't want to carry an expensive EDC if there's even a remote chance of losing it.

Wouldn't that even make that most American of patterns, the BSA Scout knife, illegal?

 

[klattman]

Wouldn't that even make that most American of patterns, the BSA Scout knife, illegal?

Technically YES. Logistically, you're probably fine, but its the principle of the law that just drives me nuts... They're heading towards random pocketknife searches in the UK, I bet Boston will soon follow...
(At least you can carry the Congress in Boston. )

Anyway, sorry about the tangent...

Let's get back to reviewing Queen D2 knives!! I don't think I have enough cardboard boxes to test my congress to the limit. I have to take up a collection

 

[Spydiefan04]

Hey Klattman, how long is the main blade of a Canoe, is it over 2.5, I haven't bought a Canoe yet bc, I can't decide if I want one or a Congress, or a Cattle King, you got a Canoe, and a Congress, could you explain why the Congress beat out the Canoe for EDC, thanks

 

[Rod Neep]

Technically YES. Logistically, you're probably fine, but its the principle of the law that just drives me nuts... They're heading towards random pocketknife searches in the UK, I bet Boston will soon follow...
(At least you can carry the Congress in Boston. )

Anyway, sorry about the tangent...

Tangents are sometimes good if there is a valid point arising out of the discussion.

There may well be random pocket knife searches here in the UK. But, and this is a big but..... the police are not after us. I'll quote (from a policeman looking at my collection) .... "It isn't you we are concerned about; it is the gang of unruly youths exhibiting unsociable behaviour in public that we are interested in". They are not going to worry about me carrying a Trapper with a slightly oversize (over 3") blade, and even less so if it is in a pouch in my pocket.

Even if stopped by the police, their words are "Do you have anything sharp in your pocket". To which the answer should be, "Yes. I have a pocket knife in a pouch", whilst tapping the outside of the pocket, "Would you like me to show it to you, or would you rather take it out of my pocket yourself?"

That.... is non threatening and responsible behaviour. (Do bear in mind that the police would be concerned that some people might use the knife to harm them).

They are simply not going to be interested in a slightly oversize slip joint. However, they would ask why you would be carrying a fixed blade or lockback tactical. The British police, thank goodness, are reasonable people. I suspect that the majority in other countries are too.

Anyway... back to the topic in question...

The Canoe has a main blade of 2-5/8". Why would I prefer a Congress or a Stockman for an EDC? Because they are more versatile, with blades designed for different tasks, whereas the Canoe has two blades of the same shape. (For the same reason, I wouldn't carry a Muskrat as an EDC).

Rod

 

[klattman]

Hey Klattman, how long is the main blade of a Canoe, is it over 2.5, I haven't bought a Canoe yet bc, I can't decide if I want one or a Congress, or a Cattle King, you got a Canoe, and a Congress, could you explain why the Congress beat out the Canoe for EDC, thanks

I measured just a hair over 2.5" on my main canoe blade (sharpened edge is less).

Why do I like the congress over the canoe?
1. Bone scales look so much nicer than the delrin. (of course a CSB canoe would negate this point)
2. You have 4 blades = more steel and less need to sharpen often.
3. The large sheeps are a tad thinner than the canoe main blade, so they are easier to put a thin edge on.
4. The small pen blades are nice and thin and with the larger handle you have more control.

I do like sheeps blades, and I like the blade shape on the canoe as well, if I could trade one sheep for the canoe main blade, I probably would.

The Congress is a _significantly_ larger carry and may not be so comfortable with certain types of pants pockets...YMMV