Queen / GEC

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Pollack

Joined
Feb 28, 2021
Messages
103
I'm new to the traditional segment; although I sure do like them. I have a couple easy questions. I read to my dismay that Queen Cutlery went out of business in 2018. Is that correct? I tried to find a GEC and not much if anything was available other than Ebay. Are they still in business? Is it relatively safe to purchase one on Ebay? I mean no knock-offs so to speak. Thanks to all who respond.

Best regards,
 
Yes, Queen is out of business and GEC is alive and well. For the most part GEC knives on EBay are over priced and I’ve never seen any knock offs. You can usually find better prices here on the Forum other than that check the vendors who sell them. Also, if you’re going to be hanging around here you might want to consider becoming a paid member. Good luck in your searching!
 
Queen/ Schatt and Morgan did close up in 2018.
S&M was bought by someone in Ohio at the bankrupcy auction, who hopes to start production sometime in 2021.
I don't know if they are still on schedule to start production this year.
That person also bought Queen and Queen City, but later sold the Queen and Queen City to SMKW/SMKW's parent company.
The first run of SMKW Queen were offshore manufacture. Supposedly they were under a rush/time limit to keep the brands active.
The initial run of SMKW Queen City (a red bone full size 2 blade trapper) was USA made, but I don't know by who.
Bear and Son, maybe?

I don't know if there has been a second run of SMKW Queen, what patterns were made or where they were made, if there was a second or greater run.
I don't really look, because the first run were way ouf of my price range.

I'll stick with their Rough Ryder brand (at least untill the price increases lock me out) and their Marbles brand. :)
 
Pollack said:
I tried to find a GEC and not much if anything was available other than Ebay. Are they still in business?
Click to expand...
I keep asking that same question... :D
They are still in business, but the chances of buying one of their knives retail has gotten ridiculous.
Don't count on being able to shop around the stores and being able to find one sitting on the shelves for purchase.
 
JohnDF said:
I keep asking that same question... :D
They are still in business, but the chances of buying one of their knives retail has gotten ridiculous.
Don't count on being able to shop around the stores and being able to find one sitting on the shelves for purchase.
Click to expand...

Lol...your post made me wonder, so I went and visited Collector Knives. Wow...:eek:. I'm completely out of touch, I didn't know things had gotten that bad. CK doesn't have a single GEC knife in stock, not even the ugly ones.
 
kamagong said:
Lol...your post made me wonder, so I went and visited Collector Knives. Wow...:eek:. I'm completely out of touch, I didn't know things had gotten that bad. CK doesn't have a single GEC knife in stock, not even the ugly ones.
Click to expand...
Oh, it's way worse than that.

Just for kicks, I visited each of the ~22 stores on-line.
I found three stores that still had a few orange #62 Pocket Carvers
I found two stores that still had a few #97 Alegheny Knives
I only found one store with a single #15 Bail n Chain left in stock
I actually found one store that had a couple of Green Bone Urban Jacks left ... better hurry boys :eek:

In total, I was able to find five stores with actual stock to purchase in very low numbers... maybe a dozen knives out there to buy.
 
kamagong said:
Lol...your post made me wonder, so I went and visited Collector Knives. Wow...:eek:. I'm completely out of touch, I didn't know things had gotten that bad. CK doesn't have a single GEC knife in stock, not even the ugly ones.
Click to expand...

Felt like I must have been living under a rock after finding out that Queen shutdown a year or so back, and a about a month ago discovering that Bose and Frost have passed away and then finding out about the GEC shortage and skyrocketing prices.

Like in buying any investment, you're happy that you bought when you did.

I became a big fan of Queen D2 blade steel and GEC's designs/material/trappers, I just hope WR Case can hang in there.

Granted it was fun chasing down the last of the USA made Camillus & Schrade knives in every backwoods hardware store around but it is sad to see a Heritage, Tradition and a part of the American way of life go away forever so fast.

I am blessed to have lived around people who carried/used pocket knives as part of their everyday lives.
For me to this day knives and keys are my EDC as soon as I hit the floor in the morning, not a cell phone.
 
555 said:
I just hope WR Case can hang in there..
Click to expand...
And Buck's domestic production of slipjoints. I think the only traditional slipjoints Buck is making in Idaho now are the 301 and 303, and I'm not so sure about them.
Mighty hard to locate tbose two locally at the big sporting goods stores, and onlne.
All the other 300 series made in Idaho were discontinued to remodel that section of the factory a couple years ago.
 
Pollack said:
I sure hope they are not in jeopardy. Is their some speculation on their future?

Best regards,
Click to expand...

Not that I know of but a lot of us were blindsided by US knife factory closings and now with the impacts of Covid lockdowns on production in places and social/culture change/demand for what they produce, you have to wonder what the future holds.

After what has happened in the past and to other businesses over the last year, makes one never secure or free from worry. IMHO
 
kamagong said:
Lol...your post made me wonder, so I went and visited Collector Knives. Wow...:eek:. I'm completely out of touch, I didn't know things had gotten that bad. CK doesn't have a single GEC knife in stock, not even the ugly ones.
Click to expand...

even the b&c 15s are gone!
 
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